Luton to York - what will be best route?

movilogo

I'm a bit confused on a motorway route.

Coming weekend I'll be travelling from Luton to York. This is the first time I'll be driving this far.

I personally wish to take following route (from map)

Continue to M1 till J32. Here the road looks like an Y shape, with left continuing towards M1 and right as M18.

My intention is to continue with M1 (passing Leeds) on left and carry forward till J45 and then take the A road towards York.

But when I search for route in AA or RAC websites, they are always advising me to follow M18 & then A1(M) from junction 32 of M1.

So what will be the best route?

PS: I don't have a Sat Nav.

mattymoo

Depends on your preference for motorway or scenic driving although a large chunk of it will be M1 anyway.
Avoid the A1 until north of Blyth. Roadworks at present at Stamford, Colsterworth (nr Grantham) and Blythe. Not too bad delay wise but it can snarl up in the event of a problem.

mcfisco

The M18/A1 is probably slightly quicker but there's not much in it

For ease of navigating if you're a bit unsure, do as you originally thought best & just stay on the M1 until it ends & then take the A64 towards York.
You can't miss the junction as it's about 5 lanes wide as the A1 & M1 merge going up to the slip with the left hand lane clearly marked for York

If you go Friday afternoon you will run into big delays around jcn. 31