best time to drive between DC and NY
 

Hi, I'm planning to take a bus from DC to NY this Friday. The bus leaves at 2 p.m.

Can someone with experience tell me if you think I'll hit a lot of traffic? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the premium to take Amtrak.

Also, I have three options for a return bus on Sunday - one departs at 10, the other 11:30, the third at 2. how will traffic be along the route at these times? All else equal, I'd like to take either the 11:30 or 2 pm bus.

Thanks!

Yes, a bus leaving DC at 2 pm on Friday is likely to hit heavy traffic on the way to NYC. Yuo would be better off leaving either Thursday after 6 pm or early Friday am - at about 7 am or so.

On Sunday afternoon you are likely to hit beach traffic in Jersey.

(Sorry almost anytime on a summer weekend you can expect traffic between the two cities considering the many tens of thousands of people going away for the weekend, ending or starting weekly beach rentals - or just heading to the shore for the day.)

Since the bus goes up I-95 I would go ahead and take any of the departures. These bus drivers are quite adept and I am not really convinced there is going to be that much "beach traffic" on the NJ Tpke headed back into the city; at least not enough to make some major difference given the five lanes northbound.

Thanks, nytraveler and dukey! Dukey, I think there is some confusion though - the departures I mentioned are for my return trip to DC on Sunday, so I'm going southbound. Does that change your reply, or do you still think it's fine?

That drive is totally unpredictable -- hit an accident and you could get hung up for an hour or so.
Leaving DC @ 2 puts u in the NYC area at rush hour. Fridays are esp bad.
Your returns on Sunday sound equal.