Question on Rt 13/Chesapeake Bay vs Inland to Cape Hatteras

[nspsycho]

Hi all!

Heading from New England down to Cape Hatteras KOA next week.. Mapquest has the shortest route heading over to Maryland coast and taking Route 13 down over the Chesapeake bay.

Is that route best for a 40' 5th wheel RV or would we be better off staying on the interstate 95 and cutting over once we are Richmond VA, and heading thru Newport News? Its more mileage, but Interstate hwy?

I'm not concerned with the tighter roads of the coastal route, I'm more concerned with beach traffic, road speed, delays, etc.

I'm guessing the coastal route is a lot more scenic, but I don't want to spend 8 hours in traffic needlessly lol..

Any advice would be welcome! Thanks in advance!

[nspsycho]

Thank you all so much for the great help, it is sincerely appreciated! Have a great summer all!

[Crabbypatty]

We did the exact same trip and stayed at Toms Cove in Chincoteague for the layover (8hrs from LI) then made Camp Hatteras the next day. If you can pull one more hour then stay at Cherrystone which is 11 miles north of the bridge. Perhaps our most favorite cg. Great Trip and you will enjoy it. Just before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is Sting Rays for great ribs. In OBX at Hatteras there was a restaurant called Teachers I had my first ever grilled wahoo sandwich delicious. This is a trip that we will repeat someday.

PS we did 13 and like that route.

[JimFromJersey]

trailertraveler wrote:
You can stay on the NJ turnpike to the Delaware Memorial Bridge as mentioned. If you stay on I-295 to I-95 South, the exit for DE-1 is not far. This eliminates the drive on US-13 through New Castle. I-295 merges into the left lanes of I-95 and you have to move over to the right within a few miles so it can be a little nerve wracking if traffic is really heavy.

Another option would be to switch from the NJ Turnpike to the Garden State Parkway. Take the Parkway to the end and take the Cape May-Lewis Ferry to De. From the ferry take US-9 to DE-1 South to DE-24 West to US-113 and then continue South on US-113.

What he said. I forgot about the DE1 south exit off I-95S since I never go that way - up until recently, DelDot was rebuilding the first exit on I-95 and traffic was horrendous but it's more or less fixed now. It is a tad easier than the US 13 S route through New Castle that I mentioned. And the CM/Lewes Ferry is also an option, but be aware that the ransom for a long RV can be....breathtaking... 🙂

(If you decide on the ferry, do so up in North Jersey so you can get on the GSP. There's simply no easy way to go from around here, where I am at the end of the NJTPk and the DelMem Bridge, down to Cape May.)

[trailertraveler]

nspsycho wrote:
Thank you so much everyone for the great responses! So if I am heading down the Jersey Turnpike from New York, where do you recommend cutting off to head over towards the Bay?

You can stay on the NJ turnpike to the Delaware Memorial Bridge as mentioned. If you stay on I-295 to I-95 South, the exit for DE-1 is not far. This eliminates the drive on US-13 through New Castle. I-295 merges into the left lanes of I-95 and you have to move over to the right within a few miles so it can be a little nerve wracking if traffic is really heavy.

Another option would be to switch from the NJ Turnpike to the Garden State Parkway. Take the Parkway to the end and take the Cape May-Lewis Ferry to De. From the ferry take US-9 to DE-1 South to DE-24 West to US-113 and then continue South on US-113.

[JimFromJersey]

jeomelia wrote:
Be aware that I495 around Wilmington De is closed it may be advisable to use I295 and stay on the Jersey side of the river, it crosses the river below Wilmington.

Agreed - just stay on the NJ Turnpike all the way down, it ends a mile from the river, then cross the Del Mem Bridge. Stay to the RIGHT at the tolls, then take the ramps on the right for US 13 SOUTH. There's a bit of congestion right there around New Castle, but once you're down about three miles, it opens right up. Follow the signs for DELAWARE Rt 1 SOUTH to Dover. South of Dover, look for 113, which branches off to the south-east a bit, but you lose all the traffic lights on 13 between Dover and Salisbury, MD. 113 hooks back up with 13 in Pokomoke City, and then it's smooth sailing all the way to Norfolk.

Very nice drive, very little hassle, just watch your speed a bit coming into some of those little towns like Exmore and Painter and Temperance - it never fails that the one damn traffic light for 16 miles in any direction turns RED when you're 100 feet away from it...

Whatever you do, stay away from I-95.

[jeomelia]

Be aware that I495 around Wilmington De is closed it may be advisable to use I295 and stay on the Jersey side of the river, it crosses the river below Wilmington.

[nspsycho]

Thank you so much everyone for the great responses! So if I am heading down the Jersey Turnpike from New York, where do you recommend cutting off to head over towards the Bay?

[jeomelia]

Using the Bay Tunnel Bridge and traveling the up the DelMarVa is one of our favorite routes we usually take Del 1 to Dover and then US 113 S to US 13 and spend the night at the parking lot at the N end of the bridge/tunnel.
If pulling with a diesel the is a Royal Farms truck stop at the US 113 Del 16

[2hams]

In our experience, you will encounter more traffic headaches on I95 and I64.

[NorfolkCounty]

17 is my choice when traveling between DC and and Tidewater. Follow 17 out of Fredericksburg, to 64 East in Newport News, then 664 tunnel to Rt 168 bypass, 168 into NC and across the Wright Bros Bridge to NC 12 South

[demoon]

X2 what trailertraveler said. We make the trip every year to visit family on the Outer Banks.

[trailertraveler]

I much prefer US-13 or US-17 to I-95. I try to avoid Baltimore and Washington whenever possible. Both US-13 and US-17 are good roads. I think US-17 may have a little more four lane and coming South from the Bay Bridge Tunnel, you can get off the interstate faster as the US-17 exit is first. Depending on how you are coming, US-113 is a better choice than US-13 through Southern Delaware and Maryland and rejoins US-13 at Pocomoke City.