Best time to make it through Washinton DC?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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...

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,

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.

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.