US Route 15 – Restaurants, Police, Gas, Travelogue
Of the half-dozen North American highways named ’15’ – each with it’s own character and ghosts, this guide is for hardcore travellers who will appreciate the northern 400 miles of a 90-yr old interstate bisecting Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. Whether you’re horse-and-buggy Amish, a bar-hopping redneck, gambler, DC-techie, or long-haul broker, here is advice from one who enjoyed Route-15 in trucks, vans, sports & luxury cars – 150 trips over ten years. Buffalo NY to Northern Virginia: Gambling, Niagara Falls, Casinos, Honeymoons and International trucking at one end… and politics, high-tech jobs, consumer markets and the American ‘South’ at the other end.
Virginia
I join Route 15 North at Leesburg, trying to avoid the DC rush-hour madness. It’s far worse here than any other city on the way. The Sheetz travel plaza just north of Leesburg Pike is a good launching point with reasonable gas and decent fast-food (McDonalds next door). Off-hours, the Police congregate here before heading their solitary way. In fact, this is the slowest, toughest part of the trip until you cross the Potomac into Maryland. Insanely-rich horse ranches with maddeningly-slow speed limits cause dozens of irritated motorists to bunch up on the single-lane road. Fortunately, you’re through this within 20 minutes on a good day.
Maryland
Crossing the State line on an old, steel bridge gives one a sense of relief. It’s single lane for a few more miles but the attitude is relaxed. You’ll navigate the only ‘british-style’ roundabout intersection on the entire highway. Then it opens up to double-lane with a 65mph speed limit. Your half-hour blitz through central Maryland will pass Civil-War battlefields, Ski-resorts and discount liquor stores (Mountain liquors being the last one before the State line). Considering what lays ahead, you may be tempted to stop by Mt. St.Mary’s University seven miles before the Pennsylvania line. Just three minutes up a spectacular mountainside and you’re in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception asking forgiveness for the way you’ll be driving the next five hours (or the last five – depending on your direction). I usually put some holy water on the truck.. You can average 10 mph over the limit without problems. Maryland Police seem scarce in these parts.
Pennsylvania
75 MPH on the 65 MPH highway, it’s hard to notice you’ve crossed the State line. The Police will set up in sheltered groves between the north and south lanes. Lowering your speed as you crest the hill, and then speeding up as the next 1/2 mile looks clear is the best way to avoid trouble. Police are more aggressive in the southern half of the State, and relatively absent in the northern half. Four hours to traverse the State, and you’ll be hard-pressed to cross in under four. This is because Pennsylvania offers cheap gas & food, excellent shopping and breathtaking scenery. It’s hard to make the trip without stopping twice. The first hour gets you into the capitol – Harrisburg. The price of gas varies by up to 50-cents and ten years have proven there is no rule to where it is cheapest. Just keep an eye as you pass through the many shopping districts. Just north of Harrisburg on the west side, you’ll find Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds one after the other. This is a good place to load up before the next three hours of high-speed madness. Just a few miles further up, the Hess gas station on the west side is about the only place that consistently has low prices. The next 90 minutes get you to Williamsport. This section is frequented by DUI billboards, warnings about aggressive drivers and real accidents to go along. I’ve videoed several fatal accidents on this stretch around the time when bars are closing for the night. And the police presence is not there. You’ll find more Amish farms, and adult video stores per square inch than any other part of the country. Just south of Williamsport, Surplus Outlet liquidates all kinds of groceries for pennies on the dollar. The last 90 minutes before the NY State line, you’ll pass Fry Brothers Turkey Ranch restaurant & gas. They don’t serve alcohol but the food & service makes for a near-packed establishment. They sell local products not available elsewhere such as ‘Birch Beer’ soda. This part of the trip, I’ve been able to drive as fast as I dare, through breathtaking scenery without incident.
New York
Two things one notices upon blasting over the State line on a brand-new divided highway: the price of gas rises suddenly, and the State Police are far more interested in catching you. Oh, the divided hwy reverts to two-lane 55 MPH for 20 minutes but that’s okay.. the real problem is when you’re back on road that welcomes 90+ MPH but the cops don’t. I’m cautious when approaching overpasses, construction-storage zones and the crests of hills.. opening the throttle when the way is obviously clear. Route 15 will now merge with hwy 390 North and I take the shortcut exit to Buffalo via hwy 63 (Sonyea). From the State line to Batavia, the road is not condusive to eating, refueling or even sight-seeing. In both PA and NY, you see penitentiaries – giving pause of thankfulness for your freedom. The entire trip is diverse enough to keep you interested. Just be sure to do most of your eating & shopping in PA. I have never made it in less than eight hours from Buffalo to Virginia.
