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

[loveysbydesign]

I am not sure what you are looking for but there is a nice Comfort Suites off of I-81 at exit 137 in Salem, VA which is just past Roanoke. DD goes to Roanoke College in Salem and we have stayed at this hotel several times. There are some hotels in Roanoke too, but this area is a little less congested and is a nice fairly new hotel.

Thanks! I'll check it out!

 

[aarmando20]

Were driving down in just about 3 weeks. Planning to leave from South Philadelphia at 3:00 am on a Friday. I am hoping this is early enough that we will not hit any traffic and can drive straight through.

 

[patclairesmom]

Well for some reason DH does not want to stop in FL. I have no clue why but since he does all the driving I say whatever sweet heart and try and get as close as I can without going over the border LOL. Years ago he had some issues in Jacksonville so if its anywhere near there its a big fat NO from him. I finally got him to agree to stop further south in Georgia so not sure I want to push it.

Try Kingsland Ga. I think it's the last exit in Ga before Fla. We stayed at a great Comfort Suites that had an indoor pool.

 

[nono]

Here is a mapquest link from georgetown, 13 to 64 to 664 to 58 to 95

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Geo....40428&2g=-81.58065&2v=ADDRESS&2id=263233968#

bookwormde

Yep, that's the way. We start from Cape May -- over the ferry and then pick up this route. Only sticky part is near VA Beach, it can get tricky through there with all the roads going every which way! (My car just keeps trying to turn towards the beach in that area! LOL) We did the drive on a Friday night in May, started from Lewes, DE at 6:10 pm and were on site checking in at 10:15 am. I did the majority of the driving and found it to be an easy, easy ride.

Enjoy!!!!

 

[Lisa75]

Yep, that's the way. We start from Cape May -- over the ferry and then pick up this route. Only sticky part is near VA Beach, it can get tricky through there with all the roads going every which way! (My car just keeps trying to turn towards the beach in that area! LOL) We did the drive on a Friday night in May, started from Lewes, DE at 6:10 pm and were on site checking in at 10:15 am. I did the majority of the driving and found it to be an easy, easy ride.

Enjoy!!!!

Thanks!! So you don't take the route(s) people mention to avoid 95 then?

 

[amtag]

Thanks!! So you don't take the route(s) people mention to avoid 95 then?

We are driving from NJ and taking the 78-81-95 route. I really think we'd be better off taking 95 all the way, but the rest of my party disagrees from talking to other people LOL so we are taking 81 most of the way and stopping in Kingsland, Georgia (I think it's a Comfort Inn) for the night. We figure about 16 hours to Kingsland.

 

[nono]

Thanks!! So you don't take the route(s) people mention to avoid 95 then?

No -- by hooking into I95 at the "bottom" of VA, you completely avoid the areas most folks are looking to avoid: NJ turnpike, DE/MD border, and Balt/DC/Richmond.

It should be noted for others reading this that the DELMARVA drive makes sense mostly for those on the DELMARVA, or those at the very southern NJ counties who like the ferry ride wave.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I was telling him that folks on this thread suggest an alternate route to 95, the 77,81, 75? I am sure I got that wrong.
Lisa

Lisa, We are driving in July from PA (but near Wilmington). We will take 95 because the other route is out of the way and would add more time. We will leave at a time to avoid DC traffic.

Deb

 

[dvczerfs]

No -- by hooking into I95 at the "bottom" of VA, you completely avoid the areas most folks are looking to avoid: NJ turnpike, DE/MD border, and Balt/DC/Richmond.

It should be noted for others reading this that the DELMARVA drive makes sense mostly for those on the DELMARVA, or those at the very southern NJ counties who like the ferry ride wave.

good point, that could be a bit out of the way for us in landers. you guys are locked in there, you dont have to many choice without driving way out of the way. lets hope the oil dont head north or we wont have to worry about shore traffic.

 

[BC1836]

After a 1,000+ one-way drive, we spent most of the afternoon riding XP-37 vehicles. "To infinity and beyond."

Remember: When departing from NJ, leave very, very early (around 3 a.m.) to beat the frequently mentioned traffic areas.

All the best.

