Tibby2

My husband and I are thinking about a mid-October road trip from near DC to the Outer Banks, and I have read several posts on avoiding I-95 that offer a lot of detail on why to skip the interstate but not much detail on other routes. We'd like a scenic or interesting route and also read that we might find it by driving down the Delmarva peninsula. We don't mind an additional 2 or so hours. If we go this way, what kinds of things might we find? We'd want some place to eat and rest at least once on the way, and we like to photograph our trips. Any alternate routes you'd recommend? Thanks!

Waldo

Driving down the DelMarva peninsula is a nice, scenic, and leisurely trip. However, the absolute WORST trip in the world is driving down the Outer Banks roads, especially if you're driving down towards Hatteras. Going down through the sand dunes is like driving through hell.

Hellion

Aww, now, I don't mind driving through the dunes on the way to Hatteras, although it's definitely different. Sometimes the road can get pretty sandy, though, especially in stormy weather.

Did you also post this in the Maryland and Virginia forums? You should get plenty of advice on Virginia's Eastern Shore there, if you're coming down the Delmarva Peninsula. It's pretty flat there, but certainly more scenic than I-95, and the Bay Bridge is pretty neat.

Ackislander

Agree with Hellion.

If you don't like dunes, Waldo, why would you go to the Outer Banks? It's what they got.

Actually, the urbanized area in Virginia after crossing the Bay Bridge is lacking in charm, but it is much better than anything along 95, and in October, all this should be relatively uncrowded.

Birdie

Tibby, you'll want to take 50 over the Bay Bridge to 13. I don't know whether to recommend you go straight over to 13 or follow 50 all the way down to Salisbury and get on 13 there. I'm usually bypassing that area and getting on 113. Salisbury will have a lot of lights and strip malls but don't despair, most of 13 will be rural. Chincoteague isn't far off of 13 so you could stop there. We usually stop at Stingrays near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. It isn't picturesque (it's an Exxon lol) but has good seafood. There is a wildlife preserve near the CBBT on the left and a state park on the right. You'll have to pay a fee to get into the state park. You should also stop on the CBBT at the pier, especially if a naval ship is about to go through.

weimarer

95 is only bad going south in the PM. If you are leaving in the AM it is fine. I always take 17 south from Fredericksburg to Newport News. It is a sparsely used divided highway thru some very nice countryside. Some lights as you approach Newport News, but not a big deal, then 64 to 664, no traffic problems there. It takes me 4 hours to get across the 158 bridge to Kitty Hawk this way from Alexandria, VA. For me that is non-stop, but if you wanted to stop, Yorktown might be a good spot.

I personally would never go all the way out to Delmarva to get to the OB for any reason. It's not unpleasant (although there are a fair number of lights in VA on 13 which can be annoying if you hit them all), but it's also not especially scenic in my book. Pancake flat, just fields of soybean, potatoes, whatever else they grow out there, which will probably be bare and brown in October. Not worth the extra time at all to me. However, if you do, when you get to Eastville, which is maybe 20 minutes north of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel, turn right off 13 on Willow Oak Drive (it is one of maybe 3 lights for Eastville, the tiny town itself is just west of 13), go about 100 yards, and on your right will be the biggest willow oak tree you'll ever see. It's majestic. You can see it here, used to be a national champion until a slightly bigger one was measured.

http://www.fw.vt.edu/4h/bigtree/bigt...PrimaryKey=604

Birdie

"which will probably be bare and brown in October." Not true. That is the most beautiful time of the year there. But 17 is another good alternative. If you decide to go that route, I can give you advice on Yorktown. I'm on 17 there everyday.

IMO, if you've never been on the CBBT, the 13 route is worth it just to experience crossing it.

Waldo

Ackislander--You are right! I hate that drive through the dunes, but is there another way to get to lovely Ockracoke?

Rich

FWIW, we just returned from a trip from Delaware to Charleston driving 13/17 all the way. Very relaxing and scenic trip . . absolutley loved Charleston when we got there.

Ackislander

Well, Weimarer, you are right about 17. It passes down the center of the Northern Neck, and it is in very attractive and not very busy country. In fact, I have driven it all the way to Savannah, GA, but that is another story.

But your "pancake flat" is exotic to some of us who live in very different kinds of places!

Waldo, you have a great sense of humor!

The advantage here for the original poster is that you don't have to drive the same route each way! 17 down and 13 back, or vice versa, depending on what kinds of festivals, historic sites, or whatever you learn about en route!

Birdie

Ackislander makes a good point about a different route down and back. He's got his geography mixed up a bit, though. 17 goes down the Middle Peninsula. Tidewater Virginia has four peninsulas. I live on The Peninsula (the most southern), north of which is the Middle Peninsula, and then the Northern Neck. To the east of us in the Eastern Shore.

Tibby2

Thanks for all of the information! It will be really helpful planning the trip.

fshivone

weimarer ... thank you for the advice. We're driving down from DCA to OB and will hit Newport around 3pm. Does that bog down with rush hour and if it does is there any way of avoiding it.

I'm looking for speed more than scenery.

Thanks

fshivone

Also, I grew up in Delaware and while I think it's a pleasant drive going south to the bridge/tunnel I wouldn't go out of my way to make it.

This will be our first visit to Outer Banks. Open to suggestions.

obxgirl

If you're traveling Mon-Fri then you will certainly see plenty of congestion at that time on I64 in the vicinity of Newport News, Hampton and Norfolk. The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel headed east will be your major choke point. You should check traffic conditions in that area once you hit 64 south of Richmond. One alternative to backups at the HRBT will be I664 mentioned above which will take you across another bridge (Monitor Merrimac). My gauge is about a 1-1.5 mil backup at the HRBT due to volume congestion (not accident). That will move along and break up pretty quickly. There aren't many other good alternatives that don't require you making a change of plans earlier than your arrival at I64. You may see something similar on the weekends.

Also I wouldn't assume that leaving DCA to the OBX will be a breeze. Check traffic on I95 South. These days, there are routine backups due to volume between Springfield and Fredericksburg. There are also road works ongoing in that stretch which contribute to delays. Add an accident into the mix and it can become pretty grueling. Route 1 South can be some relief though it is a lot of stoplights. In addition to your GPS and smartphone, the FM station 103.5 does traffic on the 8s of the hour. I95 traffic conditions are always mentioned -- and they'll tell you whether or not it's worth seeking alternate routes.

And to seal the deal, if you are headed to the OBX soon, be aware that traffic on 158 over the Albemarle Sound is reduced to two lanes (one each direction) while one of the bridges is refurbished. There have been significant backups (an hour-ish) on weekends at the times most people arrive or leave for weekly rentals (2-4 pm arrival and 9-11 am departure). Hopefully that will diminish further into fall. No real alternative for getting to the OBX that doesn't take you significantly west and out of your way.

Autumn is a great time of year to visit the OBX. Once you get there. Ha.