DC/Northern VA to Charleston, SC
 

I'm researching driving route options from the DC/Northern Virginia area (near Dulles Airport) to Charleston, SC. I'm not sure if I-95 is the best way to go since generally it has a lot of traffic and there can be major delays. I'd like to take two days for the drive and I'm considering taking VA 29 to Greensboro, NC and spending a night there before continuing on to Charleston via 73/74/95/26. Is there a better route that anyone would recommend? Is I-95 as congested and delay prone in NC/SC as it is in VA?

Sometimes I-95 can be the fastest route but if there is a problem it can add hours to a drive so I'm wondering if a smaller road that generally flows well is worth the extra time.

Thanks for any advice!

Take I 81 to I 77 and then I 26 to Charleston. Nice drive.

I've done all those drives. My folks live in greensboro so I often take that 29 to Greensboro route. It's not quick, but it's scenic and there's not much traffic. You could stop at Monticello on the way. I usually go the back way from Greensboro but it's complicated. That route you mentioned will work but you'll still have about 90 miles of 95.

Sorry to jump in but we will be staying in Williamsburg in Sept-visiting friends in Kitty Hawk-I know that drive is not too far. From Kitty Hawk we need to return car to Charleston Airport before we fly hom. Any idea the time to drive from KH to Charleston Airport-Thanks in advance Chris

Sure. It's about 7 hours. Be careful of your speed through NC's towns on the way to 95. ( Ask me how I know, lol)
Once you get to 95 you can go 7 miles over the speed limit if you have an NC or SC tag. Any others get pulled.

Another possibility for the DC route is I95 south to I40. Take that to Wilmington and then take Route 17 along the coast to Charleston. Wilmington would be a good stop for that route. 17 is 4 lane all the way, a little congested south of MB for 15 miles, and after that relatively uncrowded. You could also just take a drive through Georgetown --nice Revollutionary War era homes. The 81-77-26 route is 'way out of the way, and BORING!! REally boring.

Gretchen, I agree. Except I hate MB traffic! I love our seniors but in both lanes on a cell phone going 2 miles an hour? Ack!

I think the worst part is from 501 south for about 10 miles, and it is usually moving--just a lot of stop lights. And the left lane driving is SO irritating. BUT I do think that is the best way--and more scenic.

Thanks, everyone. 95 would be the most direct route but I worry about big traffic delays. I know in Virginia it can get pretty bad and there are not a lot of options to bail to another route. That's why I was thinking about taking 29 south to Greensboro and spending the night there. Am I making too much of the 95 issue?

Did you read my post???? It will be a bit congested, but once south of DC and then Richmond, it will be better. If you go the 29 route you are going a good bit west. Suck it up, go south on 95 and then to the coast to Wilmington.

I did read it, Gretcchen, but it wasn't clear to me if you were saying that 95 isn't too bad once you get past Richmond. I've never taken it past Richmond to know what that next stretch is like. I just know that between DC and Richmond there can be hours long delays that make it take just as long as a more out of the way route. I guess like anything you just take your chances. Thanks for the advice - I'm probably making too much of my fear of sitting in traffic for hours.

It's not bad at all after Richmond. I think if you leave in the morning you avoid those awful backups during evening rush hour. If it gets backed up you can always exit and cut across to 29.

Also, when you get near Richmond on 95S, signs will direct you to 295 around the city. Skip that and just stay on 95. It will save you time and mileage.