Rt#95-New York to Pts s. avoid Washington?

[Courts]

I know I have read suggestions on traveling Rt #95 from New York to points south and avoiding the Washington DC area. I have thought about Rt #13, but that has too many traffic lights.
Anyone??

[Dave M]

See post #7 in this thread for an alternate suggestion - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19280

[tomandrobin]

Driving I-95 is not bad as long as you avoid the DC area between 6 am and 7:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Also, most important, avoid the west side of the Capitol Beltway, use the east side.

[silverfox82]

I make this trip frequently and I agree that taking the beltway (east side) during nonrush hour is the best bet. To save a few miles take the Baltimore/ Washington pky (not on sunday if the redskins are playing) back to the beltway. I've done the 13/301 route and, while being less hectic,takes more time. When you are just north of Baltimore tune in a local radio station for a traffic report. Most stations update their reports frequently since the local commuters are obsessed (rightfully so) with traffic.

[Big Matt]

...not exactly. Rush hour going north is from 6-9am. Going South it is 2:30-7pm. Try to avoid 95 from Laurel to Fredericksburg (about 1.5 hours of driving from point to point). Fridays are the worst. Weekends shouldn't be a problem unless there are accidents or construction.

Originally Posted by tomandrobin

Driving I-95 is not bad as long as you avoid the DC area between 6 am and 7:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Also, most important, avoid the west side of the Capitol Beltway, use the east side.

[JoeMid]

Originally Posted by tomandrobin

Driving I-95 is not bad as long as you avoid the DC area between 6 am and 7:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Also, most important, avoid the west side of the Capitol Beltway, use the east side.

I'm not sure why you're avoiding the west side... there's no construction on the west side like there is between WWBridge and Springfield on the East side go here for details.

[nrosetojr]

It depends on where your "south" destination is.

If you're headed to the Norfolk-VA Beach-Outerbanks NC area, then I would follow the directions in the thread that Dave M listed.

If you are going a southerly route and need to pick-up Rte 95 below Fredericksburg Va, either to go further south on Rte 95, or cut west somewhere below Fredericksburg, then from my experience, having moved from the NY Metro area, to the DC metro area, and still visit family in NYC, using the best alternate route I've found, then read my preferred route in the following thread: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthr...32889#poststop.
If you are not going to Richmond as your final destination, then at Bowling Green VA, follow sighs to Rte 207SW, which will lead you right into Rte 95, well below Fredericksburg.

Another alternate route I use during summer fridays/saturdays/sundays (see my caveat at the end of the message), is north of Baltimore there is a split between 95S and 895S, take the Route 895S to Annapolis exit, which takes you through the Harbor Tunnel, much less traveled, though they are right next to each other, than the Fort McHenry Tunnel - note: both 95 and 895 can be rough during Oriole games. Once through the Harbor Tunnel take 895 to Rte 97 South towards Annapolis (you can also get on the Baltimore/ Washington Parkway, Rte 295, as another poster suggested, but I try to avoid the BW Parkway, as much as I avoid Rte 95/495). From Rte 97S, follow the signs to Route 50/301 (to Bowie & DC), then at Bowie follow the signs to stay on 301S, picking up the directions from my thread above and taking Rte 301S to Richmond. (See paragraph above to get to Rte 95 again, rather than Richmond).

[tomandrobin]

I always try to avoid the west side during heavy traffic times becuase...

1) The top side is curvy which does not allow good traffic flow
2) The I-270 interchange at 495 always seems to be backed up, very heavy traffic in both directions.

[elaine]

at springfield, va "mixing bowl." find vdot on the web--they post construction---every few months, they close the interchange on weekends and it is a BIG mess, other than that, no big deal to drive thru, as long as you avoid key times, which are: 7-9:30 am going towards DC, and 3-7 going away from DC on weekdays.
On weekends in summer, easter, etc., then Friday until 8:30 Pm can be bad and ALL DAY SAT is awful---when we have a sat-sat summer week, we actually leave on Friday and spend the night in a hotel, or wait and leave early Sun and give up a day at timeshare---otherwise, you could literally sit in your car for hours going no more than 5-10 miles per hr, b/c 80% of all rentals, condos, etc. at the beach are sat-sat. and I-95 is the main route N-S.
But on a normal day, I can make it from Baltimore to Fredericksburg in about 2.5 hours.

[Courts]

Originally Posted by nrosetojr

It depends on where your "south" destination is.
.

Thanks for all the replies.
Sorry, did not think (always my problem) about the various possibilities. We are heading to Myrtle Beach in late May from between NY and Phila. My wife will not let me use the Bay-Bridge-Tunnel. She has a phobia about tunnels. Our time schedule requires starting out on Saturday, staying over at a half way point then continue Sunday to destination.

One person suggested avoiding DC during the day, but that is really the problem.

Looks like Rt-301 may be best bet. Thanks again.

It has been at least 12 years since taking this trip, and all I can remember is walking around the DC beltway waiting for traffic to move again.

[Courts]

Originally Posted by elaine

7-9:30 am going towards DC, and 3-7 going away from DC on weekdays.
On weekends in summer, easter, etc., then Friday until 8:30 Pm can be bad and ALL DAY SAT is awful---

Do you mean ALL DAY Friday ?