Trying to avoid Baltimore and DC

[wifeofjack]

Hubby and I will be driving down to WDW on Saturday morning, Sept.3, leaving very early, hopefully around 3:00 am and we would love to avoid the congestion and traffic around Baltimore and Washington. How does this route change sound?
We thought about going I-84 to New York state, then PA, picking up I-81 south down to Staunton, VA. then taking 64 to Richmond, then finally I-95. I checked on Mapquest, the travel time is only about an hour and a half different, any maybe 150 more miles. I know with the price of gas, 150 miles is a lot to add to the expense, but the thought of traffic thru NJ and the possible construction mess in DC, the added expense would be worth it. I also HATE the Baltimore tunnel. And if we are stuck in traffic for an extended period of time, the expense would still be there.
Any thoughts on this alternate route would be greatly appreciated.

 

[poohguys]

Just a word of warning that I 81 south (and North) is only two lanes and big trucks are often blocking up both lanes. That was our experiance when we drove down to S.C. a few months ago. Have a safe trip

 

[Uncleromulus]

True-I-81 is a major truck route.
BUt as an alternate route it will miss DC and Baltimore, and that seems to make it worth it.
Would add that when you are on 64 and nearing Richmond, the signs will point you to 295 as the way to get to 95. Take iT!!! Don't just stay on 64. The 295 by-pass is much the better route.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

An even better route around Richmond, especially if you're coming from the west, is Route 288. It's a fairly new road (less than a year old) that bypasses the city from the west to the south. Definitely lighter traffic than you'll find going through downtown Richmond and shorter than taking I-295, which would loop you north, east, and then south.

Coming from the west, Route 288 is I-64 exit 175 (I believe I have the exit number right), one exit before I-295. It intersects with I-95 at exit 62, about halfway between Richmond and Petersburg.

 

[agnes!]

Sounds like a plan - Avoid the Baltimore/DC(& south to Richmond) area that whole weekend! Labor Day weekend will be the absolute pits around here...tourists coming *to* DC, East Coasters travelling through for vacations, some DC-area schools already back in session so all those families are back in town as well. Ack. Plus the last time I went from DC to Richmond on a Saturday it took twice as long(3 hours) as normal(1.5 hours). Get on I-95 *south* of Richmond if you can, there's nasty traffic between DC & Richmond most every Saturday.

I like the sound of Obi-Wan Pinobi's Rte 288 plan, that makes maybe a bit more sense than taking the Richmond/295 Bypass. I'll have to investigate it for our next southern roadtrip.

To the OP - You said that you're leaving your home at 3am. What time will that have you hitting the Richmond area? That might have some bearing on your "detour" plans.

Hey! How bad could it be? You're goin' to DISNEYWORLD !!!!
agnes!

 

[hobogary]

Some other options from I 81 to I 95 that are about the same miles. US 17 in Winchester VA to Fredricksburg VA. Or 81 down to I 77 to I 26 to I 95 in SC. the first bring you in above Richmond, the second, you miss it but go thru Charlotte NC.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Agnes, you're in northern VA, right? Taking I-295 would probably be the better option than Route 288. Here's a map of the area I cropped from mapquest (Google maps doesn't show the completed highway.

Route 288 connects with I-64 west of Richmond and loops around the southwest portion of the area to connect with I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg. For someone coming south on I-95, I-295 south around the eastern end of the area would be more direct than taking I-295 to the west (toward Charlottesville; I think signs indicate this to be I-295 north), picking up I-64 to Route 288, and then down to I-95.

hobogary, is US 17 a limited access interstate-style highway the entire way? I've never been on it so I don't know. I do know that Route 288 is limited access the entire way.

 

[hobogary]

No US 17 is not to interstate standards, but only 7 miles are still two lane. Everything else is 4 lane and most limited access including a bypass around Warrenton. The biggest advantage is it heads generally south while taking you east to Fredricksburg, 64 is mostly east-west. 288 is a nice addition to the routes though.

 

[agnes!]

Agnes, you're in northern VA, right? Taking I-295 would probably be the better option than Route 288.

...

Route 288 connects with I-64 west of Richmond and loops around the southwest portion of the area to connect with I-95 between Richmond and Petersburg. For someone coming south on I-95, I-295 south around the eastern end of the area would be more direct than taking I-295 to the west (toward Charlottesville; I think signs indicate this to be I-295 north), picking up I-64 to Route 288, and then down to I-95.

hobogary, is US 17 a limited access interstate-style highway the entire way? I've never been on it so I don't know. I do know that Route 288 is limited access the entire way.

Yeah, Obi-Wan, for me 295 usually makes more sense (I use it all the time when I travel South), but I was thinking about the OP...sounds tailor-made for their driving. For me, sometimes traffic can get so bad, it's nice to have a way to be able to MOVE even if I go slightly in the wrong direction. (Plus I might have some work down around Richmond so it's nice to have another route to get around on.)

One time, coming back to DC from Myrtle Beach, traffic was SO bad (How bad was it? *Beyond* belief.)... that we got off of I-95 and went west to I-66!!! Got on 66 Eastbound towards DC and then got home.
Yea, it was out of our way, but at least we were moving. That day the Interstate was solid(as in, hardly moving *at all* from just North of Richmond all the way to DC...ack.

agnes!

 

[wifeofjack]

Thanks everybody for your input. We have to get the map and really give it a good look see and decide how we are going to do this. I really hope we can avoid the mess with construction and traffic thru NJ, Baltimore and DC.
We travel I-81 at least two times a year so we know about the truck situation. It can get pretty scary at times, but we are used to it. I continue to be "white knuckled" every trip with those big rigs all around us. Hubby is cute, tho, he waits until we are totally surrounded by trucks and traffic and says to me "are you ready to drive" yeah, like that is going to happen. haha
Again, thanks for the input.
Disney World, here we come!

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh no....my ds is moving to Tampa Bay area and driving down next Thursday..Sept 1. I completely forgot it's the Labor Day weekend. I think he's planning on going around NYC and Philly (somehow, I'm not sure how). But is he going to really run into trouble in DC and Baltimore areas? I think he is planning on driving to Fredricksbury the first day..leaving central Ma around 4 a.m. Any thoughts? He's going to use 3 days to get there, so time isn't a huge issue...hopefully no more than 8 hours a day.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Oh no....my ds is moving to Tampa Bay area and driving down next Thursday..Sept 1. I completely forgot it's the Labor Day weekend. I think he's planning on going around NYC and Philly (somehow, I'm not sure how). But is he going to really run into trouble in DC and Baltimore areas? I think he is planning on driving to Fredricksbury the first day..leaving central Ma around 4 a.m. Any thoughts? He's going to use 3 days to get there, so time isn't a huge issue...hopefully no more than 8 hours a day.

The only route I can think of which would avoid Philly and NYC would be to somehow get to I-81 in Binghamton, NY and take 81 south. This route would also avoid Baltimore and DC.

 

[goofy4tink]

The only route I can think of which would avoid Philly and NYC would be to somehow get to I-81 in Binghamton, NY and take 81 south. This route would also avoid Baltimore and DC.

I think that is what he is planning. I seem to remember his saying he would be going north of NYC and then down past Philly. Good to know that will also enable him to miss DC. Thanks.