% of people told us that this article helped them. If it were I, I would just settle down for a long dinner break somewhere in Maryland and pick up again after 6:30 or 7:00. Driving directions, live traffic & road conditions updates - Waze Use an app like Google Maps orCitymapperto check arrival times and bus stop locations. U.S. 301 is a road familiar to earlier generations of American travelers. I usually find that the traffic on 95 in the early afternoon is going in the other direction (North). Take I-395 north, exit to I-295 south, take exit #2, Bolling AFB, Malcolm X Blvd. 6pm on a Friday, I don't see it as too much of a problem. Blowing through a red light or stop sign will easily get you a trip to the hospital and a traffic ticket. Downtown near the monuments and landmarks will be a little rough but livable, with some roads potentially shut down if there is a parade or demonstration going on. Stay on Memorial Parkway and follow signs to the 14th Street Bridge, go across the Bridge and Take I-395N, exit to I-295 south, take exit #2, Bolling AFB, Malcolm X Blvd. NJ -FL car directions to avoid Washington, DC - Fodor's Route 301 is another way to avoid Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Exit the toll road and follow directions to I-495 south to Richmond, remain on I-495 towards Baltimore (I-495 circles the city). You can cut back to 95 if you so desire or continue down Del-Mar-VA peninsula. Running full speed on this route (not guaranteed), it will take you 6+ hours for the Philly-Richmond stretch. Therefore, opt to leave an hour earlier than usual. Unless it is Sat, then you will hit beach traffic on 95S all the way to Richmond. How to Avoid Traffic Around Washington, D.C, http://www.citylab.com/commute/2012/05/how-avoid-worst-traffic-jams-most-congested-us-cities/2077/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/05/15/its-summer-travel-season-heres-how-to-avoid-highway-headaches/, http://www.mapon.com/en/blog/2015/04/8-tips-to-help-you-avoid-traffic-jams, http://www.popsci.com/article/cars/how-avoid-traffic-jams. This month, certain AAA Car Care Centers are giving free inspections, including to non-members. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. About 53% above the national average with housing costs accounting for much of the index. I'll stay on 301 through Maryland before eventually hopping onto I-97. Take US 15 South through MD, into Northern VA. South of I-66, you will pick up US 17, which will then take you back east towards Fredericksburg. In Washington, an enormous number of people work for the Federal government. This is what I'm planning, but I'm getting off around Fredericksburg and heading down 218 to the east which runs into 301 right before the Potomac River. Major rental car companies have desks at the airports as well as around town. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Just make sure you get it 8 hours before you use it so it is in effect. Try taking route 17 south at Exit 126 and take it to I-64. You can also try taking a bus, but keep in mind busses will generally be as affected by traffic as cars. The 11th Wing moved to its previous home, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, D.C. on 12 June 2020. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13575280', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars go over the Wilson Bridge. Plan travel wisely, particularly on busy roads like Interstate 95 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, AAA says. From the Airport take the Washington-Dulles Access Toll Road--which begins at Dulles Airport--from this point there are two different options: Directions from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). Directions from Dulles International Airport. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. A slight shorter alternative would be, just North of. US Capitol & Library of Congress visit clearance needed? If it is after Labor Day, the summer travel traffic will not be as heavy, but 95 South is always miserable between 3ish and 8ish between DC and F'burg on a Friday. No worry about getting loss as you don't have to get on any roads you get off of the highway and it's right there. Reagan National Airport is the most convenient to the base. Rush hour in DC lasts from approximately 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. During rush hour, it's best to avoid I-95 and I-70 completely. This route is 36 miles longer than taking I-95 all the way up to Philadelphia via Washington DC and Baltimore, but you'd avoid Richmond, Washington DC and Baltimore altogether. Then, just over the Potomac, take 3 into Fredericksburg. To ride the Metro, you need a SmarTrip card, which you can buy at the station, download to your mobile Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet or order before you leave home. References. Construction of the Capital Beltway began in 1955 as part of the Interstate Highway System that was created in the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Relax, put on some good music and you will get through. It is more interesting than straight down 95 and we often stop at Chincoteague to see the ponies and walk the beach. Should I stay on 301 and go through Annapolis, crossing over the Chesapeake and head up to Wilmington/Philly that way? Driving from Washington DC to Seattle - Best route? The first section of the highway opened in 