Buffalo driving to Lorton VA for Autotrain

[Marcy Mouse]

Has anyone done this? What is the quickest route?

Help anyone?

Thanks,
Marcy

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

According to the AAA Internet Trip Tik, this is the route they give:

From: Buffalo, New York
To : 8006 Lorton Road, Lorton 22079, Virginia

Total Estimated Time: 7 hrs., 17mins.
Total Distance : 465.9 miles (749.8km)

--------------------------------------------------------------

1. Start out heading SOUTHWEST on DELAWARE AVENUE towards CITY HALL. Drive for 0.2 miles.
2. Turn RIGHT onto CHURCH STREET. Drive for a short distance.
3. Turn SHARP LEFT to get on RT-5 W. Drive for 6.5 miles.
4. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto ramp towards NY 179. Drive for 0.2 miles.
5. Take the roundabout and exit at the THIRD exit onto RT-179 E. Drive for 1.5 miles.
6. Turn LEFT onto ramp. Drive for 0.3 miles.
7. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to get on I-90 W towards ERIE. Drive for 87.6 miles.
8. Take exit number 22A to get on I-79 S towards PITTSBURGH. Drive for 98.4 miles.
9. Take exit towards EXITS 78-77 / PA-228 / I-76 / PA TURNPIKE / CRANBERRY / US-19. Drive for 1.3 miles.
10. Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards ramp towards PA TURNPIKE / I-76 / YOUNGSTOWN OHIO / HARRISBURG. Drive for 0.4 miles.
11. Go STRAIGHT to get on I-76 E towards HARRISBURG. Drive for 133 miles.
12. Take exit number 161 to get on I-70 E towards BALTIMORE / US-30 / WASHINGTON D C / BREEZEWOOD. Drive for 2.1 miles.
13. Take exit towards US-30 W. Drive for 0.1 miles.
14. Go STRAIGHT on LINCOLN HIGHWAY. Drive for 0.3 miles.
15. Turn LEFT to get on I-70 E. Drive for 75.5 miles.
16. Take exit number 53 to get on I-270 S towards WASHINGTON. Drive for 23.1 miles.
17. Keep SLIGHT RIGHT at the fork towards I-270 LOCAL S. Drive for 5.7 miles.
18. Go STRAIGHT on I-270 S. Drive for 0.9 miles.
19. Keep SLIGHT LEFT at the fork towards I-270 HOV LANE S. Drive for 0.6 miles.
20. Go STRAIGHT on I-270-SPUR S. Drive for 1.4 miles.
21. Go STRAIGHT on I-495 S. Drive for 16.7 miles.
22. Take exit number 57A to get on I-95 S towards RICHMOND. Drive for 7.5 miles.
23. Take exit number 163 towards VA-642 / LORTON. Drive for 0.4 miles.
24. Turn LEFT onto VA-642. Drive for 0.2 miles.
25. Keep STRAIGHT to stay on VA-642. Drive for a short distance.
26. You have reached the destination.

Mapquest gives the same route.

We will be taking this route in Feb ourselves.

 

[bdcp]

Do not! and I repeat do not use I-270 to get to the DC beltway. That is the heaviest traveled road at all times of the day and night. It's always backed up. You can avoid it and the DC beltway by taking Rt 15 from Harrisburg and bypassing DC. Others here will back me up. Those that live in this area and those that have made the mistake of using I-270. Mapquest is great to find out where you're going, but I do not use them for most directions as they take the shortest mileage route using major roads (when they're the right directions). That doesn't make them good directions or logical ones either. On the Autotrain FAQ thread I posted how to use Rt 15 to get to Lorton and someone used it and really thought it worked well for them.

I also had a neighbor who traveled home to Buffalo a few times a year and always used Rt15.

Please go read the autotrain faq thread under the link to popular transportation sticky.

 

[Marcy Mouse]

Thanks for the Rt 15 info, I will definitly go this way! I want to get there in a timely fashion avoiding as much "major" traffic as I can.

When I was looking at the map I was thinking DC looked a little crazy as far as roads went!

Thanks Again!
Marcy

 

[DisneyBrat]

why not fly? I just priced the autotrain from Lorton YIKES it was ALOT more to take than flying to MCO. over 500 for the car alone For the 5 of us to fly 10 days to Orlando its $1135. The autotrain was over $1600 and took 15 hours .


Lew

 

[tedhowe]

We are taking AutoTrain in February for the first time.

The price was competitive to flying/renting a car, so sometimes it can be a better deal.

