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

[davidb69]

We have personally have no luck going to DC. We come from MD and the way we go is down 95, stay on 95 and avoid 295 even though miles wide looks faster but goes directly though DC. We take 95/495 south and normally drive down that area around 11-1 in the night/morning time. We drove back up last year and got stuck in traffic in the DC area at 5am.

It's never fun down there. Have a safe trip.

 

[MikeyA50]

Another question, we are returning home on Sept 18, stopping for the night somewhere near Richmond. How bad would traffic be on the 19th, which is a Saturday heading north through Washington and Baltimore. What are the best times to be travelling through the area. Thank you.

 

[Christine]

Another question, we are returning home on Sept 18, stopping for the night somewhere near Richmond. How bad would traffic be on the 19th, which is a Saturday heading north through Washington and Baltimore. What are the best times to be travelling through the area. Thank you.

Well, since it is September and schools are back in session at that point, you are going to already be in a good position. "Traveler" traffic eases significantly the week after Labor Day.

That said, I believe that if you cannot get past Dale City/Woodbridge by 10:00 a.m., you run the risk of the usual Saturday traffic on I-95 that runs from Woodbridge up to Springfield. The HOV lanes on a Saturday will be heading southbound until about 2:00 p.m. Whichever direction of I-95 that does not have HOV flowing in the same direction, is fairly hosed for traffic. So if HOV is pointing southbound, the regular southbound lanes are usually good but northbound is crowded and vice versa.

Again, though, in September, I wouldn't worry as much as if it were August.

Today, for instance, I went out to run errands and crossed over I-95 several times (I live in Woodbridge). Both directions of I-05 were bordering on gridlock. I don't envy those people trying to get to their vacation destinations.

 

[MikeyA50]

In other words, getting past Washington and Baltimore before 10 am would be ideal??