OT - Help with driving directions..

[oldguy00]

Hey folks, I am in Chattanooga for an Ironman this weekend. We drove down from east coast Canada and our GPS took us through New York. It took us 2 hours to go about 4km to get to George Washington bridge (forget highway #, but think it cut through the Bronx..).
I would very much like to avoid this on the drive back. Any suggestions on waypoints to point my GPS to, to avoid NY and stay on track to head towards Boston?

Follow 81, then switch to 84 after Harrisburg, PA?

Thx!!!