I-295N Baltimore–Washington Parkway

[rock_doctor]

Hi all,

I am trying to find a better way to cover the distance between Washington DC and Baltimore. I-95 is constant bumper to bumper when we are coming back from WDW. I am looking at I-295 from the Capital Beltway (I-495) to Baltimore. Has anybody been on this road? If it a relatively descent road with moving traffic or is it a small highway with tons of stop lights and so on?

Thanks, i appreciate the help.

 

[melglnh2o]

I live in DC area and 295 is a two lane road in each direction with no stoplights. The traffic usually flows pretty well but because it is only two lanes if there is any kind of traffic incident, the roads block up quickly. We usually prefer 295 over 95 anyday but you just never know.

 

[bdcp]

Hi all,

I am trying to find a better way to cover the distance between Washington DC and Baltimore. I-95 is constant bumper to bumper when we are coming back from WDW. I am looking at I-295 from the Capital Beltway (I-495) to Baltimore. Has anybody been on this road? If it a relatively descent road with moving traffic or is it a small highway with tons of stop lights and so on?

Thanks, i appreciate the help.

We used to live in Columbia, MD (and grew up in MD) so we used I-95 and I-295 a lot. The problem is, if I-95 is backed up, then 295 will also be backed up as people will bail out of 95 and go to 295. The best bet is to not go through during rush hour and traffic will move. It may be heavy, but it at least moves. The absolute best time to travel through is on Sunday morning, before 10 or so. 295 like pp said, is two lanes so when it backs up, there's nowhere to go. Also, because it's a parkway, there just isn't the shoulder room like on 95. There's also not as much off the exits in terms of food, bathrooms, etc.

Where are you traveling to/from? There is another option if you're going to PA or upstate NY.

 

[rock_doctor]

We are coming from the philly area. Trip down is ok because we travel on Saturday but the trip home always puts us going though the DC area at 5pm on Tuesday... Some suggest going the Capital Beltway (Silver Springs side of the loop) to I-70 to I-81 to Pa turnpike (I-76). This way is about 100 miles more plus an additional $20 in tolls... Which does not make sense when you are trying to avoid 30 miles of road...

The map does not show what the road is like and the devoted Wiki page just stated it was a 4 lane road being widened to 6 but i guess that is only in small sections of it. I would have been unhappily surprised to find it was just a 2-lane simple highway. Thanks for the help.

 

[vicki_c]

We are coming from the philly area. Trip down is ok because we travel on Saturday but the trip home always puts us going though the DC area at 5pm on Tuesday... Some suggest going the Capital Beltway (Silver Springs side of the loop) to I-70 to I-81 to Pa turnpike (I-76). This way is about 100 miles more plus an additional $20 in tolls... Which does not make sense when you are trying to avoid 30 miles of road...

The map does not show what the road is like and the devoted Wiki page just stated it was a 4 lane road being widened to 6 but i guess that is only in small sections of it. I would have been unhappily surprised to find it was just a 2-lane simple highway. Thanks for the help.

I would try to adjust your driving times so you're not around DC during rush hour times. Either push it back by 2 hours or start early enough to get through the DC area before 3 pm. There really isn't any good road to follow if you're hitting this area at that time. Coming home, we divert from 95 onto 301 in Maryland, which takes us close to where I live in Annapolis. That could be an option, but at that time of day, it won't be a ton better and there's lots of traffic lights in some sections.

 

[bdcp]

We are coming from the philly area. Trip down is ok because we travel on Saturday but the trip home always puts us going though the DC area at 5pm on Tuesday... Some suggest going the Capital Beltway (Silver Springs side of the loop) to I-70 to I-81 to Pa turnpike (I-76). This way is about 100 miles more plus an additional $20 in tolls... Which does not make sense when you are trying to avoid 30 miles of road...

The map does not show what the road is like and the devoted Wiki page just stated it was a 4 lane road being widened to 6 but i guess that is only in small sections of it. I would have been unhappily surprised to find it was just a 2-lane simple highway. Thanks for the help.

Going around the west side of DC on the beltway will be just as painful. Traffic is very heavy and backs up that way too, especially at 5 pm on a weekday. 270 is a pain. As for BWI pkwy (295) 4 lane means two lanes each direction. Expanding to 6 would be 3 in each direction. But, as I said, that is heavy and gets backed up during rush hour also. Your other option is to stop and spend the night south of DC in Fredericksburg or a little farther north and heading out around 10 to avoid the heaviest traffic. Otherwise, just bite the bullet and deal with the DC traffic like so many commuters do every single day. Fortunately, we don't have to but we chose to live close to our work and don't have to use interstates at all. But, we have done it in the past.

