Berky
Middletown, DE
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Heading onto Cape Cod in a few weeks. Circumstances beyond my control have us arriving at Brewster Saturday around 3 PM. My experience with the beaches down our way is that mid-afternoon is when all of the weekly rentals start and thus when the entire week's worth of vacationers shows up.
Is anyone familiar with the area? Anything you would recommend as far as routes and arrival times go?
Mike, Barb, and Lilly the Lab
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K Charles
Connecticut
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If you don't have reservations you should get there before the schools let out for the summer or don't get there until Sept.
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demoon
MA
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I would never head to the Cape in July/August without reservations. Weekend travel on and off the Cape can be extremely hectic with very long waits. You have to remember there are only two bridges onto the Cape and only one main highway after you get there. It is a beautiful place, but in season you have to be willing to deal with the crowds.
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Berky
Middletown, DE
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My apologies for not making the question clearer. We have reservations. "Others" in our party have given no thought to weekend road congestion and have predetermined our arrival at 3:00 PM. So my questions really are:
- Is a 3:00 PM arrival the height of "rush hour"? Or will a 3:00 PM arrival be after all of that congestion?
- I have a choice of taking the Mass turnpike and then I-495, or the Conn turnpike to Providence and then east (I-395 I think?). Which is the lesser of the two evils?
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Gene&Ginny
North Kingstown, RI
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I can't vouch for this year but in past years Saturday 3pm IS, as you suspected, the peak time to arive. Both 495 and 195 will bring you to rt25 and the Bourne bridge. After the bridge follow 6A to the "mid cape highway" (Rt 6) to get to Brewster. The Sagamore bridge (rt3) is the other bridge and that one always seems to have more traffic, even since they rebuilt the entire aproach to the Sagamore bridge and eliminated the rotary. Both bridges, and the highways to them, seem to be at their worst from noon to 2pm.
My wife and I like to go to the Cape often but NEVER on a Saturday. Good Luck, you will enjoy Brewster when you get there.
Gene and DW Ginny
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demoon
MA
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I would take the second route you mention. Taking the MA Pike and 495 is going out of your way and the traffic on 495 will be as bad or worse than coming from Providence. Your arrival time is not good, but it would have to a lot earlier, or a lot later to make much difference. Just relax and think about how great it will be when you get there.
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Cooper
Cape Cod, MA
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I live on the Cape and weekend traffic can at times be challenging. You are correct in that the weekend, Saturday or Sunday, is when most of the rentals change over. I think that Saturday is not as bad for traffic as is Sunday. Also, your arrival time at 3:00 is somewhat later in the day but weather can also effect traffic. It is what it is and unfortunately you won't know that until that day. I wish I could be more helpful but there aren't a lot of options for you.
As far as the route to take, when returning home to the Cape I always take 84 in Connecticut to 90 in MA (MA Turnpike) and then 495 to the Bourne Bridge. I have found that the traffic on 95 through lower Connecticut is difficult. I find 84 to 90 to 495 an easier ride.
Either way you take, when you arrive at the Bourne Bridge, go over the bridge and you will immediately enter a rotary on the other side. Go around the rotary and take the third turn off just before Bickfords Restaurant. You will then be traveling for a few miles along the Cape Cod canal which will be on your left. Continue on this road until you come to a traffic light. Take a right at the lights and this ramp will take you onto Route 6. When at the lights you will see the other bridge (Sagamore) above you. Once you get on Route 6 it will probably be about a 45 minute ride to Brewster. I assume you are staying at Nickerson State Park. Again, depending on traffic.
Hope this helps and enjoy your visit to the Cape.
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Berky
Middletown, DE
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Cooper wrote:
As far as the route to take, when returning home to the Cape I always take 84 in Connecticut to 90 in MA (MA Turnpike) and then 495 to the Bourne Bridge. I have found that the traffic on 95 through lower Connecticut is difficult. I find 84 to 90 to 495 an easier ride.
Wow, thanks so much, Cooper. Plentiful and helpful information.
We're actually staying at Sweetwater Forest. Nickerson was our first choice, but Lilly the Lab nixed that idea.
I appreciate your insight on the I-84 route. My last trip to the area, maybe 15 years ago, soured me on the I-95 route. I'm looking for a laid back, low stress drive, even if that means a few miles out of the way. Any thoughts on I-84 through Danbury and Hartford while towing? I've thought about going as far as I-87 up to I-90. Quite a few more miles, although Google doesn't think it's a lot more time.
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demoon
MA
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Never had any problems with 95 after NYC, but 84 can be a much nicer ride and if you don't mind the extra mileage, go for it. You can miss Hartford by taking 691 near Chesire, to 91 north and back to 84. The worst traffic you are going to hit will be at the 90/495 interchange and then as you approach the Bourne Bridge.
Have a great trip.
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Cooper
Cape Cod, MA
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You are welcome Berky. I too don't mind driving more miles for a somewhat easier ride.
When we leave the Cape to head to Myrtle Beach and points South I actually take 495 to 90 to 84 to 87 to 287 to 78 to 81 to 66 to 17 to 95. This takes me away from New York city, Baltimore and Washington DC which I prefer. I like traveling over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge in NY instead of the Tappan-Zee and I don't find that it adds too much time to my trip overall. I just find it an easier ride with more places to stop if I need to.
I gave you my route because I am not sure where you would connect to it if you wanted to follow it.
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