FYI - just drove I-81 through VA

[Robert P]

Just completed a trip (NC to New England) via I-81 through VA.
Northbound: delayed in the Staunton, VA area for road work. Stop, go, stop for 15 minutes as traffic merged down to 1 lane.
Around 11:30 p.m. Could be night work only, who knows??

Southbound: Daytime (and weekend) driving. No delays. Traffic was slightly heavier around Roanoke, but never got below posted speed. No delays at the 81/77 interchange, either.

Visible law enforcement 4 times in VA, once in West VA.

That's all. Just an update if you are routing that way.

 

[Shelby007]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents. We've never drived to FL but go to VA often. I-81 is also a much nicer drive than I-95 and it bypasses the whole Washington DC mess.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Ah--but the trucks!!
RobertP:
Were there the usual fleets of trucks on I-81??
Friends of ours had a daughter who attended Radford College for 4 years and they regularly used I-81. Said it had the worst truck traffic of any road they'd ever seen--indluding I-95.

 

[Robert P]

Ah yes Uncleromulus, there were trucks. Quite a few, compared to I-95. But overall, there was less traffic, make for a more pleasant drive. Note: Truck traffic was much heavier driving weekday at night than coming back weekend during the day.

I accept the trade off: professional truck drivers in huge vehicles for casual drivers in numerous small vehicles. Except for the mountainy stretches nearing the I-77 interchange, we really didn't pass them or get passed by them too often.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Route 81 runs through my hometown, but I never seriously considered using it for a trip to Florida because goes further westward (and I thought out of my way). Do you 81 travelers pick up 77 then and link up with 95 in South Carolina?

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

(Double post - and for some reason I'm not allowed to delete it. Sorry!)

 

[Robert P]

I believe most of the 81 folks take 77 to Columbia, then 26 over to 95. Depending on where you are coming from, any extra miles could be offset by not having to tackle 95 traffic, especially around DC.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Originally posted by Robert P
Depending on where you are coming from, any extra miles could be offset by not having to tackle 95 traffic, especially around DC.

Definitely! One of my biggest worries about driving to WDW has been getting past Washington, D.C. with my sanity intact! I don't think the mileage difference would be all that significant, either. I'm also accustomed to Route 81's truck traffic, so it would actually feel somewhat familiar, lol.

The map in front of me implies that 81 follows the ridge of the Appalachians in Virginia - must be beautiful.

 

[Uncleromulus]

RobertP:
I think you are right--that probably is an aceptable trade-off.

 

[frazzled one]

Interesting! I've often thought that there's gotta be a better way to pick up 95 South from 81 than the way AAA routes us (81 to 66 to 17/29 through Warrenton, VA, and then picking up 95 near Fredericksburg). We want to avoid the DC area, too, and I thought this was the only way to do it.

I've also wondered about 81 to 64 East (near Charlottesville, VA), cutting around Richmond on 495, and then picking up 95 South. Has anyone done it this way? I would love to check out some alternate routes - thanks for any info you can share.

fraz

 

[WDWisTheBest]

The first way of going I-66 to route 17/29 through Warrenton to Fredericksburg certainly works fine normally. And, it avoids most of the DC traffic problems.

While cutting over from I-81 to I-95 using I-64 to Richmond also works, it takes longer than most are willing to do since the W to E distance (approx. 110 miles) from I-81 to I-95 is significant from Staunton to Richmond.

That is why most people just drive down I-81 to Fort Chiswell, pick up I-77 south to Columbia, SC and then drive east on I-26 to I-95 as Robert P said. This route, as well as being scenic, lets you move quite smoothly, except for the normal slowdown at Charlotte. Traffic on I-81&I-77 is not normally as crowded as it is on I-95 from DC down through NC. Truck traffic moves smoothly except during icy conditions.

I guess it boils down to your tolerance for driving in heavy, mainly car, traffic on I-95 from NY to NC. If you go through the DC area at the right time and there aren't many traffic tie ups, then that way works. On I-81 there are more trucks, but they don't cause tie ups. Remember they are on a schedule to deliver and use that route for a reason.
Good luck to all who drive either route to WDW.

 

[caitycaity]

i used to drive on I-81 north from western maryland/west virginia to upstate new york all the time. it's not just that there are a lot of trucks. the worst part is a lot of the truck drivers are RUDE and will ride up on your bumper and start flashing their lights and stuff. i'm not a slow driver (usually average about 70-75 on highways).

i hate driving that stretch b/c i feel like i'm taking my life into my own hand with all the rude truck drivers who are BAD drivers!

 

[frazzled one]

I appreciate the explanation - I'll definitely look into going 81 to 77 for our November trip! I'll be driving dd19 back to college in Williamsburg next weekend, then going to Charlottesville, so I'll have a chance to check out using 64 - however, dh won't be interested in adding that many miles to our WDW trip. He does most of the driving - I'm just the pinch hitter - and doesn't really mind the traffic on 95. But I do!

caitycaity - we drive 81 a fair amount and haven't had any trouble with truckers, except for the fact that they drive these huge things that make me kind of nervous. The construction, however, is another story. I guess that 81 will be a work in progress forever and ever. Oh - and now I'm remembering how I'm not really too happy about driving that stretch though Wilkes-Barre, either. My hat's off to those folks who do it every day!

fraz

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I've also wondered about 81 to 64 East (near Charlottesville, VA), cutting around Richmond on 495, and then picking up 95 South. Has anyone done it this way? I would love to check out some alternate routes - thanks for any info you can share.

I-295 is the bypass around Richmond, but the only thing about 295 is that it doesn't make a complete circle around the Richmond area. The missing part of that circle is along the southwest quarter of the circle. If you're going east on 64 and need to get to 95 south, you either have to (a) take 64 east into the city and pick up 95 south, or (b) get on 295, which takes you along the northern and then eastern edges of the metro area before going true south.

By the end of the year, Route 288 should be completed and open. That will make for an easier alternative to get from west of Richmond to south of Richmond.

 

[hobogary]

We take I 81 to US 17 in Winchester and take that all the way to Fredricksburg Va. Nearly all 4 lane road now and cuts off all the DC mess.

 

[DaveH]

My DS went VATECH a few years ago. I found 90% of the truck drivers to be professional and if you acted properly with them very curtious. The other 10% remind of 90% of the SUV drivers here in metro DC.