For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[Marshay]

So, do you think we'd be safe driving on 95 through Virginia on Sunday June 27 around Noon to 2:00 (South to North)?? We're trying to decide if we should do the 26-77-81 route going home, or 95 instead?

Unless you really hate the beltway, I'd recommend 95. I know it's not for everyone. My mom would rather go 3 hours out of her way than to deal with all the trucks and 'crazy drivers' as she calls them, on the Beltway. And she doesn't drive!! (well, except to drive my father batty). So to keep her calm, my dad will take the back way (15 south to 17 or something like that when they leave our house).

We on the other hand are just used to lots of traffic, people changing lanes quickly, trucks, trucks, trucks. So we just always go 95 when we do our errands, or weekend get-aways. With two small children, I don't want to be in the SUV any longer than I have to. We are also familiar with the "Mixing Bowl" and just go with the traffic.

All that said, from noon to 2pm on a Sunday in early summer SHOULD be just fine. But please, please don't come back here and slam me on DIS if it isn't!

Good luck in your decision!

 

[dvczerfs]

sharadoc!, i like your new pic.!

 

[sharadoc]

sharadoc!, i like your new pic.!

Thanks! I love how vibrant the colors are - even DH's Doc hat is nice and bright!. That was from our last trip in February.

 

[shafke]

All that said, from noon to 2pm on a Sunday in early summer SHOULD be just fine. But please, please don't come back here and slam me on DIS if it isn't!

Good luck in your decision!

Unless it rains and everyone leaves the beach early.
We were coming home from Williamsburg one year (mid Aug) and it was a little rainy the Sunday we left to go home. We were in traffic from the time we got on 95 through DC and then again in NJ. It took us two hours longer to get home than it took to get there.

 

[dvczerfs]

Unless it rains and everyone leaves the beach early.
We were coming home from Williamsburg one year (mid Aug) and it was a little rainy the Sunday we left to go home. We were in traffic from the time we got on 95 through DC and then again in NJ. It took us two hours longer to get home than it took to get there.

i stay away from 95 in the summer time. ill take 81-77-26. we crawled one also from exit 133 till s.carolina.

 

[Marshay]

Unless it rains and everyone leaves the beach early.
We were coming home from Williamsburg one year (mid Aug) and it was a little rainy the Sunday we left to go home. We were in traffic from the time we got on 95 through DC and then again in NJ. It took us two hours longer to get home than it took to get there.

Oh, yeah! A drop of rain around here and folks go crazy. There's the "OMG it's raining crowd" who go 25mph and then even when the rain is getting heavy, there's the "what?! c'mon, it's just rain" and they go 80mph. Both are bad, IMHO.

I still think 95 is better but I agree with others that the conditions have to be right. We always listen to WTOP news radio before going on the Beltway (495) to help make our decision. But I know many of you have to make your decision long before then.

Also remember that a 'normal' level of traffic for me may be a lot more than for you. My parents live outside Reading, PA and they always say how much more traffic we have on our roads from 10am - 4pm then they do. I just keep reminding them that WDC is a large metropolitan area. You can only try to avoid rush hour...you won't avoid traffic altogether...just got to go with it. Either you hit it right or you don't, and you won't really know until you get on it or hear a traffic report.

Good luck everyone!

 

[HeatherC]

Hi Guys! I am so confused on routes. They are all spinning through my head so I'm hoping you can help me out.

What is the route to avoid 95 from New England? Seems like there are several and I'm trying to find out the best way to avoid 95 over July 4th weekend.

We are coming from Massachusetts...right next to Route 84 in Sturbridge.

Thanks so much!

PS. I do have another thread on this, but wanted to find out more specific routes since I'm so confused!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

We are driving in 25 days!

 

[dxander]

We're driving in 2 weeks!

 

[wak648]

Hi Guys! I am so confused on routes. They are all spinning through my head so I'm hoping you can help me out.

What is the route to avoid 95 from New England? Seems like there are several and I'm trying to find out the best way to avoid 95 over July 4th weekend.

We are coming from Massachusetts...right next to Route 84 in Sturbridge.

Thanks so much!

PS. I do have another thread on this, but wanted to find out more specific routes since I'm so confused!

84 to 81 to 77 to 95

 

[dvczerfs]

84 to 81 to 77 to 95

thats the way i would also.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

84 to 81 to 77 to 95

thats what we do!

