NJ to SC (Florence) 3/27 and want to use Rt 81

[Roveer]

We've been driving route 95 the past 7 trips to WDW and this year we will be going during a very busy time (Easter Break). We are leaving northern NJ Saturday morning at 6-6:30am.

We've had a couple of bad Baltimore/DC experiences and I don't want to get caught up in a huge amount of easter traffic.

So my questions:

1. Is my thinking right, this weekend is going to be very busy?

Have been told by many to try route 81 to get around Baltimore & DC. Using google directions it offers me the following route to get to Florence, SC which is where we always stay the first night. I would very much appreciate your comments and suggestions as well as any alternatives I should consider. Of course this only applies to me, everyone else has to stay on Rt 95. OK, ok, just a few DIS'rs can come along

Google Map - Morristown, NJ to Florence, SC

Start address: Morristown, NJ
End address: Florence, SC

Start at: Morristown, NJ

1. Head southeast on W Park Pl toward S Park Pl - 233*ft
2. Continue onto South St - 0.7*mi
3. Slight left at Madison Ave - 0.1*mi
4. Slight right to merge onto I-287 S - 14.5*mi
5. Take exit 21B to merge onto I-78 W toward Easton Pa Partial toll road Entering Pennsylvania - 108*mi
6. Merge onto I-81 S Passing through Maryland, West Virginia Entering Virginia - 229*mi
7. Take exit 221 to merge onto I-64 E toward Richmond - 12.5*mi
8. Take exit 99 for US-250 toward Afton/Waynesboro - 0.4*mi
9. Turn right at US-250 E - 1.5*mi
10. Turn right at Afton Mountain Rd/VA-6 E - 0.4*mi
11. Turn left to stay on Afton Mountain Rd/VA-6 E - 3.3*mi
12. Turn right at Rockfish Valley Hwy/VA-151 S/VA-6 E - 6.2*mi
13. Turn left at River Rd/VA-6 E - 5.7*mi
14. Turn right at Thomas Nelson Hwy/US-29 S Continue to follow US-29 S - 37.5*mi
15. Take the exit toward US-29 S/US-460 W/Lynchburg/Danville - 0.5*mi
16. Merge onto US-29 S/US-460 W - 6.5*mi
17. Merge onto US-29 S/Wards Rd via the ramp to Danville Continue to follow US-29 S - 68.4*mi
18. Merge onto US-29 S via the ramp on the left to Greensboro Entering North Carolina - 40.1*mi
19. Take the ramp onto I-40 W/I-85 BUS S/US-220 S/US-29 S/US-70 W Continue to follow I-85 BUS S/US-29 S/US-70 W - 4.0*mi
20. Take exit 35A-Old 122A to merge onto US-220 S toward Asheboro - 1.8*mi
21. Continue onto I-73 S - 50.0*mi
22. Continue onto US-220 S - 28.0*mi
23. Continue onto S Hancock St/US-1 S Continue to follow US-1 S Entering South Carolina - 17.1*mi
24. Turn right at S Carolina 9 N/US-1 S - 1.9*mi
25. Turn left at 2nd St - 0.4*mi
26. Take the 3rd right onto Market St/US-52 S Continue to follow US-52 S - 32.7*mi
27. Turn right at S Main St/US-52 S Continue to follow US-52 S - 7.4*mi
28. Slight right at N Irby St - 0.7*mi
29. Turn left at W Cheves St/State Rd S-21-92 - 0.3*mi

Arrive at: Florence, SC

 

[mbsquirrel1198]

Just so you know, Rt 29 is four lanes wide going thru several small towns with traffic lights. We do take it from time to time to avoid all the heavy truck traffic on 81 when heading from Northern VA to Charlotte, NC.

 

[NJRRK]

1 - Depending on where you are in Morristown, I'm sure you know a better way to get to 287 without going around the green!! I know you're leaving early in the morning but all those traffic lights. I usually take Mt. Kemble Ave (202) south to get on 287 south at Maple ave in Basking Ridge. But we live right off of Washington St.

2- Do you REALLY need to stay in Florence? If you continue on I-81 to I-77 to I-26 to I-95 you will save time you'll get on I-95 in St. George, SC which has some decent places to stay. I'll bet you save a good hour or more.

Your other choice to avoid DC and Baltimore would be to take off through Delaware and go across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. This takes longer but it is a viable option.

 

[jobie61]

If you take route 301 around Baltimore, you can by-pass the whole Washington DC mess. It will bring you back to 95 past fredricksburg Va. There are trafiic lights but its not really that bad, and would probably be better than 81.

Google it !!!