Best way south around Baltimore tunnel

Wow. The day before thanksgiving - probably the second worst travel day in the DC area. The first is the Sunday after thanksgiving. More than 50% of the people living in the DC metro area aren't actually from the DC metro area. And they all go home for thanksgiving.

Since you are traveling Wednesday, avoid 95S through northern VA at all costs. 301 through Waldorf will be better, though not by much if you are there after 2PM. As I stated before, the CBBT is way out of the way for Williamsburg and you will get caught in all the traffic leaving Norfolk for the holidays. Your best bet, traffic-wise, is 301S to 17S. You will hit lights but it is a much saner, more relaxed drive than 95. Bet of luck and enjoy the holidays!

bukhrn wrote:
Rt 13 & the Bay Bridge tunnel will put you 60 mi. out of you way for Williamsburg, not to mention the Va. Beach/Norfolk traffic at the Hampton Roads tunnel, which at times can rival Baltimore traffic.

Don't have anything to contribute to the thread... But I just LOVE your sig line, bukhrn! J3

Rt 13 & the Bay Bridge tunnel will put you 60 mi. out of you way for Williamsburg, not to mention the Va. Beach/Norfolk traffic at the Hampton Roads tunnel, which at times can rival Baltimore traffic.

My choice would be the 301 route, but I would take 17 in Va. then 198 ( I think) thru West Point then over to Williamsburg. Not sure which road from West Point but do know it was well marked the last time we were there. Might not be the quickest route but maybe the less pain full the day before Thanksgiving. Good luck and enjoy your trip, Try Peirce's BBG while your there we enjoyed it.

I think it all depends on how much of a hurry you're in. I live at the foot of the Del Mem Bridge, and given that the upcoming week does not look TOO bad, weather wise, I'd probably head down through the Delmarva on either of the two suggested routes - 13/113 to the Bridge/Tunnel, and then up I-64 to Williamsburg from the Norfolk area, OR, 301 down to the Bay Bridge, over to Annapolis, and then south via 301 and I-95. There's very little traffic on the first route until Norfolk, and not all that much on the second one until the La Plata/Bowling Green area south of Annapolis. Maybe one down, and the other up, to get a feel for them? I've lived in this area almost all my life, and have done them all - the risk is that an accident or other foul up can really delay the I-95 route between Wilmington DE and Fredericksburg, simply because of all the volume. So it's a******shoot. Odds of a lengthy delay on 13/113 or 301 - about 1 or 2 in 10. On I-95? 50/50 at best. 70/30 more like it, especially over the holiday weekend.

ford truck guy wrote:


95S exit onto 896 S.. take 896 to 301/50.. cross the Bay Bridge.. stay on 301/50 into Bowie... hop on 301 S... down to 95 just north of Richmond ( mile marker # 104 )

if you are coming down 301, just stay on it to 295
bumpy

RVcircus wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
It all depends on what part of PA your coming from??? East - Central - Western...

Where will you be starting from ?

We're starting out just south of Philly. We're right off of I95 close to the DE border.

then the 2 choices I would use are:

95S to 695 over Key Bridge.. back to 95S.. around DC.. down to 295 around Richmond to 64 East -- OR--

95S exit onto 896 S.. take 896 to 301/50.. cross the Bay Bridge.. stay on 301/50 into Bowie... hop on 301 S... down to 95 just north of Richmond ( mile marker # 104 )

camper19709 wrote:
Yes. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is the way around Baltimore. But, route 301 is a way to completely bypass Baltimore.
Another route, and my favorite, would be to take route 13 through Delaware toward Salisbury, MD and continue down the entire peninsula and across Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. That puts you very close to Williamsburg. Much more relaxing and scenic. Lots of places to stop and eat or stretch your legs. Propane in the bridge tunnel is no problem. Just turn it off for the trip through the tunnel. The bridge tunnel is awesome!

I didn't even think of 13 down. That may be a good choice if we're not in a rush. We've never been over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, so that might be fun to see.

We're leaving the day before Thanksgiving, so I'm a bit concerned with traffic around DC, so I'm leaning towards either 13 or 301. I think we have some options to consider, but at least I'm on the right track.

Thanks for all the responses!!!

ependydad wrote:

ependydad wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
It all depends on what part of PA your coming from??? East - Central - Western...

Where will you be starting from ?

I had the same question.

Ok, with some stalking on their website. They mention that Jellystone in Quarryville, PA is "local", so I'm guessing eastern PA.

Given that, I'd go with the route proposed in the OP - 95 to I-695 S (on the east side) to I-95. Though, getting to 301 to 17 doesn't appear to be awful from where they may be. I dislike the idea of lights on a drive like that and would rather slab it, but to each his own. While Rt. 13 seems scenic, it feels like it's a fair bit out of the way.

Per Google Maps, 301 is about an extra hour over 95. And Rt. 13 is another 1/2 hour. Of course, that assumes you don't hit major traffic in Baltimore or DC.

Nice work. I'd say your more of a detective than stalker...I hope;)

ford truck guy wrote:
It all depends on what part of PA your coming from??? East - Central - Western...

Where will you be starting from ?

We're starting out just south of Philly. We're right off of I95 close to the DE border.