E60Sim

Hi all

I'm flying to New York (Newark) on Thursday, and will be driving to Richmond, VA at 1 PM. I have heard that the I-95 could be pretty crowded in the DC area, and I'm considering taking the US 301 and thereby skip Baltimore and the DC area.

Any good hints?

I-95, 325 miles:


US301, 330 miles:

luigi524td

II don't recommend 301 around DC; Leaving Newark @1:00PM you're not going to encounter any real problems until you get to the DC Area at 4-5PM.
Better alternative for you is to use 95S to 895 for the Baltimore tunnel, to 295S (Balt-Wash Parkway), and then exit 1C for I-95/I-495 South toward Richmond. It's well marked.
That said, because Friday is a holiday (Veterans Day), there may be people starting the holiday weekend early ... only alternative is a helicopter!!

E60Sim

Thank you - helicopter is not an option. I hope the will upgrade me to a new BMW 5-series, but what are the odds..

I've read that the US 301 could be rather slow at times due the smaller roads and cities on the route.

Wilchwitz

After the Deleware Memorial Bridge get onto 301 and stay on it down the DelMarVa and across the Chesepeake Bay Bridge to Annapolis. But instead of heading for DC, take 301 south when it splits with 50. Stay on 301 through Waldorf, LaPlata and across the Potomac at Dahlgren into Virginia. Keep going past Fort A.P.Hill and you will rejoin I-95 about 30-40 miles north of Richmond. You don't want to be anywhere near DC on Friday afternoon. It's some of the worst traffic on the east coast. I have made this trip more times than I can count and this is the best way to avoid DC and Baltimore traffic.

Good luck on the drive. Where in Richomond are you heading?

luigi524td

Just realized Friday will be a holiday for government employees ... that'll take 2.5 million cars off the road.