I95 over Thanksgiving weekend!

[Barb A.]

We will be leaving from Philly on Thanksgiving weekend. I would love some feedback from anyone who has traveled I95 over this holiday weekend. What kind of traffic did you encounter? Where was it the worst and on what days? We would just like to have an idea of what to expect and how much extra time it may take us to make the trip. Thanks

 

[LKS]

Just make sure you get there before Sunday. I have vowed to never drive down I-95 on the Sunday after Thanksgiving again. We are usually only on it from I-26 to Savannah or Hwy 17 to Savannah (mostly SC) but when we used to live in Jacksonville, we were on for half of SC, all of GA and that little bit of FL. Horrible. I just drove to Jacksonville this week, too, and there is a lot of construction between Savannah and Jacksonville. And for goodness sake, take I-295 around Jacksonville. That area right before the Fuller Warren bridge where I-10 and I-95 merge was backed up for a couple of miles at 4pm on a Tuesday. I also know there is a huge construction project on the south end of I-295 where it re-joins I-95 and that can back up too. We saw that in June.

 

[JudithM]

From our expereinces on I95 the weekend after Thanksgiving .. there seems to be more traffic northbound than southbound. Having said that though we have encountered problems mostly in FL. We have learned the "back" roads through Ormond Beach & Daytona Beach. Also, I would recommend having a hotel reservation before leaving home.

We just returned the other day from WDW. LKS is correct - there is lots of construction in GA & FL. We took the loop around Richmond, VA & Jacksonville, FL.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving usually brings out the worst traffic of any holiday the entire year. I-95 around Balto and DC is--and will be- a nightmare--
Try getting around these two cities at some "off" hour--preferably the middle of the night.
And I echo the by-pass routes around Richmond and Jacksonville. A few extra miles and a few exrta minutes, but not a whole lot extra. But a LOT better on your nerves!!!

 

[Barb A.]

Thanks everybody! Any other opinions or suggestions!!

 

[Barb A.]

Bump!

 

[OKW91]

We drove down last year on Friday after Thanksgiving and the traffic was very light! We only saw a couple semi's, we left Marlton NJ (near Philly) at 4 AM and made it to St Marys, GA (3 miles from Fl state Line) by about 6 PM. The DC area was the worst part of the drive, I took Rt 301 to Rt 50 which runs into 495 the outer belt way, its a slower drive thru Maryland, but it cuts out the Baltimore and part of DC traffic.

 

[aero99]

BYPASS DC & BALTIMORE!! I am another person who swore I won't drive Thanksgiving weekend on 95 ever again. Since you are getting on in Philly, I don't know how much good going west will be. I do the trip between CT & Hampton Roads Virginia alot. I ususally go down 13 in delaware and go across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Unfortunately for a trip to Florida, I don't know how much good that would do you. You might just want to go west and get on 81 (my parents go that way a lot). Then either continue on or take 64 to Richmond. The Richmond by-pass is WELL marked (rt 295) and will take you to 95.

Good Luck!
Melissa