Rethinking I-95 vs I-81 from NJ

[sushilover]

A co-worker's brother drove to Universal from north central NJ on the Friday before Memorial Day on I-95. They left at 5 PM and pulled into their hotel in Richmond at 5 AM - that's 12 hours for a drive that should be no more than 6 or 7 hours. So, I am rethinking the inland route since we will be driving down over the July 4th weekend. How bad are the trucks on I-81 - do they mostly stay in the right lane? Are there any logical stopping places along the way? Leave on Friday night or Saturday morning? Stick with I-95? Any thoughts or comments? TIA.

 

[DBoyce]

I would avoid Rt 95 and use Rt 81 to 77. The scenery is beautiful, less traffic problem spots ( you just have to time it correctly thru Charlotte) and lots of nice rest areas. The timing isn't much different. Have a safe trip.

 

[DBoyce]

I will be flying down on July 6. Staying at the Kidani Village for the first time.

 

[HeatherC]

Sushilover: We are doing the same thing! We are actually heading from Massachusetts to Hilton Head Island.

We drove to Williamsburg over April break and sat in stopped traffic between Baltimore and DC at like 8:30 on a Saturday morning. It was awful!!!

So...we are doing the 81 route. We plan on leaving at 3am, stopping in Charlotte at the Residence Inn, Tyvola Ave and then finishing up on Saturday morning. If we feel like we can make it the whole way, I can cancel the hotel until 4pm.

I think we're making the right decision since July 4th weekend is crazy anyway. And Saturday's are also beach turnover day. Everyone will be heading to the beaches from NJ, through DE and all the way to the Outer Banks.

Have a great trip!

 

[linnell]

I used to live in Virginia and frequently would drive to NYC and I always took 81. I used to say 95 took years off my life. One time I had to go 95 and it took me 2.5 hours to get from DC to Baltimore.

Yes, there are a lot of trucks, but I'd rather deal with trucks than stop and go traffic. Also, you will save a ton on tolls.

 

[tlrudy377]

I live in Central PA (Harrisburg) and we take 15(S) to 270(S) to 495(S) and generally don't have too many problems... at least not to the extent your poor coworker did. Our rule of thumb is that from our front door it is 12 hours to the FL line. We usually leave soon after 8am, after dropping Super Pup off at "Puppy Camp" for the week.

I will admit we never tackled a 4th of July trip where we had to travel thru DC but we have done Memorial Day several times. We love our GPS which has traffic updates, it has helped us (1) prepare for upcoming traffic slowness and (2) detour around upcoming issues.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

 

[LidoDeck]

We are driving Orlando to central Maine (one way) in August. Also debating I-95 vs inland route. A friend said it's only a couple hours extra, but guestimate is more. Has anyone compared the full route on I-95 vs I-95 to I-26 to I-77 to I-81 to I-84 to I-95? I like the idea of a more scenic, less hectic route with fewer tolls and am willing to do a couple extra hours driving. Suggestions?

FYI - we are building a log cabin on our land in Maine. We have to drive our truck up there, loaded with tools, etc. I don't like driving the truck at all, so avoiding DC, NJ & NYC is worth a bit more driving.

Thanks!!

 

[Robert P]

A co-worker's brother drove to Universal from north central NJ on the Friday before Memorial Day on I-95. They left at 5 PM and pulled into their hotel in Richmond at 5 AM - that's 12 hours for a drive that should be no more than 6 or 7 hours. So, I am rethinking the inland route since we will be driving down over the July 4th weekend. How bad are the trucks on I-81 - do they mostly stay in the right lane? Are there any logical stopping places along the way? Leave on Friday night or Saturday morning? Stick with I-95? Any thoughts or comments? TIA.

Though I can't predict Holiday traffic on any road, here is some info:

The trucks are not that bad. There just appears to be a higher concentration of them, b/c overall traffic count is less on the inland route, and there are fewer trucks that take the I-95 route due to city traffic issues. From my experience on I-81 (at least 7 round trips from NC to Mass.), the trucks generally stay in the right lane and do their own thing. They do this for a living, and are generally more aware of road etiquette, traffic laws, and such.

The logical stopping place for your trip, I feel, would fall somewhere between Statesville, NC and Columbia, SC. Leaving on Fri/Sat, you should avoid most of the Charlotte traffic problems associated with rush hours. Still, if it were me, I would try to get beyond Charlotte before stopping for the night, at least to Rock Hill, SC (just across the NC/SC line from Charlotte). From the NC/SC line on I-77, you'd have 530 miles to WDW property. If you pushed on down to Columbia, that puts you 90 miles closer.

