Driving from Cleveland to Outer Banks
 

We're driving from Cleveland, OH to OBX. All info tells me to head south thru PA and MD on I-70, then take 270 around D.C. I've been to D.C. - was hoping to avoid the traffic!! Has anyone out there done this trip? Is this the best route? What was your approx. driving time? Thanks!

Hi Boater,<BR>We just returned from the OBX 3 weeks ago! From Illinois it took 18 hrs. and we followed that route there. It got a little busy but I thought it was even worse if you're traveling through Richmond area on I-95 in the daytime. Pretty slow. No way to avoid it though. Try to plan your driving times accordingly. On the way there we stopped overnite once we made it through the D.C. area before Richmond. On Saturday we left at 11 a.m. and didn't reach the OBX til 8 p.m.! We thought it would take 5 hrs. tops. Lots of bumper to bumper around Virginia Beach! On the way back we left Cape Hatteras at 5a.m. and beat all of that mess. We drove straight through and hit home at 11 pm. Excellent vacation, just wish it was a little closer! I hope this helped. Let me know if you need any more info.

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Boater,<BR><BR>I live in the VA Beach area and my parents live in northern Indiana, so I've taken the route many times that you're referring to (takes us 14-15 hours). I estimate that it will take you about that amount of time, maybe a bit longer. We go farther west and you'll be going past where we live, and the drive from VA Beach area to the Outer Banks has taken us up to 4 hours. Hubby and I feel the route you're taking is the best and most direct way, but we ALWAYS get stuck in traffic at certain points:<BR><BR>On the D.C. Beltway<BR>At the connector with I-95<BR>At certain spots on the 495<BR>On I-64 from about the Williamsburg area through to the VA Beach area<BR><BR>I think the only way to avoid the traffic is to be going through that stretch at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, but we haven't resorted to that yet! ;-)<BR><BR>All I can say is have plenty of patience, pray the air conditioner in your vehicle works, and when you're stuck in traffic, daydream about the great time you'll have at the Outer Banks! :-)<BR><BR>If this will be your first time, know that, as with the Indiana Toll road and the Ohio turnpike, there are LOTS of rest stops and call boxes all along the Pennsylvania turnpike. <BR><BR>If you're staying on the north end of the Outer Banks (Nags Head, etc.) and like German food and/or beer, go to the Weeping Radish restaurant in Manteo. Great food and the beer is made right there. <BR><BR>Enjoy your vacation.

I've done that trip a couple of times over the past four years. In addition to beltway traffic around DC, you will effectively be in "rush hour" traffic every Saturday during the summer, if traveling from the DC direction down to the outer banks. Droves of people are trying to maximize their beach stay by arriving early in the day while others are trying to get home. (rental check-in and check-out coincide on the same day) Fairly recent road expansion has in my opinion, improved travel time, but it is still awful.<BR><BR>Assuming your outer banks stay is of the traditional kind, (a week), an option you might want to consider is to find a Friday and following Saturday night motel at the outer banks. Arrive a day early and leave a day late. Other than that, there is no way I know of to avoid the traffic.

Boater, my family has been going to OBX nearly every year since 1980. We've seen & done it all. Here's a tip that seems to work. The traffic on Saturday is HORRIBLE. My family leaves early on Friday (~6AM) and drives down to Cheasapeake (sp??). It's about as far as you can go without crossing the bridge. They get a nice dinner, swim in a pool and get a good nights rest. On Saturday, they leave ~8AM or so. You'll avoid quite a bit of traffic. The downside is that you arrive early and won't be able to check in, but at least you're there and can do some sightseeing and/or swimming. Have a great time.