<p>My son is starting at Cornell this fall. I have driven to Ithaca three different ways from Northwest Corner of Connecticut. I'm interested in input on best routes from Winsted Connecticut area to Ithaca. I figure students or parents have tried them all:</p>
<p>Fastest?
Most Direct?
Nicest?
Most interesting?
Does going through the Catskills make sense?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>LOL I'm part of that long Connecticut to Ithaca transport group. I live in the North[east/middle] of CT. I can't tell you the routes my Dad drove but I know I was on a road for over 80 miles with pretty much just acres and acres of farm or farm + woods around us. It was a nice view...</p>
<p>From upper Fairfield County, we think the best way is 84 to 17 to 81 to 79. Pretty decent highway until you get to 79.</p>
<p>I do not like 84 to 81 to 79.</p>
<p>Can't those engineering guys at Cornell invent a teleportation system?</p>
<p>"Can't those engineering guys at Cornell invent a teleportation system?" </p>
<p>YES!!! When my friend and I were waiting for our "Ivy League responses" we were saying that if we both got in we would teleport to eachothers schools and go to infamous "Ivy League parties". hahahaha</p>
<p>What about for those coming from the New York City area?</p>
<p>From NYC, I would recommend taking 87 (NYS Thruway) north to 17 West (it's the second exit for 17 -- the one right near Woodbury Commons) to 81 north to 79 West. That will take you straight into Ithaca. It's pretty much the same route that was recommended coming from Connecticut, but starts out heading north on 87 instead of west on 84.</p>
<p>tun, I don't know anything about driving from NYC, but a couple friends of mine use the Shortline bus service (I think it's run by coach USA), to get home on short breaks. Obviously, there's not enough room to bring a lot of luggage, but for fall and spring breaks it can work out nicely...</p>
<p>Yeah I was thinking of taking some kind of bus service because I don't want to force my dad to drive all the way up to Ithaca just for the breaks. How much do those fares generally cost round-trip?</p>
<p>For bus, see:
<a href="http://www.coachusa.com/info/shortline/gc/coach.ss.tickets.item1.content.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.coachusa.com/info/shortline/gc/coach.ss.tickets.item1.content.asp</a></p>
<p>shortline bus is great in that it goes several times a day to and from cornell/nyc port authority bus terminal. it sucks in that you're sitting in a bus for 5 or 6 hours...</p>