I-295 Wash DC? vs Beltway?
 

Driving recently from Mt Vernon to BWI, I looked at map and see that I-295 runs thru eastern DC, connecting to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway as it meets the Beltway at Greenbelt.

How's traveling on I-295? It was a late Sunday afternoon when I made the trip. It sems a lot more direct than taking the Beltway, but I took what was "tried & true" rather than experimenting, as I had a flight to catch. Any comments?

I usually just take I-95. BW-Parkway/295 is two lanes each way, and no trucks. I-95 is 4-lanes each way. I find that while BW-Parkway is often less stressful to drive on, it's hard to go very fast. Traffic seem to flow at around 55-60 with moderate traffic.

On the other hand, traffic seem to flow at at least 65-70 on I-95, and if you drive like me, you can weave through traffic among the 4 lanes. So, if you're in a big hurry to catch your flight, I'd recommend I-95, even if it's a few miles longer.

rkkan,
The reason traffic only goes "50-60 mph" on the BW Pkway is because the speed limit is only 45 (and often 35) mph! So if you want to exceed 60 mph, please do everyone a favor and continue to use the the beltway instead.
rb,
I would always choose the parkway unless I was travelling on a weekaday during rush hour (when traffic comes to a complete stop). Even with the lower speed limit, it's much quicker.

I also second the BW Parkway. I was a huge fan of it when I lived in DC. I think the Beltway is a nightmare!!

Just another detail that others haven't mentioned. I believe from Mount Vernon 295 actually turns into Washington Street and runs right through Old Town Alexandria. You would hit traffic lights and probably a decent amount of traffic on a Sunday in the spring if the weather is nice.

However, I try to avoid the Beltway also, so I would probably do it.

The other option is to take 395 to 295, but this is a little complicated because they don't directly connect, so you actually have to take the Pennsylvania Ave. exit off of 395 to reach 295. From my house, it is the shortest way.

Karen

No, I think rb's talking about getting off I-95 and switch to I-295 after crossing the Wilson Bridge into Maryland. I-295 is a freeway there, and becomes MD295, and finally the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. There's no traffic light on that route.

Do not take I-395 into the city and hope to connect to I-295 north. It looks possible on most maps, but no, do not do it. You will get lost in some seedy neighborhood.

No, 295 runs through Anacostia, merging with the infamous Beltway a couple of hundred yards from the infamous Wilson Bridge, on the Maryland side. Washington Street/Route 1 is on the Virginia side of the bridge, first exit.

Thanks for the comments. Yes (rkkwan), I did cross WWilson Bridge, and while I as usual took the beltway to x22, and drove the BW Parkway from there, I wondered about I-295 from just east of WWilson Bridge (x 2?) up to where it meets the beltway at Greenbelt.

(I wasn't about to get adventuresome about driving into DC. The previous Thursday night I missed a turn coming from DCA w/ intentions to head towards Richmond. I ended up crossing Memorial Bridge, getting on some parkway (Rock Creek?), exiting near zoo, down Connecticut, turning but then getting to Georgetown Harbor .... by the time I FINALLY got on I-395 & passed DCA, I had 33 miles on the car! I will NEVER get in a car in the DC area without a DAMN good map in the car!)

Another vote for using I-295 to reach the BW Parkway (and technically isn't it the Gladys Noonan Spellman Parkway?).