Anyone from Hamilton,Toronto area drive I70 to I95 thru Washington to Florida

[cottontail]

Hi: Driving to Florida we usually go QEW I90 I77 I79 to I95 through mountains in virginia/w virginia. Has anyone tried the route below approx. how many hours driving from Toronto area to Orlando and how was the trip? Heres the route.

QEW to Buffalo, then I90 to Erie, PA, then I79 south to Pittsburgh, then Penn. Turnpike to Breezewood, PA., then I70 to I95 thru Washington, continue on I95 to Daytona, Fl, then I4 to Orlando.

Thank you,

Deb.

 

[bankr63]

The I70-I95 part is the standard Google maps suggested route from Eastern Ontario (starting on I81), but we avoid it like the plague. Nothing much worse than Washington area traffic unless you can manage to hit it late at night. I also find I95 is a bit of a freak show as well, so avoid it for some of the less traveled interstates. We prefer to stick with I81 all the way down to Fancy Gap where you join the Toronto I77 route through Charlotte NC to pick up I95 near Charleston SC. Less traffic, more scenic.

Also wondering why you wouldn't take I80 to Pittsburgh? Seems like a pretty big detour up to Erie than back down when you have a more direct route, but I don't know the highways in the part of PA/NY very well.

 

[jeff_h]

If you come down I-79 south through PA, I think you'll find the road much better and less crowded if you don't get off at I-70 but continue down I-79 south to Morgantown WV and then take I-68 east from there to Hagerstown MD. I've been on both I-68 and I-70 many times and I-68 does not have tolls like I-70 and the road surface on I-68 is normally much better than I-70 in PA (where it seems to almost always be under construction somewhere).

And here's a suggestion for avoiding the DC area - if you then go south on I-81 from Hagerstown MD into VA, then take exit 300 on I-81 for I-66 east toward DC for 28 miles and at exit 28 take US17 south toward Fredericksburg. Then drive that for about 30 miles or so (stay with signs for US17 as US15 and US29 get mixed in and out near Warrenton) and that will then drop you at I-95 in Fredericksburg (which is where I-95 traffic from DC southbound finally thins out) and then when you get to Richmond be sure to take the left exit 84A to use I-295 to go around Richmond rather than go through it.

 

[Csaks]

We do the first one. Thru the Virginia's and the Carolina's and meet up with the I-95 there.

 

[TFC_UNTIL_I_DIE]

If you come down I-79 south through PA, I think you'll find the road much better and less crowded if you don't get off at I-70 but continue down I-79 south to Morgantown WV and then take I-68 east from there to Hagerstown MD. I've been on both I-68 and I-70 many times and I-68 does not have tolls like I-70 and the road surface on I-68 is normally much better than I-70 in PA (where it seems to almost always be under construction somewhere).

And here's a suggestion for avoiding the DC area - if you then go south on I-81 from Hagerstown MD into VA, then take exit 300 on I-81 for I-66 east toward DC for 28 miles and at exit 28 take US17 south toward Fredericksburg. Then drive that for about 30 miles or so (stay with signs for US17 as US15 and US29 get mixed in and out near Warrenton) and that will then drop you at I-95 in Fredericksburg (which is where I-95 traffic from DC southbound finally thins out) and then when you get to Richmond be sure to take the left exit 84A to use I-295 to go around Richmond rather than go through it.

I would second this route around DC - it is twinned the whole way except Warrenton which is the town you come into just before hopping on I95 - it had construction for a few years but done now....its like driving on the Queensway through Etobicoke. But I've tried all the routes around DC and this in my opinion is the best (coming down from Ottawa). If its night though just fly right through DC on 95

BTW - going south I highly suggest you take the bypass around Richmond and look at the construction update on Jacksonville - for a while taking the bypass was the thing to do but I believe once the harbour bridge construction is finished it may be the best route.

A be sure to stop at the Florida Visitor Centre on I95 right after you cross the St Mary's river for your free orange or grapefruit juice and let your kids get brochures etc to look at for the rest of the trip.....its like being back in the 80s

 

[cottontail]

Okay thanks for all the suggestions. Does the I95 highway at Fredericksberg and heading south have a divider or green space between the traffic travelling south and coming back north?

Deb.

 

[jeff_h]

Yes - US17 and I-95 are both divided highways so there's a median between the lanes going each way. US1 is a north/south route that is parallel to I-95 through most of VA and in many places that one has 2 lanes in each direction without a median. But you would never want to use US1 anyway, far far far too many traffic lights.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just curious, why are you trying the route through Washington? Is it the mountains or another reason? Is it shorter or about the same?

 

[TFC_UNTIL_I_DIE]

I95 through DC is notoriously traffic-clogged....its awful if you get stuck in it

 

[migel]

We're in Niagara and always take the 79 77 95 route. Heading down again early Saturday morning. The only usual slow down is passing through Charlotte, but we usually overnight in Columbia, so by that time Day 1 trek is almost over.