Day before Thanksgiving I-95 traffic??

[mrsap]

Hello everyone! This year will be the first time we are leaving to go to Florida the day before Thanksgiving. We are nervous about traffic. Has anybody had any experience going down I-95 from NY/NJ area to Orlando on that day? Is it as bad as I'm thinking? Thank you!

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[Jimsig]

I have not, but would imagine the earlier you leave the better. What time were you thinking of leaving? Where area are you leaving from, i.e. NYC, Westchester, Northern NJ, Long Island etc? That info should help others to get you an idea.

 

[MillauFr]

I wouldn't attempt it. Probably the worst traffic day of the year. If you do avoid all of the big cities especially Washington DC.

 

[happymommy]

I'm just north of DC (Howard County, Maryland), and the last couple of times I've gone I-95 down to Williamsburg it was a nightmare. It should take me about 3.5 hours to get there - both times it took almost 7 hours. Bumper to Bumper for miles once you get to Springfield.

The time I picked up my friend in southern Maryland, we took 301 down and joined up with I-95 in Richmond (if I recall correctly). Although I don't like bridges (the 301 bridge scares me), there was no traffic!

If you are really going to do this, I'd go that route. Honestly, though, it's quite a nightmare, and I would NOT drive I-95 to Florida that day or any until they finish the construction south of DC. It's just awful.

 

[mrsap]

I'm just north of DC (Howard County, Maryland), and the last couple of times I've gone I-95 down to Williamsburg it was a nightmare. It should take me about 3.5 hours to get there - both times it took almost 7 hours. Bumper to Bumper for miles once you get to Springfield. The time I picked up my friend in southern Maryland, we took 301 down and joined up with I-95 in Richmond (if I recall correctly). Although I don't like bridges (the 301 bridge scares me), there was no traffic! If you are really going to do this, I'd go that route. Honestly, though, it's quite a nightmare, and I would NOT drive I-95 to Florida that day or any until they finish the construction south of DC. It's just awful.

Thank you all for writing! I appreciate you taking the time out to help me!

Happymommy - do you remember what time you left the days you drove south? We are in NNJ and are picking up our car rental the day before we are to leave... So we were thinking the morning of (the day before Thanksgiving) to possibly leave between 5 and 6 AM. We really don't want to leave that Tuesday because we don't want my daughter to miss any more days of school. Thank you for the alternate route! We might have to try and map it out to avoid traffic along the way. Thank you very much!!!

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm just north of DC (Howard County, Maryland), and the last couple of times I've gone I-95 down to Williamsburg it was a nightmare. It should take me about 3.5 hours to get there - both times it took almost 7 hours. Bumper to Bumper for miles once you get to Springfield.

The time I picked up my friend in southern Maryland, we took 301 down and joined up with I-95 in Richmond (if I recall correctly). Although I don't like bridges (the 301 bridge scares me), there was no traffic!

If you are really going to do this, I'd go that route. Honestly, though, it's quite a nightmare, and I would NOT drive I-95 to Florida that day or any until they finish the construction south of DC. It's just awful.

Living in the same area I can confirm this. You really don't want to be anywhere near DC that day. Traffic will probably be awful on I-95 anywhere withing 100 miles of a large city. You will hit traffic in southern New Jersey and it will be almost constant slow downs or standstill to almost Richmond, VA.

Have you considered leaving Tuesday right after school or later in the evening and driving until you are at least well past DC?

 

[PlutoPony]

Have you considered leaving Tuesday right after school or later in the evening and driving until you are at least well past DC?

THIS! Stopping past DC should make a HUGE difference in how the drive goes. Woodbridge or better yet Fredericksburg would be ideal stopping points for Tuesday night. Even if you don't get in until midnight it would be worth it to have the worst traffic behind you for Wednesday. Otherwise I would seriously consider pushing your vacation a day and driving down on Thanksgiving. Yes - it can be that bad driving the East Coast cities the day before the holiday.

And all bets are off if it rains or *shudder* snows those days.

 

[rwdavis2]

And all bets are off if it rains or *shudder* snows those days.

Heaven forbid if it snows in DC.

 

[mrsap]

Ok so you guys officially scared us!!! We are now in panic mode and are trying to plan to leave the day before. We are calling the car rental place to see if we can pick the car up earlier. I'm trying to switch my Georgia over night stay to North Carolina, and extend our AoA stay by one day. We will leave on Tuesday after DD gets out of school now. Lots of work to do, but I'd rather do this than sit in traffic all day!!!! Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[North of Mouse]

Hello everyone! This year will be the first time we are leaving to go to Florida the day before Thanksgiving. We are nervous about traffic. Has anybody had any experience going down I-95 from NY/NJ area to Orlando on that day? Is it as bad as I'm thinking? Thank you!

