travel concerns

We are based on the MD Eastern Shore so getting through/around the Baltimore Washington mess is always a consideration. First & foremost is the day of week & time of day to consider, along with destination on the other side of those two citys.

More often than not 301 is the route of choice. Yeah, there are some lights & Waldorf is never fun but once S of Waldorf it is all a very pleasant drive. If time is not an issue simply keep following signs to stay on 301 S of Richmond. Avoid the rat race completely.

Your best bet for getting around the tremendous mess of traffic in the DC area is to avoid I-95. Take rt 301 south to just north of Richmond. rt 301 is somewhat slow because of shopping centers and traffic lights but there is no problem the traffic is moving and rarely an accident on the road. I-95 is nothing short of a nightmare virtually 18 hours of every day. Avoid 495 beltway around DC which is just as much of a nightmare. You lose about an hour going down 301 but the horrendous mess on I-95 will have you sitting in a stop and go mess, irate drivers and the like until you get to Frederickburg Va which is 50 miles below DC. Whereas 301 is just a casual drive. The bridge at 301 over to virginia will cost you $6 per axle and its a two lane road over the bridge but no problem. Just remember stay away from I-95 and 495 beltway around DC. You will again pick up I-95 at the Flying J just north of Richmond. I have traveled thru this area probably 50 times and the route just get worse all the time. Said to be one of the 6 most conjested areas in the USA.

and most everywhere else I am aware of.

Not through Boston on I93. Take the Key Bridge but leave the cannoli! (Wonder how many will get that reference!)

I have not heard of any blowing up lately.

But they have: https://www.westfargopioneer.com/news/4821328-Doorbell-camera-captures-Fargo-garage-explosion-propane-leak-blamed

Or, if the weather is nice, do as we do when we go from Mass to Florida every February and take 95-287-78-81 and go down 81 then cross back to 95 around SC. Virtually the same distance and much nicer drive.

If weather is uncooperative we just take the Scott Bridge.

Dave

I really don't understand all the hub-bub . .

I timed it, and clocked it... taking 695 East is an 20 additional minutes of your life, AND it could put you there faster, if THE TUNNELS are backed up, like they sometimes can be.

It's a rule, abide by it, smile, and keep on camping !

AND... That exactly WHY I started taking 301, missing ALL of DE ( almost) and ALL of the ****....

wildtoad wrote:
Asking for a clarification of an ambiguous rule makes sense to me. Not looking to ignore a rule just understand it. Sort of like bottled propane tanks have to be certified every N years but permanently mounted tanks on a motorhome do not. The wording of the rule has caused many people to be denied a refill until someone who knew the rule showed up.

That's MD for ya. you can haul all the propane bottles you care to through the tunnels in PA, VA, and most everywhere else I am aware of. You can even haul them through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge / Tunnels (they say valves closed). I have not heard of any blowing up lately.

What makes the MD tunnels any different? Perhaps they have weak roofs and they're worried you'll blow the lid off and let the bay come pouring in.

"Why can't I take my RV or camper through either the Baltimore Harbor or the Fort McHenry Tunnels?
Regulations govern the transportation of certain hazardous materials across our toll facilities. Under these regulations, vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695) is a convenient alternative route for crossing Baltimore's harbor."

Based on the above, are 2-20 lb cylinders a little less than 1/2 full OK? How about 2-30 lb cylinders a little less than 1/3 full? How about 10-5 lb cylinders 100% full? Is the 10 lbs mentioned net or gross? MD bureaucratic nonsense IMO.

Personally I have no desire to drive around or through Baltimore, nor MD in general, and it has nothing to do with propane.

Do humanity a favor and do not put everyone on the road and their family at risk. Don't haul propane ever, anywhere! :B

Asking for a clarification of an ambiguous rule makes sense to me. Not looking to ignore a rule just understand it. Sort of like bottled propane tanks have to be certified every N years but permanently mounted tanks on a motorhome do not. The wording of the rule has caused many people to be denied a refill until someone who knew the rule showed up.

Why chance it? We've gone over the Key Bridge a number of times with no issue. There was a member on here a while back who did get stopped and it wasn't pleasant. There's a huge safety risk not only for yourself but for everyone around you should something go wrong. I also don't understand why some people think they don't have to abide by the rules. They are there for a reason.

wildtoad wrote:
This may be a silly question but does the use of “bottled” limit the ban to portable propane bottles as used by truck campers, travel trailers, and fifth wheels and of course portable gas grills? Seems that permanently mounted propane tanks as used in mh’s or propane powered vehicles would be excepted.

I think that's a question for MDTA, but they specifically say "RVs or campers" on this page:
https://mdta.maryland.gov/Toll_Facilities/qanda.html#rv

This may be a silly question but does the use of “bottled” limit the ban to portable propane bottles as used by truck campers, travel trailers, and fifth wheels and of course portable gas grills? Seems that permanently mounted propane tanks as used in mh’s or propane powered vehicles would be excepted.