I-95 Experts -what time in a.m. to leave from NJ to Orlando to avoid DC traffic??

[tami82]

We are going to Disney in August. We will be making one stopover in Santee SC. My husband is concerned about what time to leave because of the traffic in D.C. area which he says starts around 7:00 a.m., is this correct? Would leaving at 4:00 a.m. be too late or do you suggest leaving an hour earlier? WE would be coming from exit 138 GSP. This would be on a thursday morning.

Also coming back we will be staying in Fredericksburg on a Saturday afternoon (last time we came back on a weekend and hit traffic around this area which seemed to crawl forever - is this common no matter which day you come into this area???

 

[msmayor]

First question would be where in NJ are you leaving from? Big difference if its north or south.

We live in South Jersey, about 20 minutes outside of Philly. We hit I-295 NO LATER than 6:00am when we head south...preferably by 5:30am. All three times we've done this, we've hit the DC area at the tail-end of the rush and have not had any significant delays. I think we had to slow to around 15-20mph around the Wilson Bridge, but once about 20 minutes beyond that it was smooth sailing.

 

[cc911va]

I live in Northern VA (Alexandria) and here are some construction updates to make you feel better. The majority of the Wilson Bridge construction is over with just some construction at interchanges on both sides of the bridge, the bridge now has 5 lanes in each direction (up from 3), The Mixing Bowl (Springfield Interchange) has been completed. Now there is construction South of the Mixing Bowl all the way to the Occoquan Bridge (widening agin) and this can back up traffic any time.

Here is a suggestion for your travels:

When you are in Deleware take 301 south and then connect with Rt 50 East in MD then come over the Bay Bridge, continue on Rt 50 East until you get to Bowie and take Rt 301 South, go thru Waldorf, go over the Potomac River Bridge, continue down 301 and it will connect with 95 South below Fredericksburg.

 

[msmayor]

I live in Northern VA (Alexandria) and here are some construction updates to make you feel better. The majority of the Wilson Bridge construction is over with just some construction at interchanges on both sides of the bridge, the bridge now has 5 lanes in each direction (up from 3), The Mixing Bowl (Springfield Interchange) has been completed. Now there is construction South of the Mixing Bowl all the way to the Occoquan Bridge (widening agin) and this can back up traffic any time.

Here is a suggestion for your travels:

When you are in Deleware take 301 south and then connect with Rt 50 East in MD then come over the Bay Bridge, continue on Rt 50 East until you get to Bowie and take Rt 301 South, go thru Waldorf, go over the Potomac River Bridge, continue down 301 and it will connect with 95 South below Fredericksburg.

There are those who like this route...and those who hate it. I'm in the "hate it" group. The traffic lights drive me crazy, and I've gotten stuck behind some slow-moving traffic. Did this route once to avoid DC and won't do it again.

 

[tami82]

Im coming from (GSP 138) in another words Union County NJ not too too far up north.

 

[cc911va]

Yes I will agree you could get stuck behind slower traffic and some lights. Without any traffic it will add about 20-30 to your drive if you want to avoid 95 around DC. I think that time can be made up by avoiding rush hour on the beltway. Another option would be to avoid DC until Noon when HOV lanes open southbound on 95 in Virginia.

 

[msmayor]

Im coming from (GSP 138) in another words Union County NJ not too too far up north.

That's a solid hour north and east of me.

 

[Missytara]

I live in Delaware and the route suggested for Fredericksburg will help you beat a lot of summer time traffic in August. I would rather sit at several traffic lights, then sit for hours on a major route on the weekends, due to all the beach traffic around here.

Everyone seems to be going on vacation close to home around here and there is a good deal of traffic heading over from DC to DE; a lot of people own homes at the DE beaches from DC.

You would definately want to avoid Friday or Sunday, so Saturday is definately your best option.

 

[deblanka]

We are also leaving for Disney in August on a Thursday. We are in Somerset County and plan on leaving at 4 am. I want to be past the Wilson Bridge before 8 am. This is something we have done before without a traffic problem. I guess it depends on what roads you take to get through DC.

We're stopping in Santee SC for the night at the Hampton Inn.

 

[tami82]

Quote: Here is a suggestion for your travels:

When you are in Deleware take 301 south and then connect with Rt 50 East in MD then come over the Bay Bridge, continue on Rt 50 East until you get to Bowie and take Rt 301 South, go thru Waldorf, go over the Potomac River Bridge, continue down 301 and it will connect with 95 South below Fredericksburg.

Is this the route going or coming back? Im more concerned with coming back as that was when we hit all the traffic, is there a back way up to Fredericksburg?

Thanks everyone! Can someone tell me what time traffic starts to pick up is it 7:00, 8:00? Any other suggestions would be great.


deblanka how is the Hampton in Santee? Is it a new or older hotel I was going to go with that one but someone suggested the Best Western so im going to try that.

 

[nordkin]

Traffic on the Wilson Bridge is no longer a big concern since the construction is finished. Traffic for our rush hour starts around 6, but once you get over the Wilson bridge you should be fine going south. Most of the traffic is heading north.

Another option to bypass the traffic north of Fredericksburg is to take RT 17 west at exit 133 on 95 to I66 north, to I495 towards Tysons Corner, to I95 north. Rt 17 gets a bit congested for a couple of miles when you first get off of 95, but opens up with a few stop lights after that. This route is definitely longer than going straight through on I95, but it is an alternate to 301 if I95 is backed up.

 

[Uncleromulus]

tami82: Morning rush in the DC area is already WELL underway at 6:00 AM. We leave Glen Rock Pa at 3:30 AM to be certain I'm over the Wilson Bridge and headed S NLT than 5:30 AM. Unless there is an accident/bad weather, that has worked out fairly well. But you will be amazed at how much traffic there is even at 5:30. Leave as early as you can!!
And the trafic in Fredericksburg is that way all the time--but if you stop there and leave early on Sunday morning, the rest of the ride home shouldn't be too bad.

 

[curlyjbs]

Ok so everyone is leaving 3am - 4am....What if you leave jersey (middlesex county) at say 6am or later...is there more of a chance of hitting DC traffic? We are driving down to Carey, NC next week - any suggestions?

~Connie

 

[MikeyA50]

If someone has to travel through the DC area sometime between 10 am and 3 pm. on a thursday in August. Does traffic ease up somewhere within these hours.

 

[cc911va]

Ok so everyone is leaving 3am - 4am....What if you leave jersey (middlesex county) at say 6am or later...is there more of a chance of hitting DC traffic? We are driving down to Carey, NC next week - any suggestions?

~Connie

If you leave your home at 6am and get to DC between 8 and 9 you should be ok. If you can hold off leaving and time your arrival so you can catch the HOV lanes opening southbound on 95 in Virginia at 12 noon that is even better.

 

[rgf207]

If someone has to travel through the DC area sometime between 10 am and 3 pm. on a thursday in August. Does traffic ease up somewhere within these hours.

Rush hour starts picking up around 2pm. I woulud say 11am - 1pm would be the least amount of traffic

 

[Capitals8]

Rush hour starts picking up around 2pm. I woulud say 11am - 1pm would be the least amount of traffic

It would be a less amount of traffic, but there will still be traffic.

 

[rgf207]

It would be a less amount of traffic, but there will still be traffic.

11am - 1pm is the lesser of 2 evils

 

[Uncleromulus]

Good point.
Let's not forget Baltimore I-95 rush hour--that's no picnic either. Probably not a great idea to get involved in that trying to avoid the rush hour in DC--.

 

[tami82]

thank you everyone!