Driving route from NJ to NC (live, ferry, vacation)

[ctribucher]

Originally Posted by engineman529

going this way you will avoid DC and the high traffic areas to the south of DC along 95.

I agree 100% with this statement! The stretch of I95 around DC and south into VA can be a bear. If you can avoid it and take the route that so many others suggested, I would highly recommend it!

[LHBR702]

is there an alternate route coming from southern jersey? Last time we took Delaware Memorial Bridge to 95 South and took that all the way down. Is there a route to 81 from south jersey that will not take us North and out of the way first?

[nail in da coffin]

Exactly, dont wanna be behind big rigs in uphill, or slightly ahead on downhill. Best thing is time those occurrences, and be clear of them as they happen.

[judogl44]

We just did that route from Charlotte to NJ. It was much better-yes you have truck traffic but it wasn't that bad. And the views are fantastic-have a safe trip.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by LHBR702

is there an alternate route coming from southern jersey? Last time we took Delaware Memorial Bridge to 95 South and took that all the way down. Is there a route to 81 from south jersey that will not take us North and out of the way first?

This is what we have done in your situation and it saved my sanity...as you approach D.C. take the loop I495 around the north side of the city and exit the loop onto I66. This is a straight shot to I81, HOWEVER, what you want to do is exit I66 onto hwy 211. 211 is a BEAUTIFUL route (not to mention much more peaceful and calm) to I81. It is a fourlaned limited access type road for the most part, so it moves. Best of luck!

[ctribucher]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

This is what we have done in your situation and it saved my sanity...as you approach D.C. take the loop I495 around the north side of the city and exit the loop onto I66. This is a straight shot to I81, HOWEVER, what you want to do is exit I66 onto hwy 211. 211 is a BEAUTIFUL route (not to mention much more peaceful and calm) to I81. It is a fourlaned limited access type road for the most part, so it moves. Best of luck!

I don't normally disagree with lovesMountains, as she's provided great advice to me in the past. I do agree that Route 211 is a beautiful road (it does get twisty-turny in parts, and if you are traveling at night be careful because it's pretty dark out there!)

However, if you want to avoid traffic headaches, I would not go I-495 to I-66 in the DC Area. The traffic on I-495 is NEVER good, and forget taking I-66 West in the evening, or especially if you happen to be traveling on a Friday or (perish the thought!) before a long holiday weekend. The traffic is typically very heavy in this area, "rush hour" or not (I put "rush hour" in quotes because traffic in this area defies any normal rush hour, say 7-9 am or 4-6 pm. You can easily add an hour to either side of those timeframes and still be stuck in major traffic.)

I spent 9 years in Alexandria, VA (just south of DC) battling traffic, and I'd hate to have you get stuck if you can avoid it!

Where in South Jersey are you coming from? Would it make sense to travel out past Lancaster towards Harrisburg, and pick up I-81 just west of Harrisburg?

I'm not sure if this is feasible in reality, but on the map the route looks promising. Of course, if I'm way off base, tell me to go back to work and stop reading the forums!

Which every way you go, safe travels!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by ctribucher

I don't normally disagree with lovesMountains, as she's provided great advice to me in the past. I do agree that Route 211 is a beautiful road (it does get twisty-turny in parts, and if you are traveling at night be careful because it's pretty dark out there!)

However, if you want to avoid traffic headaches, I would not go I-495 to I-66 in the DC Area. The traffic on I-495 is NEVER good, and forget taking I-66 West in the evening, or especially if you happen to be traveling on a Friday or (perish the thought!) before a long holiday weekend. The traffic is typically very heavy in this area, "rush hour" or not (I put "rush hour" in quotes because traffic in this area defies any normal rush hour, say 7-9 am or 4-6 pm. You can easily add an hour to either side of those timeframes and still be stuck in major traffic.)

I spent 9 years in Alexandria, VA (just south of DC) battling traffic, and I'd hate to have you get stuck if you can avoid it!

Where in South Jersey are you coming from? Would it make sense to travel out past Lancaster towards Harrisburg, and pick up I-81 just west of Harrisburg?

I'm not sure if this is feasible in reality, but on the map the route looks promising. Of course, if I'm way off base, tell me to go back to work and stop reading the forums!

Which every way you go, safe travels!

Maybe this was a better route for me because I have only done it on Saturday's?

I totally agree I495 was a nightmare until we could get on I66. But honestly, for me, it was worth it just to get off of the wall to wall people on I95. And I didn't do it at night so I didn't find 211 anything but pleasant. I completely DETEST I95! But we can agree to disagree - no worries mate

[ctribucher]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Maybe this was a better route for me because I have only done it on Saturday's?

That could certainly be the case... though I've sat in traffic on I-66 in Fairfax County, VA on a Saturday for a while just trying to get to a shopping mall! Really, no rhyme or reason to the traffic in DC... sometimes it just didn't make sense at all - and I don't miss it!

Also, I like Rt 211 too, but the first time we drove it it was at night. I thought I'd give the OP fair warning that it's going to be curvy, hilly, and definitely dark if they go at night.

In any case, I'm glad you find a way that works that gets you off I95 - that road is such a huge pain!

[mamamia24]

hey , i really need fast help planning a road trip from NJ to Duck NC. Any suggestions on where I can plan to stop or what I would need to bring? I wanted to surprise my BF and pay for the gas but i'm not sure what popular gas stations are in NC... I dont want to get an Exxon gas card from here if there aren't many down in NC. Any suggestions at all would be great...this is the only site I could find with actual useful info!!! thanks and happy 4th!!!

[getatag]

When I travel from NYC to Charlotte, NC, I usually stop in Charlottesville, VA because of family living there. I usually take about 10 hours driving time for the whole trip.
81 is the most boring trip in the world. It's only scenic the first time.

Roughly the following route:

Garden State Parkway thru Jersey
I-95 S
I-295 into Delaware
I-485 Capitol Beltway
I-66 W
Hwy 29 S (into and out of Charlottesville)
I 85 S

Then either 77 or 485 depending on what side of Charlotte I'm going to.