What's the best way around DC going North on 95

[kick-ass-bob]

to get to Wilmington DE?

I used Mapquest and RandMacnally.com and got different routes.
One goes south and uses 295, the other goes north around the city and basically stays on I-95 (and 3 or 495).

TIA

[Squatch]

1. Where are you starting from?

[short bus president]

2. beltway.

Just follow the 95 signs. Screw the BalWash Pkwy, too. I made that trip not too long ago. Nice drive, all aside from the DC bit. But if you hit it midday, you should be OK.

[Burma Jones]

3. Amtrak

Failing that, 95 North to US 301 (south of Fredericksburg, VA) and take that up to 495, and then around to 95 North.

[underpants]

4. 95 to Carmel/Bowling Green (Exit #114?) to 207(?) East to 301

that will take you around the east side of DC and to Baltimore after that you are on your own.

I think it is route 207-whatever it is BE CAREFUL half the population of Caroline county seems to be cops.

301 is great but there are a lot of stop lights once you get into the La Platta area of MAryland. You might get help up there a bit but anything is better than 95 North from Richmond to DC.

Also follow all the signs until you see route 3 take that NOT the 301 10 mile loop. That will take you to BWI airport and back to 95 (I think). Hopefully I gave you enough info that you can figure out what I mean on a map.

ON EDIT- It only took me 2 1/2 hours to get to BWI the last time my wife and I flew out on vacation. No I wasn't flying either. Seriously be careful in Caroline county.

IF you do go 95 take the beltway WEST not east as everyone is directed.

[Squatch]

5. Your profile shows Raleigh...I assume that's where you're starting.

Take 95 N to highway 58 in VA. Go east on 58 to I-64.

Take I-64 W, then 13 north. Take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and drive up the eastern shore.

It takes me exactly 3.5 hours to get to Wilmington (we go there often) from Chesapeake.

Avoid 95 north of Richmond.

[underpants]

6. How much is the bridge tunnel now?

That is a great route idea.

[Squatch]

10. 12 bucks one way

1/2 price for the return trip within 24 hours.

[kick-ass-bob]

9. It is, thanks.

[Squatch]

11. What is?

[kick-ass-bob]

12. my starting point.

this looks like a cool route! Thanks!

[Squatch]

13. It's very quick...but one word of advice...

try not to speed too much on 13 on the Eastern Shore (from Cape Charles to Pocomoke, MD) I've gotten 2 speeding tickets this year...although I was hauling ass both times. Speed limit is 55 until north of Pocomoke, then goes up to 65.

Take the route 1 tollway from Dover to I-95. The toll on that road is 2 bucks and speed limit is 65 mph, though most people are doing about 75.

[madinmaryland]

7. Not many choices around DC

You can either follow 95 north (which is also 495) or take 95 north to 295, and take 295 til it intersects with 95/495 and follow the signs for 95 north. There is no easy way around DC. 295 is a little shorter by about 15 miles.

Avoid DC between 7:00 and 10:00am and 3:30pm and 7:00pm

Good luck!

[sbj405]

8. Depends on the time of day.

Be careful of the speed cameras in the District if you take 295. I'd say first choice would be 295. Second choice would be going around the beltway the southern route. But it's pretty much 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Traffic here sucks even at times when you think it wouldn't.

[LibertyLover]

14. Getting around DC

Stay on 95 and take the Beltway (495)around DC to pick up 95 N on the northern side in Maryland. It's the most direct route. 301, while scenic, is slow and fairly heavily traveled at most times of the day by local traffic. By the time you take 495 to 270 to 70 east to the Baltimore Beltway (295) to pick up 95 N you've wasted a lot of time and gas. Just make sure to get to the DC Beltway no earlier than 9:30 or 10 am and no later than 2:30 or 3 pm.

Where 95 N hits the DC Beltway (495)in Virginia south of DC, there is a lot of road construction going on and signage and lanes can be very confusing. If you get to 495 early enough, you can take it either way and get up to the 95 N exit in Maryland. Because of where I live in Maryland, I take the section that goes over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge - otherwise I'm driving miles out of my way, but from the Virginia side where 95 meets 495 up to the Maryland side where 95N branches off from 495, it is almost equidistant in mileage to go east or west.

[kick-ass-bob]

16. Looks like it will be in the evening

that we would get to the DC area.
When does it die down on Fridays?

[madinmaryland]

17. After 7:30-8:00 would probably be ok.

Also, listen to AM1500 (WTOP), they do traffic reports every 10 minutes on the "8's".

[Midlodemocrat]

15. You could also take 301 around DC

...ends somewhere near Baltimore I believe.