Heading north on 95 from Florida to MA in a few days in motor home towing a vehicle. Has anyone gone thru or around DC recently? Whats the best route and why? Thanks!

Avoid DC at all costs. At Richmond, VA take I64 to I81 and run up thru PA. I495 around DC is the worst highway ever to have to drive on.

Depending on the day and time, I drive straight through on 95 with no problems.... You really need to plan...running West 64 and North on 81 will add a lot of time and miles If that is a concern... If you have NO SCHEDULE, go that way.OR Just north of Richmond hop onto 301.. 301 N to 301 N/50 E .. cross the Bay Bridge... 301 N to Rt 1 North and back on 95 at Wilmington DE

I go up through DC all the time but here is the trick. Have an EZ pass and time your travel to get in the North bound I-95 HOV lanes BEFORE 11 am while they are still running North. I go straight through DC on 395 to 295,to Baltimore Washington Parkway, to I-695 West to I-83 North to I-81. But from FL avoid it all by taking I-95 to I-26 in SC. Take that to Columbia and pick up I-77 up to I-81 in Wythville, VA to Scranton PA and hit I-84 East. You can pick your route from there to miss NYC, Conn, and all that mess depending on where you are going in Mass.

ferndaleflyer wrote:I go up through DC all the time but here is the trick. Have an EZ pass and time your travel to get in the North bound I-95 HOV lanes BEFORE 11 am while they are still running North. I go straight through DC on 395 to 295,to Baltimore Washington Parkway, to I-695 West to I-83 North to I-81. But from FL avoid it all by taking I-95 to I-26 in SC. Take that to Columbia and pick up I-77 up to I-81 in Wythville, VA to Scranton PA and hit I-84 East. You can pick your route from there to miss NYC, Conn, and all that mess depending on where you are going in Mass.By going this way, you can stop and have a cup of Joe w/ FTG! LOL.Seriously tho, sound advice from FTG and ferndaleflyer. When we went to FL from CNY 2 years ago, I think it was NC & SC that were in process of making tolls roads via route fernadleflyer mentioned. If they still are, try to hit these areas as well during non peak times, otherwise nice ride.FTG & ferndale, any confirmation on the toll road thing??

ACZL wrote:ferndaleflyer wrote:I go up through DC all the time but here is the trick. Have an EZ pass and time your travel to get in the North bound I-95 HOV lanes BEFORE 11 am while they are still running North. I go straight through DC on 395 to 295,to Baltimore Washington Parkway, to I-695 West to I-83 North to I-81. But from FL avoid it all by taking I-95 to I-26 in SC. Take that to Columbia and pick up I-77 up to I-81 in Wythville, VA to Scranton PA and hit I-84 East. You can pick your route from there to miss NYC, Conn, and all that mess depending on where you are going in Mass.By going this way, you can stop and have a cup of Joe w/ FTG! LOL.Seriously tho, sound advice from FTG and ferndaleflyer. When we went to FL from CNY 2 years ago, I think it was NC & SC that were in process of making tolls roads via route fernadleflyer mentioned. If they still are, try to hit these areas as well during non peak times, otherwise nice ride.FTG & ferndale, any confirmation on the toll road thing??The section below DC Draw bridge has EZ Pass- express lanes BUT... BUT they are 2 axle vehicles only.. ask me how I know... I jumped in those lanes pulling my Redwood and made it 5 miles.. was pulled over and received a citation. Didn't cost me any points, just a choice..#1 - pay the $250 fine and be done with it#2 - take the day off, and spend the day in the Manasass court system and hope they lessen the $$$As ferndale stated, the North Bound EZ pass lanes close around 10:30-11:00.. while you cannot use them,, they do take a bunch or traffic off the regular road..I travel between our office in NE Philly and our office in Richmond VA about every 4-5 weeks and I can count on 1 hand how many times I avoided 95...I am 2 hours south east of Scranton... in a northern suburb of Philly

