Driving to WDW from NY

[Roy Disney]

This winter, we're leaving on a Saturday morning, probably around 6:00 AM and driving to North Carolina.
Next day we're driving to Disney World.

In MapQuest it's taking me West on 495 around Washington DC and instead of going through Richmond on 95 it's taking me around Richmond on 295.

Since it's a Saturday, traffic shouldn't be a big issue.

Anyone familiar with these 2 areas and think going East on 495 around DC or going on 95 through Richmond is a better option ?

Thank you.

 

[rwdavis2]

Traffic going south from DC on 95 CAN (but not always) get backed up. If you take the west side of the beltway take the Toll HOV lanes if you have an EZ pass. It should get you around most of the traffic (if there is any) once you are heading south on 95. I can't help you around Richmond.

We have found that using Google Maps on our smart phones is the best way to travel that area. If it takes you off your expected route due to traffic listen to it. It saved us about an hour one day and cost us about 45 minutes another when we didn't listen to it.

 

[klo1335]

We use the Waze app when we drive from Philadelphia. If traffic is bad it will reroute you around the bad areas. Once you get past Richmond it is "typically" smooth sailing. The app helped up tremendously last trip.

 

[Koz]

I make it as far as Wildwood, NJ from Long Island NY, with 3 young kids in the car and I'm ready to walk home. I wish you luck!

 

[Roy Disney]

Thank you.

My kids are a lot older

 

[cranbiz]

When traveling to and from MA from either FL (when I lived there) or NC I always use 495 (to Tyson's Corner) around DC and 295 around Richmond. My wife, when she goes north uses 95 thru Richmond and 495 around DC. Doesn't matter day of the week, I have found weekends in the DC area to be bad therefore, I avoid DC like the plague. I295 around Richmond is a bit longer mileage wise but almost always faster as you don't have the "highway safety corridor" speed restrictions on 295 and almost always less traffic.

 

[Roy Disney]

When traveling to and from MA from either FL (when I lived there) or NC I always use 495 (to Tyson's Corner) around DC and 295 around Richmond. My wife, when she goes north uses 95 thru Richmond and 495 around DC. Doesn't matter day of the week, I have found weekends in the DC area to be bad therefore, I avoid DC like the plague. I295 around Richmond is a bit longer mileage wise but almost always faster as you don't have the "highway safety corridor" speed restrictions on 295 and almost always less traffic.

Thanks !

 

[edbo77]

Use the Waze app for sure. You'll love it.

In terms of going around DC, it's a coin toss. Take 295 around Richmond, might be a couple more minutes/miles but I've never had an issue with traffic that route.

 

[monorailsilver]

Add another wazer to this post (it gives info to google maps).

The last time we drove down (auto train), I was/am the co pilot so while DH is driving I look at the maps so we know what kind of traffic is ahead of us.

It was a Friday in April and wake had us go straight thru D.C. I couldn't believe it. I checked the traffic with the app and saw it was green. So we went and no traffic.

Normally we take the east loop though. But you just don't know until you are driving there.

I can't recall Richmond, I think we may have went straight thru the way down and took the loop (not sure which direction) the way back.