I-81--"There's nothing but trucks on this road"

[Uncleromulus]

Those words from Mrs. Uncleromulus prompted me to post this thread. We just got back from a week-long trip down to Asheville NC and Charlottsville Va. and took I-81 down and back. I know lots of folks use it to by-pass Baltimore and DC while getting to WDW, so I felt I should share our impressions.
Now it's a great route for getting around those two cities and it is also a beautiful drive--down the valley with those mountains all around. Very scenic. But there is a price to pay----trucks. Hundreds of trucks. THOUSANDS of trucks. In fact, there seemed to be at least as many trucks as cars. And because I-81 goes along the mountains, it's an "up and down" sort of highway. Which means that on the "down" parts, you may find yourself in front of a big rig that is going at least 80MPH (and probably more) and whose way YOU (merely doing 70) are in. Not a calming sight to see a big rig just a few feet off a cars bumper going down hills at those speeds!!
And --going "up" the hills, you may get behind a loaded rig trying to even hit 30 MPH--adding problems all its own.
So just a caution. If you do use I-81 prepare to battle trucks all the way.
Oh--we went down on a Sunday and drove back on Friday. NO difference in the truck traffic either day.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Amen. LOL we go that way to my grandma's in KY and that is all that is on that road. It is the most stressful part of the trip IMO. Also there are lots of cops too.

 

[mep319]

Just got back from I-81 about 30 mins ago. Took it from Carlisle PA to my sisters in Front Royal VA...I didn't think it had any more trucks than any other road.....I acutally live near Phila but didn't think the battles thru Wilmington Baltimore and DC were worth it so took the turnpike west and downI 81 to 66. I averaged 75-80 the whole way and we were the ones passing the trucks. Of course I only spent about 120 miles on that road so maybe it is worse further south.

 

[Robert P]

mep319, you are correct. When you get further South, towards Roanoke, VA and approaching I-77, it gets alot more hilly. But, on the North end of 81, I agree, the traffic runs 5-10 mph over the limit, and it beats the I-95 'City Tour', and the mysterious traffic conditions that lie there.
Are the trucks heavier on I-81, probably. But, for overall traffic, trip time, and driving conditions, for us it beats the I-95 option.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree that it probably beats trying to get thru the big cities--especially if you can't adjust your hours to leave at an opportune time. And if you can avoid BOTH DC and Baltimore in the process.

As for those trucks--there were so many that I began to wonder if there were ANY trucks on any other Interstate!!!

It's a little difficult for me to get to I-81, as we need to head almost due West before we can even get on it near Charlestown. But I had thought about it myself (next trip to WDW), just to avoid the aggrivation of DC and having to leave at 4:00AM to beat the traffic.

But not now. My nerves were on edge the entire time, and Mrs. U has now nixed that idea entirely.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I'm a sales rep based in Richmond and my territory includes Roanoke and Harrisonburg, so I do drive on I-81 fairly frequently.

Traffic at times is bad, especially since the road wasn't designed for heavy truck traffic. For most of the trip, it's 4-lane (2 lanes each direction), which makes it seem more congested than I-95, which hits 6 lanes total or more in places.

I've read articles about proposals floating around to help the problem, which include adding extra truck lanes and/or making the trip a toll route, either for trucks only or for all traffic. VDOT is a ways from a decision, though.

 

[baileybelle]

We're driving down to WDW in Oct. and were planning on going 84-81-64 into Richmond,Va to connect to 95. We are coming down from Maine and want to bypass Boston, NY, NJ, Baltimore, and Washington. We will be leaving Maine between 10 and midnight on a Friday night. We plan on stopping in SC on Sat. night. How would the traffic be in Richmond on a saturday? Thanks for any help. :thewave:

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I hate I-81!!! We try to avoid it as much as we can. I have to drive on it for about 3 miles each day, which isn't bad, except when there is a wreck. Sometimes, I will stay on it longer to get to another exit so I can avoid the in-town traffic. I agree, the trucks can be rough!

I went to Radford University for college (about 45 minutes south on 81 from Roanoke) and have driven that road way to many times. It is an especially beautiful drive in the fall, but watch out for the trucks!!!

I hate all traffic and could never live in places like Nothern VA or California. I have way too much road rage!!!

---That is me in traffic!!! LOL!!

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Traffic shouldn't be too bad in Richmond on a Saturday.

 

[Uncleromulus]

bailybelle:
Once you hit Richmond via 64, I believe you can continue a bit so as to directly access the I-295 Richmond by-pass. That way you can be certain of avoiding any Richmond traffic. It's the way we always go--we never take I-95 thru Richmond.