Question for those who drive from the North East

[Ladygoldenhair]

On the way down one year, it took us over 3 hours to go 12 miles in the Northern part of VA on I95, and I am quite fearful of what that will be during the evening commute.

thehappyhours that is kind of what I was fearful of. We typically take 495 through DC, and I was figuring that, and then 95 in VA would be pretty bad in the early evening which is right around when I figure we will wind up there.

That would work too. I know I did connect with 81 a bit lower then Newburg once, but I don't remember where exactly. I think we went through Allentown, but, I'm not sure. I might even have connected via 80. It was quite a while ago. Still whatever way you go will be so much better then that DC loop or even Baltimore as far as that goes. Early evening heading south on 95 from DC is probably a lot more then an hour and a half delay at times. At most, it is only about an hour and a half of additional driving going on 81, but, at least you are moving. Also, just as a warning... 81 is a heavily traveled truck route, but, it really is more of a problem after dark then during the daytime.

We took that route I-95 and sat in the same 3 hr traffic for 15 miles. We take I-81 south, my son drove us and got on the I-95 nightmare. I asked him to take the I-81 as far south as he could, the alt route then pick up I-95. His complaint was the mountains and it was 20 miles longer. But, we lost the time in Richmond area I think it was just sitting.

I drive I84, from Newburg, sometimes around Port Jervis at the boarder to 81 it may get a bit slow, but moves and is not congested. 81 has construction in Scranton area only during the 4-6pm time frame.
What does the AAA ap for trip tix, which is the first recommend , the 81- to 95? Will it give you the second route as 81 to 77 as the alt.
the other place we hit some delay was Jacksville, Fl. on our second day driving. We should have gotten on the road left at 7:00 in the morning, not 10:00AM.

 

[goofyernmost]

We took that route I-95 and sat in the same 3 hr traffic for 15 miles. We take I-81 south, my son drove us and got on the I-95 nightmare. I asked him to take the I-81 as far south as he could, the alt route then pick up I-95. His complaint was the mountains and it was 20 miles longer. But, we lost the time in Richmond area I think it was just sitting.

I drive I84, from Newburg, sometimes around Port Jervis at the boarder to 81 it may get a bit slow, but moves and is not congested. 81 has construction in Scranton area only during the 4-6pm time frame.
What does the AAA ap for trip tix, which is the first recommend , the 81- to 95? Will it give you the second route as 81 to 77 as the alt.
the other place we hit some delay was Jacksville, Fl. on our second day driving. We should have gotten on the road left at 7:00 in the morning, not 10:00AM.

The only place that I have ever run into significant general traffic delays is the corridor between DC and Fredericksburg, VA. If you ran into other delays two factors may be involved. First, the timing is putting you through those places during rush hour. Maybe adjust your schedule to avoid those times. Sometimes just an hour or so will make a huge difference. Or there might have been an accident or construction that delayed you. That is just luck and nothing you can do to prevent it, but, after many trips to Florida on I-95, before and after I moved to N.C., it is usually clear sailing from Richmond, VA to Florida. I also never take the bypass around Richmond. Since most of the tourist traffic is on the bypass, I find that you can zip right though Richmond almost any time of the day. Jacksonville is always a little congested, but, it is usually free moving, just a little slower then usual. Avoid rush hour through there. Also, there is construction on I-4 from Daytona Beach to Orlando, mostly on the Daytona end of it. But, if you hit rush hour there you will also find a few stop and go situations. There is no way to avoid all of it, but the route that I suggested will be the lesser of all evils. I'm pretty confident about that.

PS... the further south you go on 81 the more you drift to the west as well. So what you make up in not sitting in traffic will be eaten up in time and distance the further south you go on 81. Cutting across on 66 is a regular open interstate that ultimately ends up in DC. Exiting on Rte. 17 kind of makes you feel like you are on a small country road, albeit a four lane divided highway. You go through some towns but it ends up right at I-95 well south of the real big traffic problem on I-95.

