I will be heading south to Darlington Raceway in April and will hit the Baltimore area around 5:30 PM and then Washington DC around 6:30 PM this will be on a Thursday night.Other members here have said to avoid this area, they said this would be a better route:- In Delaware get off I 95 and get onto Rt 896 south.- Rt 896 turns into Rt 301 south.- Rt 301 merges with Rt 50....stay on Rt 50 & 301 and cross the Chesapeake Bay then after Annapolis MD continue on rt 301 south.- Follow Rt 301 to Bowling Green and turn onto Rt 207 west- Take Rt 207 to I 95 south (exit 104). I have compared this route on MS Srteets & Trips with staying on I 95 and Rt 301 is 10 min slower BUT people say its faster and eaiser because I will avoid all the stop and go traffic. Has anyone else done this at this time of day and is it really any better. My main concern is the traffic lights causing stop and go traffic on Rt 301 and the route still goes through Annapolis and very close to Washington DC.One person said on Trip Advisior said not to do this because Rt 301 is all stop and go because of the lights Any thoughts would be appreciated.....Thanks Chris

I think I'd stay on I-95.....it may be slow due to the traffic, but you're hitting these places at the end of rush-hour, so even if you go an alternative way, you'll probably be getting the rush hour there too.The one nice thing about I-95, is it's got lots of lanes.....even if there is an accident, you're bound to still have at least 2 lanes open.And, you'll also get the extra "express" lanes on the south side of DC too.:)I've never taken that alternative route, so I can't speak for the lights and such, but you're gonna pretty much have to deal with the cities no matter what you do....best to do like a bandaid, and just rip it off, and go direct!

Baltimore is not going to be your issue. Delaware is much worse and you will deal with that regardless of which route you take. Having traveled all routes involved numerous times in different conditions, the 301 route is a******shoot at best. Years ago 301 through southern Maryland was a good way to travel but 3 towns have been heavily developed over the years and have traffic signals every 1/2 mile. There is nothing good about 301 anymore!The real problem on the I-95 route is south of DC in VA. Yes you can use the HOV lanes, but as you approach Quantico those lanes have to merge back into the regular lanes on 95 which will be at a virtual standstill. Thursday isn't the worst night to travel through there, but traffic will still be very heavy. I still chose the 95 route when I go to Richmond because 9 out of 10 times I can do a lot better on 95 than I can with all the traffic lights on 301 and the speed traps with low speed limits on 301 in VA. Your best bet would be to postpone your trip an hour or two if possible. If you don't hit VA prior to 7 pm, your chances of smooth sailing are much better.

AVOID I95 in the Baltimore/Washington area at 5:30pm on a weekday and especially a Friday, unless you want to add several hours to your trip. Have lived in this area all my life, the recommended alternate route given was good advice.

going southbound you'll hit some traffic around the Baltimore beltway from the top side to 270, and then some on 95 south of the beltway, it will clear out usually by Columbia, MD. You hit your next round of traffic depending on time around the southern portion of MD where 295 merges, and at 6:30 you are on the tail end of the rush hour, then you hit 95S and by 7pm can be hit or miss depending on how many drivers decided to play bumper cars and turned it into demolition derby.

Thanks for the replies so far...Keep'em coming, we got till April :)This alt route suggestion of 301 started on my other post:http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27350591/gotomsg/27353122/p/1.cfm So far 3 say go for Rt 301 and 2 say to stay on I 95MS Streets & Trips says I will hit the Del 896 interchange at 4:50pm the loop for the Baltimore Tunnel at 5:39pm (Key Bridge), Pass Andrews AFB at 6:43pm, Cross into Va at 6:54pm and be near Fredricksburg about 7:40pm so that said I'm thinking I will be on the tail end of traffic for the most partHeavy traffic dosen't nessiarily scare me as I commute from the Jersey Shore into NYC everyday I just want to know if 301 is really betterBTW the HOV lane on the New Jersey Turnpike is much better because there is no divider, you can jump in and out anytime you want as long as you have 3 or more passengers ....no exiting back ups

Avoiding Washington and Baltimore on I 95 | Good Sam Community

NJ6PACK
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
Thanks for the replies so far...Keep'em coming, we got till April :)

This alt route suggestion of 301 started on my other post:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27350591/gotomsg/27353122/p/1.cfm

So far 3 say go for Rt 301 and 2 say to stay on I 95

MS Streets & Trips says I will hit the Del 896 interchange at 4:50pm the loop for the Baltimore Tunnel at 5:39pm (Key Bridge), Pass Andrews AFB at 6:43pm, Cross into Va at 6:54pm and be near Fredricksburg about 7:40pm so that said I'm thinking I will be on the tail end of traffic for the most part

Heavy traffic dosen't nessiarily scare me as I commute from the Jersey Shore into NYC everyday I just want to know if 301 is really better

BTW the HOV lane on the New Jersey Turnpike is much better because there is no divider, you can jump in and out anytime you want as long as you have 3 or more passengers ....no exiting back ups
JamesBr
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
going southbound you'll hit some traffic around the Baltimore beltway from the top side to 270, and then some on 95 south of the beltway, it will clear out usually by Columbia, MD. You hit your next round of traffic depending on time around the southern portion of MD where 295 merges, and at 6:30 you are on the tail end of the rush hour, then you hit 95S and by 7pm can be hit or miss depending on how many drivers decided to play bumper cars and turned it into demolition derby.
happynow
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
AVOID I95 in the Baltimore/Washington area at 5:30pm on a weekday and especially a Friday, unless you want to add several hours to your trip.

Have lived in this area all my life, the recommended alternate route given was good advice.
720Deere
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
Baltimore is not going to be your issue. Delaware is much worse and you will deal with that regardless of which route you take. Having traveled all routes involved numerous times in different conditions, the 301 route is a******shoot at best. Years ago 301 through southern Maryland was a good way to travel but 3 towns have been heavily developed over the years and have traffic signals every 1/2 mile. There is nothing good about 301 anymore!

The real problem on the I-95 route is south of DC in VA. Yes you can use the HOV lanes, but as you approach Quantico those lanes have to merge back into the regular lanes on 95 which will be at a virtual standstill. Thursday isn't the worst night to travel through there, but traffic will still be very heavy. I still chose the 95 route when I go to Richmond because 9 out of 10 times I can do a lot better on 95 than I can with all the traffic lights on 301 and the speed traps with low speed limits on 301 in VA. Your best bet would be to postpone your trip an hour or two if possible. If you don't hit VA prior to 7 pm, your chances of smooth sailing are much better.
PapPappy
Explorer
Nov 12, 2013
I think I'd stay on I-95.....it may be slow due to the traffic, but you're hitting these places at the end of rush-hour, so even if you go an alternative way, you'll probably be getting the rush hour there too.

The one nice thing about I-95, is it's got lots of lanes.....even if there is an accident, you're bound to still have at least 2 lanes open.
And, you'll also get the extra "express" lanes on the south side of DC too.:)

I've never taken that alternative route, so I can't speak for the lights and such, but you're gonna pretty much have to deal with the cities no matter what you do....best to do like a bandaid, and just rip it off, and go direct!

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