 

[btherrien]

Hi Guys! I am so confused on routes. They are all spinning through my head so I'm hoping you can help me out.

What is the route to avoid 95 from New England? Seems like there are several and I'm trying to find out the best way to avoid 95 over July 4th weekend.

We are coming from Massachusetts...right next to Route 84 in Sturbridge.

Thanks so much!

PS. I do have another thread on this, but wanted to find out more specific routes since I'm so confused!

We drive down from Central CT and we have had great luck going 15 to 287 to the Garden State Parkway and then reconnecting with the NJ Turnpike further down. 15 and the GSP do not allow any commercial traffic since they are both parkways so the roads tend to be better and traffic a little lighter. From up around 84 you would take 84W to 91S to Rte 15s (Merritt Pkwy)

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Not to add to your confusion, but... we go pretty much straight 95 the whole way and it works for us (really depends on the day & time you are going through NYC, DC, etc).

From your area we have gone 84-91-95 straight through to FLA and had good, easy drives. Again, I really think it depends on the time of day you're driving. This last trip we hit 84 around 6:00pm on a Friday and had no problems through Hartford & NYC.

 

[Denzbrujah]

The real reason to avoid NYC is being a Red Sox Fan (j/k)

All jokes aside you REALLY REALLY want to avoid driving through NYC on a Friday between 4pm - 8pm especialy on the 4th...

Between aggresive drivers, cab drivers who think their cars are invincible, the cities insistance on conducting major roadwork on major highways during rush hour in a city with a population of over 8 million people and the constant rubber necking at every conceivable opportunity, I tell you it's enough to lead one to commit their own Boston Massacre.

Ohh and if there's a Yankee game going on in town you can expect gridlock to last well into the late evening!!!!

 

[HeatherC]

Thanks everyone! I think we are going the 81-77-26-95 route because we are traveling over July 4th weekend.

Where would 26 drop you off on 95?

Thanks!

 

[BC1836]

Another 1,080 mile one-way drive! We are here!

A 2:00 a.m. Friday departure to beat DC rush hour traffic. Mission accomplished.

Sunny skies all the way down...once the sun rose.

A 50-minute nap in NC (crossed its border at 8:36 a.m.) Crossed the FL border at 4:41 p.m.

Only traffic: Jacksonsville rush hour for about 10 miles and then a near crawl past Orlando as the giant yellow-orange sun set directly ahead of the traffic.

Stayed at HIE Lake Buena Vista overnight. Checked in at the GF the next morning.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Another 1,080 mile one-way drive! We are here!

A 2:00 a.m. Friday departure to beat DC rush hour traffic. Mission accomplished.

Sunny skies all the way down...once the sun rose.

A 50-minute nap in NC (crossed its border at 8:36 a.m.) Crossed the FL border at 4:41 p.m.

Only traffic: Jacksonsville rush hour for about 10 miles and then a near crawl past Orlando as the giant yellow-orange sun set directly ahead of the traffic.

Stayed at HIE Lake Buena Vista overnight. Checked in at the GF the next morning.

All the best.

have a nice time bc!!! keep us posted.

 

[Marshay]

Another 1,080 mile one-way drive! We are here!

A 2:00 a.m. Friday departure to beat DC rush hour traffic. Mission accomplished.

Sunny skies all the way down...once the sun rose.

A 50-minute nap in NC (crossed its border at 8:36 a.m.) Crossed the FL border at 4:41 p.m.

Only traffic: Jacksonsville rush hour for about 10 miles and then a near crawl past Orlando as the giant yellow-orange sun set directly ahead of the traffic.

Stayed at HIE Lake Buena Vista overnight. Checked in at the GF the next morning.

All the best.

Sounds like you did great on traffic!!

 

[ellenmiele]

Another 1,080 mile one-way drive! We are here!

A 2:00 a.m. Friday departure to beat DC rush hour traffic. Mission accomplished.

Sunny skies all the way down...once the sun rose.

A 50-minute nap in NC (crossed its border at 8:36 a.m.) Crossed the FL border at 4:41 p.m.

Only traffic: Jacksonsville rush hour for about 10 miles and then a near crawl past Orlando as the giant yellow-orange sun set directly ahead of the traffic.

Stayed at HIE Lake Buena Vista overnight. Checked in at the GF the next morning.

All the best.

Curious as to what your strategy will be for the drive home?