This is a cage question so feel free moving to EOE if necessary but it's a route completely in Region 6 so I've posted here.
I'm going in a couple weeks to Portsmouth, NH leaving on a Saturday am at 0400 and will leave there Tuesday AM.

I typically do the I 95 route which I know mileage wise if the shortest but I hate this way with a passion.  I'm looking at doing 95 to Baltimore then going around Baltimore on 695 to 83N.  Would it be better to stay on this to Harrisburg then hit 78 E or I see a possible shortcut on 30 to 222 making my way back over to 78 near Allentown.   Here I would stay on 78 to 287 all the way to I 95 just N of NYC.  I realize this is a longer route but is it worth it to be able to avoid Jersey and NYC? 

95 exit10 in NJ - 287 - Tappan Zee 684-84-91 call me from Hartford we meet for lunch in Northampton Ma.

Sent from the Moto X. A wicked awesome phone.

That seems to be adding even more time.  I'll have to play with this map and figure out how I will go. 

Quote from: Cookie on May 21, 2014, 06:00:45 AM

95 exit10 in NJ - 287 - Tappan Zee 684-84-91 call me from Hartford we meet for lunch in Northampton Ma.

Sent from the Moto X. A wicked awesome phone.

This.  Tappan Zee is the best route around North NJ and the NYC mess.

I've done this route before but not when going to NH.  It might be worth the extra time to avoid NJ and NYC. 

If you're going to go up through Harrisonburg, PA you might as well just stay on I-81 all the way to Scranton, then take 84 towards Beantown.

I did this once coming home from CT.  It felt like it added so much time to the ride but it might still be worth it to avoid NJ and NYC.

There is NO GOOD WAY!

I prefer the Tappan Zee to the GW, because it avoids the cross-Bronx & Sawmill.  (I prefer the Merritt Pkw over I-95, but some people find the pace on those roads a bit unnerving.)  IIRC, the Tappan Zee adds 14 miles.

If it were me, I'd take I-83 to I-78 to I-287 to I-84.

If you are looking for a diversion, cross the Hudson just below West Point on 9, and take 6 along the river - you will want to re-run this short but sweet section section on your bike - up to I-84.  There's a bit of traffic through Peerskill, but I find it breaks up the monotony.