North thru/around Wasington DC | Good Sam Community

bukhrn
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2020
KD4UPL wrote:
Avoid DC at all costs. At Richmond, VA take I64 to I81 and run up thru PA.
I495 around DC is the worst highway ever to have to drive on.
X2, did the 95 thing once, left Richmond, to DC, Baltimore, Philly and on to NJ, All in All, I'd rather have my head set on fire and put out with a pickaxe. :S
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2020
The 104 exit connects to US 301----Years ago I counted the traffic lights from VA/MD line bridge up to US RT 50 at Bowie/Crofton. About 50 miles and 52 red lights several with cameras. There are more now. OP go to I-81 and be done with it.
2_Retired
Explorer
Jun 03, 2020
Agree with Ford Truck Guy. We made the trek from Florida to NJ many times and ALWAYS avoided 95 between Petersburg, Va and the Philly area. Pick up I295 near Petersburg, then hook back up with I 95 for a short time, exiting at # 104 (Rt. 207) Takes you to US 301 North. Ride that to Delaware Rt 1 (NOT US 1) which will connect you to I 95 and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
Have not taken the RV beyond the Jersey Shore, so others may have a better route once in NJ. Be safe! You will DEFINITELY benefit from using an
EZ Pass once you enter the Northeast (Virginia and up).
chuckbear
Explorer
Jun 03, 2020
ford truck guy wrote:
You really need to plan...running West 64 and North on 81 will add a lot of time and miles If that is a concern...

If you have NO SCHEDULE, go that way.
OR Just north of Richmond hop onto 301.. 301 N to 301 N/50 E .. cross the Bay Bridge... 301 N to Rt 1 North and back on 95 at Wilmington DE

After moving from Maryland to Florida, we make this trip often. We NEVER go through the northern Virginia, DC area, unless it's 3 A.M. on a Sunday morning, and even then... We use the 301 route except we connect to 97 and rejoin 95 at the Baltimore Beltway. More stops for traffic lights but well with it. Also, lots of opportunity for fuel stops and food if needed.
justinhscott
Explorer
Jun 03, 2020
Just drove from Alexandria VA to MA on Memorial Day. COVID lockdowns have kept traffic really light. You’ll prob sail straight through.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2020
As a Class A owner and a Virginia resident I would take any route, ANY ROUTE, other than I95 north of Fredericksburg Virginia. Not only do you have the unpredictable DC traffic to contend with but you also have Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, NYC, and so on to deal with. Plus the propane restrictions for Baltimore Harbor tunnels.

Get to I81 north either via I77 north or I64 West. Switch over to I84 east in Pennsylvania. Plus at the moment avoid high density urban areas, even when traveling on interstates, might be best when planning a travel route.
ACZL
Explorer
Jun 03, 2020
Are there toll sections being built on I-26 & I-77? Was a lot of construction here (near cities) and heard they were making toll lanes.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jun 02, 2020
ferndaleflyer wrote:
I wonder about what Ford truck said. I got stopped on that I-95 EZ pass lane for speeding in the DP with a toad behind. Got a warning on the speed and nothing was said about the toad. Maybe I am lucky but I use it often and sometimes with my duelly and open car trailer. Maybe twice a month for over 15 years----and it used to be FREE and no HOV certain hours....Haven't been up in a month and it changes all the time. For the OP looks like this don't matter, you shouls go 95-26-77-81. Safe travels.

I pointed out the fact that there were other vehicles towing trailers while I was pulled over, no luck.. I am usually the first to admit if I was guilty, but this time was different. I was just north of Manasas.

I did a little digging and found this tidbit - rules of the express lanes

Permitted vehicles
All 2 axle passenger vehicles and motorcycles are permitted. Trucks and vanpools with 2 axles are also permitted. Buses aren’t subject to this restriction.
Non-permitted vehicles on the Express Lanes include any vehicles with greater than 2 axles and vehicles towing trailers or boats.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2020
I wonder about what Ford truck said. I got stopped on that I-95 EZ pass lane for speeding in the DP with a toad behind. Got a warning on the speed and nothing was said about the toad. Maybe I am lucky but I use it often and sometimes with my duelly and open car trailer. Maybe twice a month for over 15 years----and it used to be FREE and no HOV certain hours....Haven't been up in a month and it changes all the time. For the OP looks like this don't matter, you shouls go 95-26-77-81. Safe travels.
DrewE
Explorer II
Jun 02, 2020
Coming from Florida, I'd also bypass DC (and Baltimore and NYC) via I-26 to I-77 to I-81 to I-84, or maybe I-88 to I-90 at the end if that seemed better for wherever I was going in MA. It's a savings of much hassle and annoyance, and possibly also time if traffic in the cities on I-95 is bad when you happen to be going through. I also think I-81 is comparatively scenic.