GETTING THROUGH THE BELTWAY AT RUSH HOUR
 

Driving from NYC to Florida... & wIll be hitting the DC area at exactly the afternoon rush hour... should I take the outer loop or the inner loop?

also i'm leaving this Friday (6/25/10) at 12:00 - 12:30 out of the Lincoln Tunnel

....just to give you an idea of my timing

Take the outer loop. It will still be bad, but not nearly s bad as the inner lop that time of day.

"i'm leaving this Friday (6/25/10) at 12:00 - 12:30 out of the Lincoln Tunnel

....just to give you an idea of my timing"

Well in that case, don't count on being in DC by rush hour. You might be closer to Philly than to DC,

Well in that case, don't count on being in DC by rush hour. You might be closer to Philly than to DC,
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LOL - i know i know, this is a terrible time to head in that direction: a Friday, Summertime, in the afternoon - I should have my head examined. I'd like to make Petersburg, but i'll settle on Fredricksburg in time for a steak and a beer before bed

Southbound outer loop (down the Virginia side) is probably better that time of day than the southbound inner loop (the Maryland side). You will avoid the bottleneck heading east on 50 toward the Eastern Shore and the beach, and you will avoid having to cross the Wilson bridge.

interesting tejana, thanks

i'm torn - i always go inner loop southbound, but i have yet to experience the beltway in the late afternoon on a friday

In the PM the outer loop coming from MD into VA and on past Tysons Corner, I-66, etc is usually very bad, the inner loop coming into VA from MD on the WW Bridge is not (at least past Rte 50). Few people commute from VA to PG County, it's all the other way. But your problem is not really that, it is 95 South between Springfield 95/495 interchange and Fredericksburg. You'll want to avoid it entirely. Best is to get on the BW Parkway (295) outside Baltimore, take it all the way, then continue on I-295 South to it's end near the Wilson Bridge, then continue on MD 210 South (Indian Head Hwy) towards Indian Head, cutting over on MD 227 to LaPlata. (Look for the white water tower on your left after about 10 miles and turn left there on 227 over to laPlata). It will put you on 301 south after all the bad traffic and lights along 301 thru Waldord/LaPlata. Then down 301 to Richmond. There may be a bit of traffic south on 210, but that should be it. Southbound BW Parkway should be fine unless there is a wreck, the heavy traffic is all heading north and I-295 southbound is not a major commuter route.

How many people in the car? If you have 3 people you will be able to use the HOV lanes on 395 and 95 south to Potomac Mills, but otherwise weimarer is right - 95 south is not pretty (and on Friday afternoon you not only have the regular commuter traffic, you have the traffic heading to Virginia Beach and the outer banks). However, I've never found that taking an alternate route like 210 and 301 saves any real time. How about just staying on the BW Parkway and 295 south through DC, then you will meet up with the inner loop just before the bridge, and then take your chances on 95 south? Yes, it will be busy, but it is definitely the shortest route with the highest speed limit.

Outer. Try to be on the Beltway by 3PM.

Try to be on the Beltway by 3PM.
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that's not happening. I hope i'm crossing the Del Mem Bridge by then

How about just staying on the BW Parkway and 295 south through DC, then you will meet up with the inner loop just before the bridge, and then take your chances on 95 south?
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I like this idea - I've done the BW Parkway before (visiting DC). Sounds like a plan, and I do have 3 people (2 adults and a child) so the HOV on 95 looks good to me.

Is it Friday yet? I want to get out of here

You are making a huge mistake, as you will find out.

Do not take the outer loop towards Tysons Corner. There are two major construction projects that are in progress (HOT lanes and metro to Dulles) and they have had major impacts on traffic both on I-495 on the west side and near the intersection with I66. Traffic is not pretty most evening rush hours on that side of town.

I would vote for Rt 301 and avoid rush hour traffic near DC. Weimarer offered some good advice - though 3pm is sometimes not early enough on Fridays to beat the traffic.

I agree with those saying avoid the outer loop at all costs. Its just stop and go and will take you forever to get around to I-95.

