New Jersey ICW v. Going Outside?

[jdmurray26]

We're traveling from Lake Champlain to the Chesapeake this summer, and are trying to decide if we should take the NJ ICW or go outside. We're a 26 ft sailboat, have a draft of 3.5 ft, and a mast of 31 ft. What experiences have folks had with the NJ ICW? Is it worth going inside, or should we just go around?

Thank you!