Well, Big Russ's suggestion may sound good on the surface, but you wouldn't find me wanting to fly OVER or NEAR Washington DC in a helicopter!

Oh my, we always took 301 unless it was a weekend and very early or very late. I am so over that drive and the potholes. Just avoid rush hour, better to wait it out.

ACK, that is the distinction - eastern Beltway > western. Other than that - a lot of grin and bear it.

None of these help with Virginia, of course, though my son found something that takes you from 95 toward Dulles then lets you get back toward 495 maybe somewhere near 270. But he want driving, so he doesn't remember the details.

That sounds like the route that takes you on the western trip around the I495 Beltway. It's not a bad choice (approx equidistant to the eastern route) and you eventually hook up with I95 South at Springfield. It includes the option for the vaguely complicated 495 Expressway from Tysons to Springfield, a pay for trip of variable cost depending on the traffic load.

The difficulty with any of the routes within the city and to the east & west of it is that they are all heavily used commuter corridors subject to daily congestion at rush hour which occupies much of the 12 hours between 7 and 7.

Ack, I won't litter this thread with more suggestions but if you are interested some through the city routes, we can start another thread.

Vince, if you have a helicopter, use it.

obx: Neo talked me off it.

Skip rush hour. I leave my house in Loudoun County between 5:30 and 6 am when I drive to central Florida several times a year. I took this trip a couple weeks ago and encountered zero traffic both ways. I go thru Richmond rather than around- there's a cool old building there I like to see. Anyway, I always do the drive on a weekday and am fine. Hope this helps!

Here's another idea to muddy the water. Take 66 out of DC to 29 down to Greensboro. It's not an interstate, so it's slower. But it's a beautiful drive. From GSO there are several ways you can go. Let me know if it interests you and I will do my best to give you specifics.

Here you go Hobbert:

http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/RVM

Merry Christmas!!