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If you like 'sitting in a parking' lot for hours, that will be your experience. Can't think of a worse scenario.

'Every' hour of the day will be worse than 'bad'! The day before 'any' holiday is horrendous on I-95. Actually, it's bad most of the time especially week ends.

Being forewarned, I would avoid it at all costs - accidents, which are inevitable, will make it way worse - in short, no way would I do it - haven't done it, but know some who have.

By the way, leaving at 5-6 AM will not buy you anything!! Doesn't matter. We lived just north of DC and on non holidays there was traffic at 'all' hours (but doable) Holidays - no way. But on holidays, 'all' the way down to Orlando is more than 'bad'! Actually hate to tell you, but Tuesday will not be a lot better - the whole week will be extra traffic.

 

[msb578]

This may be a nutty idea, but from north jersey, has anyone driven west to get to I-81, and then done the 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 (in SC) route?

It would certainly add mileage, but could it ultimately save time and headaches?

 

[rwdavis2]

This may be a nutty idea, but from north jersey, has anyone driven west to get to I-81, and then done the 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 (in SC) route?

It would certainly add mileage, but could it ultimately save time and headaches?

What does google maps tell you when you choose it as a route? How much longer?

I-81 can get congested. It is a major truck route. Also, getting to I-81 in PA in the first place will be crowded. You have to travel east-west in PA which is heavily traveled that day. The PA turnpike is a road you do not want to drive over Thanksgiving.

I understand the frustration but, IMHO, your best bet is to leave Tuesday night. Driving the day before Thanksgiving will get you into traffic regardless of where you go.

 

[mrsap]

Rental car hours extended... Hotel in NC booked! Now just have to add day at AoA. Thanks again everyone! Looks like Tuesday is a go!

 

[rwdavis2]

Rental car hours extended... Hotel in NC booked! Now just have to add day at AoA. Thanks again everyone! Looks like Tuesday is a go!

Good luck.

 

[mrsap]

Good luck.

Thank you and thanks for the honest advice!!!

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[msb578]

What does google maps tell you when you choose it as a route? How much longer? I-81 can get congested. It is a major truck route. Also, getting to I-81 in PA in the first place will be crowded. You have to travel east-west in PA which is heavily traveled that day. The PA turnpike is a road you do not want to drive over Thanksgiving. I understand the frustration but, IMHO, your best bet is to leave Tuesday night. Driving the day before Thanksgiving will get you into traffic regardless of where you go.

Honestly, it's theoretical to me, as I live practically on I-81. I found it to be a great route.

I-95 is rough even on its best day. So I was just throwing out a possible alternative

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I am thinking about the I-81 Route for our nonholiday vacation to Orlando next summer. advicde not asked for but if you are going to be needing gas soon after getting on I-77 look at going a couple of exits past and coming back. the area just past I-77 has some of cheapest gas in that area of I-81 at least from what we have found going to TN

 

[happymommy]

Thank you all for writing! I appreciate you taking the time out to help me!

Happymommy - do you remember what time you left the days you drove south? We are in NNJ and are picking up our car rental the day before we are to leave... So we were thinking the morning of (the day before Thanksgiving) to possibly leave between 5 and 6 AM. We really don't want to leave that Tuesday because we don't want my daughter to miss any more days of school. Thank you for the alternate route! We might have to try and map it out to avoid traffic along the way. Thank you very much!!!

It was morning going down, and about midday coming back that I-95 was just bumper to bumper. Both times it was the weekend, on Saturday I think.

It may be worse in the summer, but I don't know really.

You could check Google Maps and see traffic around there for various times I guess.

In 2001 we drove to Disney, and never had any bad traffic (made it in about 12 hours). I just don't like the construction that's going on around Springfield and further south. Maybe if you hit it around lunchtime or so it may be better, but I'd check the traffic on something like google.

 

[mhf]

I'm so glad you switched days. DC traffic is bad no matter what. Add holiday..worse. Add rain..OMG. Add snow…

IMO, the stretch from the DC Beltway down to Fredericksburg VA is the worst. They are doing construction for HOT lanes and the shoulders are sometimes blocked which makes the lanes narrow. Be careful and just watch out for dummies

 

[double r]

I prefer are the 301 route but there are areas with a lot of traffic lights that sometime back up but I would look into that routes also.