 

[Lisa75]

Thank all of you guys again so much!! It makes sense now. I just heard I95 and envisioned a daily I95 commute but multiplied x 15 !

Thanks!!

 

[patclairesmom]

Remember: When departing from NJ, leave very, very early (around 3 a.m.) to beat the frequently mentioned traffic areas.

What about leaving later @ 7:00am getting to DC @11am. From Central Jersey ,about an hour from the turnpike, we would have to leave @2 a.m. and I don't think I could get up that early. Just wondering any opinions as everyone on the board does seem to leave in the early a.m. hours.

 

[JVL1018]

What about leaving later @ 7:00am getting to DC @11am. From Central Jersey ,about an hour from the turnpike, we would have to leave @2 a.m. and I don't think I could get up that early. Just wondering any opinions as everyone on the board does seem to leave in the early a.m. hours.

I never ever leave super early.
We leave around 7 or 8am on a Saturday(usually 8)-from North Jersey, a few miles away from the George Washington Bridge-go through Baltimore at the 3 hour mark and are through DC around 4 hours-stop for lunch in northern VA and then hit the road again.
We've been making the drive for 8 years and we haven't had any traffic problems in DC or elsewhere.(knock wood)

 

[BC1836]

Based upon 19 2,000+ mile round-trip drives since 2002, we have learned that departing from NJ on a weekend is very different than leaving on a weekday. Remember: Southern MD/greater DC/northern VA must be avoided at rush hour at all costs. Friday is particularly horrible.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Based upon 19 2,000+ mile round-trip drives since 2002, we have learned that departing from NJ on a weekend is very different than leaving on a weekday. Remember: Southern MD/greater DC/northern VA must be avoided at rush hour at all costs. Friday is particularly horrible.

All the best.

i have a few driving trips under my belt and i would have to agree with you bc. also the time of year matters. the winter time, its a nightmare and the summer time, is a complete nightmare!! we pick up i95 at exit 133 above richmond and knock on wood there was only one time we crawled to nc state line and that was a friday during the summer. there was no wrecks,just cars.

 

[JVL1018]

Based upon 19 2,000+ mile round-trip drives since 2002, we have learned that departing from NJ on a weekend is very different than leaving on a weekday. Remember: Southern MD/greater DC/northern VA must be avoided at rush hour at all costs. Friday is particularly horrible.

All the best.

I agree with you..sorry OP, I was thinking weekend driving because that's all we ever do.

While we're talking abotu traffic..on a scale of 1-10 how awful will it be leaving Northern NJ at 3pm on the day before Thanksgiving..?
I'm scared--doing it anyway because we have no choice, but I am thinking the traffic will be horrendous(though we used to drive up to MA that day each year and it was doable). Should I take that non-95 route?

 

[sharig5576]

I used to live in Northern NJ and travel down to Delaware. The day before Thanksgiving is awful to travel down the NJ Turnpike. It normally was a 2 hr and 15 min trip. The day before Thanksgiving, it took 6 hours!!! Maybe if you left around 7 or 8 pm and missed the rush hour?

 

[chellewashere]

This year on our return trip we left during the day to head on back to Philly after stopping overnight in SC.
After a horrible rain storm and getting stuck in 2 accidents (all this in VA) we hit the dreaded DC/MD traffic and let me just say anyone who makes that commute daily for work are NUTS. It added an additional 2 hours onto our trip just making it thru that section. Never Ever Never again will I make that mistake. We were suppossed to hit there aroount 230-3PM but we got there at 5PM. It was nasty and folks were so rude in the cars just cutting other people off and what not. Then on just that stretch of the road there was another 3 accidents that we saw and a huge truck broke down that was a huge amount of time added just trying to get around him once you finally got up there and realized what it was. URGH!! If at all possible I suggest to not go anywhere near that area at anytime when the sun is up

 

[sharadoc]

So what about Wash DC on 95 southbound on Friday in December at 7:00 pm???

 

[dvczerfs]

So what about Wash DC on 95 southbound on Friday in December at 7:00 pm???

my guess would be you should be ok. winter time, not rush hour, as long as there wasnt a big wreck, id give it a shot.