We are travelling south on Friday afternoon from Philly down to OBX - and very excited for our vacation. However - we're trying to avoid the traffic in the DC area. Any suggestions?? Thank you, in advance, for your help!!

Rush hour on the beltway starts about 6am to roughly 10am but traffic stays heavy thrughout the day.

Short of leaving Philly before 3am you will face our traffic.

Try traffic.com for updates that can save you hours.
http://www.traffic.com/controller/home

This route avoids Balt/DC/Richmond and Williamsburg, all potential back-up spots.

In Delaware get on 13 south in Dover. Take this all the way down the DEMARVA penninsula to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel/Norfolk, VA where you are just a hop-skip and a jump to the OBX.

Mapquest lists Dover, DE to Norfolk,VA at just under 4 hours this way. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel is also very beautiful with the bridge skimming the water.

We've taken 301 down but haven't had such good luck on avoiding major delays.

I agree - Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Except... you'll still hit DC area drivers heading to Ocean City MD (every Friday in the summer)!

Thank you all for your help! I think I'm going to try the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and hope not to get too caught up in the rest of the beach traffic.

I second bardo's second of tmagyari' s suggestion regarding Route 13 to the big Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Everyone agrees, rt 13 to the Bay Bridge, even Mapquest and googlemaps. Do be aware that the lower part of the trip will have some stop lights and there is a toll on the Bay Bridge. If you have an easy pass transponder you can use it on the bridge and it will save time waiting there.