D.C. route tips
 

We are going to be heading from Dulles to Point Lookout State Park in Scotland Maryland on a Friday afternoon in June. My driving experience in the DC area is nil, so can anyone offer a decent driving route from the airport that at least gets us clear of the metro area? We are from Chicago and are not afraid of interstates, surface streets, etc. I've looked on Google maps but their results looked a little wonky to me.

There's no easy way on a Friday afternoon with DC rush hour. I would take the Dulles Access Road (no toll) into Rt 495, the Washington Beltway South, across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and then take Rt 5 South. That's Exit 7 on the Beltway (95/495).

Sorry, but there are other ways, but no easy way at that time of the day.

Which way did google route you? ((b))

Due to geography, there is no avoiding the DC metro area between Dulles airport and Point Lookout in St. Mary's County.

That said, your best route is Interstate 66 east to I-495 (the beltway), then take the Beltway over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, after you cross the bridge take the Rt. 210 south, then take Rt. 228 east toward Waldorf, once 228 crosses Rt. 301 it becomes Rt. 5 business south and later just Rt. 5 south. Stay on Rt. 5 south all the way to Scotland.

While this is the best route, even this route will be UGLY from the Beltway all the way to Rt. 228 (especially crossing the bridge). If at all possible, try to hit the Beltway (I-495) by 3:00 pm. Otherwise, tough it out. All other routes are even worse.

Budman is right. Take the DULLES ACCESS ROAD from the airport to the Beltway. Sorry about that.

I do think that Rt. 210 to Rt. 228 to Rt. 5 will be quicker than just picking up Rt. 5 from the Beltway. Rt. 5 from the Beltway to Waldorf is a crawl if not totally stopped.

We should start on this odyssey from the airport by about 1pm.

Google looks like it is cutting us across downtown DC--here's the link to what I saw: http://www.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=

Which seems a little odd.

But like I said we are from Chicago--a little rush hour traffic doesn't scare us (ever been on the Kennedy at 4pm?) ;)

You'll be fine at 1:00 pm. Take either Budman's or my route. Cutting through downtown DC is both longer and more time.

I looked at the google directions that take you through DC and I disagree that it would take more time. It would likely take the same or possibly less time since it avoids Tysons, Springfield and the WW Bridge, all choke point nightmares.

I wouldn't recommend it, however, to someone unfamilar with DC, even a good urban driver. It goes through areas of the city which tourists don't normally visit and the signage is sometimes confusing.

I wouldn't cut thru DC unless you know where you are going as it's not well marked.

If you are familiar with the area, I would route you down the Dulles Access Road to 495 to 66 to 110, across the 14th St Bridge and down the Southwest Freeway, across the South Capitol Street Bridge and up the Suitland Parkway, yada, yada, yada.

Your best bet would be to take either mine or bardo1's route. :-) ((b))

Gee Budman, that's what I said.

Yes you did!!! Just some reinforcement. :-) ((b))