Heading to Atlantic City- need advice on the drive there

My bachelorette party is coming!! I have a friend that lives in Astoria, Queens and another that lives in Midtown East (Hi Diane! ). I'm trying to come up with a good midpoint to meet them. Maybe somewhere off the LIRR? I want to avoid having them come out to LI and avoid my sisters having to drive in the city.

Now, what I personally would do is have my two friends meet up in Astoria and we pick them up there and take the Triboro bridge....but that's too far north for Atlantic City. This is going out of the way since mapquest says to take the Verrazzano. Which means...the lovely Belt Parkway.

Is there an LIRR station or any easy to get to subway station somewhere off the Belt Parkway that we can meet my friends?

TIA!! I would be SO grateful if you could help out!!!

Hi Tara (hehehe)..Roy is doing a bit of research right now for us I was thinking maybe we could get a bus and meet you somewhere in NJ? Is that even possible?

Fuggedabout it - we'll meet you guys in Astoria I think- how's that?

Easy for me! That's like 2 train stops away What station?

I love that we're having this conversation here!

I guess I was trying to make everyone happy (meaning the drivers and yourselves) by finding a midpoint and avoiding Astoria cuz it's too north- but who cares? It's what we gotta do and that should be fine!

Well, if you guys change your mind I'll go where ever I have too! No worries!

Around what time should I be meeting you guys there?

And Yes! It's hysterical that we are having this conversation here

Will let you know when I know more! I'm guessing late morning!

Yippee! Sounds grand!!

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Posted by Dani731

Maybe you can meet at Jamaica train station, then you can hop on the Van Wick which will take you back to the Belt Parkway.

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jamaica station is going out of the way from astoria and further from AC

I grew up in astoria and youre closer to ac from there...Take the LIRR train to either woodside, its not far for them to meet you from there, if they take the bqe from astoria its seriously an 8 min drive to the LIRR station in woodside.

From astoria you have other highways you dont have to take the triboro...we drove there recently, and infact astoria is closer bc of the fact that its not even 10 mins from the city.

The belt parkway is actually inconvenient for astoria so not sure why you want that, bc you take that from the van wyck, and to get to astoria you would take the belt to the van wyck to grand central pkwy.

What part of LI are you coming from? i can tell you the easiest way

Also Mapquest is stupid, you can take the bqe from astoria heading towards staten island and take the verrazano from there, thats what we did bc we also had to pick up a friend from staten island on our way to AC.

ok also there is a way to go straight to astoria taking the trains but not sure if you want to do it.

You would take the LIRR to the forest hills-austin street stop...get off and about 2 blocks down is the mta nyc trains, you take the R train for about 15 mins and take it to the Steinway Street stop and steinway street is in astoria and no matter where in astoria they live its easy to get to.

I take the LIRR everyday from work in the city and its the hempstead line, i get off the stop after forest hills, the kew gardens one...but also at times ive taken the babylon line and i think the ronkonkoma line runs there too...Again all depends on what part of LI you are coming from.

I have other options if you want too lol

Thanks for this! I will make sure Tara see's it

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Posted by BunnyBride

Thanks for this! I will make sure Tara see's it

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no problem ... you know astoria better obviously lol so i guess you can pick whatever is easiest for you to get to...the woodside station is a good idea, bc you can take the bqe for one exit, get off northern and its 5 mins from there so its not bad... the LIRR to austin street isn't bad either, bc the R train is close and its a short ride and leaves you right in astoria...Good luck girls

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Posted by Espo22

From astoria you have other highways you dont have to take the triboro...we drove there recently, and infact astoria is closer bc of the fact that its not even 10 mins from the city.

The belt parkway is actually inconvenient for astoria so not sure why you want that, bc you take that from the van wyck, and to get to astoria you would take the belt to the van wyck to grand central pkwy.

What part of LI are you coming from? i can tell you the easiest way

Also Mapquest is stupid, you can take the bqe from astoria heading towards staten island and take the verrazano from there, thats what we did bc we also had to pick up a friend from staten island on our way to AC.

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Thank you soooo much!!!

