early planning my October York trip - my first ever

Depends what time you drive through here. Past rush hour in the evening, probably ok (Afternoon traffic heads south of DC until you reach the Beltway). You always roll the dice with 495 in either direction no matter what.  Mornings inbound start early to avoid the HOV restrictions. Listen to traffic reports and choose your alternatives if 95 isnt clear.

Could take I81 all the way to Harrisburg, but 81 is a big truck road and is prone to accidents that can make it a mess too.  If you stick with I 95, you can bail out in Richmond and take I64 to either I81 or shortcut it at US29 in Charlottesville (4 lane highway), 29 will split from US 15 and you'll stay on 15. Same goes if you bail out in Fredericksburg -  up US17 to US29/15. You take 15 through Md into Gettysburg PA and onto US30 which will take you to York. Most exits north of Woodbridge connect I95 to I66, and 66 can also drop you on US15 (exit 40). If you bail off 95 and want to avoid DC, you'll ultimately need to end up on US 15.

You can also bail east onto US301, but thats not really my neck of the woods. Been a long time since I drove that road, so someone else would be better off advising you there. Ultimately would need to end up in Baltimore on I83 to York.

Justin has it correct.......no good way around DC.

I'm a bit more familiar with 301. You pick it up coming off 95 at Rte 207, north of Doswell, and merge onto it in Bowling Green. In Virginia, it is a rural 4 lane highway. The New Potomac River Bridge is a wonderful update over the former structure. Once you get into Maryland, rural turns into suburban. Not too bad, but lots of lights all the way to Baltimore.

Another potential bottleneck with the western route is that Rte 15 becomes a 2 lane road north of Leesburg, over the Potomac and south of Frederick. It can get congested. Once past Frederick, the road to Gettysburg is a 4 lane rural highway.

Route 30 from Gettysburg to York can get a little crowded as you approach York in rush hour, but nothing like DC traffic.....

As time approaches, I'll be announcing the various breakfasts and dinners.... you are certainly most welcome.

Peter

@ScottV posted:

So my question is to those more knowledgeable with the area than I, is there a better or more preferable route to get to York from the south, other than through DC?

Delta Airlines, Atlanta to Harrisburg.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Delta Airlines, Atlanta to Harrisburg.

An excellent suggestion !

@ScottV posted:

...I know I'm super early with this ...

No, you're not super early.  Very smart of you to plan ahead, as the better hotels fill up quickly.  Many of us can remember when accommodations had to be booked a year in advance.

And congrats on your first York.

Thanks guys!  

I'll pass on the flight. The cost of transportation alone from my place to the airport and back rivals the cost of the flight, plus added costs of shipping any York purchases and a car rental.... makes that a choice a non-starter.

I guess I'll have to take nav suggestions based on traffic and be dynamic with the chosen route. (I'm bad at that once I've made up my mind... )

Good suggestions and ideas already out there...

Not sure which days of the week you're traveling, but what I'd do is try to time it so you hit the I-95 area south of DC and then on through 495 to points north in the 11am to 2pm timeframe. It's always a crapshoot but I think that time gives you the best chance to avoid the worst. Can't do anything about accidents and unforeseen events, but that strategy likely helps avoid rush hours and higher volumes.

Good luck!

You could leave a day early and figure on transitioning DC in the middle of the night, best chance of missing all the ugly traffic.

I too am planning my first trip to York in October. Can't wait!

@LT1Poncho  good luck!   I pulled up some hotels and saw some limited availability and one sold out notice for York, so I figured I'd better reserve the room now and get something I like, rather than end up in a neighboring town or paying a premium.

When I travel south from Allentown PA, I never use 95. Use 85-77-81.

95 is the absolute worst road. I traveled to Fort Bragg and back quite often when my son was stationed there. Always a headache. I learned after a couple of times, even though it was slightly longer, 81 was a much more pleasant ride.

Avoid 95!

Welcome to York! I'll be there...

ScottV, I know, I was able to reserve a room a couple months ago at a Hampton inn. Not sure if it’s close to the facility, but I don’t really care. I hope to sightsee in Strasburg as well.

@TimMacPA posted:

When I travel south from Allentown PA, I never use 95. Use 85-77-81.

I'm at a loss as how you'd ever get anywhere close to I95 coming from Allentown to York!

ScottV…..one option, while adding some time to your trip, could be to come up I77, Route 19 through WV and then take I 68 East to I81 etc to York area. This bypasses major cities……and is a beautiful drive though the hills in the fall

According to Maps, it is 47 miles shorter to go I85, 77 and 81 and only adds 19 minutes to the trip.  Having had to get through DC way too many times, I am confident the time will actually be less unless you plan to drive through DC in the middle of the night.   As mentioned above, I81 takes you thorough some beautiful country.

Good luck on your decision and I hope you enjoy your experiences at York in October!

Happy railroading,

Don

I still have to get my stuff in order to make it to York in October. I usually leave on Wednesday, preferably early enough to go to Strasburg and the Museum next door. 2021 I missed Lionel getting measurements on the L1 at the museum by about 40 minutes. I only know that because I had talked to Ryan about the museum folks working on it.

I actually have to figure what is my best time to get Strasburg in. Probably something on Saturday as York gets a little empty from noon onward. I think the latest time I left York on Saturday was around 1. I tend to pop off just after 12. I'll have to see what Strasburg's schedules look like.

ScottV...I agree with DGJones, having driven from Alpharetta to York many times over the years I've always taken I85 to 77 to 81.  I used to exit at Chambersburg, PA and come over 30 to York.  More recently I've gotten off in Northern Virginia and come through Maryland, much more picturesque and about the same amount of time.  Now I take Delta.

