Faster Route Around DC, 495 East or West ?

[Roy Disney]

Going to be driving to Disney World from NY soon.
We're leaving NY on a Saturday morning, probably hit DC around 10:30 AM.
Not sure if there will be traffic at that time on a Saturday or not.

Any opinions on which way around DC would be faster ?

Thanks.

 

[JimMIA]

I would use Google Maps that morning as you get into Maryland...or maybe even further north, like north of Wilmington, DE.

When I check Google Maps, it generally shows the western 495 route as a little shorter and faster around DC But that could change in a blink of an eye if there is an accident, even on a Saturday morning.

 

[katallo]

I think 495 E since you won't hit the traffic around tysons corner. It will also take you to the Woodrow Wilson bridge which is closer to 95 S.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd suggest getting the Waze app on your smart phone and follow the route it suggests. Waze tracks the traffic flowing on the roads to your destination and will route you on the one that is fastest at the time.

 

[JimMIA]

I'd suggest getting the Waze app on your smart phone and follow the route it suggests. Waze tracks the traffic flowing on the roads to your destination and will route you on the one that is fastest at the time.

Yes, Waze (now owned by Google) is the other option. The difference is that Waze has crowd-sourced traffic info, like where the police cars were at some point in time. Both apps do the same thing in the same way.

I would try both prior to your trip and use whichever you like better. They're both good.

The important thing is to have something giving you real-time traffic information, on the highway you are on, at the time you are driving -- not various opinions based on our prior experiences. You won't be driving in the past, but either Google Maps or Waze will give you pretty darn accurate up-to-the-minute current information.

 

[rwdavis2]

I live in the area. I think google maps is better for urban/suburban traffic. If it wants to reroute you then OBEY. ;-)

But if you are coming down I-95 then it may want you to take I-295 through DC and then head west to get back onto I-95. But if you want to stay on the Beltway for that time of day, take the west side. Also, if the HOV Toll lanes happen to be open on that side I take them. But at that time of day you probably won't need to.

Regardless, listen to google or Waze. They usually know best. In the past I have disregarded their routes to my dismay.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There's always traffic. On a Saturday it won't be like rush hour traffic, but it won't be empty either.

 

[PSUGuy]

For the last several years driving from North East Pa to points South we've used I-81 to get us to Winchester Va., well beyond the I-495 loop, then on to Fredricksburg Va

Bill From PA

 

[rwdavis2]

For the last several years driving from North East Pa to points South we've used I-81 to get us to Winchester Va., well beyond the I-495 loop, then on to Fredricksburg Va

Bill From PA

That's a pretty big detour.

 

[PSUGuy]

That's a pretty big detour.

We've experienced traffic below the loop that turned I-95 into a parking lot until Dale City. I probably save time for the extra miles and besides, going more miles at 65+ feels better than crawling fewer at 5mph.

Bill From PA

 

[sponica]

We've experienced traffic below the loop that turned I-95 into a parking lot until Dale City. I probably save time for the extra miles and besides, going more miles at 65+ feels better than crawling fewer at 5mph.

Bill From PA

I know plenty of people who take the "inland" route to bypass the whole clusterfark that DC metro can be...

 

[rwdavis2]

We've experienced traffic below the loop that turned I-95 into a parking lot until Dale City. I probably save time for the extra miles and besides, going more miles at 65+ feels better than crawling fewer at 5mph.

Bill From PA

Very true. I've seen it and been in it. I'm not sure if there is a way to bypass the Fredricksburg to DC traffic in either direction at any time.

 

[MikeF;NJ]

This past summer I drove down from NJ and took the western half of the loop. I didn't run into any significant traffic until I was south of the loop, but it FELT so much longer than the times I have driven on the eastern half of the loop.

Also, back before I was able to drive, my family would drive from FL to NJ and back. The AAA Trip-Tik we had told us to take the 95 side of the loop (That's the eastern half in the current configuration.)