Forum Discussion

Effy's avatar
Effy
Explorer II
Mar 04, 2014

81 or 95?

Heading to Fla panhandle (Santa Rosa) from central MD in a few weeks, finalizing the route. Have taken 95 to Eastern Fla and other points North several times. 95 for me is a bit of a nightmare to start the trip as the begining gets me into DC, beltway etc. LOTS of traffic and can be some white knuckle driving. I like to try and relax on my trips. Then the section of 95 in the norther partn is just a plain piece of bad road. Tank traps galore. But it's level. It does add less than an hour to the trip. 81 is easier to access for me, less stressful and is a shorter distance. But it has a lot of OTR trucks and 50% of that journey is through some decent mountains which equals worse MPG. I actually prefer 81, but the mountains can be laborious after while. Anyone have a preferance or a dynamic I am not seeing?

Thanks
Class A
  • DavisK's avatar
    DavisK
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2014
    To bypass DC traffic, I would take US 15 down to Warrenton and then US 17 to Fredericksburg and pick up I-95 there. If you take I-295 around Richmond the next traffic you'll hit will be Jacksonville.

    If you take I-81, I-77 and I-85 you'll hit bad traffic in Charlotte and Atlanta.

    Edit: I just reread your post and noticed you're going to the panhandle. I'm not sure which route I would advise. I-95 would probably be longer.
  • Bob___Ann's avatar
    Bob___Ann
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2014
    We prefer I-81 and take it every chance we get. We find the road better and the scenery better. Yes there are a lot of semis but we think that there are more on I 95. We have also found that I 95 is more likely to have long back ups for what seems to be for no reason at all. You just sit there are then the traffic starts to move again. I 81 is just more relaxing to us.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Mar 04, 2014
    ct1964ups wrote:
    Effy wrote:
    Heading to Fla panhandle (Santa Rosa) from central MD in a few weeks, finalizing the route. Have taken 95 to Eastern Fla and other points North several times. 95 for me is a bit of a nightmare to start the trip as the begining gets me into DC, beltway etc. LOTS of traffic and can be some white knuckle driving. I like to try and relax on my trips. Then the section of 95 in the norther partn is just a plain piece of bad road. Tank traps galore. But it's level. It does add less than an hour to the trip. 81 is easier to access for me, less stressful and is a shorter distance. But it has a lot of OTR trucks and 50% of that journey is through some decent mountains which equals worse MPG. I actually prefer 81, but the mountains can be laborious after while. Anyone have a preferance or a dynamic I am not seeing?
    Thanks


    Tough call,but last year we were in Santa Rosa and were heading to Ct....
    so I decided to come up 331 thru Alabama..to I-65 in Momtgomery ...up past Birmingham on 65 to Chattannoga....then 40 to 81 and up to Ct....it was a great ride and saved about 300 miles...If I was heading back there I would go the same way...also,quite a choice of campgrounds as you go...Chuck


    Thanks Chuck. Yeah we'll be looking for an overnight both ways. I don't like to plan those, more of a "get as far as you can before you get tired" and break for the day, but I like to know at least know there are options.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Mar 04, 2014
    Can-AmDuo wrote:
    I too live in central MD and do not take the DC beltway any more. If I want to access 95 south I take 15 through Point of Rocks, Leesburg, Warrenton then 17 to Fredericksburg. To access 81 I take 340 and 7 to Winchester VA. The difference in mpg on 81 is more than offset by the ease of driving. I am all for the most enjoyable trip I can have. Personally I prefer 81.

    Whatever you decide may you have a great journey.
    Safe travels, Brenda


    I am with you Brenda. 81 is a much nicer road, nicer views, less "city" traffic. 95 is stressful to me. The North half is rough and full of people late for their accidents. I don't like driving it in a car. Yeah I think 81 it is. Much smoother. And despite climbing the hills, some of the views are spectacular. FAR more relaxing.
  • ct1964ups's avatar
    ct1964ups
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2014
    Effy wrote:
    Heading to Fla panhandle (Santa Rosa) from central MD in a few weeks, finalizing the route. Have taken 95 to Eastern Fla and other points North several times. 95 for me is a bit of a nightmare to start the trip as the begining gets me into DC, beltway etc. LOTS of traffic and can be some white knuckle driving. I like to try and relax on my trips. Then the section of 95 in the norther partn is just a plain piece of bad road. Tank traps galore. But it's level. It does add less than an hour to the trip. 81 is easier to access for me, less stressful and is a shorter distance. But it has a lot of OTR trucks and 50% of that journey is through some decent mountains which equals worse MPG. I actually prefer 81, but the mountains can be laborious after while. Anyone have a preferance or a dynamic I am not seeing?
    Thanks


    Tough call,but last year we were in Santa Rosa and were heading to Ct....
    so I decided to come up 331 thru Alabama..to I-65 in Momtgomery ...up past Birmingham on 65 to Chattannoga....then 40 to 81 and up to Ct....it was a great ride and saved about 300 miles...If I was heading back there I would go the same way...also,quite a choice of campgrounds as you go...Chuck
  • Can-AmDuo's avatar
    Can-AmDuo
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2014
    I too live in central MD and do not take the DC beltway any more. If I want to access 95 south I take 15 through Point of Rocks, Leesburg, Warrenton then 17 to Fredericksburg. To access 81 I take 340 and 7 to Winchester VA. The difference in mpg on 81 is more than offset by the ease of driving. I am all for the most enjoyable trip I can have. Personally I prefer 81.

    Whatever you decide may you have a great journey.
    Safe travels, Brenda
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Mar 04, 2014
    naturist wrote:
    Don't forget, the part of I-81 between I-64 and Bristol has one of the highest accident rates in the country as a consequence of too many vehicles and too little pavement.


    I think if I took 81 I would cut down through Charlotte via 77 to 85 instead of skirting out to Chatanooga.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 04, 2014
    All my roads go thru Gatlinburg TN Smoky Mtns no matter where we go - Looks like it is I81 for me...

    Roy Ken
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Mar 04, 2014
    Don't forget, the part of I-81 between I-64 and Bristol has one of the highest accident rates in the country as a consequence of too many vehicles and too little pavement.

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