I completely agree with Weimarer that <<But your problem is not really that [Beltway traffic], it is 95 South between Springfield 95/495 interchange and Fredericksburg.>> Though I can't comment on Weimarer's proposed alternate routing, almost anything is bound to be better than going through the piece of 95 south of the Beltway (which is where this stretch is) on a Friday afternoon.

Just three days ago, I began a trip between Philly and Florida. I can't emphasize enought -- do ***NOT*** go through the Beltway at ANY time if you can avoid it. Just don't. It's crowded with crazy drivers even at its best times; at rush hour you'll lose any amount time you foolishly think you'll be saving by taking the interstate.

When you get to Baltimore, take the I-895 Tunnel instead of the I-95 Tunnel. After going through the tunnel, get off on I-97 (you'll probably see signs for Richmond at this point). Once on I-97, exit onto US Hiway 301 and head south. You'll go across a bridge into Virginia, then continue on to I-95.

To get around Richmond and Petersburg, take I-295 -- the signs will show you that it bypasses the entire city.

You absolutely do not want to be on 95 south of DC on a Friday afternoon/evening. Cutting over to 301 is probably your best bet. If you want to try it, I would wait to leave NYC until later in the evening.

You are making a huge mistake, as you will find out.
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LOL -- i'm not afraid. I'm thinking just take 95 to the beltway, then take the inner loop to 295 and pick it up again at the bridge.. yea 95 south i'll have to deal with but I can ride the HOV lanes

You may well find yourself LOL'ing, but it will not be from humor, but because you have gone insane. I'm in a charitable mood, so despite your LOL at my benevolent attempts to help you avoid 2-3 hours of hell, I'll try to save you one last time! The HOV lanes will only be of marginal help, and even that is not a given. First, there will probably be a long stall approaching the ramp at Springfield from 495/95 to 95 S several miles before you even get to the HOV lanes. Then, you will come to a complete standstill on the HOV lanes a couple miles or more before they end and merge back. From that point, you will then have 25+ miles of stop and go crawl the entire way to Fredericksburg. Mostly stop, very little go. The worst of the traffic is just before and after the HOV lanes end, all the way across the Rappahannock River past Rte 3 in Fredericksburg, which is the first point the speed limit signs will actually be anything more than taunting pranksters.

That's it-I will leave you to your fate!

weimarer you are awesome! check back to this thread on Saturday night (or Monday) and i'll let you all know how it went

From the intersection of 95, 495, and 395 to Quantico and beyond is a horrible nightmare in every month except perhaps the dead of winter. And that is without accidents.

Either follow weimarer's advice OR get off the road somewhere around Baltimore from 3 until 7. Go to a movie, get dinner, take a hike, then get back on the road.

I drive a great deal from Richmond to Boston. It is an easy one day trip northbound as long as I hit the GW or Tappan Zee by 3. Driving south, if I hit the Beltway at 3, I get to Richmond about 7:30 -- 4 1/2 hours for what should be a 2 1/2 hour drive.

Interesting

I can't comment on all the alternate routes given, but I can echo the remarks of all those saying I-95 is a nightmare esp on a Friday. Even on days other than a Friday traffic is awful on I-95. We have done the Rte 301 to and from Richmond and it's much more pleasureable then being stuck on I-95. If you like barbeque there are a couple good places u can stop around the Waldof, MD. I would give one of the alternative routes a try or delay your trip a few hours so u miss DC rush hour.

Echoing the sentiments that DC to Fredericksburg is its own special circle of hell, esp. on a summer Friday.

If I'm not leaving DC by 2:30 pm, then I do what Ackislander does...chill somewhere until 7 or 7:30 and then hit the road.

Great BBQ in Fredericksburg, btw. Allmans.

i'd like to buy a round of beers for the entire room, you people rule!!

That's it-I will leave you to your fate!

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AWESOME!! Yes, from the end of the Beltway back onto 95 South all the way to Fredricksburg was MURDER!!!!

Never do that at rush hour on a Friday in the summer

weimarer was right