DEL-MAR-VA Penninsula Traffic on a Sunday Afternoon?

[kidd_freeper]

I was thinking of taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to show the kids this engineering marvel, and to avoid Washington DC traffic.

I'm wondering how bad the beach traffic will be traveling north on US-13 between Virginia Beach and Dover on a Sunday in July between 11am and 4pm.

Anyone with experience going this way, or anyone live near this area?

(We will be returning from WDW on July 16, stopping for the night in Wilson, NC and continuing to CT on Sunday July 17)

Thanks!

 

[dblr]

I do not think the traffic will be that bad neair the Bay Bridge Tunnel what I would worry about would be the traffic farther north, you will be catching all the De. & Md. beach traffic coming up Rt 113 & Rt 1 when they all meet up on Rt1. The traffic where 113 & 1 meet can get real bad at times then the tolls back up also, if you have EZ pass that helps. Also when Rt1 meets Rt 95 it can back up there also.
Other then that it is a nice drive we use that route alot but try to plan around the heavy traffic times, let me know if you need anything else, also the toll booths on 95 in the Neawark area will open with the high speed ez pass on June 22nd, that will hep smooth the traffic there and keep everyone rolling ( I hope!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

[Missytara]

Most of the locals will leave later in the evening traveling north from the beach areas to Dover/Wilmington/PA. Most live within 1 - 3 hours from the beach. Many people from DC also own properties, but they will obviously be traveling west towards the Bay Bridge.

The only issue you will have if there is some sort of huge event at Ocean City that particular weekend.

My mom and I went to dinner on the Sunday before Memorial Day. We left Dover at 11:00 am and there was a constant stream of traffic coming north pulling trailers or riding in restored cars. When we left Rehoboth at 3:00 pm, we were still right in the middle of it till we reached Dover around 4:30 pm.

Turned out there had been a huge car show there on Saturday. Most people spent the night and were coming back on Sunday.

Definately check out the Tunnel; it is pretty cool and my favorite way to go to Williamsburg, VA.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Yes, we have EZPass. It is a great timesaver.

I'll have to check out whats going on in Ocean City.

 

[ssawka]

You will probably hit traffic, but I don't think it will be as I-95 North on a Sunday afternoon in the Summer. Traffic around Fredricksburg is usually horrendous on the weekends in the Summer.

One word of advice: DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT speed on US 13! There are generally speed traps all up and down the Eastern Shore.

 

[crhbrault]

Rt 13 is a breeze on the weekends, even in summer - it's Rt 50 from DC to the beaches you must avoid! Toll is $12 each way on the tunnel, there is a little gift shop with a couple of good overlook areas on the bridge itself. Definitely something worth going a bit out of the way for. In fact, if we end up driving to WDW this fall, we will go what mapquest thinks is the "long way" to do the nicer, more relaxed and easy drive. We live a mile off Rt 50 an hour from Ocean City and about 2 hrs from the Bay Bridge Tunnel....it will be well worth the difference in mileage for a much easier drive. Feel free to PM me if you want some cheap or free suggestions for stopping places between VA Beach and Dover!

 

[kidd_freeper]

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT speed on US 13! There are generally speed traps all up and down the Eastern Shore.

I can believe it. I will follow your advice.

 

[mdgpop]

The bay bridge-tunnel to Dover should be smooth sailing. On route 1 is when traffic can get clogged just as the Delaware people have stated. Speed traps are usually set up in Greenwood, Harrington, wherever the speed drops from 55 to 35 in a matter of seconds. ES Virginia towns drop speed from 55 to 45, there are NOT speed traps at these towns. We usually are safe with 5 mph over in Virginia and Maryland, but watch out for small towns on 13 in Delaware.

 

[bookwormde]

Sunday should not be to bad since most of the Outer banks changes over on Saturday. EZ pass is a must unless you want to sit in the toll boths on RT 1. I would recommned rt 13 to 113 to 1 as the best route so you avoid any congestion around the shopping center in Saulsbury

bookwormde

 

[maciec]

There isn't anything going on in town (sorry Ocean City) that big that would create a jam of traffic. I would take 113 north before taking 13 just to avoid the Greenwood & Harrington areas.

The only downside to 113 is the stretch that is only 2 lanes. The dualization isn't that far from being complete so it shouldn't be too bad.