Opinion of this I-81 Route

[sharadoc]

What do you think of taking Route 81 (at Harrisburg PA) to 64 to 95? It would put me onto 95 around Richmond. I don't want to go through the mountains and I like being on 95 starting at North Carolina for food, hotels, etc.

Looks like it adds an hour to my trip per Mapquest timing, but I'd like to hear from real people.

Thanks,

 

[Josh Hendy]

I agree I-95 through NC is a pleasant drive. I find the traffic on 95 throughout VA however to be fierce. One time I drove north up 95 and it was like someone flipped a switch when we hit the VA border - seemed like one minute we were breezing along through open tobacco country, the next minute it was wall to wall cars and trucks.

Last two times that we drove to FL we took 81 all the way down to I-77 which is mostly easy to drive except for a bit of windy mountain road approaching Christiansburg and some heavy traffic getting through Charlotte. The rest of the route I found to be fairly flat and relaxing with not too much traffic.

My parents have a favorite cutoff to get from 81 over to 95 and then down south. They get off at Winchester onto US17/50, briefly hit I-66 then continue on US17 to Fredericksburg where they pick up I-95. It's a nice little drive, doesn't have any stoplights or small-town congestion, it's not hard to navigate, and you avoid the worst of the DC traffic without adding too many miles.

Happy highways ...

 

[Moomduck1]

Josh, I've driven it the way that your parents have and that works out well. I rather your way though.

 

[dantedisney]

Drove this way last week on the way to Kissimme from Boston. It was a very easy and relaxing drive. You won't even notice the mountains (at least I didn't).

Have a great trip.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Drove this way last week on the way to Kissimme from Boston. It was a very easy and relaxing drive. You won't even notice the mountains (at least I didn't).

Have a great trip.

Most of the mountain driving are at I-81 Southbound PA thru VA. I-95 is mostly flat.

 

[baileybelle]

We've driven 3 times from Maine and our fave route is 81-66-17-95. Come out at Fredericksburg, VA. We also take I-295 to avoid Richmond, Va.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

What do you think of taking Route 81 (at Harrisburg PA) to 64 to 95? It would put me onto 95 around Richmond. I don't want to go through the mountains and I like being on 95 starting at North Carolina for food, hotels, etc.

Looks like it adds an hour to my trip per Mapquest timing, but I'd like to hear from real people.

Thanks,

When you get to Richmond, get onto Route 288. That will bring you around Richmond southwest of the city and connect with I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg. 295 would loop too far out of the way and if you take 64 to 95 you could hit downtown traffic depending on the time of day. Nowhere near as intense as DC traffic, but if you're wanting to avoid city traffic, then do 288.