anyone familiar with US 17 VA??

[Crazy4mandms]

Looking for anyone who can give me info on this piece of hwy...I am taking it as an alternate route from NY (I-81, then US17 to I 95 at Fredericksburg) to avoid the Baltimore and DC traffic. Can you please tell me what the major cities (if any!) are and decent hotels. I plan on stopping for the night on that route. Thanks!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Bumping this up for you.

I know that 81-64-288-95 and 81-77-26-95 are both all limited-access highway, and that US 301 from Baltimore into VA and coming out north of Richmond is multilane but not limited access.

Looking at the map, US 17 look like it would be like 301 - limited access, probably 55 top speed with it slower as it passes through cities and with traffic lights. Warrenton looks like it's the halfway point between Winchester and Fredericksburg, but I don't know what hotels are available.

 

[tms295]

17 is a fairly rural route through Virginia... lower speed limits (35-55) and mostly 2 lane roads. depending on the time of the commute its quicker to take 80 into maryland take the beltway around baltimore or jump onto 95 at baltimore. Anytime before 6 am and after 8 pm is easy moving through Baltimore and DC.

I am not aware of any hotels on 17... but i am very familar with some just about 5 miles below 17 on I95. Fredericksburg area. There is a commerical development called Central Park exit 130 from i95 TONS of resturants, shopping, nice hotels, and a wonderful expo center (that i happened to be lucky enough to work on the opening project)

The two hotels with in the Central Park development are the Hilton Garden Inn (just opened fall of 2005) and The Holiday Inn Select. I have stayed at and worked with the managment of both hotels. They are Nice, CLEAN places and have wonderful helpful staff. Both are less than 5 minutes from the I95 exit. and surrounded by over 50 resturants and 160 stores.

Here is a link to Central Park's development and the Hotel links are under accommodations... Enjoy!

http://www.celebratevirginia.com/

 

[BonnieA]

17 is a fairly rural route through Virginia... lower speed limits (35-55) and mostly 2 lane roads.

There is only one stretch of 17 that is two lane, that is between Rt 50 and I 66. The rest is 4 lane divided highway on the way to I 95.

Do a search, I'm sure there are hotels in Warrenton, VA. That area is growing quite fast.

 

[disneyagain]

It's been a few years, since I've driven this route. But I know that it's been upgraded and, I believe straight through now, without any slowdowns or lights. My parents take this route to FL and back every winter (snowbirds). I know that it is about 35 miles longer than taking the beltways around Balt and DC, but it is much less stressful and takes about the same amount of time, because you ALWAYS hit traffic around DC, 17 brings you out enough south of the beltway. My sis and I drove down Christmas time 2003 (with our combined 5 kids...Husbands didn't want anything to do with it ) We took the beltways because it was Friday am after Christmas and we knew everything would be closed for the Holiday. It was clearsailing on the way down. On the way back, we drove New Years Day and decided to go back around the beltways, there was no traffic on I-95 all the way up, wish we would have gone across 17, It was so stressful, there was a ton of traffic on the beltways. If you're used to driving in lots of traffic, maybe it won't bother you. AAA recommends the rte 17 route on the trip tics from our area.

We're considering driving this summer and we'll either take 17 across to I-95, or I'm considering taking 81 down to 77 across to I-95 in SC.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

 

[Crazy4mandms]

I HATE, HATE, HATE heavy traffic! I went to DC to a teaching conference last summer and took the 270 into DC..ok, no problem not that bad...but when I came home I went the wrong way and was stuck in that traffic between Baltimore/DC for hours!!!!!!!! It was terrible! I'll be travelling back home on the Sun/Mon of Memorial Day weekend....I'm sure there will be lots of people on the roads...I was thinking of trying to hit Balt/DC early/late but as it is just me driving with 3 kids I don't want to chance my 'timing'..not sure how late I'll be driving or how early we'll be getting up. I think I'm pretty set on taking 17....I've been looking at Holiday Inns around Warrenton...don't see any....what other little cities along the way can I check? I really would like to stay on the route and not have to leave it at all, so finding one right there on the hwy is priority (I know, I'm being soooo picky!!! But traveling with me being the only adult I want something quick and safe, safe, safe!). I already checked the HI near Fredericksburg..they are booked for my timeframe (I have a free night coming and am trying to use it! Otherwise, anything clean and safe would be great!)

 

[Crazy4mandms]

I found the Holiday Inn in Warrenton, VA...I'm really confused, tho...I tried both mapquest and yahoo maps and the directions tell me I'm taking US15.....says nothing about US 17? Are they the same route?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

On the map it looks like 17 and 15 are merged for a short stretch coming to Warrenton from the south.

If you don't see a reply back on here, you could call the hotel and make sure.

 

[BonnieA]

17 and 15 are the same for a short distance outside Warrenton. If the Holiday Inn is on 15 and not 17 then it is probably north on 15 after they join up. I would think it would only be a short distance. Try Mapquest to find the exact location from where 15 and 17 join.