I have to drive the motorhome to Washington DC

on sunday there is no reason to not just go thru on I-95. I do that 99% of the time any day, even shortly after rush hour. But yes, I-95 anyplace can get backed up, but south of fredericksburg it usually is not bad.
bumpy

I just did this drive this past Sunday from Darlington, SC....I95 was wide open until Fredericksburg, VA then it became stop and go in places, The usual idiots that cause problems in urban areas.

We hit Fredericksburg around 3:00PM. I would take the loop around Richmond. In Washington DC we always take the Eastern loop, Just follow the signs for Baltimore.

Cherry Hill is a very nice CG and they will answer any questions you might have about DC

I had another post running a few months ago about avoiding DC with everyone chiming in about alt routes, On person said it best "Driving through Washington DC is like pulling off a band aid there's no good way to do it...Fast or slow you just have to do it"

Actually if I was going I81, I would jump onto I66 to the beltway, then its just 1/4 of the way around the beltway to Cherry Hill. Using 270 is no better when it comes to timing when you will be near the beltway and heading all the way out I70 to nearly baltimore and then south you still get mixed up in rush hour traffic depending ont he time of the day.

The only think you end up wasting to get to I270 is time compared to I66.

Just stay in a middle lane until you are close to your exit. Deep breaths and all will be fine. We always take I-495 around to the west. Just time it between rush hours. Lots of traffic but you will be fine.

StephJohn2010 wrote:
Thanks Everyone. I think I will take 81 up and over Washington and then come down from the North. More miles, but less stress the better when I'm in the Big Rig.

your only real issues would be I-270 during morning rush hours and the short section of 495 which can't be avoided at all.
another shorter possibility would be coming up I-95 to fredericksburg, which usually is not dreadful, going over 17 to Opal, up 15 to I-66 and either over to the beltway at haymarket which would let you miss the worst part of I-95 and half of the beltway, or continue on to frederick and down 270. 15 north of haymarket is all two lane only however.
bumpy

Thanks Everyone. I think I will take 81 up and over Washington and then come down from the North. More miles, but less stress the better when I'm in the Big Rig.

There are two ways to get to Cherry Hill From the south. You can follow I95 around the eastern side of DC, or you can go around the western side. The construction on the western side is finally done!


What you can expect northbound either direction is for morning time to be not too bad traffic wise, but come 3pm through about 7pm you have better luck running up the eastern side as the I270 spur on the western side goes gridlock.

You will not need to actually drive THROUGH DC, so do not go up I395 even if GPS tells you to. That is where youll find the lanes narrow and then dump you out in DC where you do not want to be.

Ya so theres a bunch of lanes and lots of traffic almost any time of day, but just like all big cities avoid rush hour. Any other time its no different from any big city and no need to fear it. You will like Cheery Hill and others have already given you the scoop. Just leave your toad and use the tube into the central DC mall area. Fast and cheap. And pedestrian friendly. Takes at least three days to see most of the major attractions. Take the moonlight bus tour of the monuments. The Vietnam Wall is pitch dark and very spiritual. Soft light of candles from mourners add to erie ambiance. A very moving experience, especially for my generation. Aero buffs need to grab the shuttle from the mall to the Dulles museum. Just about every civilian and war bird that ever flew is on display. Could not believe how big the XR71 Blackbird spy plane is.

bucky wrote:
Do not attempt 95N on Sun after about noon from Fredericksburg north. I would junp over to 301 around Ashland VA and follow that up to US50 east and then on into Cherry Hill.

if you take the 295 bypass around Richmond you can catch 301 directly from there and avoid I-95.
bumpy

Do not attempt 95N on Sun after about noon from Fredericksburg north. I would junp over to 301 around Ashland VA and follow that up to US50 east and then on into Cherry Hill. Mapquest or Google can get you there from 50 and 301. 50E to 495/95n and around to College Park may be the easiest, only 10 miles or so once you are back on 95N. There may be a better way over if you go a little further north but 301 splits off to head due east along with 50 at that point, so if you stay straight I think it becomes MD rt3 north of 50. Have a great trip.

You didn't state when you will be traveling, be advised 301 will be closed for a rail crossing repair this coming weekend. I think from Fri 4/11 pm until Monday 4/14 am. The detour will be a massive mess.