Heading South on I-95...Have a couple of questions.

[Mark P.]

It's been a while since our last drive down (from southern NJ), so I'm looking for info. on a couple of alternate ways than we're used to taking, please...

Is this a good way to get around Baltimore to the I-495 DC Beltway?

I-95 South to the Balt. Harbor Thruway (I-895), to US 295, to the I-495 Beltway.
Our AAA TripTik has us passing US 295 after the tunnel and getting back onto I-95, then east on I-495 around DC.

Now for the dreaded DC Beltway question...

I've seen the I-495 (dc beltway) skybridge mentioned here before, and am I correct in thinking it's accessible only from the East on I-495, thus avoiding the "mixing bowl"? Is this new, as I don't recall it on our last drive down.

Thanks!

-Mark

 

[Jamesbyr]

I am not familiar with the terms "sky bridge" or "mixing bowl" regarding the DC Beltway, but I have found that getting off the Beltway and back on I-95 south of DC has been the worst part of the trip. I've driven through DC from NY to FLA several times and finally found a route that works for me. South of Baltimore, stay on US-295 past the beltway. Six miles south of I-495, bear right on US 50 (New York Avenue) and head straight downtown. Five miles in, just after New Jersey Avenue, there's a left turn onto the beginning of I-395. This goes through Arlington and becomes I-95 when it crosses the Beltway south of the city. I think you have to see it on a good map: the highway signs don'e help much.

We usually do this after 8 o'clock at night, so I don't know how it is during the daytime.

 

[jehma]

We drive down every year and we've started to avoid 95. We head west on 78 to Harrisburg, PA, and work our way down 81, then head back toward 95 below all the congested areas. It's a much more pleasant drive!

On the way down, we'll leave NJ at 3AM and take 95 down to Jacksonville, getting in around 5PM. Since we leave early Sat morning, there isn't much traffic. Then we drive the 5 hours to Boynton Beach (my parents' house) on Sun morning. We take 95 on the way down since it's a weekend and during the night - no traffic. We're heading up from WDW on a Monday, so we'll take 81 all the way up and avoid the congested cities.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Can't help with the getting around Baltimore question, but you are correct about the new DC I-95 flyover, as it's called. It is accessable via 495 E. (the route over the Wilson Bridge) and it was specifically designed for I-95 "only" traffic wanting to avoid the dread mixing bowl. I've taken it 3 times now and must say it is a major improvement over previous trips. For every car staying left on the flyover, there are 5 or 6 heading right (the old way) into the mixing bowl. SOOOO nice to be able to avoid that!!!
Now the flyover does end and puts you back on the "regular" I-95, but you are past the mixing bowl and don't have to worry any longer about all the merging traffic.
As I've said on a previous post, jamesbyr 's route would be great--in an armored car