Bypass Washington Dc thru Fredericksburg, VA

[Minniedap]

I understand this part of I-95 is extremely busy. In late October, on a Saturday morning, what would be the latest we should be bypassing DC and driving down I-95 on this part of the Interstate. Would 8 or 9 AM be to late?

 

[Iamthequeen]

Yes, you probably want to leave much earlier than 8 am. Saturdays are usually congested between DC and Richmond.

 

[kwdw]

On a Saturday morning at 8 am, I wouldn't by-pass DC. Yes, there's a chance you'll hit an accident or construction - but at that hour on a Saturday, it should not be a parking lot. Yes, there can be some congestion on the south side of DC on 95 on the weekend - esp. around Potomac Mills Mall - but in my experience, not enough stop-n-go that I would pick a different route.

Now - 9-10 am - that is going to have more cars....

 

[Minniedap]

We will be coming from the West. Planned on stopping about Hagerstown,MD for the night so if we hit the by-pass around 7AM this should be okay?

 

[PlutoPony]

DC to Richmond is always busy on I-95. But it's usually MUCH worse in the summer when people are driving down to the Outer Banks for Saturday / Sunday rental check ins.

If you're really concerned about it, one option is to spend the night in Winchester VA instead of Hagerstown (take 522 from I68/70 down to Winchester, good 2 and 4 lane road). Then go I-66 to Route 17 into Fredericksburg where you hit 95. Congestion eases when you get past Fredericksburg although 95 will still be quite busy. There are also other ways you can go to get to I64 west of Richmond - 522 and 15 from Culpepper are alternatives - and take it east to 95. The I-64 route is a bit out of your way if you want to do 295 around Richmond, I'd go 95 from Fredericksburg if that's your plan.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I've lived in and around DC for going on 20 years now. In my opinion, Saturday morning is 2nd best overall for traveling through the mixing bowl that is DC/MD/VA--Sunday morning would be the best. 8AM on Saturday would be fine, earlier, of course, would be better, but later would definitely be less desirable. As mentioned earlier, accidents would be the exception, but that can happen anywhere on 95 from Maine to FL.