travel to dc from nyc
 

I am leaving ny at 930amon friday october 7 heading to dc. I was wondering if I will hit alot of traffic. Also what tunnel is faster mchenry or the other one..

Maybe you will. Hopefully not. I always take the "other one." I think it's a little faster. I like getting off 95 for a few miles.

Someone else asked the same question about the tunnel on TA today (but going north I think) and it was recommended that the poster "Listen to a local radio station like 1090 AM for traffic reports."

I believe there is also an electric sign (chalkboard whatever they are called) which might have info if one of the tunnels is backed up

I've gone to DC through Baltimore several times, and my recommended route is:

I-495 around Wilmington, rather than I-95 through it.
I-895 at Exit 61 (ie, the Harbor Tunnel).
Hiway 295 at Exit 3 (ie, the Washington-Baltimore Parkway). This highway goes all the way to the Beltway, and trucks are not allowed on it.

However, listen to traffic reports and watch the signs: traffic can occur on any highway at any time.

Well, guess what? You will get TO Washington just in time for the start of the rush hour. DO NOT take the BW Parkway. Why? The speed limit is lower than on I-95; the road is narrower (two lanes south instead of four). And there are plenty of trucks on it..just not semis unless you count those rare US Mail numbers. 95 can be crazy but don't waste your time on the Parkway.

Depending on your departure point in ny, the drive should be about five hours (if you do not stop for a while to eat lunch). We use 895/Harbor Tunnel and even when it's busy, the traffic moves right along.

If we are heading in to the Mall/Smithsonian area of dc, we always take 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway to Route 50, unless we hear traffic reports that convince us otherwise. I like the somewhat slower pace of the parkway and I like not sharing the road with huge trucks. Route 50 is direct, urban, but sometimes congested.

If our destination is Bethesda/Rockville/northeast dc, we'll pick up 495 from 295.

northwest dc