Albany, New York to OBX
 

I am looking for the best way to get to the OBX (Salvo area) from Albany, NY. My family and I have traveled there before and always seem to hit the huge traffic jams. I'd like to avoid that if possible this year. Anyone have any ideas as to the fastest, but less congested route to take? Our rental is from Sat. - Sat. We usually break the trip up and leave on friday, but we still seem to hit the traffic. Would leaving in the afternoon on friday and driving through the night solve the traffic problems? What time does the traffic start backing up on 158/168? We usually take I81 thru PA, then 66 to 95, then 295 to 64, then 168 to 158 to 12. Is there a better way or time to travel to the OBX without the stress of traffic jams?! We need your help, please!:)

I'd exit 95 in Wilmington and take 13 down to VA Beach. Check out a map and see what you think. Rt. 13 is very rural, with a few towns that slow you down, but it's much better than sitting in traffic on a miserable interstate.

(It's high season; traffic will be bad from Friday noon until Sunday evening.)

I agree with Gekko. I lived in Newport News VA while stationed in Norfolk for almost 4 yr. If departing or returning to ORF, I always took 13. If from NN, then I still avoided I-95 - often did US301 to Delaware Memorial Bridge, getting to 301 either via 17 or 64/95

You probably take 88/81 to avoid tolls? I think the tolls are money well spent, and best to have EZPass.

Yes, roadways near obx will be filled all weekend long.

We just did this trip with my family from the Albany area over the July 4th Holiday...using this link:http://www.obxroadconnections.homestead.com/index.html (we drove from CT using them)

They left LATHAM at 8:15am on FRI.and overnighted in Norfolk (we had a Sat.rental check-in in Rodanthe)arriving Norfolk at 6:30pm. Bathroom breaks for 7 took longer than anticipated. Left Norfolk at 7am Sat. and we were over the bridge and at the visitor center at 8:50am...Traffic was steady, but no problems using the routes suggested. We especailly enjoyed the MD rest area talked about.

Thanks for the link disneynan. I have a few more questions for you if you see this. Since you drove during the day, how was the traffic on the NJ turnpike, the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel, and route 13? Do you remember at what times you were driving through these areas? Was there much construction on the routes you used in the link you sent me? We want to avoid as much traffic as possible, and were even thinking about starting out from albany midafternoon and driving halfway through the night. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your help :)

Sorry i missed your post...just follow the website instructions. They were very easy to follow and we had a great trip down..We had NO construction anywhere that I remember...NJ was just steady traffic, but nothing horrifc for a Holiday wkend., but we had left CT at 5:30am and the Albany group left at 8:15am..I think they had heavier traffic, but no jams. We stayed in touch the whole way down via cell phones. We were in the MD rest area that was suggested at 11am and had a lovely lunch break. The whole ride down DELMARVA was relaxing...we were able to stop for ice cream and had time even to stop at the pier on Chesapeake tunnel bridge. We were in Norfolk at 4:15pm so we even beat the rush hr traffic there. The Albany group arrived at 6:30, following right behind us...again, it was so less stressful than being on the highways. RT 13 was a breeze, a few lights here & there,but really just a nice straight run. I even emailed the man who put the directions up, to say how good they were along with all his hints. HAVE FUN! I know we sure did.

We have done this trip many times from Buffalo and have always travelled the day before our house rental to the Norfolk area, and then gotten up and left by 8:00 A.M. We have never hit traffic getting onto the Outer Banks leaving that early in the morning,and it gave us some nice time on the beach before our house was ready.

I also agree with Gekko. We live near Richmond VA, 3 wks ago went to Cape Cod using 301 north thru MD to 95, got on New Jersey Turnpike, got off and took the route over Tappan Zee bridge thru CT, RI, to Cape Cod. There is MAJOR construction going on I-95 by DC - affecting the Woodrow Wilson bridge that 95 goes over. There are some lane shut-downs on weekends. Check the Virginia DOT website. If you can avoid 95 thru DC do so, and by coming over Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel you will miss the inevitable Fri PM/ Sat AM slowdowns on I-64 between Richmond and Norfolk. There has been some minor road repair on I-64 on that route also, and my husband got stuck in traffic on 64 on his way home tonight!