Driving from Mass

[Barbi]

I'm leaving from the Boston area on Thurday morning driving to Wilmington NC (college tour @ UNC with DS). I've driven this before to visit my brother in the same city. My question is, should I take 95 from NY all the way to 40 in NC, ~or~ go 84 (CT) to 81 (PA into VA) to 66 and 17 then pick up 95 around the Richmond area avoiding NYC and Washington ~or ~ 81 (PA) to 270 to 495 to 95 near Washington. We plan to leave around 3:30 AM driving straight thru hoping to arrive around 9PM.
I know this is confusing but I appreciate any input.

 

[cranbiz]

My first thought is that 3:30am is a bad time to start. It's going to be rush hour just about anyplace on just about any route you take (NYC/Hartford)

Is there a reason that you can't leave at somewhere between 6pm and midnight?

I would probably do 95 to 40, but if you really want to miss NCY then do 95 to 278 (to the TappanZee) back to 95 to 40. You do want to hit the DC area before 5am so I would shoot for closer to leaving around 6pm if possible. 295 around Richmond is an excellent route and will not add to your drive time and consider 495 around DC.

 

[GMarcan920]

We live on Cape Cod; when we drive to FL, we always drive the following route (and have never, luckily, run into any problems): 95 S to 287 over the TappenZee to 78 to 81, pick up 66 off 81 then onto 17 back onto 95 in Fredricksburg, VA. It's a personal thing with us to avoid the major NE cities. It sounds like a way longer route but we always arrive in FL (Vero Beach area) by 2-3PM on the 3rd day. We travel with two cats so we limit our daily driving to about 500 miles per day. Can't get you to the university though, sorry.

 

[Barbi]

My first thought is that 3:30am is a bad time to start. It's going to be rush hour just about anyplace on just about any route you take (NYC/Hartford)

Is there a reason that you can't leave at somewhere between 6pm and midnight?

I would probably do 95 to 40, but if you really want to miss NCY then do 95 to 278 (to the TappanZee) back to 95 to 40. You do want to hit the DC area before 5am so I would shoot for closer to leaving around 6pm if possible. 295 around Richmond is an excellent route and will not add to your drive time and consider 495 around DC.

I'm taking summer classes at a local college and have an exam tonight till 8:45. Maybe if I leave straight from class that would be better. It's myself and 2 children DD20 and DS 17, both kids can drive and at their ages are nocturnal. They could start the drive (they can't really mess up between here and NY) then I could be awake for the NYC/NJ/Washington areas.
Mapquest has me going over the GW bridge you think I should take the Tappanzee? I'm sure there are signs enough to direct me.
Thanks for your thoughts and advice!!!!

 

[Plannergirl]

1st the important part GO HEELS! Great choice hope your child likes it, Chapel Hill is a truly wonderful place. *hums James Taylor to herself*

OK with that out of the way...I have driven the DC to CH part a number of times.

Take 95 south to Richmond, dont bother with the bypass around Richmond its a waste IMHOP
Take 95 to just south of Richmond and merge onto 85 south in Petersburg
85 will take you into NC past Durham *booooooo dookies*
Take State Route 15 to Chapel Hill

Hope this helps
Oh dont forget there is not much for services or gas from Petersburg till the Va line esp at night or on Sundays so fill up etc before you get on 85 south

 

[Barbi]

Thanks! I hope he lkes it too.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Chapel Hill is a truly wonderful place. *hums James Taylor to herself*

Would the song be "Traffic Jam"?

 

[Plannergirl]

haha no "In my mind Im going to Carolina" I play that every time I cross back into NC from Va...HOME!

 

[cranbiz]

I never used the Tappan Zee on any of my many trips from MA to FL. I have experimented with different variations of the I95 route and this is what I have settled on from Carver, MA to Deltona, FL.

I always went Rt44 to 495 to 95, went over the GWB and then onto the NJ turnpike until the Delaware Memorial Bridge.Once near Baltimore I normally used 895 thru the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and then picked up 95 again to 495 around College Park MD. Took this back to 95 outside of Alexandria and stayed on 95 until 295 near Richmond. Then it was 95 the rest of the way until I4.

At Richmond, it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other. It's just about the same time and near the same mileage. However, if it is a rush hour timeframe 295 will save you time.

However, 95 the entire way works. I only mentioned the Tappan Zee because other people swear by it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

295 around Richmond is the way to go.
I-95 through Richmond--particularly when there is even normal traffic--is a mess.

 

[dgaston]

Driving from CT I strongly recommend your alternative rt -- 84-81-66-95. We have settled on this after traffic in DC even at 3 am. It's a little longer, more scenic and well worth the ease of the drive.

 

[dizchick]

I don't see any need to worry about taking 295 in Richmond. I grew up around there and have never seen bad traffic straight through on 95, even at rush hour. Traffic there is nothing compared to DC...try to avoid DC at rush hour at any cost! I live here and it's a mess!

 

[Barbi]

Thanks for all the replies! We're here in NC now and the route we took was, Mass Pike to 84 to 91 to 95 over the GWB then 295 around Richmond. My DD (20) drove the first leg into Maryland, then me into NC, and DS (17) drove the last few hours of NC.
I have to thank Cranbiz sooooo much for the suggestion to change the departure time! We left home at 9:45PM and had no traffic what so ever anywhere. Went over the GWB just fine then we arrived at the tolls for the NJ turnpike, there were no other cars around. We were the only car there. Drove thru DC around 5AM with a bit of extra traffic but nothing to complain about. My son drove the last 3 hrs in NC which was great, he needs more highway experience. We arrived at my DB house at 11:30 AM. We drove pretty much 65-75 MPH the whole way I cant believe it only took 13 1/2 to get here. We really didn't stop much, only for bathroom breaks and once for gas.
The ride home will probably be 95 to 81 to thru PA, the thought of 95 on a Sunday in the summer is a bit frightning.
Thanks again!