Best time to make it through Washinton DC?

[kirk37r]

We will be heading for NC in A couple weeks. Been A while since running so on I95. What would suggestions be for the best time to get through DC? Will be traveling on A Saturday AM. leaveing from NJ.
Thanks

[JimFromJersey]

magnusfide wrote:

JimFromJersey wrote:
OP has Millville as home base, which is in Cumberland County, midway between the Delaware River and Atlantic City - to get to I-76 and/or I-81 from where he is would not be very straightforward. That part of NJ has little in the way of fast thruways anywhere - Millville is a good 45 mins to an hour just to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, I-95 or the NJ Turnpike. From farther north in Jersey where you can get to I-195 and across the Delaware at the PA Turnpike, it's different but from down south, it's not so cut and dried.

Small inconvenience compared to wrangling an RV in the madhouse beltway of DC.

I agree, which I why I suggested 301 or 13. It was others who suggested I-76 (the PA Turnpike) and I-81, which does not compare favorably to the eastern route alternatives. In addition, the OP is going to Smithfield, which is right on I-95. For him to use I-81 and I-77 is like going from Chicago to St Louis by way of Minneapolis. Now if he was headed to the Smokies, that would be MUCH different.

[magnusfide]

JimFromJersey wrote:
OP has Millville as home base, which is in Cumberland County, midway between the Delaware River and Atlantic City - to get to I-76 and/or I-81 from where he is would not be very straightforward. That part of NJ has little in the way of fast thruways anywhere - Millville is a good 45 mins to an hour just to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, I-95 or the NJ Turnpike. From farther north in Jersey where you can get to I-195 and across the Delaware at the PA Turnpike, it's different but from down south, it's not so cut and dried.

Small inconvenience compared to wrangling an RV in the madhouse beltway of DC.

[JimFromJersey]

OP has Millville as home base, which is in Cumberland County, midway between the Delaware River and Atlantic City - to get to I-76 and/or I-81 from where he is would not be very straightforward. That part of NJ has little in the way of fast thruways anywhere - Millville is a good 45 mins to an hour just to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, I-95 or the NJ Turnpike. From farther north in Jersey where you can get to I-195 and across the Delaware at the PA Turnpike, it's different but from down south, it's not so cut and dried.

[ependydad]

Problem with middle of the night is the night time construction can be just as bad.

Given a choice- Sunday early AM or Monday around 11am.

[magnusfide]

Camper Mama Bear wrote:
take 81 down instead. otherwise we try and go through DC in the middle of the night, after 9:30pm, before 5am.

Double ditto. Avoid DC altogether and I-95 is my advice. You'll find you're more relaxed for your trip and it really doesn't add a lot of time to your itinerary because you won't be caught in the traffic jams in DC or I-95.

Plus I-76 to I-81 is more scenic. You can hop on I-77 at exit 81 and go to any destination you desire in NC.

[dcason]

11 pm to 4 am :B and enjoy the ride.

[JamesBr]

You can go around and take 301, but depending on where your going that wont work well. Even I81 depending on where in NJ your leaving from might be more headaches then needed.

On a Saturday (10 year beltway lapping veteran living on both sides of the bridges) you should be fine southbound up until around 10am, then south of DC in the construction area will see some heavier traffic. The patterns have changed over the years, but having lived in laurel and taken both paths around the beltway to get to VA, and now living in VA and heading south on I95 on weekends. I don't see you running into much stop and go traffic unless someone decides to crash, but the crazy drivers finally wake up and hit the road after 10am...

[Busskipper]

kirk37r wrote:
We will be heading for NC in A couple weeks. Been A while since running so on I95. What would suggestions be for the best time to get through DC? Will be traveling on A Saturday AM. leaveing from NJ.
Thanks

Early is best on the weekend -- Have you thought about coming down the eastern shore over the Bay Bridge - no toll - and into The Washington Beltway -- most of the issues are construction on 95 south of Washington on the way to Richmond, but the shear volume is just more than it can handle.

BOL,

[dahkota]

Since you can't use the tunnels through Baltimore anyway, I would take 695 to Key Bridge then switch to 97S. This takes you to 50/301 near Annapolis. Get on 50/301 going west, then onto 301S. You can ride that all to the way to Bowling Green where you take the Bowling Green Bypass to 95S. You could stay on 301 but whenever I do, I get stuck behind a little old lady in a 1966 oldsmobile or an old man with a hat in a 1950 pickup truck (it is one lane each way through small towns).

I would also recommend taking 295 over 95S. The speed limit is faster, the road is in better condition, the drivers are less crazy, and it is only 5 miles or so longer.

[trailertraveler]

From Millville, I think getting to I-81 would add considerable miles and time. US-301 is a good choice. A little longer, but also a pleasant drive is US-13/113 down the Delmarva Peninsula across the Bay Bridge Tunnel and then US-13 to US-64 or US-264 to pick up I-95 near Rocky Mount. In my opinion, from Millville taking the Ferry would be a waste of time and money (and we use the ferry twice a year, but starting from near Cape May). Take the Delaware Memorial Bridge to I-95. Take the DE-1 exit. Switch over to US-13 if you want to avoid the tolls or stay on DE-1 to US-113.

[JimFromJersey]

Best time to make it through Washington DC?

None. Go around. WAY around. Millville is just down the road from me. Take either the CM/Lewes Ferry and then Rt 9 South through Georgetown to 13/113 to the CBBT and then 58 to I-95 in Emporia, or the Del Memorial Bridge and then either 13/113 as above, or 301 S to pick up I-95 near Richmond.

The only traffic on either of those routes is the Newport News area, or the bit of 301 south from Waldorf to the Potomac River. Other than that, clear sailing.

[wbwood]

Or go during the middle of the night..

[LarryJM]

Shot-N-Az wrote:
Given the construction currently happening on 95, I'm not sure there is ever a good time to head this way. I would seriously consider taking 301 and bypass the whole mess.

Having lived in the area for almost 35 years this is some sage advice. Just yesterday at around 1230 we where on our way to Ft. Belvoir and when we passed over 95 on the FX Cty Pkwy 95 north was at a stand still for as far as you could see and 95 south was no picnic. Right now the traffic is lighter since Congress is not in session, but generally we either have commuter traffic and when that is light the trucks take over and then everybody is out on the weekends shopping or heading up or back from points south or the Bay Bridge to the beaches.

At least every week or two some section of the beltway or especially 95 from D.C down to around Fredricksburg is closed down often in both directions (the one w/o the accident is for the helicopters) for several hours and the commute become an epic saga.

I just noticed you plan on a Sat AM "frontal attack" so it's going to be a roll of the die on 95 ... the weekends have ALL the crazies and trucks out trying to tangle with each other.

Larry

[Camper_Mama_Bea]

take 81 down instead. otherwise we try and go through DC in the middle of the night, after 9:30pm, before 5am.