Originally Posted by
Seat13c
Also, if the traffic is bad enough going over the GWB, you also take the Grand Central to the Triboro and head up the Major Degan (aka Rt 87 North) up through Yonkers and White Plains and go over the Tappan Zee Bridge which leaves you on the NY State Thruway.
This routing leaves you pretty far north, and then you're stuck taking the Thruway around the long way to SYR or going via Rte. 17, which is not an interstate and will slow things down. Either of those options will add an hour or two onto the drive time.
I drive NYC to ITH every now and then, and the drive isn't bad, but I'd hate doing it after flying a transcon.