Rt. 90 and Cooperstown, NY

[Karel]

After we spend time in Niagara Falls, we are thinking about driving across Rt. 90 to Cooperstown.

Can anyone tell me what 90 is like? I was thinking about just driving and finding someplace to stop for the night without planning ahead. This is how we do it when we drive to Florida. Are there a lot of places when you get off the highway?

How far is it from Niagara Falls to Cooperstown?

 

[rigs32]

Yes, there are a lot of places to stop on the Thruway. 90 is a major interstate, 2 lanes in each direction, 65mph speed limit.

According to mapquest, it's about 4.5 hours.

 

[Imzadi]

Yes, each Thruway stop will have signs of a few of the various motels right off the exit.

The best way I've found, when I drove was to join AAA and get their tour books of each state. It will list the various motels & hotels according to price & AAA's "diamond rating system." Don't stay in any place less than two diamonds, otherwise you are paying for the mold!

 

[Nancy]

There are a lot of nice hotels all along the Thruway. Most of the major exits have the hotel chains right off the exit. When you get near 81 in the Syracuse area there is a good selection. Cooperstown has hotels too. We've never been but SIL and her family have.

90 is a nice drive, straight road, just be prepared for the tolls....they are a little steep. (at least I think they are)

 

[Karel]

There are a lot of nice hotels all along the Thruway. Most of the major exits have the hotel chains right off the exit. When you get near 81 in the Syracuse area there is a good selection. Cooperstown has hotels too. We've never been but SIL and her family have.

90 is a nice drive, straight road, just be prepared for the tolls....they are a little steep. (at least I think they are)

Do they take EZ Pass??? That would make life very easy.

 

[cybrkitn]

Do they take EZ Pass??? That would make life very easy.

I believe all the tolls in NYS take EZ Pass. I haven't been through one yet that doesn't.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I think all of NYS thruways accept the EZ pass.
We take Rte 87 & 28 to Cooperstown.

 

[olena]

When are you going? Hall of Fame weekend is July 27-30, so that may make finding hotels rooms difficult or expensive at that time.

 

[milhouse]

The NYS Thruway takes EZPass.

During the Summer it's pretty hard to get a hotel room in Cooperstown. The Turning Stone Casino is just off the Thruway east of Syracuse about an 1-1/2short of Cooperstown. It has a couple of hotels. There are hotels at the Utica and Syracuse exits as well.

Once you you exit 96 going to Cooperstown it's all back roads without too much civilization. If you don't have a booked room in town I would stay in a hotel near the Thruway.

Cooperstown is beautiful. Plan at least a whole day to see the Hall and walk around town to see all the shops.

 

[Imzadi]

The NYS Thruway takes EZPass.

Will NY EZPass accept NJ EZPass? I know the NY subway/bus transit Metro cards cannot be used on the NJ Path trains or NJ buses.

 

[ducklite]

Will NY EZPass accept NJ EZPass? I know the NY subway/bus transit Metro cards cannot be used on the NJ Path trains or NJ buses.

Yes, the systems are interchangeable from MA through MD and everywhere in between.

Anne

 

[Nancy]

Yes, the systems are interchangeable from MA through MD and everywhere in between.

Anne

Here is a map of where EZass is good.

http://www.nysthruway.gov/images/ezpass/ezmap.jpg

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

Cooperstown is not directly off the 90, just so you know. It will also take you about 5 hours to get there from Niagara Falls, depending on traffic and the time of year you go. When you get there definately eat at The Doubleday Cafe, it's sooo good. If you have time head down about 30 minutes on 88 to Oneonta and eat at Brook's BBQ. I went to undergrad there and grew up a few towns over, and I've been eating there since I was a kid. You won't be disappointed!

 

[Karel]

Thanks for all your help!

Yes, I know that we'll have to get off of 90 to get to Cooperstown. Also, we won't be there for Hall of Fame weekend. I'm already running into trouble finding a place so I can't even imagine HOF weekend.

EZ pass is the same up and down the East Coast. It used to be different going past Baltimore but I think that's even on the system now. I love using it - except for trying to get over the Verazzano Bridge. Still packed.

 

[metsno1]

IMHO, the Thruway is possibly the most boring stretch of road in history.

I don't know what kind of schedule you're on, but there are far more interesting alternative routes to take. Yes, they take a lot longer, but they're so much nicer. For example, the Seaway Trail essentially follows the shoreline of Lake Ontario, goes through a number of great little towns, all with B & B's, lots of beach access, tons of places to eat, and a little history to boot. You could take it all the way past Rochester to about Fair Haven, and then head south to take the rest of the trip on the Thruway.

Also, don't forget about the Finger Lakes region, especially if you're into wine! I have no idea how many vineyards you'd run into if you took Rt. 5 out of Buffalo, but there certainly wouldn't be a shortage! Also loaded with hotels and restaurants.

But the Thruway is definitely the fastest....just boring, that's all.

 

[snowy76]

But the Thruway is definitely the fastest....just boring, that's all.

Ahhh, but what about that lovely section through Montezuma if you time it just at dusk, it makes you think there's a pelting rain hitting your windshield until you realize it's just the bugs!

metsno1 makes a good suggestion though... the Finger Lakes are lovely. Lots of wineries and nice little towns to see. State Route 5 or U.S. Route 20 would be great for that. Nice thing is that both largely parallel the Thruway (sometimes they actually run together) so you could do a portion of your trip on either of those and use the Thruway when you want to save some time.

As far as hotels... as a PP mentioned... Syracuse is a nice midpoint between C'town and NF. Some hotels are off the junction with I-81 - personally, I'd go down one more exit (about 5 miles) to Dewitt (I think it's called Syracuse East). Better quality of hotels IMO (esp Collamer Road, right off of Carrier Circle).