NJ to FL I-95 or I-81,77,26,95?

[Sugar Bear]

Driving to FL this week, taken I-95 from central NJ all the way, way too many times. Traffic from NJ to Richmond can be absurd.

Playing w/ Mapquest and found that PA TPK to I-81 to I-77 to I-26 to I-95 is one hour and 100 miles longer. This sounds worth it, anyone done it?

Bad news due to unpopular (I lost ) vote, 85 300TD sits home w/288K. 93 300E goes, heard the airbag ABS argument ad nauseum.

[elau]

Your best bet is still I-95S. PA Turnpike is not any more friendlier. And I-81, forget it. It is choke full of 18 wheelers. One more hour/100 miles on a trip like that will feel like eternity. The only pain is actually the DC Beltway and Wilson Bridge. Depends on time of day, you may still be able to breeze through the Beltway. But do prepare for about 15 minutes delay crossing the Wilson Bridge even on a good day. Once across, you can pretty much fly.

You can bypass Richmond by going I-295. It takes you outside of the city so you don't have to fight the city traffic. But Richmond isn't that big so I usually don't bother.

[wbain5280]

There is a lot of truck traffic on I-81 in Va, lots of State Troopers as well. I-81 in Va is two lanes and very congested.

If you use I-95 from Baltimore south through Fredrickburg Va, you run into commuter traffic and that can be hell.

You might consider taking the Lewes(sp?) Ferry and Rt-301 south to Richmond and I-95 from there. There is a Richmond Bypass, I-295 which is a really nice ride.

Just a thought.

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

I have completed the journey from central NJ to central Florida 20 times over. I-95 is the best way.

[elau]

Originally Posted by wbain5280

You might consider taking the Lewes(sp?) Ferry and Rt-301 south to Richmond and I-95 from there.

That's a long way. Plus Rt 301 is a secondary highway with traffic lights. Good chance to get stuck behind a farm truck as well.

Trip like that, best stick to the highway and drive it like you stole it.

[mzsmbs]

i've driven most of that i95 and what a freaking nighmare but try to hit the major cities late at night or at least out of rush hour.... couple hours after isn't bad.. 9-10a, 2-3p, 7-8p

[MS Fowler]

The ONLY time in the last 20 years that I haven't seen the Washington Beltway ( I 495) crowded and slow was between 2:30 and 3:30 am on my way to inspect a 5 am concrete pour in Manassas, VA.
You just have to accept it and plan for it taking a little longer.

As for I 81......The most diabolical radar trap I ever saw was set up on 81 just north of Roanoke (?) about 15 years ago. For about 5 miles they had radar units just out of sight of each other all along the road. I watched as people "thought" they had safely passed the radar cop and resumed their normal speed only to be caught by the next one-- over and over, and over.... As I was not caught in this, I found it quite amusing.

[winner.111]

I grew up in N. jersey and always took 95,hating it & the traffic all the way.especially around DC. moved upstate NY near 81,so it was more logical for me.I find much less traffic on 81 because its more inland and away from the 95 corridor.its a little longer but you make better time.Why do the others think all the truckers use it,its their business to know the best way around.anyway, if youd rather look at trees go 81,if you like traffic more go 95.but with this cold weather,just go.i'm doing it myself in a few weeks.good luck. mike

[Michael K]

For your trip that starts in NJ, I-95 is the best way to go. Two things will make your trip much more enjoyable:

1 - day of the week and time that you go. Weekday and the earlier in the day the better. That route on a weekend sucks period. That route from about after lunch until about dark sucks. Get your driving done early in the day.

2-Speed pass. If you don't have it, you'll hit five toll back ups in NJ, DE and MD.

Now if you were going from the DC area to upstate NY or Mass, I-81 is the way to go. Once you move from MD into VA, though, I-81 does suck. It's like 30% 18 wheelers and, bc of all the hills, their speed ranges from 40 to 90 mph, drives me nuts.

As a side note, why aren't you flying?

[Brian Carlton]

I travel this route reasonably oftern and have a specific question for those who are intimately familiar with Washington, DC:

When travelling northbound on I-95 coming from Richmond, I have bypassed the Wilson bridge and also avoided all of the circuitous outer loop on I-95 by taking I-395 right into the heart of downtown Washington.

If I do it right, and switch to I-295, I can end up on Pennsylvania Avenue. Then it's just 1/4 of a mile east to the northbound entrance to the Parkway. Head northbound on the parkway and you are home free to Baltimore and the Harbor Tunnel.

Now, heading southbound, and trying to do the same thing. I have tried to find a similar exit to accomplish the same route in reverse and have failed every time. The only thing that I could ever do was to take Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound and find a way to make a U-turn (no easy task), and then pick up I-395 to do this same route in reverse. I lost a good 7 minutes doing the U-turn deal.

So, in summary:

Does anyone know how to go from the Parkway, southbound, to I-395 southbound??????

TIA

[MineMapper]

You found it already. You have to take Penn Ave Eastbound, and either pull an illegal U at the first light, or go to the second and do an elongated U around a patch of grass. Just did it myself yesterday. Lovely neighbourhood, isn't it.

To the original poster, I would take I95, and be extremely carefull in my timing. Either leave NJ around 5 and hit Baltimore and DC beltways after their rush has ended, or leave around 9 am, to squeak through in the middle of the day. On reaching DC, consider going West on the Beltway to avoid the Wilson Bridge.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by MineMapper

You found it already. You have to take Penn Ave Eastbound, and either pull an illegal U at the first light, or go to the second and do an elongated U around a patch of grass. Just did it myself yesterday. Lovely neighbourhood, isn't it.

Thanks. I thought that there must be a better way. How stupid can you be to have no exits for downtown Washington freeways when coming down the Parkway. Just BS.

I've taken the early exit to New York Avenue. Now there is a big mistake.

[MineMapper]

Welcome to DC! Your tax dollars at work!

I've been driving down to DC from Baltimore for 5 years, and I still find new ways and nuances, and still get screwed on occasion.

[MineMapper]

Imagine what Baltimore was like before we had the I95 and I895 tunnels under the harbor.

[Brian Carlton]

I've always chosen the I-895 tunnel rather than the I-95 tunnel and have almost never been disappointed. Is this a secret that nobody knows?