Rt. 301 in MD & VA

[VTLee]

We are heading to Florida from Vermont in 10 days. We usually go down on I-81 as I-95 is too hectic. Looking at the weather forecast there may be ice and snow in the mountains so we will probably take the coastal route and we have not been on 301 in 20 years. Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now? How is the pavement? We will be towing an 18ft. travel trailer. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[JimFromJersey]

I realize the OP is probably past it all by now but thought I'd add a little bit, hopefully it adds some value.

1. I-95 between the Susquehanna River and Richmond VA is almost completely done being widened, repaved, rebuilt and or repaired. Between Baltimore and DC there are 8 or so lanes in both directions, so barring a major traffic mishap or bad weather, you should be able to slide right down with no problems, especially at non-peak times. Between 10pm and 4am you'll feel like you're 60 miles west of Amarillo. South of DC, there are EZ-Pass lanes and plenty of room pretty much all the way to Richmond.

2. Between Wilmington and Annapolis on US-301/50, there are about three traffic lights (around Middletown) and then half a dozen or so in Queenstown. The only really busy stretch of the road is south of Bowie, as mentioned, after it splits from US-50. Waldorf, La Plata, Bel Alton can be stop-and-go on US 301. Once over the Potomac and headed towards Bowling Green and then Richmond, it's not bad at all.

So the bottom line is, all other things being equal, 301 is good for a change of scenery, and for my money is still more "relaxing" from Wilmington to Richmond, but is probably not any quicker or easier, now that I-95 has improved, and US 301 has gotten more built up.

[johnwalkerpa1]

VTLee wrote:
We are heading to Florida from Vermont in 10 days. We usually go down on I-81 as I-95 is too hectic. Looking at the weather forecast there may be ice and snow in the mountains so we will probably take the coastal route and we have not been on 301 in 20 years. Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now? How is the pavement? We will be towing an 18ft. travel trailer. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

If your plans are 10 days out, I wouldn't worry about snow on 81.. The next two days might be rough but by the weekend temperatures will be well into spring like conditions. That's the nice thing about March snow in the mid Atlantic states.....it can dump a lot but it never lasts long.

[VTLee]

Thanks for the responses. It looks like I-81 will be out as the forecast for this week and next is not good for the mountains. As 301 doesn't sound like a fun trip I guess we will do I-95 at night. Seems like the best option.

[DelawareCamper]

take 95,, just plan the time around baltimore and washington, we travel mostly at night ourselves when heading to Florida

[Veebyes]

Used that route a number of times. Not bad though the Waldorf area can get you bogged down with lights & traffic. Once clear of that it has always been mostly clear sailing.

If concerned about the weather, get on 13 & go all the way down to the CBBT on that. Watch for wind on the CBBT. 20 miles of bridge is novel. Sort of like being at sea.

[kohldad]

In 10 days all of the snow will be off the roads and you won't have any problems traveling down I81. Odds are, the snow will be gone from the roads the next day if not sooner in MD and VA because it has been so warm.

I wouldn't worry about fighting the traffic on I95 or 301.

[Ziggy_the_BB]

Although I no longer live in DC, I would travel to Florida many times a year. After many trials, I found that leaving DC (or passing through) at 4 AM would eliminate ALL traffic and I would miss rush hour in the DC area as well as Richmond (not too bad, but bad enough). It actually became a relaxed (if you can imagine that) trip. Since I usually would drive through to NE Florida in 12-13 hrs, I also avoided rush hour in Jacksonville.

When returning I would leave NE Florida 10-11 AM and be back in DC for the evening news and again avoiding rush hour in all cities.

BTW, I quit doing this 5 years ago and I always used I-95.

Paul

[ford_truck_guy]

Been going south with my trailers for 30 years...

was in the 301 camp every trip, as 95 was horrid! Things have changed for me, 301 has become over populated and can be a nightmare at the wrong times, at least on the portions just below Bowie..

With most of the 95 construction being completed, of at least not as bad, I have found that properly planning my trips south around rush hour has been most successful!

[fitznj]

301 is not what it used to be. A ton of lights especially around Waldorf; Travelling though Bowie can be a nightmare if you catch it at the wrong time.

I've switched over to 113/13 - Delmarva and the Bay Bridge; once you get south of Dover? - there seems to be no traffic and the roads are in good condition.

[Lantley]

Busskipper wrote:

VTLee wrote:
We are heading to Florida from Vermont in 10 days. We usually go down on I-81 as I-95 is too hectic. Looking at the weather forecast there may be ice and snow in the mountains so we will probably take the coastal route and we have not been on 301 in 20 years. Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now? How is the pavement? We will be towing an 18ft. travel trailer. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

IMHO Yes Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

If it snows on 301 you will be hours - time your trip and just take 95.

JMHO,

BusSkipper is correct if you want to avoid 95 take 13 to 17 as mentioned above

[Busskipper]

VTLee wrote:
We are heading to Florida from Vermont in 10 days. We usually go down on I-81 as I-95 is too hectic. Looking at the weather forecast there may be ice and snow in the mountains so we will probably take the coastal route and we have not been on 301 in 20 years. Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now? How is the pavement? We will be towing an 18ft. travel trailer. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

IMHO Yes Is it too slow with many traffic lights and a lot of development now. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

If it snows on 301 you will be hours - time your trip and just take 95.

JMHO,

[trailertraveler]

We prefer to take US-113/13 through the Delmarva area to the Bay Bridge Tunnel and then US-17 to I-95 near the Georgia border. There are many sections of four lane and bypasses of most congested high population areas.

[Edwonbass]

301 through MD can be pretty slow. There are a lot of lights. As long as it's not rush hour it flows pretty good but there is all of the stop and start of the lights. I am actually going to be on 81 for a stretch tomorrow for work. I hope it's not too crazy.