For the 4 of us, from Philly to MCO was looking like about $220 each ($880.00 total) then minivan rental for the week would have been about $300.00

We got the autotrain, with our minivan and a family bedroom (sleeps 4) for $1240.00 round trip. So for about $60 more than flying/renting, it extends our trip by 2 days - instead of spending that time actively travelling, we can relax on the train.

Ted

 

[bdcp]

As everyone who enjoys taking the train will tell you, it's part of the vacation/adventure. Not just a way to get to Florida. We could fly on frequent flier miles, but it's not my favorite way to go and the train is fun. We're taking for the second time this Nov. What's nice for us is we're about 45 minutes from Lorton, so it's a pretty quick trip.

 

[skoi]

Can't guide you on the trip from Buffalo- but we've never had trouble from Philadelphia down to Lorton on regular old 95. We do do what everyone tells you not to- take 295 through DC rather than 95 around DC. Just a quirk we have, but we never have trouble with it, and it saved us time in traffic more than once. We found leaving as the rush hour in Philly is ending-- around 9:00 gives us more than enough time to get to Lorton-- in fact, we're usually there by 12 or so just as they let you in. The kids love to play in the little playground, look at the train, etc.

We've flown, driven (nightmare coming back, going down is okay since we do most of it at night), and taken the autotrain (both coach and sleeper) and hands down we prefer the train. I guess we're just "train people". I did think about cancelling our tickets for this Sept. and flying when the 49 dollar SW flights from Philly came out, but dh likes to have the car "just in case".

Good luck on your drive and have a great trip!
Julie

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We are taking the train because there are 5 of us (all over 2 and need tix to fly). Yes we COULD fly SW for a little less $$, but we are staying at SSR for 2 weeks and want to be able to stuff our SUV with everything we own. When we take all the kids, we have ALOT of stuff...we take 3 cases of water and Pepsi.....I could go on and on. AND it is an adventure!!!

Anyway, I am MORE than happy to avoid 270. I hate the beltway too, but that is a story in itself.

My only concern......what is 15 like in February?? My parents used to have a house in Williamsburg and we always took 15 to get there. If memory serves, 15 was winding and mountainous and narrow. Add 22 inches of snow, and I don't think they make enough Ativan to get me through the trip. I am pretty concerned about that, especially since on the way down it will be Sunday, so we won't have the benefit of traffic to help clear the roads.

 

[rigs32]

I don;t know if there's a fear of flight, but from Buffalo direct to MCO in Sept our airfare was $150pp. Renting a car would have to be WAY cheaper than the train and the gas to get to VA.

 

[bdcp]

RT 15 is pretty flat between Harrisburg, PA and Northern VA. It's also 4 lane divided highway between Harrisburg and just south/west of Frederick, MD then it's somewhat narrow and windy for a few miles. Once you get close to Leesburg, its pretty flat. You have several options at that point. There are a lot less trucks and traffic overall that way. I've driven to Harrisburg with snow on the ground just this last winter, but waited til the temp went up a little before I left my house and really had no problems, but I avoid driving very far in lots of snow with below freezing temps.

 

[nordkin]

Do not! and I repeat do not use I-270 to get to the DC beltway. That is the heaviest traveled road at all times of the day and night. It's always backed up. You can avoid it and the DC beltway by taking Rt 15 from Harrisburg and bypassing DC. Others here will back me up. Those that live in this area and those that have made the mistake of using I-270. Mapquest is great to find out where you're going, but I do not use them for most directions as they take the shortest mileage route using major roads (when they're the right directions). That doesn't make them good directions or logical ones either. On the Autotrain FAQ thread I posted how to use Rt 15 to get to Lorton and someone used it and really thought it worked well for them.

I also had a neighbor who traveled home to Buffalo a few times a year and always used Rt15.

Please go read the autotrain faq thread under the link to popular transportation sticky.

As one who lives right at 270 and the beltway and uses route 15 often to visit my daughter in college in Northern PA, I have to disagree with the poster about 270. The only time it is backed up is during the rush hours as is every other road around DC. Also Rt 15 runs into 270 in Fredrick and is a wonderful alternative to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I routinely make it from Harrisburg to my home at 270 and the beltway in 2 1/2 to 3 hours. From my home to the auto train station is at max 30 minutes. I do not know how you can not use 270 unless you take Rt 15 into Virgina near Leesburg and then you are in a worse headache for traffic. I think Rt 15 to 270, to 495, to 95 south makes sense.