<p>What s the best way up from Short Hills Mall area? Williams.edu suggests 87N to 84E then up Taconic...22...43, but since that s for all points south, perhaps there s a better way from NJ. Mapquest says go 87N, past Albany and then East on 7. Or does it make sense to slide over from 87N to 22 at some other point. I've tried two West=East traverses from 87 that have taken me through 10000000 miles of 25 mph with speed zones!!! Help!</p>
<p>The Taconic Parkway is definitely the best bet. You can either go up to I84 east and pick it up. Or you could do the Garden State up to 287 and cross the Tappen Zee Bridge. The Taconic exit is just east of the bridge. That's how I do it from Jersey, but I'm headed towards Hartford.</p>
<p>The I-84 cutover is probably better.</p>
<p>I'm from around Williamstown, and yea, the Taconic Parkway is pretty good. It's very small (width wise), but usually has close to no one on it. Traffic won't be a problem, however, if you want to stop for a break, hope you like the forest... There's virtually no pit stops on the Taconic Pkwy.</p>
<p>Another vote for the Taconic. 22 and 43 aren't bad roads at all; you'll go much faster than 25 mph on these roads.</p>
<p>I really have no point of reference because I've never taken the Taconic, but I find that the following route is pretty convenient:</p>
<p>(Note: I live in Bergen county, very close to the border with NY)
1. Take the Garden State Parkway North until it turns into I-87
2. Take I-87 all the way to around Albany, take the exit towards I-90 East
3. Take I-90 East until you hit 20 West (I-90 actually takes you slightly east of Williamstown)
4. Take 20 West until it turns into Route 7 towards Williamstown/North Adams
5. Route 7 intersects with Route 2, which is the street that runs right through campus</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Rt 20/7 can turn into a nightmare if you get behind the school buses, as I did 2 weeks ago.
A 45 minute ride turned into a 90 minutes of torturous stop and go until we got past Lanesboro. Avoid from 2-4 pm at all cost on weekdays during the school year.
Take the back roads. Rt 43 is beautiful.
Rt. 7 is not.
Simply put, there is no EASY way to get to Williams!</p>
<p>Ya'll are a little late to enjoy the real gem of the cut-over from the Taconic to route 43. Shuji's Japanese restaurant in an old house in New Lebanon, NY. Fabulous place for 3 decades that closed in 1998 when the owners retired.</p>
<p>Taconic is great but not for sophomores, new drivers... as the Hampton exiles decide to cruise up to the Berkshires at 90 mph, but thanks to those who answered. What about restaurants, cafes that are easy, good, fast on the way?</p>
<p>This is especially top avoid narrow Taconic roads for younger drivers...what about 87N past Albany onto 787, then after Troy, East on 7 to 2 to Wtown?</p>
<p>That's a really long route to Williamstown. The Taconic is not bad at all north of Putnam County. I drove it at age 17 and would be fine with my 17 year old driving it. It's a little funky/narrow in Putnam/northern Westchester but wide open after that, which is most of the drive.</p>
<p>I used to love driving the Taconic when I was in college. No traffic. No trucks. Gorgeous road.</p>
<p>I'd vote for the 87 north to I84 east to Taconic route from Jersey. You'll have to dig around to get the little cutover route from the Taconic to Williamstown. Basically take the Taconic until it ends and cut over through Canaan and New Lebanon, picking up Route 22. You want to end up at Route 43, which intersects with Route 7 in South Williamstown or continues on and turns into Water Street in downtown Williamstown.</p>
<p>Taconic, to Mass Pike east (just couple of miles on Mass Pike) to first exit for Stockbridge. Take a hard left off the exit onto Route 22 north, follow to Route 43. I've taken this route for years both to Williamstown and my kids' summer camp in the Berkshires.</p>
<p>The Taconic is a safer road than it was years ago. Many of the roads that cut across the Taconic have been closed off. Not so great for local drivers but great for those on the highway. My only caution would be to watch for deer in the evening hours.</p>
<p>ID, I'm pretty sure the last time I drove by the Shuji's building it was being renovated.</p>
<p>Mapquest says take 787 to 7 to 346 in big arc....taking 787 to 7 to 2 seems much more direct...any suggestions (traffic lights, speed traps on2 that I dont know about).</p>
<p>Route 2 through Troy to Albany.</p>
<p>We just did 87 to 787 to 7 to 2 and it was very quick and very safe. My vote is with that route.</p>
<p>I like 87N to 7E (past Albany, to the right) to 278 (right) to 2 E (left) all the way into W'town. It's beautiful this way coming through the mountains. (I don't know if there's snow or ice there now, though.)</p>
<p>I'm not even the one who asked this question, but I'm delighted to have all these options for various seasons, times of the day, and weather conditions. I'm going to print a copy for the glove box. Thanks to all who shared suggestions.</p>
<p>hey - i'm a williams student from the short hills area and i usually i usually take 24 west to 287 north to the new york thruway (87). I like the thruway better because they take better care of it during the winter, and it is less windy than the Taconic. From there, I take the Mass Turnpike extention (84 I believe). Then 22-NY to 43W to 7N which takes you right into town. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Here you go. Remember to take ice/low visibility into account.</p>
<p>thank you .... we are here safe and sound ....</p>