Bypass Baltimore
 

Driving north from Georgia to Massachusetts on I-95. Want to bypass Baltimore. Looks as if I-695 would be best. Where do you get on it? Also, what is the toll for Kennedy Memorial Highway? Glad to be back with Fodor!

Just stay on 95.

If you are traveling on I-95 N, you never have to go through any Baltimore streets. As djkbooks said, stay on I-95 and take one of the tunnels under Baltimore harbor -- you stay on the interstate the whole time.

The toll for the Kennedy Memorial Highway North (in Maryland) was $4.00 last time I drove it. There is no toll driving South. The tunnel costs $1.00 each way. (Unless tolls have risen in the past few months.) There are, of course, other tolls for the distance that you are driving.

Stay on I-95 thru the Ft McHenry Tunnel. It's all highway except for stopping to pay the $1.00 toll.

Welcome to the NE Corridor -- land of the toll roads.

$4.00 for the Kennedy Memorial Hwy going North, free coming South.

$2.00 for the Delaware Turnpike each way.

Delaware Memorial Bridge is free going North, but $3.00 coming South.

NJ Turnpike - about $3.00 to Exit 11.

Garden State Parkway: Nickle-dime you to death.

Yada, Yada, Yada.

If the reason you want to bypass Baltimore is because you want to avoid the traffic jams on I-95 in the Baltimore area, then unfortunately I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway) won't do you much good because it is jam packed at the same hours as I-95 is. Using 695 would only add more time to your arduous journey.

If however you need to access I-695 for some reason, you pick up I-695 just pass the exit for I-895 (Harbor Tunnel) via an exit on the LEFT, and it puts you back on I-95 via an exit on the LEFT just prior to White Marsh Blvd. Drive time around I-695 w/o traffic is 30 minutes, easily an hour or more with traffic

The Delaware Memorial Bridge costs less if you have an EZ-Pass transponder on your vehicle. I cannot remember if the DE Turnpike is too, or not.

I've found this link to be helpful when planning to drive that route:

http://www.i95coalition.org/

The Delaware Memorial Bridge is the same with/without EZ pass ($3.00).

The Delaware Turnpike is $2.00. With EZ Pass, it is $1.25.

Being from Georgia, it makes no sense to get EZ pass just for the trip to Mass.

Thanks to all. We're now working on Interstate Itineraries -- driving as many Interstates as we can. When we get to Massachusetts, we then head west on I-90 to South Dakota, then south on I-29 and to Texas where we live.

Thank you, Budman, I guess I had that backazwards. I didn't know if EZPass was used in GA or not. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it if you had no other use, but I've found it sure as heck great for avoiding the long lines at the "cash only" booths at various toll facilities. In fact, the time savings a lot more important than the toll $ savings. It can be used on Mass Pike and NYS Thruway (both I-90).

rb_travelerxATyahoo -- Hey, I get a little confused myself. I use EZ Pass throughout NJ and Del/Md. Convenient and saves on long lines at the toll booth.