Route from Washington PA to Outer Banks

don't know how the left turn lane/s? and light are synched since I have not used them since they modified the turn. I sort of thought that they reduced the left turn to only one lane? and they added the new turn because it was always a horrible mess with all of the traffic using the two turning lanes so they improved the intersection. it was needed.
the new turn is well marked, signs posted that for 17 East use right lane, etc.
bumpy

The route is marked well, or as good as most places, and you should have no problem with a GPS and do a google maps just to have an idea before you leave.
I see the jug handle type loop over Rt29 now that Bumpyroad mentioned it, but did not know it was there. That intersection at Opal is an easy left with signs marking Rt 17 south as there is a light with the right 2 lanes going south on 29 and the left 2 lanes with turning arrow for left turns to Rt 17 south.
I just clicked on google maps & clicked earth & zoomed in for that intersection. It shows several cars & big trucks lined up in the 2 left turning lanes to make the left there at the intersection & scrolling down to the loop, no one is on it or the road leading back to Rt 17, so I am not the only one that does or did not know about it. Next time I will probably try it.
Not sure why the state of Va thought they needed the loop. That's Bumpy's tax dollars at work.
The only other place to pay attention is around Warrington. Probably 15 years ago you had to take 17 thru town. Now they have the bypass around. Just don't follow Business 17 as it goes thru town. They both get you to the same place, only an easier drive around than thru town.

Bumpyroad wrote:

Whiskey River wrote:

I-66E to 17
Follow 17 around Warrenton to I95S @ Fredericksburg(17 is also 4 lane and an easy drive)

When going south from Warrenton on 17, stay in the right lane thru the intersection/light at OPAL and about 1/4 mile south there will be a right turn swinging back over 29 for east bound 17. initially they had a sign posted to ignore GPS directions.
bumpy

Thanks for the heads up !

Whiskey River wrote:

I-66E to 17
Follow 17 around Warrenton to I95S @ Fredericksburg(17 is also 4 lane and an easy drive)

When going south from Warrenton on 17, stay in the right lane thru the intersection/light at OPAL and about 1/4 mile south there will be a right turn swinging back over 29 for east bound 17. initially they had a sign posted to ignore GPS directions.
bumpy

Whiskey River Thanks for your response!

I remember driving the DC Beltway in a car and how nerve racking that was!

Are these roads clearly marked? I have a Built in Navigation System in my truck but I always like to know the route in my mind.

I have done this trip several times to the outer banks and Virginia beach. I have a 38' 5th wheel.
I-79S to I68E
I68E to 522S @ Hancock, MD
522S to Winchester (522 is 2 lane thru Berkeley Springs, WVA to the Va line) but very easy to drive. Couple of lights but basically a straight drive. 522 is 4 lane with a divider from the VA state line to Winchester.
Take 37 around Winchester to I81S 37 is also 4 lane.
I-81S to I66E
I-66E to 17
Follow 17 around Warrenton to I95S @ Fredericksburg(17 is also 4 lane and an easy drive)
I95S to I295 to I64E
Do not take 70 to 270 into DC then 495 around DC to 95. There will be 6 lanes of traffic wall to wall and you will end up in the far left lane, needing to get in the far right lane to take 495 around and have less than 2 miles to do it, and no one will let you in. Been there & done that...........

I'd do I-79 to I-68 to I-70 to I-81 to I-66 to va 17 to I-95 at Fredericksburg.
bumpy

We did the part of that route from Fredricksburg to Rodanthe in May. No real problems except a stretch of I64 that was a little rough. Before you enter the tunnel in Norfolk, you'll need to pull into a weigh station type area where a trooper verifies that your propane is off.

We stayed at Hatteras KOA and other than poor WiFi, it was great.