For the east coasters who've traveled it extensively. I'm in Savannah, Ga. Beautiful by-the-way. I'm heading to Maine and beyond. I'd love to hear how to avoid serious traffic, congestion, and other poor areas along Interstate 95. The bigger cities--DC, Philly, NYC, etc--make me wonder.

Everyone will have a different route, but from that far south I bet they all have I81 in them.

There is only one section of I-95 that I don't like driving on, it's the section between Miami, Florida and Boston, Mass. Actually, I travel extensively on I-95 in North & South Carolina. There are a few miles of bumps, but overall, not too bad.

avoid hudson river near NYC,and make sure you stay on i-695 around baltimore. to avoid a fine in the tunnel. I-81 is my choice. I run around Baltimore and DC but all it takes is one bumper crack-up and the traffic is mess for 2 hours. Can you run I-95 ? yes the question to me is WHY ?

Best way to avoid problems. Travel at night. Or at least off peak hours during week days, for Washington, Baltimore. Weekends are not good for that stretch.NJP, New York City best on Sunday morning. Weekdays are bad for NYC. You might consider Garden State Pkwy, Tappanzee. But it adds quite a bit of miles. GSP, 287, 684, 84, 91, 86, 90, 290, 495, 95,

We have traveled North and South many times. I have tried all the "easier" routes, 81,301,CBBT,84-87. What we have found out is that timing makes all the difference in the world. If you play your cards right 95 is the fastest way. South of DC the traffic is mild compared to North of it and we have had good luck at any time of the day there. North of DC I have 2 rules. If going North, we plan to hit the area on Sunday. We overnight in the Fredricksburg area and then are on the road by 6am. Traffic is usually tame and we hit the GW around lunch time. If you aren't there by 1-2pm...you will be stuck in traffic. After that traffic is pretty mild the rest of the way North. When heading South...it is just the opposite and night travel works the best. We usually time it to hit NYC just before midnight and then don't stop till we get to Fredricksburg...usually just before sunrise. This seems to work the best for us as we are not yet retired and our vacation time is valuable.

I95 Places to Avoid | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

bukhrn
Explorer III
Jun 16, 2013
Brent and Gina wrote:
bukhrn wrote:
The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
I avoid everything on I-95 north of Fredricksburg, that way I can hit 17 north to I-66W to I-81

We are just south of Fredericksburg now at camp. We have friends we're seeing today in Alexandria and heading out on the route you suggest here tomorrow. 95 to 17 to 81 to 84 to 91. Thank all of you for your inputs.

FYI. 95 from Savannah to south of Fredericksburg wasn't bad traffic wise. The roads were a little rough once we got into VA especially a few river bridges. GPS took us around Richmond on 295 (bypass??). What's that about? I wonder if that was wise or not, but it worked out for traffic.
I-295 around Richmond, has far less traffic congestion, & far less accidents & backups, plus the speed limit on 95 through town is 55-60, on 295 it's 65-70. I always use 295.
Brent_and_Gina
Explorer
Jun 16, 2013
bukhrn wrote:
The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
I avoid everything on I-95 north of Fredricksburg, that way I can hit 17 north to I-66W to I-81

We are just south of Fredericksburg now at camp. We have friends we're seeing today in Alexandria and heading out on the route you suggest here tomorrow. 95 to 17 to 81 to 84 to 91. Thank all of you for your inputs.

FYI. 95 from Savannah to south of Fredericksburg wasn't bad traffic wise. The roads were a little rough once we got into VA especially a few river bridges. GPS took us around Richmond on 295 (bypass??). What's that about? I wonder if that was wise or not, but it worked out for traffic.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Jun 15, 2013
bukhrn wrote:
The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
I avoid everything on I-95 north of Fredricksburg, that way I can hit 17 north to I-66W to I-81

I agree with this...ok to rt 17....if the traffic is too heavy on 95 , can take the by-pass around Richmond...but I found the by-pass to be longer and the heavy traffic on 95 around Richmond is not for a great distance...Chuck
bukhrn
Explorer III
Jun 15, 2013
The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
I avoid everything on I-95 north of Fredricksburg, that way I can hit 17 north to I-66W to I-81
JimFromJersey
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
+1 exactly - 95 is fine between Richmond and about Palm Beach or so, AFAIC. But if you're headed as far north as Maine, then I would emphatically agree with those kind souls advising you to swing west on 81 and the other alternate routes, and head up through central PA and NY rather than mess with the 95 corridor from Richmond north.
The_Painting_Te
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
The worst stretch of I-95 runs from Richmond VA to north of Boston MA. If you can plan the day of the week and time of the day, it's manageable. Otherwise, look at I-81 as a slightly longer, but prettier ride with less traffic. Camp on!
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013
Just out of curiosity I checked the statistics. The I-95 corridor contains 37% of the population of the US! 110 million people.

I-95 statistics
docnascar
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
I just used 95 2 weeks ago from Baltimore, Md to Florida. No issues either way from a 95 standpoint. However, on the Northbound trip back, my GPS told me to take 395 to 295N going through DC. Those roads were a bumpy miserable ride. I had stuff thrown everywhere in the camper that typically never moves. Should have stayed on 495/95.
PamfromVA
Explorer
Jun 12, 2013
95 is under construction in Virginia now south of Woodbridge through Quantico for express lanes. It is just a horrible place to be north and south. I would avoid the area if you could.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Jun 12, 2013
Brent and Gina wrote:
For the east coasters who've traveled it extensively. I'm in Savannah, Ga. Beautiful by-the-way. I'm heading to Maine and beyond. I'd love to hear how to avoid serious traffic, congestion, and other poor areas along Interstate 95. The bigger cities--DC, Philly, NYC, etc--make me wonder.

While in Savannah,,,have lunch at Mrs Wilkes's Boarding House...on West Jones St...excellent..

I will go at times up 95 from Savannah straight thru Richmond on 95...which has heavy traffic for maybe 10 miles...then get off on Va rt 17 at exit 133A thru Warrenton,Va north of Richmond,which is a 4 lane hwy thru horse country..to I-66 for 25 miles to I-81....stay on 81 to to I-78 into NJ and then take I-287 north to I-87 north at Sufferin,NY to Newburgh,NY and get on I-84,,to I-90 in Mass...I-90 to I-495 around Boston to I-95 north at the mass/NH state line....
Now, at time We will go the 26 to 77 to 81 route but from Savannah it is shorter and as good this way..safe Trip..Chuck