There’s always something exciting about the beginning of a road trip. You’re heading somewhere new, work and responsibilities are temporarily behind you, and even a long drive feels like part of the adventure.
The return trip feels a little different.
Suddenly you’re trying to make sure nothing gets left behind, thinking about everything waiting for you at home, and realizing that vacation is almost over. I didn’t win the Powerball while we were in Maine, so unfortunately, going back to work was still part of the plan.
We also had another decision to make: How were we getting home?
Our drive from Tampa, Florida, to Maine was approximately 1,500 miles. By the time we returned home, we had driven roughly 3,000 miles round trip. Actual distance will vary depending on where you begin and end your trip and which route you choose.
The actual driving time was approximately 24 to 26 hours each way. Once we included fuel stops, meals and extended rest breaks, the total travel time was considerably longer.
This time, however, we decided to try a different route.
Taking a Different Route Home
On our trip north, we traveled primarily along the I-95 corridor and drove through the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas.
For the return trip, we decided to bypass both.
I was actually more comfortable with the I-95 route because I had driven it before. After talking with a family member who owns a long-haul trucking company, though, I started considering another option. He told me he rarely takes the NYC/DC route anymore and generally uses I-84 and I-81 instead.
As I’ve mentioned throughout this series, I’m someone who likes a plan—and I especially like a plan I’m familiar with.
But road trips also require flexibility.
So, I programmed the new route into the GPS, and off we went.
Giving Our New Driver More Experience
My son started the return trip behind the wheel.
Since we were leaving Maine and I expected relatively manageable traffic at that point in the trip, I thought this would give him another opportunity to gain long-distance driving experience.
We eventually switched drivers before reaching I-495 in Massachusetts and continued toward Worcester before connecting with I-90 and then I-84 into Connecticut.
The experience reinforced something I’d noticed on the trip north: long-distance driving provides a new driver with experiences that are difficult to duplicate during shorter trips around town.
My son had to manage changing traffic conditions, interstate speeds, trucks, hills, curves and extended periods of concentration. He did a good job maintaining his speed, following distance and attention.
He also developed another skill during the trip:
Evaluating my driving.
I’ve spent years teaching traffic safety, developing curriculum and working with drivers. Apparently, none of that prevented my newly appointed driving consultant from analyzing nearly every decision I made behind the wheel.
Parents of new drivers may recognize this phenomenon. Somewhere between receiving a learner’s permit and becoming comfortable behind the wheel, some teenagers apparently also become driver education instructors.
It can be frustrating.
On the positive side, at least they’re paying attention.
I just wish mine would occasionally pay attention a little more quietly.
Bypassing New York City
Instead of continuing toward the Merritt Parkway, George Washington Bridge and New Jersey Turnpike, we followed I-287 and crossed the Hudson River north of New York City.
This was one of the biggest differences between our two trips.
On the way north, we had successfully traveled through New York City without major problems. But success on one trip doesn’t guarantee the same result the next time.
For me, the return route was noticeably less stressful.
We also stopped at Costco in Nanuet, New York, which provided a convenient fuel stop near our route. That was another lesson carried over from the trip north: saving a few cents per gallon isn’t worth adding significant time and stress to a fuel stop.
I-81: A Different Kind of Interstate Driving
From there, our route eventually connected us with I-81 through Pennsylvania and Virginia.
This was completely different from traveling the heavily populated I-95 corridor.
The route was scenic, with mountains, hills and curves replacing much of the urban congestion we had experienced on the trip north. We also encountered a significant amount of truck traffic, so maintaining following distance and staying aware of vehicles around us remained important.
My son drove portions of Pennsylvania and Virginia, giving him another opportunity to experience highway conditions that were different from what he normally encounters around Tampa Bay.
While I found this route less stressful overall, less traffic doesn’t mean less attention is required. Hills, curves, changing weather, trucks and unfamiliar roads present their own challenges.
That’s an important distinction.
The goal isn’t necessarily to find an “easy” route. It’s to choose a route you’re comfortable driving while remaining prepared to adapt to the conditions you encounter along the way.
Finding Our Way Back to I-95
As we continued south, our GPS eventually guided us away from the interstate route and through areas of North Carolina and South Carolina that I hadn’t traveled before.
This was probably the portion of the return trip I would reconsider. While the GPS may have calculated it as the fastest route at the time, traveling unfamiliar roads and through smaller communities didn’t necessarily feel faster to me.
That reinforced another lesson from the trip: the fastest route on a navigation app isn’t always the route that feels the least stressful to the driver.
Navigation systems are valuable tools, but they don’t know your comfort level, driving experience, or familiarity with an area. Sometimes a slightly longer route on familiar roads may be the better choice.
Which Route Would We Take Next Time?
After driving both routes, I would strongly consider bypassing Washington, D.C., and New York City again.
For this particular trip, the I-84/I-81 route felt less stressful and avoided some of the congestion associated with the I-95 corridor.
That doesn’t mean it’s always the better route.
Traffic, crashes, construction, weather and departure time can completely change the experience. If we make the trip again, I would look at current conditions before deciding.
That’s probably one of the biggest things 3,000 miles taught me:
Have a plan, but don’t become so committed to the plan that you’re unwilling to change it.
What 3,000 Miles Taught Us
Over the course of this road trip, we prepared the vehicle, planned fuel stops, dealt with fatigue, navigated unfamiliar roads, encountered unexpected traffic situations, gave a new driver valuable experience and learned that sometimes the people traveling with you have a very different idea of what a “quick stop” means.
Not everything went according to plan.
That’s okay.
If I were planning the trip again, I would involve everyone more in the schedule before leaving. I’d still plan fuel and rest stops, but I’d be more flexible about when they happened. I’d evaluate the route based on current conditions instead of automatically choosing the one I had driven before.
And I’d continue making safety more important than arrival time.
Maine was “wicked” beautiful, and we’ll definitely be back.
We returned home tired, with approximately 3,000 more miles on the vehicle and plenty of memories.
I also returned with the knowledge that I’m apparently not quite as good a driver as I thought I was—at least according to the teenage driver education instructor who came along for the trip.
I’m already looking forward to our next road trip.
Wherever the next journey takes us, the goal will remain the same: enjoy the trip, learn from the experience, and arrive safely.
Missed the Earlier Articles in Our Summer Road Trip Series?
Planning a Summer Road Trip: Preparing for a 1,500-Mile Drive from Florida to Maine
Driving Long Distances: How to Stay Alert and Avoid Driver Fatigue on Long Road Trips
Planning the Journey: Decisions That Shaped Our 1,500-Mile Road Trip from Florida to Maine
About Florida Pro Driving Academy
At Florida Pro Driving Academy. we believe safer driving comes from preparation, good decision-making, and experience behind the wheel. If you received a traffic citation in Hillsborough County or are a Hillsborough County resident who needs a Basic Driver Improvement course, learn more about our Florida-approved online Basic Driver Improvement course.
