Driving from CT?

[cranbiz]

I responded in your other thread about I95.

I always do the I95 straight thru. Recently I have been using the Baltimore Harbor tunnel instead of the McHenry tunnel. I think that it's about the same but MR. GPS likes that route better. Going down, I usually take I495 around DC. MR. GPS likes that way also going down. I have not hit any major problems using that route either.

My timing is usually set so that I am around Richmond by 5am. I have had no problems at that time of the morning. I certainally agree with Obi-wan Pinobe that routes around Richmond are preferred if you end up there during the morning or evening rush.

There are many ways of travelling the east coast, Many think that I'm nuts staying on I95, but it has so far always worked for me. I have done the I81 route coming back from Asheville NC. I have always felt that it was a long drive with a lot of truck traffic. There have been many slowdowns when I have been on it. Eat and fuel when you can if you decide on that route, the exits with those comforts can be few and far between.

YMMV

 

[CT- Mouse]

DW and I have driven 10+ trips to FL with most of them on I95. Like you we come from CT. A couple times we have ventured home via your possible route on I81. Maybe it was because it was the ride home but the ride on I81 seemed to take foreeevvveeerrrrr !

Leaving CT around noon and driving straight through should put you in the Jacksonville, FL area before the morning rush but on I4 during morning rush hour.

 

[Robert P]

Just trying to help with more info (NC route):

MeggerasMa - if you are heading to Asheville, you're likely going 77 South to 40 West at Statesville. If then continuing your journey on to WDW, when you head back East on 40, getting on 77 South and going that route is quicker. The 40 East over to 95 route is MUCH longer than heading South on 77 to 26, then to 95. And, that 40 route takes you through potential traffic bog-downs in Greensboro and the Raleigh/Durham area. If you drop straight down on 77 South, all you have to contend with is Charlotte traffic, which has new HOV lanes helping with congestion. As long as you are not in morning or afternoon rush hour, you should breeze right through.

General info note for all (sorry, not trying to take over the thread):
The 'fall line' on a NC map between going 40-95-4 to WDW and taking (basically) 77-26-95-4 to WDW, is just outside Burlington, NC which is East of Greensboro, in the middle of the state. That point is close to equi-distant going either route.
Whichever routes you may take, just be safe!

 

[BigTigger]

Thank you all for the comments and info on routes from CT.

My DH is now looking into leaving around 5pm and going I-95 straight down. He thinks driving through the night he will avoid bad traffic in NY, NJ and DC. What do you think? TIA

The other posters are spot on regarding the I-81 truck traffic and options around DC for I-95, but the best advice is what you gave yourself - leave after dinner and drive through until early AM to get past the NY to DC traffic mess. I drive my with my college age daughter to/from Florida each year to get her car back and forth and have learned the hard way not to drive daylight hours on either 95 or 81 as roadwork/traffic kills 95 and trucks kill 81 due to the hills slowing them up. We usually leave around 8 pm from central MA and take either route depending on active roadwork alerts posted on the I-95 road site and/or the AAA site.