Best way thru D.C. coming from NY

[mamapajama]

My Tom Tom says: 95 to 295s to 895s to exit 27 to 495n to exit 57a to 395s to 95s. that sounds nuttty & sometimes the GPS does silly things.

Is this right?

 

[seashoreCM]

Haven't traveled it lately but from what I am told, all the main freeway routes through DC average the same amount of time during hours corresponding to summer daylight.

My map (old fashioned paper) does not have an 895 on it so I can't visualize your route. Following are the routes I know of.

1. 95 to 495 around the horn to the west (Bethesda, McLean) back to 95 south.

2. 95 south to 295 south back to 95 south.

3. 95 itself, around the horn to the east

 

[egile]

Google Maps says take 95 through Baltimore, but I usually take 895. Both ways have tolls, and I'm not sure they don't wind up taking about the same amount of time (though 895 is a few miles shorter). 895's big plus: usually fewer cars, so a "quieter" drive (but watch your speed here). Basically I'd tune to a local Baltimore radio station when you get in range and take whichever way doesn't have a big accident/heavy traffic -- if there's nothing going on, it's essentially a coin toss.
As for 495 around D.C., from where 95 from Baltimore hits the Beltway to where 95 leaves for Richmond, it's about 2.5 miles shorter to go accross the Cabin John (American Legion) Bridge through Tysons Corner than accross the Wilson Bridge. However, there's a lot of construction on and around the Tysons portion of 495. Tune to WTOP (103.5fm) as you leave Baltimore and listen to the traffic report to decide which bridge to head toward. The 395 path will shave some miles from your route and can save time, especially if both Beltway bridges are bad, but there are some ongoing construction points along that route and depending on time of day and whether the Nationals are playing a baseball game, 395 could prove a mistake. Again, check WTOP as you near the area; they're very good about watching the major routes (traffic reports every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day).

 

[jasko5990]

I've driven down numerous time in the past 8 years and have taken different routes around & through DC. I've found the quickest way is to stay on I-95 south (which is also east on the I-495 beltway around DC). In order to avoid lots of traffic I suggest timing your departure from home so you get through DC before 6am or after 8pm. I usually hit DC around 3am and zoom through. I got there around 6am once and the traffic slowed us enough where it added about 20 minutes travel time around DC.

 

[nytimez]

Any one of those routes can be clogged and any one of them can be clear -- there's no sure way through, but jasko hits it on the head when he says to drive through early or late.

 

[Tina]

Do not take the west route on the beltway (Rockville). There is too much construction. Take I95 south from Baltimore to the beltway. You'll be faced with a split at I95/495 interchange. Stay east. The signs will say to Richmond. Follow that until you see more signs for Richmond at the next 495/95 interchange. Follow 95 S toward Richmond.

 

[dblr]

I think staying on 95 is still the best bet, as said before do not take the west side around DC unless overhead signs recommend it due to problems. If we are just going down in the car we take 95, if we tow the camper we will take Rt301 all the way below DC and get back on 95 1 exit above Kings Dominion.

 

[mamapajama]

I think staying on 95 is still the best bet, as said before do not take the west side around DC unless overhead signs recommend it due to problems. If we are just going down in the car we take 95, if we tow the camper we will take Rt301 all the way below DC and get back on 95 1 exit above Kings Dominion.

Thanks for the advice. We're heading out Saturday morning no later than 5am. If I can't sleep, I'm just going to get eveyone up earlier. Well my husband and the baby anyway, The big kids are planning on staying up all night and sleeping in the car. I plan on taking the first shift while everyone sleeps since it's the start of the trip on familiar roads. It take about 5 hours so at worst we'll hit DC around 10 am-ish.
I'm going to write down the info you guys are giving me because I will never remember on "95" from another...95, 395, 495, 295, 895, oy!

 

[dtchgrl]

I live in Fairfax County VA right off the Beltway, and our side (West, towards Tysons Corner) is a MESS right now. They are putting in "hot" lanes so everything is torn up all along the west side...its horrible. Definitely follow the "east" route of the Beltway and go over the Wilson bridge, don't go west and go over the American Legion unless you get a radio report that there was an accident on the East side.
Saturday shouldn't be nearly as bad as a weekday, but do whatever you can to come through by 10am.
Good luck! I grew up here so am used to the traffic but its really, really bad right now due to lots of construction.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Has there been a time in recorded history when there WASN'T construction on 495/95 in and around DC?

Seems like entire families of construction workers have been thus employed over the years---generations of grandfathers, fathers, sons, etc.

mamapajama: Don't fret too much about directions once you hit the DC Beltway at 95--it's pretty well marked.

 

[mamapajama]

Thank you so much! Gonna try and be out by 4:30, we should be able to get thru by 10.

 

[Tina]

Just be aware that on a Saturday morning, you are likely to encounter quite a bit of traffic on 95S in Virginia as the final vacationers of the summer head to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Getting around the DC beltway will be the easy part.

