rick06

I'm going to the Glassboro NJ area from Columbia SC. The map services send me straight up I95 but I'm concerned about traffic in the DC area. An alternative is I77-I81 to the Pa turnpike. It's longer but is it probably better ??

vjpblovesitaly

What day(s) are you talking about? That weekend all of Rt. 95 will be hell from DC north at least.

rick06

I'll leave the Mon before thanksgiving, and probably return Sat/Sun after. I just wonder how bad it may be.

vjpblovesitaly

Sat. or Sunday will be a nightmare most likely on Rt. 95. I go from NJ to MD (near DC border). Generally takes me 3 hours. 2 years ago it took 5 hours from New Hope, Pa (also a 3 hour trip roughly) on the Sunday.

Monday should be fine.

gail

Monday hsould be OK - if people are going to take the whole weekoff, they usually leave over the weekend. Sunday after Thanksgiving is genearlly awful or worse. Sat would be better - earlier in the day the better.

Gretchen

I have driven to the Philadelphia area from Charlotte a number of times, and I'd do the 77/81 route.

hikrchick

I've driven home back to northern NJ from the DC area (Bethesda) on Saturday a.m. after Thanksgiving. It takes about 4 hours if you leave right after breakfast, or before 10 a.m.....

persimmondeb

I-81 is always better, but shoots you awfully far west, (and potentially into snow). 95 is direct, but often horrible, and probably will be extremely so on Thanksgiving weekend, especially north of Richmond.
I agree with the other posters that Monday shouldn't be too, too bad. Sunday is going to be awful, but it is a Sunday, so if you get on the road early enough (think 5 a.m.), you should be south of D.C. before everyone else is awake. This is what we usually do when driving south on I-95, and it works like a charm, but requires a certain amount of discipline and a loud alarm clock.