Alternate Route from MA to Lorton, VA!!!

[DNBois]

We are driving from NE Mass and it's our first time taking the auto train. Since we are taking off 13 days from work, we cannot take another day to stay over in Lorton. We are assuming that we will be leaving at around 2:30 am in the morning - please tell us -
1) is this enough time to get to the Lorton Amtrak Autotrain station for 2:00 pm and
2) is there an alternate route that would help us avoid Rte. 95 for as long as we can.
Any advice is much appreciated!!!

 

[dgaston]

I'm not familiar with Lorton, but we like to avoid 95 when driving to FL. We take 84 to 81 and then swing down to 95 thru NC and SC on 77 and 26. I'd pull out an atlas, and see if there is a good connecting road to Lorton. I know some folks take 64 to rejoin 95 near Richmond.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[DNBois]

Thanks so much - how long does it take you to get to the Lorton station? We just want to make sure we leave as soon as we can - we are almost on the RI border so we assume at leat eight hours - could that be?

 

[MulanMom]

Something to consider....

When you are in Harrisburg, PA you may want to connect with 15 south. (We get to it by taking the s/b split towards route 83, go past the actual turnoff for that, hwy. becomes 581 W, then you take the exit for 15 South. You can take the 15 S exit off of 81, but it takes you through a lot of lights.) 15 will be a 4 lane with lights and at grade crossings for a short period of time, then it alternates between a limited access hwy. and one with at-grade crossings all the way to Frederick, MD.

At Frederick, you want to stay on the road as it becomes I-270 E. That'll take you right into the SW quadrant of the Washington Beltway. You're on it for a short time before the split to 95S to Lorton. They are doing major construction in that area, so you'll hit traffic. Try to stay away from rush hour.

It's possible to exit from 270 and find alternate backroads, but I've no idea how congested they may be, or what kind of neighborhoods they go through.

HTH!