I think mapquest shows the belt parkway because we're coming from the south shore/Southern State Parkway. But I hadn't thought of that- the BQE- DUH!!! . We might end up using the GPS system my mom has- maybe it will be smart and send us that way. I guess it just seems silly to avoid the Triboro Bridge when it's right there. I don't mind picking the girls up in Astoria if that's easier for them! I was just thinking of my sisters that are doing the driving.

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Posted by GettinHutched

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Posted by Espo22

From astoria you have other highways you dont have to take the triboro...we drove there recently, and infact astoria is closer bc of the fact that its not even 10 mins from the city.

The belt parkway is actually inconvenient for astoria so not sure why you want that, bc you take that from the van wyck, and to get to astoria you would take the belt to the van wyck to grand central pkwy.

What part of LI are you coming from? i can tell you the easiest way

Also Mapquest is stupid, you can take the bqe from astoria heading towards staten island and take the verrazano from there, thats what we did bc we also had to pick up a friend from staten island on our way to AC.

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Thank you soooo much!!!

I think mapquest shows the belt parkway because we're coming from the south shore/Southern State Parkway. But I hadn't thought of that- the BQE- DUH!!! . We might end up using the GPS system my mom has- maybe it will be smart and send us that way. I guess it just seems silly to avoid the Triboro Bridge when it's right there. I don't mind picking the girls up in Astoria if that's easier for them! I was just thinking of my sisters that are doing the driving.

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oh wait are you driving there? why did i think you were taking the train to meet up with people in astoria HAHAHA

Well if you're driving you can take the belt to the van wyck and it will lead you to the grand central, or just get on the bqe to get to astoria. And yeah in astoria you have a couple of choices of things to take, either bqe to verrazano or triboro.

FH and i go almost every weekend to suffolk county bc he plays softball there on sunday's, if you tell me exactly where you are coming from i can tell you the best way to go, and which areas to avoid bc the traffic can get bad

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Posted by Espo22

oh wait are you driving there? why did i think you were taking the train to meet up with people in astoria HAHAHA

Well if you're driving you can take the belt to the van wyck and it will lead you to the grand central, or just get on the bqe to get to astoria. And yeah in astoria you have a couple of choices of things to take, either bqe to verrazano or triboro.

FH and i go almost every weekend to suffolk county bc he plays softball there on sunday's, if you tell me exactly where you are coming from i can tell you the best way to go, and which areas to avoid bc the traffic can get bad

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You are so sweet!!!

We're coming from Massapequa- exit 29 on Southern State. I usually avoid the Belt and Southern State past exit 22 like the plague...I tend to use the Grand Central mostly when heading west. So from Astoria- we just get on the BQE and take that to the Verrazzano?

thank you SOOO much!

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Posted by GettinHutched

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Posted by Espo22

oh wait are you driving there? why did i think you were taking the train to meet up with people in astoria HAHAHA

Well if you're driving you can take the belt to the van wyck and it will lead you to the grand central, or just get on the bqe to get to astoria. And yeah in astoria you have a couple of choices of things to take, either bqe to verrazano or triboro.

FH and i go almost every weekend to suffolk county bc he plays softball there on sunday's, if you tell me exactly where you are coming from i can tell you the best way to go, and which areas to avoid bc the traffic can get bad

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You are so sweet!!!

We're coming from Massapequa- exit 29 on Southern State. I usually avoid the Belt and Southern State past exit 22 like the plague...I tend to use the Grand Central mostly when heading west. So from Astoria- we just get on the BQE and take that to the Verrazzano?

thank you SOOO much!

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thats funny we actually usually are going to massapequa...the fastest way and to avoid alot of traffic is to take the wantaugh which leads you right to the grand central...if when you get on the grand central and there is insane traffic around exit 22 jump on the cross island expressway, which will also lead you to the grand central, but you skip all that traffic...For some reason right where it splits, cross island or stay on grand central INSANE traffic starts on the GCP...The cross island takes you through bayside, and then you will get to around where shea stadium is, you will pass the vitamin water building and all that, then it splits up the van wyck on the left, but you stay on the right towards the astoria blvd signs, you stay towards your right hand side even after it splits, and it will take you to the grand central and leave you off about 2 exits from astoria