Driving advice DC to VA Beach
 

I am headed out of town right after work today (5:30 or so) to head to VA Beach for the weekend. I know, I'm crazy...many people have already told me so. I will have two other passengers in the car with me, so we can get on HOV on 95. My question is, I have been given 2 other alternate routes...other than 95 to 64. One is to take 95 to 295 to 17; the other is to take 95 to Route 17. Anyone ever done either of these routes and have any feedback/advice? Thanks.

I've taken both. On weekends, I-64 gets quite busy, especially east-bound. Most of it between Richmond & NewportNews is 2 lanes each direction, and it doesn't have the very wide open space to both sides as most interstates do (but it is prettier with all the nearby trees), so it's not very "forgiving" in event of a collision.

Rt 17 will have a number of towns with the associated traffic lights, lower speed limits. I'd be more likely to do Rt 17, as the high-speed tailgating one encounters on I-64 drives me crazy. I would get to US-17 by heading E just south of Fredericksburg .. I think the town is "Front Royal"

no, that's Port Royal.

I knew it was * Royal. There was a "Hornes" (similar to the old "Stuckeys" at that town that I'm sure must have "won" an award for America's Filthiest Bathroom" and I think they kept it for years.

I would take 95 south to US 17 which is down near Massaponax. Take 17 all the way to Yorktown (passing thru Port Royal, Tappahannock) where you can either get on I-64 or stay on 17 thru Newport News to I-664 depending when your driving thru the area I guess.

Btw, when passing thru Port Royal at the intersection of Us 301, ignore the gas prices at the old gas station, those prices haven't been changed in over 5 years. I remember zipping up to those pumps once thinking, WOW!

ie.. the station is closed :-P

Bluestructure, I'll bet your station is the same as the Hornes. On the S.E. corner of the Rt 17/301 intersection??

yeah your right :-P