Best time or best way around Washington Beltway?

Crowe wrote:
Just be careful, don't get flustered, and have fun!

Best advice yet. Our experience with the Beltway coming from the north or south is it hit it Sunday a.m. before 8. Not sure if that timing works for you but we've never had an issue and have done it numerous times. My "traffic tolerance" so-to-speak is very high due to living just outside Boston, so not getting flustered is easier for me, I think, than a lot of people. Just accept the fact it might be a slow haul and get into that mindset-it makes the trip around there a lot easier.

Just avoid rush hour - for traffic info 103.5 FM traffic and weather every 10 minutes you will be able to tune in at the Bay Bridge till I-66/81. Will let you know what construction will slow you down. I usually just be sure I have a hot cup of coffee when I start, then just go with the flow.

BOL,

Just be careful, don't get flustered, and have fun!

Best advice yet. Our experience with the Beltway coming from the north or south is it hit it Sunday a.m. before 8. Not sure if that timing works for you but we've never had an issue and have done it numerous times. My "traffic tolerance" so-to-speak is very high due to living just outside Boston, so not getting flustered is easier for me, I think, than a lot of people. Just accept the fact it might be a slow haul and get into that mindset-it makes the trip around there a lot easier.

Thanks for the replies. We'll plan on getting to the beltway on a weekday, 10:15-10:30AM, and see how it goes. Appreciate the help.

I used to live on the east side of the beltway and often traveled to Shenandoah - about the same trip you are contemplating. Make the trip any day except Friday - 66W on Fridays, unless it is before noon, is a nightmare. Any other day, hit 66W before 3PM.

If you cross the Bay Bridge to Annapolis around noon, you will do fine. The 'slalom,' the area of the beltway between College Park and the Mormon Temple, is a pain when busy but should be no problem before 3PM. People do drive it fast so stay aware.

It really isn't as bad as people make it out to be. The above advice of traveling between 10AM and 2PM is good.

Oh, if it is raining or snowing or a full moon, all bets are off.

Bill S. wrote:
From the beach area in Delaware, I want to find a good plan to get over to I81 south, to Tennessee. GPS route takes me across Annapolis Bay bridge down to the Beltway, then CCW over the northern outer loop to 66 (I think), on over the I81.

That may be the fastest based on the GPS, but the beltway is really a mess of slow to stopped traffic, and I'd like to aviod it.

Is there a good way to get to I81? Maybe around Baltimore beltway (maybe a little better?), to Frederick, Md; Harpers Ferry 340 to I81?

How about 113S over Chesapeake BBT? What would you do?

I have lived just off I-66 around the area of Manassas for the last 30 years and routinely travel the 66 to beltway and up the west side to the Military Hospital in Bethesda and the GPS route you mentioned is not that bad. I have traveled that route at all times of the day and there will always be traffic and it's hard to predict how heavy it might be on any particular day. The really bad stuff is the eastern side of the beltway and I-95 south of the beltway down to the Fredricksburg area. This is where when an 18 wheeler tangles with the "little ones" and they close I-95 sometimes in both directions for Med evac helos that you hear about the "epic traffic jams" and the really bad horror stories. Coming from where you are I would shoot for doing "the dance" so to speak between 10AM and 1PM and it should not be that bad. I-66 going west just outside the beltway can get congested for 5 or so miles almost anytime of the day, but that's just because you have both directions of the beltway along with I-66 inside the beltway all dumping onto I-66 going west and it take a few miles for all that merging traffic to sort it's self out. Don't get discouraged and the traffic will get better after you get to the area of 123 and 50 on I-66 going west.

If you need fuel there is a Sheetz at Rt. 15 off I-66 that I think also has diesel and is withing a mile of I-66 and very convenient for on/off and fuel island access. That's going to be the best fuel alternative till you're a few miles south on I-81.

As mentioned don't stress out and just take it easy and relax and go with the flow or lack thereof:W

Larry

We lived there for about 10 years, but moved about that long ago also. IMHO, leaddog is right, there just ain't no GOOD way. Best is just buckle up and hit the beltway. Nice thing about a MH is that you have a bathroom and kitchen on board. Do you have another driver with you?? If so, you can switch drivers during one of the traffic stops to make pottie breaks. Just be careful, don't get flustered, and have fun!

All the other choices add some miles and zigzagging.

I too await more knowledgeable people's advice!

I would follow the GPS directions and time it to be on the Beltway between the hours of 10AM and 2PM. We lived in the area for many years and found that we could make it South during this time period without a lot of delays unless there was an accident.

Any other way such as Frederick, MD would be a long way out your way. Just take your time and stay in your lane. People drive the beltway all the time and don't have major problems.

You could take the 301 bridge and catch I-64 West and connect with I-81 South that way. Longer, but less traffic. 301 bridge is narrow and a little spooky to drive over.

In summation, there is no good way to catch I-81 from the Bay Bridge area. Good luck.