Driving from NJ

[DVCMikey]

We have made several trips from NJ to Orlando area driving. We usually take 81 to 77 to 26 back to 95 to miss the 95 traffic in VA and DC.

I saw a while back people posting on a highway in VA where you can cut across from 81 to hit 95 around the Richmond area. Does anyone know about this?

Also, if anyone else has any recommendations. thanks

 

[grimley1968]

I don't know of anything new in that area, but I-64 goes between I-81 at Staunton, VA and I-95 at Richmond. There are other highways, such as 60 and 460 (which I think is mostly 4-lane from Roanoke over to Richmond and filled with Civil War historical stops), but I'd probably just stick with I-64, assuming you stay with the avoid-DC-traffic route.

 

[DVCMikey]

I don't know of anything new in that area, but I-64 goes between I-81 at Staunton, VA and I-95 at Richmond. There are other highways, such as 60 and 460 (which I think is mostly 4-lane from Roanoke over to Richmond and filled with Civil War historical stops), but I'd probably just stick with I-64, assuming you stay with the avoid-DC-traffic route.

It might have been 64 that someone told me about. They said its highway until you get closer to 95 but once you get to 95 its pretty much smooth sailing

 

[1Grumpy9]

The interstate you are talking about is I-64. It goes from I-81 to I-95.

I am driving for the first time in a long time, but I am going to avoid I-95 as much as possible as I am not a fan of that interstate at all. My friend and I will be headed down 81 to 77 to 26 and then finally 95. It adds a little bit of time going that way for me, but it is better than going through DC and Richmond. You never know what traffic you will get in around those two cities.

I know I will be hitting some traffic around Charlotte, but I can handle that a little better than DC traffic.

 

[DVCMikey]

The interstate you are talking about is I-64. It goes from I-81 to I-95.

I am driving for the first time in a long time, but I am going to avoid I-95 as much as possible as I am not a fan of that interstate at all. My friend and I will be headed down 81 to 77 to 26 and then finally 95. It adds a little bit of time going that way for me, but it is better than going through DC and Richmond. You never know what traffic you will get in around those two cities.

I know I will be hitting some traffic around Charlotte, but I can handle that a little better than DC traffic.

yea that is the way we usually go. Was just thinking of trying the I64 to cut over and see how long it takes.

 

[dvczerfs]

yea that is the way we usually go. Was just thinking of trying the I64 to cut over and see how long it takes.

I use i81/i66 to rt17 to i95 often. Usually in the winter months. 17 can get a lot of traffic on the weekends. I'm using it next week on the down because we are leaving at 12:30 am and I will be well past Richmond before any rush hour traffic.
Forgot to mention, it only saves you about 15 minutes if you get clear sailing as it does using 81/77/26. I just stay out of those mountains in the winter time, slept in the car one night at whites truck stop because it was rain on the bottoms of the mountain and ice and snow as you got higher up.

 

[Robert P]

The interstate you are talking about is I-64. It goes from I-81 to I-95.

I am driving for the first time in a long time, but I am going to avoid I-95 as much as possible as I am not a fan of that interstate at all. My friend and I will be headed down 81 to 77 to 26 and then finally 95. It adds a little bit of time going that way for me, but it is better than going through DC and Richmond. You never know what traffic you will get in around those two cities.

I know I will be hitting some traffic around Charlotte, but I can handle that a little better than DC traffic.

Charlotte traffic is worst around rush hour weekdays (7 - 9 a.m. and 3:30 - 6 p.m., though the afternoon traffic is worst going out of Charlotte). It's generally okay and moves well the rest of the time, aside from some slowdowns North of Charlotte on 77 in the Lake Norman area where it's only 2 lanes each way before getting to Charlotte. Just an FYI.

 

[richmo]

From NJ, how are you getting to I-81? If its the PA Turnpike, I know during the summer there were some stretches between Philly area and Harrisburg where the speed limit was dropped to 45 for some long stretches (about 10 miles each) for road construction/repaving. I haven't been on there west of Valley Forge since, but you might want to check to see if that construction is still going on.

 

[1Grumpy9]

Charlotte traffic is worst around rush hour weekdays (7 - 9 a.m. and 3:30 - 6 p.m., though the afternoon traffic is worst going out of Charlotte). It's generally okay and moves well the rest of the time, aside from some slowdowns North of Charlotte on 77 in the Lake Norman area where it's only 2 lanes each way before getting to Charlotte. Just an FYI.

Yeah...luckily we are leaving on a Saturday morning and we should be in through Charlotte by 2 or 3pm. I hate that area of 77 around Lake Norman. Everyone sees the lake and does rubber necking. I was just hoping that we weren't leaving the same weekend as the fall Charlotte NASCAR race. That would have increased the traffic, but we are traveling through NC after the race.