Quick points of reference to WDW from:
Statesville, NC - 580 miles
NC/SC line - 530 miles
Columbia, SC - 440 miles
SC/GA line - 300 miles

If you need more info, feel free to PM me. We come across 78 to 81 to 77 when we come back from up North to NC, so I have a fair amount of info on that route, and too much info on the route from NC to WDW (77-26-95-4).

Travel safe!

 

[kidd_freeper]

We are planning to drive to WDW on July 3 (Saturday).

We plan to leave Connecticut at 12:30 am. This gets us to the Springfield Interchange (south of DC 495/95) at 6:30 am. If (for whatever reason) we cannot make it to the Springfield Interchange before 8am, I'll take the I81 inland route.

Once I get past Baltimore, I will monitor traffic using the radio and GPS. If it jams up at that hour, my 'plan B' is to go I495 to Route 5 to Route 301. This will add 20 minutes to the trip and is supposed to be a pleasant drive. 'Plan C' is to take Route 1 that runs parallel to I95 south of DC, but that route has a lot of lights.

The I81 inland route adds 2 hours to our trip and we'd still have to go through Charlotte. It is my understanding the the stretch of road between Charlotte and I95 is undersized for that volume of traffic and is no picnic.

It's holiday traffic and many will drive because airfare is costly this year, so expect a lot of traffic no matter what way you go. Just try to avoid the big slowdowns.

 

[JanyJan]

I can't speak for the rest of your route, but I just drove from DC to Richmond via 95 on Memorial. Traffic was very light, so it really depends. You might want to do as the PP said and monitor the traffic as you head down to decide. WTOP (103.5 FM) gives traffic in the Baltimore/DC area every 10 minutes on the 8s around the clock. We had considered driving down 81, but there was a storm system headed up that way, so we were able to avoid it by using 95. Good luck!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We found the I-81 trucks going UPHILL stay to the right.
Downhill--LOOK OUT!!! They go as fast as humanly possible to get momentum to start back up the next hill.
And I-81 has plenty of ups and downs!!!

Note: On 81 it's not just a single truck or two--they drive in packs of 8-10-12trucks.
And tho most are very good drivers, speed is of the essence in their line of work.

 

[kidd_freeper]

WTOP (103.5 FM) gives traffic in the Baltimore/DC area every 10 minutes on the 8s around the clock.

Thanks. This is a keeper.

 

[sharadoc]

I can't speak for the rest of your route, but I just drove from DC to Richmond via 95 on Memorial. Traffic was very light, so it really depends. You might want to do as the PP said and monitor the traffic as you head down to decide. WTOP (103.5 FM) gives traffic in the Baltimore/DC area every 10 minutes on the 8s around the clock. We had considered driving down 81, but there was a storm system headed up that way, so we were able to avoid it by using 95. Good luck!

What day of the week, and what time of day? Last year, we hit DC around 10:30 on an August saturday and it was starting to back up, and stayed that way all day.

 

[DEA]

We are planning to drive to WDW on July 3 (Saturday).

We plan to leave Connecticut at 12:30 am. This gets us to the Springfield Interchange (south of DC 495/95) at 6:30 am. If (for whatever reason) we cannot make it to the Springfield Interchange before 8am, I'll take the I81 inland route.

Once I get past Baltimore, I will monitor traffic using the radio and GPS. If it jams up at that hour, my 'plan B' is to go I495 to Route 5 to Route 301. This will add 20 minutes to the trip and is supposed to be a pleasant drive. 'Plan C' is to take Route 1 that runs parallel to I95 south of DC, but that route has a lot of lights.

I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Which way were you planning on going around the DC Beltway (I495)? For a summer weekend, I would suggest going around I495 West through Northern Virginia instead of heading the other way. That way, you should avoid a lot of beach traffic heading toward Rt. 50.

2. I've tried Rt. 1 heading south out of DC on the weekends, and I doubt it will save you a whole lot of time. Most of the traffic on I95 south clears out south of Dale City, after everyone going to Potomac Mills for the outlets leaves the road, I've found.

Safe travels.

 

[kidd_freeper]

I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Which way were you planning on going around the DC Beltway (I495)? For a summer weekend, I would suggest going around I495 West through Northern Virginia instead of heading the other way. That way, you should avoid a lot of beach traffic heading toward Rt. 50.

