If you live more towards the middle or western sid...

If you live more towards the middle or western side of Long Island and need to get to Rhode Island or greater New England area, this is the way to go, especially when traveling with children. The drive to the ferry is more relaxing, the ferry ride is only 1.5 hours to New London. I hate driving through Connecticut or going over the throgs neck. People drive like animals and it s just unpleasant. If you can avoid it, why not? Also price wise, you end up spending comparable amounts of money on the ferry ticket compared to the cost of tolls, gas, food stops, etc.