1961, and the highway was completed in 1964. If their were decent alternatives, the commuters would be there. Road Trip directions for Oregon and Washington Trip-Help! I don't have a problem with 81 but I have driven a lot of interstates. Heres how the pass works. Proper Metrorail Etiquette---What should I know before using Metrorail? Dinner here steals the show. What about the Springfield to Woodbridge and sometimes further south. Contact LRS Transportation at 202-284-3037/3038 for route 11 for JBAB. I'm thinking that would make our arrival time to DC about 6 PM or so. Disillusioned by the idea of the space becoming a waste dump, they wanted to do something different and more imaginative. Usually, the morning commute is difficult in major cities. If you need help navigating D.C.s rich history and accessible suburbs, sign in at our website and create your own custom search. Maps at the entrance of each station tellpassengers how much a one-way ride costs. You can also try taking main roads over the highways on days where traffic is particularly congested. If you are visiting from out of town and have an E-ZPass from another area, you can use these express lanes. As for the truck traffic, yeah, it can get heavy, but it's only scary at night and in bad weather. If you're trying to get to DC's Chesapeake Expressway/I-464/Route 17, there is an alternative route you can take instead of going through major highways. Some real estate firms do not participate in IDX and their listings do not appear on this website. Alternatively, you may use, Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House, an IHG Hotel, InterContinental the Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel, Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - Natl Mall, an IHG Hotel. Turn on the radio and find a calm, relaxing station. Check out the Office of Disability Rights to learn more or download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel Online Resources. Washington, DC, prides itself on being one of the most accessible places in the country. Check it out. At the stoplight make a right hand turn onto Bolling AFB. Hi. When driving, you want to be relaxed enough to focus on the road. Love the coast and beach towns, but not sure about the bridges /tunnels north of Virginia. Is this fine? The best alternative if you really want to avoid the DC (and Baltimore) area may be to simply stay east of the Chesapeake the entire way and use US13 most of the way--including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel--to meet up with I-95 just north of the NC border. You can cross into Maryland over the Potomac River Bridge and then continue along 301 until you hit I-97. On a good traffic day, going I-95 could be as much as 90 minutes faster than going through PA. On a bad traffic day, going this route could be 30 or even 60 minutes faster than I-95, and far less stressful. I actually think you should just stick to 95 South. Located in Rock Creek Park, Beach Drive is a spectacularly beautiful drive. Follow the Dulles Access Toll Road until it ends on Route 66, follow 66E to exit 75S (Memorial Parkway). 1930 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. Smartrip physical card for DC Metro purchase and activation, how to getReagan National (DCA) to Dulles I(AID), Safe Places To Stay In The Washington DC Area. Knowing the terminology is the start of knowing how to navigate this circular road. Be extra careful of the cars though. If you don't mind driving around tractor trailers that would be your route. Full of frustrated drivers. The DC Circulatoris another bus option that'sgreat for tourists because it connects major cultural hubs with six routes across the capital. Thankfully, traffic in DC is nowhere near as bad as Bangkok, Thailand where drivers spend an average of 64 hours a year waiting to move. Find a way to take your mind off the situation. Rush hour in DC lasts from approximately 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. During rush hour, its best to avoid I-95 and I-70 completely. Or, alternatively, are there any roads we should seek to avoid at all cost because they are always jammed? interesteddad August 12, 2012, 1:44pm #14. The best time to be on that stretch of road going south is early morning, 5-8 am. 4th of July Traffic 2021: DC-Area Travel Times, Routes to Avoid - NBC4 The highway passes through rural and urban areas including several cities and towns. What about the Springfield to Woodbridge and sometimes further south. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Dont forget the Waze app which updates traffic in real-time, including speed traps, car wrecks, and lane closures. How To Avoid I-95/295/495 - Washington DC Forum - Tripadvisor This route goes from Florida to Delaware and is a reliable option for drivers commuting from Fredericksburg and D.C. Time-conscious commuters also remember to check the days events before heading out the door. Consequently, it was decided that installation management and support at the base would transfer from the US Navy to the Air Force. Take the Ferry to Lewes Delaware. Move over if emergency vehicles approach. 1. On Monday, travel before 1 p.m. to beat crowds. If you see traffic getting across the Wilson Bridge and you think it may be bad the way down to Fredericksburg, get off and go over to the National Harbor in Maryland. Get answers to your questions about Washington DC.