Danbury CT to Lorton VA on Columbus Day

[lucyem]

I will be traveling from Danbury CT which is on 84 near the NY border to Lorton VA on Columbus day itself. Catching the auto train the next day. I generally try and stay far away from NYC/Philly/DC unless it is the middle of the night. What do you think would be the best route? I will leave Danbury by 9am. According to mapquest it is a 6 hour drive at best but through NJ and up to 8 hours going out 84-81 into PA etc. I do not mind a little longer drive if it means less traffic. But I expect traffic at the end of a long weekend. I just have no idea where it will be. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Yankeemouse]

I'd be interested in this info as well. I'm up in northwest CT about an hour from Danbury, and have always wanted to take the autotrain. It would be great to have your own car while in Florida.

Lucyem, I'd love to hear how you made out when you get back from your trip!

Margita

 

[pooch]

from Enfield (1:30 hrs from Danbury) to Sarasota and passed by the exit for the Autotrain. We took 84-684-TappanZee Bridge-Garden State Pkwy-95-beltwayed west around DC. We left @ 9:30am on a Sunday and got to the autotrain exit around 6pm. We hit traffic at the merge below Exit 8 on the Jersey Tpke and 3-4 more times before Baltimore, none after. Not dead stops but 30-40 mph for 15-20 min at a time. We stopped for probably 1:30 hrs total on the way down so maybe 7 hrs actual driving.

 

[Yankeemouse]

thanks Pooch...would love to hear about your experience on the train..sleeping, eating...our kids are older ranging from 15 - 19 so everyone's pretty independent.

Margita

 

[pooch]

thanks Pooch...would love to hear about your experience on the train..sleeping, eating...our kids are older ranging from 15 - 19 so everyone's pretty independent.

Margita

just noticed the exit. DH did ride it a few years ago, said it was somewhat noisy with kids running up & down the aisles and they did not get a "room" and the seats were not that conducive to sleeping. also remember something about the same movie running over & over. He would not do it again.

 

[GranddadTom]

I’ve been through Danbury more times than I’d like to remember, travelling from Worcester to Washington the “safe way” (i.e. through Scranton). If I were to leave Danbury on a semi-holiday Monday morning in October I’d definitely take the Rt. 95 route. Morning traffic around NYC will have cleared out by the time you get there and there will be no work-related rush hour evening traffic in Washington since it’s a federal holiday. Later in the day you’ll have the “returning to the city from a long weekend” traffic but the summertime season will be over and the returning traffic won’t be bad. When approaching the Washington Beltway, I’d definitely go to the East (I think Mapquest takes you to the West) because of all the construction going on over on the western portion of the Beltway. For all of the negatives associated with taking Rt. 95 it really is better than Rt 81 in Pennsylvania. One big plus that you have working for you is that once school begins traffic lightens up a lot – even on weekends. Spending more time at youth soccer games and less time driving to the beach.

 

[pooch]

want to thank you again for your input for our CT to Sarasota trip! We did, however, take the west route on the Beltway (not sure why ) and it was fine. Although we saw the construction, they weren't working on Sunday night so it didn't cause any issues. As you and another poster said, the 30 or so miles south of there on 95 was sluggish.

 

[lucyem]

Great advice everyone! Thank you!

 

[spima3]

thanks Pooch...would love to hear about your experience on the train..sleeping, eating...our kids are older ranging from 15 - 19 so everyone's pretty independent.
Margita

Don't know if you've seen it, but there is an autotrain thread. Most people there LOVE to take the train.

I was seriously considering flying this time, but the kids, 11, 13 and 15 wanted to take the autotrain again. Last time we went to WDW, the kids and even DH talked more about the train than Disney!

 

[Yankeemouse]

I'll check out that autotrain thread. I think if my kids were younger, or it was just me and hubby, that it would be okay...crabby teens on a train you can't get off of for several hours (how long is it anyway) is not my idea of a good time, but hey, they do surprise me sometimes, and they might just love it!! thanks!