Rush Hour Traffic around BWI?

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Ok, we are going to WDW December 9-14 , flying out of BWI. Our original plan was that we were going to do a "park and fly" rate at BWI on Thursday night (the 8th) , then get an early morning flight Friday the 9th.

Now, we may have a new plan, but I am still working out the details. We are now considering trying for a late night flight out of BWI on Thursday night (in hopes that my 2 yo ds will sleep), and staying at a hotel at MCO that night. We already have a rental car reserved for Friday morning, so dh could take a shuttle back over to MCO, pick up the car, and come get us at the hotel so we don't have to drag our luggage back and forth. I thought this would get us an earlier start Friday so we could do parks that day.

Here is the question, however- According to yahoo driving directions, it will take us approx 3 hours to get to BWI. We cannot leave from our house until about 3:30 pm when dh gets out of school, which will put us to BWI around 6:30. Am I going to hit tons of traffic at this time of day? How much of a delay are we talking- would I be able to make an 8:00 flight? How about a 9:00 pm flight?

THanks everyone for your help!!!!

Lisa

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

bump

 

[Uncleromulus]

It's really hard to say. Classic rush hour around BWI is usually on the wane by 6:30--but it's SOUTH of Baltimore, and you need to get thru Baltimore to get to BWI.
I think 8:00 is cutting it pretty thin. Any accident or rain, and the traffic will be all the worse.
To give you an idea-we live in Glen Rock PA. IT's almost an hour from there to BWI--at 3:30 AM on a Friday morning.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

It also depends on which part of Pa you're coming from. There would be a big difference IMO if you were coming from the York area down 83 then hopping on 695 compared to coming from the Philly area and driving straight down 95.

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Hi, thanks for the responses. I am actually traveling from the Altoona area, in western PA. According to Yahoo, I will be traveling the majority of the time on I-70 East. I am afraid that the 8:00 flight may be too tight; I may try for the 9:00 flight, and then we can stop for something to eat at the airport hopefully.

Any more input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Lisa

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Is there a particular reason for flying out of BWI? Altoona would be soooo much closer to PIT and I think the SWA fares would be the same or very similar. I70 is quite a hike, I've done it many times, but if you have to fly out of BWI try the later flight because I70 and 695 can be unbearable! Good luck!!

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Hi, we had looked at PIT, but the latest flight they have out of PIT is at 4:45, so there is no way we would make it. Maybe we will look at PIT again whenever SW releases December dates and see if they added any more flights to MCO, but as for now, it doesn't work for us.

Thanks for the suggestion, though!!!

Lisa

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I agree, keep an eye on PIT when SWA releases their next set of dates. Since SWA will have been at PIT for about 6 months they may start increasing their flight schedule there. I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya'!

BWI is very nice, especially with the new "A" terminal. If you do end up flying out of there and have any questions just send me a PM.

 

[JudithM]

I would leave myself extra time in case of traffic problems or a change in weather. Early December can be iffy in Maryland - no guarantees about the weather.