I-81Through the Mountains or I 95 to Lorton Va From Ct?

[Alice-in-wonder]

:Which do you think would be a better route on a Saturday morning? Which one is quicker? TIA!

 

[karrit2000]

I-95 is the more direct route. You would have to travel way further west to pick up I-81 and then come back east. Given the way I-95 has been known to back up it would probably be a toss up which one would actually be quicker.

 

[grimley1968]

As crowded as I-95 can get, it is WAY closer to Lorton, and much more direct. You'd have to traverse I-66 from I-81 to I-95 to get over to Lorton, and 66 can be crowded as well. Even without traffic, that's an hour or more of extra driving.

Since you're coming down on a Saturday AM, traffic won't be so bad on I-95 as on a weekday. Make sure when driving through DC not to get on the Beltway, if possible. Stay on I-95 or I-395 as much as possible.

I-81 is a very nice interstate, and terrific in VA. It's just way out of your way on a day that wouldn't be all that bad for traffic.

 

[rwdavis2]

I'll agree. on a Saturday I-95 is the way to go.

 

[Alice-in-wonder]

Thanks everyone!

 

[kidd_freeper]

I drove from Hartford to Jacksonville on July 3 (a Saturday).

Here is my detailed driving report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=394351&page=105

Conclusion:
- They will take about the same amount of time. Congestion on I95 will offset the shorter distance. I81 is more scenic and has no tolls.

 

[mwehttam]

If you leave early enough you will have no problems with 95. We left on July 5th (a Monday) to catch the AT. We left our house in NY (just over the Jersey border) at about 6AM. With potty breaks we reached Lorton just before 11AM. And this was using the beltways around Balt. and DC. Had time to stop at Denny's for a meal as well as CVS for some things we forgot. Just give your self enough time and 95 is not bad.

 

[JMLBrats]

I drove from Hartford to Jacksonville on July 3 (a Saturday).

Here is my detailed driving report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=394351&page=105

Conclusion:
- They will take about the same amount of time. Congestion on I95 will offset the shorter distance. I81 is more scenic and has no tolls.

Kidd-freeper, I loved your report-very detailed. Question I have for you is we are taking the autotrain on the way back to Maine which of course means that we will be starting our drive in Lorton VA. Do you suggest going the other route to New England and avoiding 95? How much more time do you think it will be. We are in southern maine and would like to get home by midnight if possible. (it's normally about a 10 hr drive w/no traffic and not including stops)

 

[pumpkinboy]

I have done both, tho not to Lorton (I was going Atlanta to Boston). I quite enjoyed the I-81 route, though there were a lot of trucks on the Virginia stretch, fewer once I got into PA, which is where you would be.

On the weekend, I agree, the traffic would not be bad, but for me, I'd opt for the scenic route, even if it were 30 mins longer since just one traffic jam on 95 will easily eat that up anyway.

Nevertheless, my family will be doing the drive in February on a Thursday night, then back on a Sunday. In the middle of winter, I think we'll do the coastal route (tho in on 84 to the Mass Pike), unless there is a coastal storm brewing; in the snow, I'd rather not be in the mountains, unless I am avoiding a storm.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Kidd-freeper, I loved your report-very detailed. Question I have for you is we are taking the autotrain on the way back to Maine which of course means that we will be starting our drive in Lorton VA. Do you suggest going the other route to New England and avoiding 95? How much more time do you think it will be. We are in southern maine and would like to get home by midnight if possible. (it's normally about a 10 hr drive w/no traffic and not including stops)

I had to look it up on a map. I see that Lorton, VA is almost a suburb of DC.

In which case I wouldn't go way out of the way. Yes, you'll hit traffic, but its not worth going any other way.

Take the eastern side of the DC beltway and take I-95. I'd still avoid the George Washington Bridge in NYC though. Horrible roads on the New York side of the bridge.

 

[mwehttam]

I'd still avoid the George Washington Bridge in NYC though. Horrible roads on the New York side of the bridge.

Yes, avoid the GWB. Take the Tappan Zee. You will be on the NY Thruway. Then you can take the Garden State Parkway south (which begins/ends at the NY Thruway) to Exit 129 for the NJ Turnpike (I-95). This more direct then taking I-287 in NJ.

 

[JMLBrats]

thanks guys, yes we usually avoid the GWB if at all possible. You just never know how long it will take to cross.....

I kinda figured it wouldn't make sense to do a different route since we'd be right outside of DC but I thought I would check with you experts on the Dis. Thanks for the heads up!