 

[pjstevens]

I would strongly consider the option mentioned of adjusting your time. How about stop for an early dinner and take a break, getting out, spending a little time away from the car. If you can go through that section closer to 7pm you'll less like be stuck.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Driven on this road many times. There can be big traffic backups due to accidents and rush hour. As posted, avoid during rush hour. Saturdays can be very busy as well.

 

[fallschurch]

Saturday can be busy from DC to Richmond, VA with all of the Saturday check-ins for beach rentals driving to the outer banks. It is stop and go, difficult drive. If you must go Saturday, go very early or after 7pm.

 

[vicki_c]

Saturday can be busy from DC to Richmond, VA with all of the Saturday check-ins for beach rentals driving to the outer banks. It is stop and go, difficult drive. If you must go Saturday, go very early or after 7pm.

They're asking about coming home on a Tuesday. But I gave the same advice in timing for Tuesday.

 

[rock_doctor]

Thanks for the replies. Saturday is ok as we hit is around 10am but i don't see hitting it earlier on Tuesday. I *must* stop at Harbor Freight in Dillon SC...No male can go by one of their main stores and not stop in... Seriously, we will try to leave a couple hours earlier on Tuesday morning. We need better roads to bypass Washington to Baltimore and around the outskirts to Orlando areas. Thanks again.

 

[mikehn]

The Baltimore beltway (695) is no cake walk either. Double wammy

 

[rwdavis2]

I agree with the general consensus, don't drive through DC between 3 and 7pm. 295 can get very backed up. One problem is that NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is on the southern end and the NSA is middle/north. A double whammy at rush hour.

 

[sharadoc]

Thanks for the replies. Saturday is ok as we hit is around 10am but i don't see hitting it earlier on Tuesday. I *must* stop at Harbor Freight in Dillon SC...No male can go by one of their main stores and not stop in... Seriously, we will try to leave a couple hours earlier on Tuesday morning. We need better roads to bypass Washington to Baltimore and around the outskirts to Orlando areas. Thanks again.

Stop every time?? Then you just have to shop longer and get to DC about 2 hours later, that's all. Or leave earlier. Or just don't stop this trip and make your drive smoother.

 

[Missytara]

We are coming from DE and I am using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel; we are leaving on a Friday night next weekend and I wouldn't begin to go anywhere near there now that beach season has started.

Once we get past OC, we will be good to go all the way down south. It is the only toll we will pay, so I am good with that too.

 

[vicki_c]

We are coming from DE and I am using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel; we are leaving on a Friday night next weekend and I wouldn't begin to go anywhere near there now that beach season has started.

Once we get past OC, we will be good to go all the way down south. It is the only toll we will pay, so I am good with that too.

Leaving on Friday night is the worst! But that's what we usually do too.

 

[PkMcD2]

The best way to avoid DC (one I'd reccomend at all times to avoid the Beltway when going to Philly) is to jump off of 95 at Virginia Exit 104 (after Richmond before Fredericksburg) and get onto 207 East, that will join up with US 301 (North) and you'll cross in Md. at the Harry Nice Bridge. Stay on 301 in Md. until Rte US 50, 301 will become Md. 3. Take Md. 3 to I 97 North to 895 N into Balltimore then onto 95 to Philadelphia.

Having driven from Richmond to NorthEast Philly almost weekly for a year taught me that route well. It'll skip almost all the terrible traffic. I'd recommend that route at all times.

 

[rock_doctor]

Or just don't stop this trip and make your drive smoother.

I was told i could not stop this time... Unfortunately, it is a difficult road and you hit it when you hit it. I always find i get stressed and pull into the death metal lane when i should relax and drive in the Lawrence Welk lane. (Gallagher reference if you didn't get it)

The best way to avoid DC (one I'd recommend at all times to avoid the Beltway when going to Philly)...

I will look at it on a map.

Thanks to all who responded, it is appreciated.

 

[vicki_c]

The best way to avoid DC (one I'd reccomend at all times to avoid the Beltway when going to Philly) is to jump off of 95 at Virginia Exit 104 (after Richmond before Fredericksburg) and get onto 207 East, that will join up with US 301 (North) and you'll cross in Md. at the Harry Nice Bridge. Stay on 301 in Md. until Rte US 50, 301 will become Md. 3. Take Md. 3 to I 97 North to 895 N into Balltimore then onto 95 to Philadelphia.

Having driven from Richmond to NorthEast Philly almost weekly for a year taught me that route well. It'll skip almost all the terrible traffic. I'd recommend that route at all times.

That is how we travel because we don't live too far from 301 and 3.