2. I've tried Rt. 1 heading south out of DC on the weekends, and I doubt it will save you a whole lot of time. Most of the traffic on I95 south clears out south of Dale City, after everyone going to Potomac Mills for the outlets leaves the road, I've found.

Safe travels.

Thanks for the input.

1. I was planning going through the east (Maryland) side of the 495 beltway. I'm hoping, at 6 in the morning, that the beach traffic will be tolerable. It is my understanding that there is a great deal of construction on the west side of the beltway. Also, taking the east side allows me to take rte 5/ rte 301 as a 'plan B'.

2. Good advice about Rt. 1. I've never tried it. I guess I'll consider it an emergency backup in case I95 is closed because of a major accident. Otherwise I'll stay on I95.

 

[HeatherC]

"We are driving Orlando to central Maine (one way) in August. Also debating I-95 vs inland route. A friend said it's only a couple hours extra, but guestimate is more. Has anyone compared the full route on I-95 vs I-95 to I-26 to I-77 to I-81 to I-84 to I-95? I like the idea of a more scenic, less hectic route with fewer tolls and am willing to do a couple extra hours driving. Suggestions?"


LidoDeck: According to Google Maps it adds about an hour to our trip. From Massachusetts to Hilton Head via 95 is approximately 16 1/2 hours. Going 81 to 77 is 17 1/2. That is not accounting for traffic or anything though.

Where in Maine? We love Maine. This will be the first summer in a long time we aren't going!

 

[BigTigger]

I have never found the trucks on I-81 to be orderly and mostly in the right lane - especially heading north. The comments on packs of 10-15 trucks in a row is true and one is always popping into the left lane to be a rabbit or not have to slow on the uphill sections. They then don't or can't get back over and slow all traffic. Once this starts, the whole road slows and becomes 65 to 35 and back to 65 constantly which is not relaxing driving. If Charlotte is an issue or perceived issue, you can jump off I-77 and go across NC on I-40 through Greensboro to Raleigh to I-95. That route adds very little time to the overall mix and allows you to miss Charlotte and Columbia city traffic with only some Raleigh/Research Triangle issues possible depending on time of day.

I usually advise to travel I-95 from NYC to Richmond on non-peak times and you'll be fine and save some time on the road. On holiday weekends, I-81 can save some time as there are few non-peak periods, but I'd recommend taking I-64 off I-81 and then VA 288 around Richmond to pickup I-95 just south of Richmond. This gets you around the worst potential areas of I-95 and gets you back on I-95 earlier for the best parts of the I-95 route.

Just my $.02 of course from lots of trips to Orlando and North Carolina over the years.

 

[sushilover]

Thank you for all the helpful comments and suggestions. We are probably going to leave on Friday night and stop near Luray, VA. On Saturday, we will tour the caverns in the morning and plan on being on the road around 1 PM, probably stopping in Columbia, SC - although I like the idea of crossing back over to I-95 - need to look at a map. Next morning, doing the rest of the drive to Orlando.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Have a good trip. You'll like Luray.

 

[Robert P]

I have never found the trucks on I-81 to be orderly and mostly in the right lane - especially heading north. The comments on packs of 10-15 trucks in a row is true and one is always popping into the left lane to be a rabbit or not have to slow on the uphill sections. They then don't or can't get back over and slow all traffic. Once this starts, the whole road slows and becomes 65 to 35 and back to 65 constantly which is not relaxing driving. If Charlotte is an issue or perceived issue, you can jump off I-77 and go across NC on I-40 through Greensboro to Raleigh to I-95. That route adds very little time to the overall mix and allows you to miss Charlotte and Columbia city traffic with only some Raleigh/Research Triangle issues possible depending on time of day.


Just my $.02 of course from lots of trips to Orlando and North Carolina over the years.

Some very good points. If you were to jump off I-77, you'd want to do that right upon entering NC, and take the left exit to the highway formerly known as 52 (toward Mt. Airy). Might now be called the future I-74 corridor?? Staying on that 4 lane will drop you onto I-40 in Winston-Salem. You would avoid Charlotte, but as noted, you would have to go through RTP and Raleigh on I-40, so I don't know if that is a gain. Columbia wise, as you probably know, you just skirt the city. You don't get caught in too much city traffic there, its after the merge onto 26 starting across SC that may bottleneck.

Just an FYI for anyone interested - The major highway 'fall line' in NC (going either I40 to I95 versus the 77-26-95-4 route) when going to WDW lies just about Burlington. Anything West, there are shorter routes than taking 40 to I-95. East of there, then 40 to 95 is the way to go.