How bad do you think it might be? Rt. 95, July 2, Balt/Wash 9am?

[HeatherC]

Think we are going the 81 route...see my last thread...but wanted to double check one more time.

If we leave central Mass. around 2am on Friday, July 2, we would hit Baltimore/Washington area around 9 or 10 am.

Taking a guess, how much of a nightmare do you think it would be at this time? I was thinking we could stop an hour or so for breakfast in MD and wait it out, but then again it's the beginning of July 4th weekend and I know a lot of people will be leaving work early. So we may just wind up sitting all day. We'd avoid morning rush hour and then be stuck in the lunch hour departure.

Should I stick with 81 or do you think 95 is doable?

We cannot decide! Every day we flip flop on it.

Thanks so much!

 

[larry80]

I know 95 south is usually backed up to the tunnels, and again once you get near 495 in DC.


I usually take 695 (before the tunnels in baltimore to the key bridge) and get on 97 to Rt 3 south and get back on 95 right before Kings dominion and take the 95 bypass around richmond. It's a little bit more country roads on rt3, but I've never been stuck in traffic going that way.

Might save you some time that way.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. We hit it at 10:00 AM in Mid-August and 95 below DC was backed up for 3-4 exits. By noon it was backed up all the way to Richmond. We, along with everybody else, jumped off onto Route 1. Basically it took us an extra 5 hours to get through Virginia.

We decided to stop for lunch which I'm sure made it worse for us.

I think if you would get there an hour or two earlier you'd be okay, and 9 might get you through, but you could get stuck.

There is Route 301 which I've heard is a good alternative - you can jump off at Baltimore or Washington and get back on 95 around Richmond. We're thinking of doing it.

 

[ScubaCat]

I always take 301. Although at 9am you MAY be able to slip through. Are you a gambler??

 

[kidd_freeper]

I started a similar thread on this a little while ago and got some good responses and experience information.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2460119

We are leaving Hartford at 12:30AM on July 3 and are driving to Jacksonville, FL. We will hit DC at about 6:30 am on Saturday July 3.

I have resolved to take I95, but to monitor traffic once I get on the DC beltway. If traffic is bad, there is a good bailout option...
- at the southeast corner of the beltway, there is Route 5, a fairly major road. It connects with Route 301. There are a lot of stoplights in Waldorf, MD on 301, but after that its a relatively smooth ride. This adds ~20 minutes to the trip.
- if I make the decision to try I95 and it ends up backing up, Route 1 runs parallel (to the east) with I95.

Good luck.

 

[dis-happy]

I started a similar thread on this a little while ago and got some good responses and experience information.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2460119

We are leaving Hartford at 12:30AM on July 3 and are driving to Jacksonville, FL. We will hit DC at about 6:30 am on Saturday July 3.

I have resolved to take I95, but to monitor traffic once I get on the DC beltway. If traffic is bad, there is a good bailout option...
- at the southeast corner of the beltway, there is Route 5, a fairly major road. It connects with Route 301. There are a lot of stoplights in Waldorf, MD on 301, but after that its a relatively smooth ride. This adds ~20 minutes to the trip.
- if I make the decision to try I95 and it ends up backing up, Route 1 runs parallel (to the east) with I95.

Good luck.

Your problem is the rest of I-95 south on the busiest travel day of the summer. The earlier, the better.


OP: since it's Friday, you'd be getting a jump on the holiday weekend traffic. And since the 95 route is shorter I'd be tempted to do it. Either way, the 81 is a very pleasant drive. Not as many places to stop and eat though.

 

[dblr]

I know 95 south is usually backed up to the tunnels, and again once you get near 495 in DC.


I usually take 695 (before the tunnels in baltimore to the key bridge) and get on 97 to Rt 3 south and get back on 95 right before Kings dominion and take the 95 bypass around richmond. It's a little bit more country roads on rt3, but I've never been stuck in traffic going that way.

Might save you some time that way.

This is a good alternate path but you could go just as quick if you stay on 97 to rt 50 then get on rt 301 basically will get to the same place as rt 3 becomes rt 301 right around Bowie. It is a very nice ride some traffic lights but once you get thru Waldorf area not many lights after that point.
You end up getting back on 95 @ the mile marker 104 which as stated is 1 exit before Kings Dominion.

 

[HeatherC]

Thanks everyone. Will have to check out the 301 route a little more.

Do you think that once we are south of Richmond it would be clear sailing from there? This would be Friday afternoon, July 2?

Thanks again!

 

[richmo]

301 isn't a bad alternative...you pick it up in Delaware (US 13/DE 1).

4th of July weekend in DC is gonna be tough. The good news is the morning rush on the 2nd should be considerably less than normal because of the holiday weekend. However, once late morning hits, it will be awful with the rush to the beaches. I think if you hit DC 8:30/9ish AM (even a little earlier if you can), you'll have to put up with a light rush hour, but you'll be in decent shape. If you're running late, it could get difficult.

Once you get below Richmond, I think you'll be in good shape. Hopefully you'll get thru quick enough that the DC-Richmond drive isn't too bad. If you can find a way to leave an hour or two earlier, I think it would be well worth it.

 

[dis-happy]

Thanks everyone. Will have to check out the 301 route a little more.

Do you think that once we are south of Richmond it would be clear sailing from there? This would be Friday afternoon, July 2?

Thanks again!

Since most beach rentals begin and end on Sat. I think you'll be okay on Friday. It will be way worse driving on 95 on Sat.

 

[Missytara]

You have to remember several things.

People who live in DC/MD have summer places in DE.

People do work in DC on Friday in the summertime, but a lot do flex.

You are leaving over the holiday - that following Monday is a state and federal holiday. A lot of people may take that entire week off.

A lot of people may be heading into work into DC on Friday, so they can take the rest of the week off.

You are going to hit a lot of traffic no matter what.