 

[mamapajama]

Just be aware that on a Saturday morning, you are likely to encounter quite a bit of traffic on 95S in Virginia as the final vacationers of the summer head to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Getting around the DC beltway will be the easy part.

Noted thanks! We really won't be able to leave any earlier than maybe 4 or so. I am not a night person but i get up at 4 for work regularly so it is doable. I don't want to risk falling asleep while driving if we leave at midnight or around there. If I find myself tossing and turning then I may just get ebveryone up though. We are used to traffic as we travel very congested highways through the boroughs to get to work and of course driving in Manhattan is always a joy! Unfortunately being used to it doesn't make it any less annoying but in this case, we have a pot of Mickey's gold at the end of the traffic rainbow!!!

 

[PlutoPony]

This Saturday could be especially bad traffic wise as there are 2 major rallies planned for downtown DC. Not sure how many people will be coming in that morning from outside the area but both groups claim large national support and expect a big turnout.

Just a heads up for those traveling on Saturday

 

[GranddadTom]

Tina hit the nail on the head. You're worrying about the wrong roads. On Saturday morning the Beltway going East will not be a problem. But Rt. 95 in Northern Virginia going south will be. In the summertime a lot of people are heading out of town on Rt. 95 South heading for the Virginia and North Carolina beaches. Nothing to get heartburn about but don't get too upset if things go a little slow for the 30 miles south of Washington. It's normal and things clear up by Milepost 130.

 

[ssawka]

I think staying on 95 is still the best bet, as said before do not take the west side around DC unless overhead signs recommend it due to problems. If we are just going down in the car we take 95, if we tow the camper we will take Rt301 all the way below DC and get back on 95 1 exit above Kings Dominion.

I second this, I-495 south/west is torn apart right now due to construction.

The way I would go is:

1. I-95 S to
2. I-295 S (NJ's 295, this will bypass Philly) to
3. I-95 S (stay on I-95 in Baltimore, I-895 is much narrower and unless I-95 is backed up will not save you time.) to
4. I-95 S (D.C. Beltway) (you can take 295, the roads are not that great, but it does save time. I wouldn't take it unless I-95 S is backed up.) to
5. I-95 S to
6. I-295 S (near Richmond, after King's Dominion) (this will bypass Richmond) to
7. I-95 S

When are you coming? Hopefully not Saturday. I-95 south of the DC beltway is horrendous this time of year on Saturday afternoons. If you are hitting D.C. on Saturday afternoon, then exit I-95 S and take I-395 N (south of the D.C. beltway), go two exits to VA-236 W and get back on I-95 S. From I-95 S get into the HOV lanes to head south on I-95. The HOV lanes will allow you to bypass a good portion of the I-95 backup, but you will still hit major traffic getting out of the HOV lanes. The traffic will last all the way through Fredericksburg and then will start again in Richmond until you get on I-295. Last weekend it took us 2 hours to get from Springfield, VA to Fredericksburg, VA, which is about 30 miles.

Honestly, if you are traveling on Saturday afternoon you may want to just do I-80 (or I-84, depending on what part of NY) to I-81 to I-64. It takes you further west, but as I said Saturday afternoon on I-95 is a nightmare.

 

[Missytara]

When are you coming? Hopefully not Saturday. I-95 south of the DC beltway is horrendous this time of year on Saturday afternoons. If you are hitting D.C. on Saturday afternoon, then exit I-95 S and take I-395 N (south of the D.C. beltway), go two exits to VA-236 W and get back on I-95 S. From I-95 S get into the HOV lanes to head south on I-95. The HOV lanes will allow you to bypass a good portion of the I-95 backup, but you will still hit major traffic getting out of the HOV lanes. The traffic will last all the way through Fredericksburg and then will start again in Richmond until you get on I-295. Last weekend it took us 2 hours to get from Springfield, VA to Fredericksburg, VA, which is about 30 miles.

Honestly, if you are traveling on Saturday afternoon you may want to just do I-80 (or I-84, depending on what part of NY) to I-81 to I-64. It takes you further west, but as I said Saturday afternoon on I-95 is a nightmare.

See her posting on no. 8; they are leaving this Saturday around 4:00 am.

 

[ssawka]

See her posting on no. 8; they are leaving this Saturday around 4:00 am.

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread. I figure it is good info for others that may be traveling this way as well.

 

[dblr]

I hear 103.5 WTOP tell people to avoid 95 in Va. they can go over to Rt 1, they do not advise that for trucks due to low bridges just wondering if this really helps or not. Locals chime in with your best advise.

 

[Missytara]

I wonder how they made out this morning.

The Tweets on delawareonline.com says that a huge contingent of buses left Newark area very early this morning headed to DC for the rally.

Hope they are managing to get thru and have a safe trip!