Just use Waze and it will give you the best route and constantly recalculate based on real time traffic. It’s never wrong.

@ScottV posted:

Hey all -

I know I'm super early with this, but I took a bit of time yesterday to book a hotel room for the October York meet.

-Scott

Just curious.  What hotel are you staying at?

@ScottV posted:

Thanks guys!

I guess I'll have to take nav suggestions based on traffic and be dynamic with the chosen route. (I'm bad at that once I've made up my mind... )

As stated above: I-85 to I-77 to I-81 to US-30 east.

@CAPPilot. Hampton Inn seemed decent.

I come to Carol County MD from South Carolina a few times a year which is located next to PA.  I’m 30 minutes from York Fairgrounds. Waze brings me right on up 95 every time. I have taken 17 to 66 up to 81off of 95 but it is a longer ride, ( Easier Ride but longer). Baltimore/ DC traffic is a pain but you deal with it for a shorter route. Another option would be to get over to 81 and get off in Hagerstown MD and work your way to York. Any rate have fun with your first trip to York. See you there. It’s always a good time.

I95 past Baltimore to I695 west to I83 north to York! Very easy if traffic is ok. I use this route past Washington all the time with no problems. going to I81 is too  far out of the way! Good luck and have fun at York!

Amtrak?  You could take the Crescent to 30th St, Philly, a Keystone service train to Harrisburg and then rent a car for the 1 hour drive to York. 

Got my badge today !  Looking forward to my 1st York 😁

Rich in WV

@GG1 4877 posted:

Amtrak?  You could take the Crescent to 30th St, Philly, a Keystone service train to Harrisburg and then rent a car for the 1 hour drive to York.

For a first time visitor, how many big boxes of trains can they bring back home with them on the train?

@trestleking posted:

Got my badge today !  Looking forward to my 1st York 😁

Rich in WV

Cograts and prepare to be amazed!

Peter

@trestleking posted:

Got my badge today !  Looking forward to my 1st York 😁

Rich in WV

It'll be a unique experience, the first one always is!   My badge is in the car, that way I don't forget it!  I did that one year and had to go get a duplicate.

Congrats, but might not be a good idea to post a pic of your badge.

Yes, it was seeing some trains I did not ever see in one place, spent my budget for the next 2 years, but it was seeing and talking to the people that was the most fun at my first York this last april, 2023. And it was a father and son trip which made in real nice, even with the long drive from NJ

Gary

@Richie C. posted:

Congrats, but might not be a good idea to post a pic of your badge.

@Richie C.,  please enlighten this newbie, what’s the issue ?

thks, Rich

@Mallard4468 posted:

For a first time visitor, how many big boxes of trains can they bring back home with them on the train?

I can remember one York trip where two of us filled the car and had to repack it several times to get everything in.  I ended up with a set of passenger cars on my lap that simply wouldn't fit any other place!  It wasn't a small car either!

@trestleking posted:

@Richie C.,  please enlighten this newbie, what’s the issue ?

thks, Rich

Someone could plausibly print it in color and be you, I suppose. Not a high risk I'd say.

@trestleking posted:

@Richie C.,  please enlighten this newbie, what’s the issue ?

thks, Rich

Putting one's real name and TCA member number in plain view on the internet...

Some folks include their TCA number in their signature; IMO, that information should only be available to other TCA members - we can get it easily enough by logging into the members' section of the TCA website.

I'm not sure how much non-public information a bad actor can get by having a person's name and TCA member number, but I'd rather not find out.

@trestleking posted:

@Richie C.,  please enlighten this newbie, what’s the issue ?

thks, Rich

As others have pointed out, a bad actor with the right computer expertise might be able to print out your badge, put it in a plastic holder and gain entrance pretending to be you - minimal perhaps, but like putting other personal data out on the web, just not worth the risk. 

@Richie C. posted:

As others have pointed out, a bad actor with the right computer expertise might be able to print out your badge, put it in a plastic holder and gain entrance pretending to be you - minimal perhaps, but like putting other personal data out on the web, just not worth the risk.

Really, why bother?  Nothing is checked except that you have the right colored badge and there is the right information on it.  No reason to go to the trouble of using the exact info from someone, any number will do just fine I expect.

It doesn't take much computer expertise to imitate that badge with the correct fonts, etc.

Figured someone might be checking names off and/or cross-checking names with numbers.

Plus, not sure how easy it might be for a bad actor armed with someone's name and TCA number to be able to hack into their site and get someone's other personal data like address, tel. #, credit card info, etc.

Maybe I'm too paranoid, but I just don't feel comfortable putting info like that out there.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Really, why bother?  Nothing is checked except that you have the right colored badge and there is the right information on it.  No reason to go to the trouble of using the exact info from someone, any number will do just fine I expect.

It doesn't take much computer expertise to imitate that badge with the correct fonts, etc.

Those ladies guarding the doors can be mean, though.

@Richie C. posted:

Figured someone might be checking names off and/or cross-checking names with numbers.

...

Nope - as mentioned above, they just make sure it's visible and the right color.

@Richie C. posted:

As others have pointed out, a bad actor with the right computer expertise might be able to print out your badge, put it in a plastic holder and gain entrance pretending to be you - minimal perhaps, but like putting other personal data out on the web, just not worth the risk.

@Richie C., Thks, guess I’ve lived in “flyover country” too long that I don’t think of bad actors a lot.  I probably should.  Anyway, see you at York !

Rich