Alternate Route to Baltimore
Many years ago, someone on the forum posted an alternate way to drive to The Baltimore area. The only thing I remember was we drove through Lancaster, the beginning of the route was one lane in each direction, changed to a highway and overall, was a great way to head down south. Does this ring a bell to anyone?
Bessie Bessie - The road you're talking about sounds an awful lot like 222. You would go 78 to the other side of Allentown and pick up 222. That will go around Reading into Lancaster. I would then get 30 before you hit Lancaster, head to York and get 83 south.
GC 
Bug3If you want to go all highway then 78 to 81 but then 83 south in Harrisburg is not a bad route. 222 is Kutztown - Reading - Lancaster with all the PA German area on a smaller highway. But if traffic lights through some areas drive you nuts, then 222 is not for you.
GC is right... if you're going through Lancaster, you would need to take 22 past Allentown and pick up 222 South to Lancaster and then take the Lincoln Highway (US-30) to York and pick up I-83 South to Baltimore.
Personally, unless you need to travel at a specific time that would cause significant delays, I think 31 to I-95 would save you 1/2 an hour over that alternate route.
ianimal Ianimal
I guess you have not been on i95 very much...tolls and traffic are horrendous...much calmer to go 78 to 81 to 83
Agree with Bug. If you're able to avoid traffic on 95, that's a win, and frankly some luck. But it is unconscionable how high the tolls are.
However, a compromise route to avoid 31 and its circles and traffic lights is to take 78/22 to the NE Extension of the PA turnpike all the way to 95 just south of Philly. Not avoiding much in the way of tolls but you move faster.
Route 46 Not a country view. But I have taken 31 to 295 and cross into Delaware to Baltimore. I find it better than 95 and Philly.
happycamper Personally, I take the NEX to I-95, but I live pretty much equidistant between it and Route 31. From Hackettstown, it would take damn near an hour just to get TO the extension, which is why I didn't recommend it.
I like to plan my trips to avoid cities at AM or PM peak travel times, so I never have an issue with getting stuck in traffic. If I'm going to Baltimore or DC, I use I-95. If I'm going to coastal VA or further south, then it makes temporal sense for me to take the drive out to Harrisburg and pick up I-81 to avoid Philly, Baltimore AND DC traffic because it's really hard to avoid all three unless you leave at 1am, lol.
I always use Google Map app .....because it gives route options with time, distance, and traffic conditions.....and it has saved me a few times...detouring around a problem once already en route
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