Suggestions for Route to Florida from Maine

Padlin wrote:
Question, what's the preferred route around DC, 495S? And around Richmond? Do you stay on 95S thru Richmond or take 295? SHOULD hit DC early afternoon, Richmond roughly 3-4 pm. Hopefully....

Google map shows 695 around Balt to 295S, to 495S around DC and 95S thru Richmond.

1) Yes, take the 495-S beltway around DC, just follow signs for Alexandria, etc, NOT "Bethesda" or "Tyson's Corner". When you hit the beltway coming south on I-95, staying EAST of town is what you want to do. Just look at any map.

2) I'd stay straight on I-95 through Richmond. It's less than half a dozen miles from top to bottom, and the 295 loop seems to be around 40 miles. As I noted in another thread a minute ago, I did it back just before Thanksgiving, and buzzed right through. Unless there's an accident or other screw up, you'll be fine. I doubt there'll be any
construction or other foul ups.

Traffic tends to be VERY heavy between DC and Fredericksburg, but as long as your going OPPOSED to rush hour, you should be ok.

Later edit:
Also, if for some reason the weather gets nasty again before the weekend, and you don't want to mess with the mountains, then get on the NJ turnpike south, take it to the Delaware Memorial, then 95 South to US 301 South. Follow 301 to the Bay Bridge across to Annapolis, then 50/301 to the 495 DC Beltway, and thusly as above.

Zeroing out accidents, road closures, construction or other variables, (which can happen anywhere, anytime), if it's crappy weather, and I have to drive, I'd rather drive on nice, flat, gently curving NJTP and US301 through the DelMarva, than I-81 through Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Poconos.

If I can add another question to this thread. Heading to FL next weekend from central MA, preferred and planned route is 84 to 81 to 77 etc. If freezing rain or more snow is predicted in the mountains when we get ready to leave I'd like to have an alternate route on 95. Question, what's the preferred route around DC, 495S? And around Richmond? Do you stay on 95S thru Richmond or take 295? SHOULD hit DC early afternoon, Richmond roughly 3-4 pm. Hopefully....

Google map shows 695 around Balt to 295S, to 495S around DC and 95S thru Richmond.

You can forget that route tonight. WOW!!!

Gosh, with all you guys avoiding I-95, that must be why I was able to do Port St Lucie to the Delaware Memorial Bridge in 16 hours the weekend after Thanksgiving!

Seriously, if you haven't driven it RECENTLY, it has been majorly improved. There's about 9 lanes in either direction between Baltimore and DC, and even the stretch south of DC towards Richmond is much better than it was a few years ago. As long as you are NOT flowing the same way as rush-hour traffic, it's not all that bad. Yeah, an accident can tie things up, but that's true anywhere.

US 301 is a nice road, but it will take about a week to get from Delaware to Jacksonville if you use it.

The OP doesn't really need a route from Maine to Florida - he needs one from Maine to Baltimore. Once south of Baltimore, it's pretty much a breeze no matter which route you take. Without more details on what the OP wants to avoid, or see, or his final destination, too many suggestions will simply confuse the issue.

I've done this numerous times and agree with "CT1964UPS" and/or "PETERSR58".

dahkota wrote:
Use the Tappen Zee Bridge or the Newburg Beacon Bridge for New York.
Use the Francis Scott Key Bridge (695) in Baltimore instead of the tunnels.

Propane is prohibited in the Baltimore tunnel. Take the Key Bridge. If you mistakenly head for the tunnel, there is an off ramp exit just before the tunnel entrance with Police standing by to wave you off onto said ramp. They stop you and check your license and then send you on your merry way to the bridge.

Ask me how I know! :R

Big Katuna wrote:
I dont even get on 95. I go west on state roads in Maine to Lake George to 87s to 81S to 77 to 26 to Orangeburg and get on US 301S to Fl. 301 is a nice road, scenic. You can take it to 40 or I75 to the Fl Turnpike for Disney.

Miss Jax and Orlando.

Except for Charlotte and Stark this isn't to bad. We also avoid I-95.
Since we have to make a stop at Atlanta if we go to ME this year; most likely will pick up the Blue Ridge and Sky Line then pick up 81.
We only do about 5 hours per day.

There was a post like yours just a short time ago, with some suggestions. I use to live in PA and we took I-84 to I-87 then bypassed Richmond, VA. Shortly after Richmond you would pick up I-95. This takes you around NY, Washington and Baltimore. Although you will be in some higher elevations at times, you will not have the problems with traffic (except near Scranton and Wilkes-Barre PA) and low clearance bridges.

Forgot to mention. From Maine you would take I think I-95 and by-pass Boston onto RT I-495. You do not want to go through Boston. Check this section out on a map. It has been along time since I have been there.

GnP Retirement Roads wrote:
Hi All !
I've been trying to find a direct route to Florida from Maine. One major sticking point is the route through CT and NY. According to the routing folks, I can't drive an RV on the GW Bridge in NY and I haven't found good advice about alternative routes that have no RV restrictions (I was routed onto some "parkways" that had 8' height restrictions). There is also an advisory about propane restrictions in the tunnel near Baltimore.
Does anyone have a "tried and true" route I could follow ? Thanks !!!

GnP, come down 95 to 495 out of Maine to 90 to 84 in Sturbridge,Mass....take 84 straight thru Ct >Hartford is only 10 minutes of traffic..no sweat ...in Waterbury got another 20 minutes where the construction is on/off on a daily basisNow once on I-81, you can also go to I-77 in Va and take that south thru Charolotte,NC to Columbia,SC.....not sure where you wish to end up in Florida..
Can private message me to clear this up any..Chuck

I dont even get on 95. I go west on state roads in Maine to Lake George to 87s to 81S to 77 to 26 to Orangeburg and get on US 301S to Fl. 301 is a nice road, scenic. You can take it to 40 or I75 to the Fl Turnpike for Disney.

Miss Jax and Orlando.