Driving time for NJ to NC.

[Brook1099]

we r leaving in one week to Florida we can leave central jersey anytime after 3:30 pm. on Thursday. What time would u suggest the best to get thru DC area. We plan on stopping in NC for sleep

TIA Brenda

 

[amcnj]

I thought I had read previously that rush "hour" in that area is from like 3 pm to 7 pm. So I guess you should aim to hit that area after 7 pm. Are there any DC area residents who can say if these times still hold on a Thursday?

 

[Brook1099]

thnks us leaving at 4:30 would get us there around 7:30

 

[artesian]

we r leaving in one week to Florida we can leave central jersey anytime after 3:30 pm. on Thursday. What time would u suggest the best to get thru DC area. We plan on stopping in NC for sleep

TIA Brenda

My experience is not to leave NJ before 6. Gets you towards DC 930ish. If I had to leave at 330 I would serioulsy consider taking the coastal route to bypass DC and Richmond on the whole. DC anywhere near rush scares me. Had some friends drive up from Tampa yesterday and they got caught in it coming north and they will be entertaining alternate routes to get home

 

[leslie826]

I grew up in Philly and now live in NoVa so I've done this trip many times. Yes, rush hour tends to be 3-7 on Thursday evenings but there are plenty of times the traffic holds up later than that. Leaving at 4:30 sounds reasonable. You can always stop for dinner if you get stuck.

 

[Ashlander]

You should be good getting to the DC area after 7pm. I would recommend getting on the HOV lanes when you get on 95S. That should help ease your travels.

Have a safe trip!

 

[Brook1099]

Maybe we will take 301.. we did once and thought it was much less stressful than beltway.

I could leave at 1 or 3:30 which would u suggest for that route? TIA

 

[StregaNona]

Maybe we will take 301.. we did once and thought it was much less stressful than beltway.

301 is definitely less stressful than the Washington Beltway. We use it frequently when we are heading in that direction.

 

[DizDaD7]

We've done this trip 2 times...Both for Teachers convention week, or Jersey week as WDW vets call it.

One time we left at 3:30 & the other time at like 4:15. We are in Bergen County up North though, Roughly 10 minutes from the GW Bridge.

The time we left at 330 we stopped for dinner at the last rest stop on the turnpike for 1/2 hr. so this helped on that trip.

Both times we went thru DC with no problems at all, & 1 was on a Thursday, the other a Friday night.

We didn't stop on either of those trips either, I figured I'd just drive straight thru the night & we arrived before noon the next day. You should be fine because you'll be getting into that area after 7 for sure ..Have fun.

 

[mjmyers10]

I think leaving at 3:30 will poise a high traffic problem on the NJ Turnpike instead of DC. That merge is brutal with all the construction. There is work being done at the Delaware Memorial bridge too that slows people down.