cjhy12

I am traveling from the Philadelphia area to raleigh on the 25th...the hope is that we leave around 1...im pushing for 12 noon, what time does the traffic get heavy in the DC/Richmond area before these holidays? Would it be better to leave before 1, and if leaving at 1 what time do you think is reasonable to expect to be in Raleigh? Thanks.

Dukey

Realistically, rush hour around here notmally STARTS about 2:30 PM and can last until after 7:00 PM.

There will be a lot of traffic going East on Route 50 to the beach which really shouldn't affect you all that much.

Personally I would leave before noon but realize that may not be possible.

Now, be aware that undoubtedly somebody who also lives here will post that the rush hour doesn't start that early...

Please drive safely and take your time.

DoctorCarrie

I live here, and have for years, and I find that rush hour traffic before holidays seems to start earlier and earlier each year! I would say anytime after 2 PM, on a holiday Friday, you're going to run into some pretty heavy volume. Your plan would put you here at around 3:30 - 4 (depending on whether you run into traffic at the Philly end) which is major rush hour time on a non-holiday Friday. It's normally around 4 hours, give or take, from DC to Raleigh - I'd add a couple of hours of traffic time to your calculations. Best of luck, Carrie

HKP

STRONGLY STRONGLY STRONGLY urge you to plan your trip to avoid the DC-Richmond stint on I-95. What should be about a 7 hr. trip could easily take you 10 -- would be true unless you left Philly before 10 am.

Have an alternative route that adds a few miles, and at midnight with no traffic would add about 30 min. to the trip. But if you're traveling on a holiday weekend, could save you -- "literally" -- hours.

Have had good luck departing I 95 in Baltimore and following I-97 to 301. Yes, you're going through some towns and malls and lights in Maryland, but if you can get through there in the early afternoon, it shouldn't be too awful. Stay on 301 in Virginia and don't be tempted to follow the signs on 207 back to I-95 -- stay on 301 until I 295. It's still going to be jammed if you're there between 4 and 7.

Once you're on I-85 toward Raleigh, it will be ok, but make sure you take 147 ("Durham expressway) to Raleigh, NOT I-40.

And the earlier you can leave, the happier everyone will be. Leaving at 12-1 will get you into the heaviest traffic, I'm afraid.

Dukey

Oh, and one other thing...speeding in Virginia. The studs will definitely be out in force this weekend and the segment of I-95 south of the Beltway to the I-295 junction can be like a NASCAR speedway on the best days...please be careful.

HKP

Dukey, normally I'd agree with you re: Springfield to Richmond as a potential speed trap but not on a summer or holiday weekend. I've been on it when we averaged 15 mph.

But speaking of Staties and speed traps:

Be aware on I-85: the counties on each side of the Va/NC are notorious for handing out speeding tickets, and they certainly will be out next weekend. SO be especially aware of their lurking places -- there are a lot of double-U crossovers in the otherwise wooded median strip down that stretch of I 85, and they love to wait there where you can't see them in the trees, in addition to the more traditional lurking places on on-ramps, esp. if they come down a hill above you.

HKP

(EDIT HKP: 'on each side of the Va/NC state line....')

Dukey

HKP..yes I would agree somewhat although our experiences have been slow slow slow to Fredricksburg and then NASCAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ncgrrl

I-85 in Warren and Vance counties (first two counties in NC along I-85) have horrible, and I do mean horrible paving patch jobs. Yikes it's bad.

You could exit I-85 at US 1 and take that into Raleigh. If you're going more towards the airport stay on I-85 until highway 70 (there will be a sign saying RDU airport). 70 isn't an interstate, expect lights. From 70, there should be a sign or two for airport or I-40. I don't go this way so I'm not familiar with the signs.