JMNC

8288's advice: Garmin suggesting taking NY State Thruway out of Buffalo eastbound toward Rochester, then taking Rt 390 South toward Rt 86 South toward Corning, NY, then continuing onto Rt 15 South (thru Harrisburg, PA to York, PA) - staying on/to I-83 South in Maryland toward Towson that lead into Baltimore, MD as the final destination

 

I am a Baltimorean who lived in Toronto for four years and frequently drove between those two cities and it usually took about 9 and a half hours including stops.

 

I crossed into the USA via St. Catherine's, ON then down to Buffalo on 290 and 190. After that the route I followed is exactly the one stated above. I used to drive all the way across the thruway until I connected with I 81 South near Syracuse (6+ hours north of Baltimore). When I learned about using Interstate 390 down to Corning, I never used I 81 again.

 

On US 15 you will go through some towns like Williamsport and Lewisburg, but it is a far nicer route without all the trucks and mountains of I 81. You have to be careful to follow the signs to I 83 when you get down near Harrisburg; you'll be on some city streets across the river after the town of Enola, but it is marked.

 

One further piece of advice. I 83 will come to a split at the Baltimore Beltway I695. I suggest going right. Not long afterwards I 83 South (Jones Falls Expressway) exit will be on you right. This ends downtown at the Inner Harbor at Lombard St.

 

Hope this is helpful.

Wow thanks for all that info. In the near future we too plan on driving from (just north of Toronto) to Baltimore to try one of the RC Cruises leaving from there to the Bahamas. Between different map and yahoo driving directions and even GPS can get confusing, so nice to have someone with driving experience giving you the ropes. Thanks Again!!