First, avoid Manhattan or lower Westchester County during the morning (8-10
AM) and evening (4-7 PM) rush hours. I've seen times when it took me an hour
or more to cross the GW Bridge (I-95) or either of the tunnels under the
Hudson.
Instead, try an end run ... avoiding Manhattan entirely:
>From Western New England take I-84 West to I-684 South, to I-287 West.
>From Southern New England take I-95 to I-287 West.
Stay on I-287, which connects just past White Plains to I-87 North and the
Tappan Zee Bridge. Cross the Hudson on the Tappan Zee and, after about 6-8
miles on I-87 you'll connect, just past Nanuet NY to the Northern end of the
Garden State Parkway which ... eventually ... will land you in Atlantic
City.
You'll also avoid the lovely and delightful Jersey Turnpike (I-95) which, in
the Newark area, is arguably the worst interstate highway in the entire U.S.
(Although the GSP isn't exactly scenic in the Oranges or near Meadowlands,
it has far less traffic than the Jersey and you don't get the feeling ... in
the Newark area ... that a 747 is about to land on the highway directly in
front of you.)
Bill Alan