Drving to VA Beach from MA without going through NYC
 

I was wondering if anyone could give me the quickest way to Virginia Beach from Massachusetts without having to go through New York City. Also if you can get me around Philly and Dc it would be great as well.

Well - it's easy to do without going through NYC. But the only way to go without going through the New York Metro area is to go hundreds of miles out of your way.

So - I'll assume you want to avoid the city itself - but keep in mind that anyplace within 30 miles or so of the city can easily have very bad traffic between 7 to 9/10 am and 4 to 6/7pm.

Assuming you cross the Hudson early in the day (by 4pm in the afternoon this route will also be hell) your best bet is to use the Tappan Zee Bridge. Take this to the Palisades Parkway down into New Jersey - where you can pick up the Jersey Turnpike going south. This will also avoid Philly and take you into Maryland.

Someone else will have to give you info on avoiding DC.

If you are not in a hurry, in Delaware take route 13 south through the Delmarva Peninsula . You would then take the Chesapeke Bay Bridge Tunnel into VA Beach.

Do you happen to know I good affordable place to stay say 6 hours or so into the drive from MAss?

Take Mass Pike to Route 84, thru Hartford. Continue on Rte 84 to Rte 684, 287, over Tappanzee Bridge. Follow signs to Garden State Parkway and then to New Jersey Turnpike.

You will go thru neither NYC or Philadelphia. I will leave it to others to route you around DC

freetrip.com takes you down route 13 through then peninsula as stated above. It would put you in Dover, DE in just over six hours. If you check off hotels at freetrip, you will find them listed also. I would suggest you folllow Gail's routing into Delaware, and then get on 13 south to avoid NYC and DC.

Once you are across the Delaware Memorial Bridge, you will go a few miles before you see signs for Route 1. We always get off here because it bypasses Dover. You will pick up Route 13 just before the airforce base - 113 continues on but 13 branches off. I think Budman likes to stay on 113 but I don't remember where he hooks back up to 13. There is an old post here about it somewhere.

gail has the route right. IMO palisades pkwy although pretty, moves slower the connection from tappanzee to the gsp is pretty smooth. gsp to turnpike too.

even tho it isn't highway i think you have to go thru delaware on 13. 95 is Sooooo out of the way. 13 will have less traffic than 1 . most certainly take 13/1 toll road for as long as you can, but when it splits, stick with 13 the whole way. no question. and yes the bridge tunnel is expensive, but cheap when you think of the miles you save and the gas you don't have to buy!

gail is right.