Fredericksburg, VA
 

Headed to Fredericksburg late September. Has anyone stayed at Richard Johnston Inn? If so, would love feedback. <BR>Also, we will be driving from the Phila. area (I-95) on a Friday. Have not traveled this route recently. We must arrive in Fredericksburg no later than 5pm to attend wedding rehersal dinner. I am thinking we should pass Baltimore no later than 1:30pm to avoid DC/gridlock traffic. Would prefer opinions from locals and others who travel this route often. <BR>Thanks in advance!

I've only passed through Fredericksburg on the way to points south, so I know nothing about staying there, but I just thought I'd mention the great (low) gas prices there. We never gas up when leaving our northern D.C. suburbs because we know we will save 10-20 cents per gallon if we wait. Also, Friday traffic is particularly bad, and I think you need to be past Baltimore by 1:00 if you want to try to beat all the other people who are trying to beat the traffic!

Diane, <BR> <BR>Thanks for suggesting getting into Baltimore area by 1pm...we were uncertain.

Maybe Sept. will be better, but fair warning: I-95 south of Washington was gridlocked ALL THE WAY to F'burg from about 2 pm on as of last Friday. <BR>I strongly suggest looking for alternative. My preference is to take I95 to I885 through Balt. to I97 south - stay with it 'til it turns into Rte. 3 and then 301 all the way through Waldorf and La Plata across the "Nice" (sic) bridge into Virginia -- cut over to F'burg on Rte. 17 at the Ft. Hill intersection (look at a map). I guarantee that it'll save you much time and headache, even if it's a little busy through Waldorf (try to get through there before 3 pm). We always go this way to Richmond, no matter the time or day. <BR> <BR>Another, less wonderful alternative is to get off the Wash. Beltway ((I95) in Alexandria and take the G. W. Parkway down to its end, where you take 135 over to Rte. 1 South and stay on Rte. 1 to Fredericksburg. It's poky and doesn't allow you to avoid the Wilson Bridge, which backs up readily; but if you are very early it allows you to hop back onto I95 south of DC.

Sorry, foibles of Fodor's fonts -- Just noticed that in a sans-serif font like Ariel, I-95 can look like 195, etc. One more time: I-95 to Balt, I-885 to I-97 south, to 3, then 301 then 17. <BR> <BR>(OR GW Parkway to Rte. 135 to Rte. 1)

Cass, <BR> <BR>Many thanks for detailed directions for both routes you suggest. BTW...I realized you meant I-95!