What time to leave from central Jersey?

[autismgoesdisney]

I'm taking the three kids and my mother in law with me. I want to miss traffic in dc, if possible. What time should I leave? I'm driving 14 hours, if that matters. I was thinking of leaving at 5 am, that way, I get through dc at 10...is that a good idea or no? It puts me at our destination at 7 pm

 

[Betty Rohrer]

what day of the week are you traveling? last few times we have made trip down from Pa, we have found maor back up just below DC where the carpool lanes meet back up with 95. backs up both on carpool lanes and 95. last 2 trips have taken an hour to clear this area and it was just traffic, no accidents. might not be bad on weekday morning if the carpool lanes are for northbound headed in to DC.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

We are leaving on a Wednesday. We hit traffic in that spot last year but we were there at I think 4 pm! Was hoping earlier would be better.

 

[alice99]

what day of the week are you traveling? last few times we have made trip down from Pa, we have found maor back up just below DC where the carpool lanes meet back up with 95. backs up both on carpool lanes and 95. last 2 trips have taken an hour to clear this area and it was just traffic, no accidents. might not be bad on weekday morning if the carpool lanes are for northbound headed in to DC.

My last trip it took me 3 hours to get through this area!!!

 

[alice99]

Seriously, I'd leave at 4 am, you might stand a chance.
Or, leave at 6 pm the night before..... which was my strategy for my August trip a few years ago. I drove 6 or 7 hours then check into hotel..... then drove 12-13 the second day.

I have had no luck in that area, any time of day, on any trip. I've managed to miss traffic directly around DC, but those carpool lanes get me every time!

You'll have to look on a map for this , but, I have gotten off the highway just north of Wash DC and taken route 301, it's a great route and will help you avoid that traffic. I found that one time 95 was CLOSED because of an accident.... it was a great find.

I live in Orange County, NY, bordering NJ, near Sussex County, so our trips are similar.

 

[vicki_c]

Taking 301 S down to 95/295 can be a good approach. That's how we normally go, but we are close to 301 at home. We never go through DC unless it's the middle of the night. Don't forget that Baltimore also has a substantial rush hour as well. You really want to be through DC generally by 6 am or after 10 am.

 

[mieuxmew]

We live in central NJ and we are driving to Hilton Head. Morning traffic from Baltimore to Richmond is horrible! Without traffic it takes 4+ hours to get around DC and about 5 to get past Richmond. I am afraid 5 am may be too late, as you might hit prime traffic. Nothing worse than traffic making a long trip longer! Can you leave 3:30-4am? We are leaving on a weekday and are going to leave after work around 7 pm. Still trying to decide if we want to stay in a hotel half way down or just drive thru the night.

Have a safe trip!