 

[Tomh]

We are also driving from NJ. We check in Monday, August 10th. I am nervous about it being such a long ride especially since our family never drove more than 5 hours together, I am thinking about staying over 2 nights. DD thinks just one night. I am also thinking about avoiding 95. Any advice, routes, or times to leave is appreciated.

As others have said, I think going from NJ you are probably going to do best just hopping on I95. I wouldn't think twice about going that route except for the fact that I can't leave here until 1:00 in the afternoon. I95 in the Northern part of VA can have some wicked traffic. Leaving here at 1, I expect to get into that area probably around 6:00 PM or so, which would be right on time for the evening commute. A LOT of the people who work in DC live in VA, so that area can be really backed up during the evening commute.

If you are able to leave at a time that will get you through the VA area either AFTER the evening commute is finished, or early in the morning, then 95 shouldn't present any problem for you.

 

[Tomh]

We took that route I-95 and sat in the same 3 hr traffic for 15 miles. We take I-81 south, my son drove us and got on the I-95 nightmare. I asked him to take the I-81 as far south as he could, the alt route then pick up I-95. His complaint was the mountains and it was 20 miles longer. But, we lost the time in Richmond area I think it was just sitting.

I drive I84, from Newburg, sometimes around Port Jervis at the boarder to 81 it may get a bit slow, but moves and is not congested. 81 has construction in Scranton area only during the 4-6pm time frame.
What does the AAA ap for trip tix, which is the first recommend , the 81- to 95? Will it give you the second route as 81 to 77 as the alt.
the other place we hit some delay was Jacksville, Fl. on our second day driving. We should have gotten on the road left at 7:00 in the morning, not 10:00AM.

wow, you are pretty close to where I am. Takes me about 15 minutes to get to Newburgh. I am on the other side of the river, and a bit South, so if I want to go that way, I have to drive North, either to Fishkill, or Beacon to pick up 84. My wife, however, works in Fishkill, so it wouldn't be really out of my way to just pick up 84 there.

 

[Tomh]

Usually, it is that very Northern part of VA where the traffic stinks, however, the summer before last (2013) we got into nasty traffic in the Northern part of VA, BUT it never really cleared up, nearly the entire length of VA was fraught with stop and go traffic. Then, North Carolina was ok, but not great. By the time we got into South Carolina, it was raining pretty hard, and there were literally accidents all over the place. At one point, there was a six car wreck, parts everywhere, and then, not even half a mile down the road, there was another car in the median all torn up. The entire length of SC was a series of traffic slow downs, and halts, accidents, blah blah blah. Essentially, the traffic was horrible from the get go. We got stuck in construction at 3:00 in the morning in NJ, and hit every other imaginable traffic hold up between there, and Georgia. It was in Georgia that traffic finally started flowing well again.

 

[goofyernmost]

Usually, it is that very Northern part of VA where the traffic stinks, however, the summer before last (2013) we got into nasty traffic in the Northern part of VA, BUT it never really cleared up, nearly the entire length of VA was fraught with stop and go traffic. Then, North Carolina was ok, but not great. By the time we got into South Carolina, it was raining pretty hard, and there were literally accidents all over the place. At one point, there was a six car wreck, parts everywhere, and then, not even half a mile down the road, there was another car in the median all torn up. The entire length of SC was a series of traffic slow downs, and halts, accidents, blah blah blah. Essentially, the traffic was horrible from the get go. We got stuck in construction at 3:00 in the morning in NJ, and hit every other imaginable traffic hold up between there, and Georgia. It was in Georgia that traffic finally started flowing well again.

So, you're saying they should fly? What you are talking about is a very unusual thing except in the northern part of Virgina. It can at times be a little crowded between Fredericksburg and Richmond, but after that it is normally just an easy drive. Traffic? Yes, it is the main route up and down the east coast, however, it usually moves along with no problems. You are not likely to have the road to yourself very often. During the day, it's tourist traffic, at night the big rigs are out. I, however, have never really had a big problem with either, but, because of visibility, I prefer daytime driving.