Best route from Charlotte to Philly (Durham, High Point: home, tax, shopping center)

[southbound_295]

I would recommend 85/95 because of all of the rest stop closures in VA. I was returning from a funeral the night that they closed last summer. It was no picnic. If you're comfortable without the full amount of rest-stops, take whichever route you want.

[mieitipcktkt]

im knot sammed im sainted santa saint sand sander samp sands selfmoneymandermanmadeim1 west conway st #imigoodiet93ic
baltimore, md
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[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by mieitipcktkt

im knot sammed im sainted santa saint sand sander samp sands selfmoneymandermanmadeim1 west conway st #imigoodiet93ic
baltimore, md
recompkindconnectvititytit rick rich ren rip very soup suit soon ime tender ginger jen tim10 ken kissediaidimsanders sams ivitipper tipped ivi um loaders lump loaders loans lotie vip mine celebrity vi lie imp to my p secret ive knot omer homer homed vi seal sillyed mind vi mindet93 ovitimyppptipde

is this a Dr Seuss riddle?

[DaysofThundr46]

This is so strange, as, I just made the trip from Charlotte (well, technically Fort Mill) to Mount Laurel, NJ (just outside of Philly). I HATE HATE HATE I-77 to I-81. It puts me to sleep and just annoys me. SO, I went I-85 this time.... sadly, I also cannot stand I-85 from Charlotte to Durham. It seems like it takes FOREVER to get to the Durham exits. Its just as bad as the I-77 I-81 route, anyways...

I left from the Tega Cay Wachovia at 11:50am on Friday. I took I-77 to I-85 to I-95 to I-295. I stopped at 3 rest stops, 2 times at Sheetz, and once at Waffle House. I got to my hotel in Mount Laurel, NJ by 8:50pm. I had raffic in about 3 places, but never anything bad. I got through Richmond around 4ish and had traffic where some idiotic engineer thought it was a good idea to take the left2 lanes and end them, then, a double sides accident closed another lane. Washington was hardly anything, as, you hardly go through it staying on I-95, but i had some slight slow downs there. I got to Baltimore around 6ish, and had most of my traffic here. DO NOT GO the Balt-Wash parkway. It LOOKS good on the map because it bypasses Baltimore.... but, it is a traffic nightmare. I didnt take it as google maps said it was all backed up. Once your out of Baltimore, it was smooth sailing.

With all that said, that route worked out well. I would LOVE to find an alternative route to having to go through DC and Balt. and NOT having to take I-77 to I-81.

What is up w/all the VA Rest Area closures?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by DaysofThundr46

This is so strange, as, I just made the trip from Charlotte (well, technically Fort Mill) to Mount Laurel, NJ (just outside of Philly). I HATE HATE HATE I-77 to I-81. It puts me to sleep and just annoys me. SO, I went I-85 this time.... sadly, I also cannot stand I-85 from Charlotte to Durham. It seems like it takes FOREVER to get to the Durham exits. Its just as bad as the I-77 I-81 route, anyways...

I left from the Tega Cay Wachovia at 11:50am on Friday. I took I-77 to I-85 to I-95 to I-295. I stopped at 3 rest stops, 2 times at Sheetz, and once at Waffle House. I got to my hotel in Mount Laurel, NJ by 8:50pm. I had raffic in about 3 places, but never anything bad. I got through Richmond around 4ish and had traffic where some idiotic engineer thought it was a good idea to take the left2 lanes and end them, then, a double sides accident closed another lane. Washington was hardly anything, as, you hardly go through it staying on I-95, but i had some slight slow downs there. I got to Baltimore around 6ish, and had most of my traffic here. DO NOT GO the Balt-Wash parkway. It LOOKS good on the map because it bypasses Baltimore.... but, it is a traffic nightmare. I didnt take it as google maps said it was all backed up. Once your out of Baltimore, it was smooth sailing.

With all that said, that route worked out well. I would LOVE to find an alternative route to having to go through DC and Balt. and NOT having to take I-77 to I-81.

What is up w/all the VA Rest Area closures?

I came down from Cherry Hill. When I go back, now, I go to my sister's in Pitman. Years ago, I worked in Owings Mills MD & absolutely loathe the Baltimore Beltway. I see no point in going so far west on 77 & 81, as my only choces to go back mean 70 east to the Baltimore Beltway, or 76 east (PA turnpike) to the Sure-kill, so I take 85/95. A friend gave me a tip. Stay on 95 all the way & do not take the Balt-Wash Parkway, either. I take 895 (the tunnel). It costs me $2 & is worth every penny of it.

I 85 doesn't bother me at all. I stop at Petersburg for the WaWa. (gas, rest rooms, & everything WaWa.)

The rest stops closed in July '09 for budgetary reasons.

[CouponJack]

I85/95 is the most direct route. If you don't get stuck in any major traffic from Richmond to Baltimore you should be good to go...

I always take 77-81 up to (north)jersey because I don't want to pay $10 in tolls (and its a much more scenic drive), but its more out of the way to the Philiadelphia area...

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

I85/95 is the most direct route. If you don't get stuck in any major traffic from Richmond to Baltimore you should be good to go...

I always take 77-81 up to (north)jersey because I don't want to pay $10 in tolls (and its a much more scenic drive), but its more out of the way to the Philiadelphia area...

I can understand people taking 77/81 to North Jersey/NY, Jack. For South Jersey/Philly, it's not an improvement, in my opinion. As long as I can avoid the Baltimore Beltway, I'm good to go. 895 (the tunnel) goes smack through Baltimore, but traffic is light because most of it is a toll road connected to the tunnel. The toll to cross the Millard E Tydings Bridge over the Susquehanna is a rip-off & the Delaware toll is too, but such is life. I don't use the Delaware Memorial to cross the Delaware. I use the Commodore Barry, which takes me cross-country on unlit country roads, past farms & occasional housing developements.

[MysteryMT]

Originally Posted by mieitipcktkt

im knot sammed im sainted santa saint sand sander samp sands selfmoneymandermanmadeim1 west conway st #imigoodiet93ic
baltimore, md
recompkindconnectvititytit rick rich ren rip very soup suit soon ime tender ginger jen tim10 ken kissediaidimsanders sams ivitipper tipped ivi um loaders lump loaders loans lotie vip mine celebrity vi lie imp to my p secret ive knot omer homer homed vi seal sillyed mind vi mindet93 ovitimyppptipde

Since this is what brought the thread back up, I've been focusing on it for the past couple of hours...

I think you're saying

Originally Posted by mieitipcktkt

I'm not saying I'm St. Nick (Santa) but send some money self addressed to Man or Madam at 1 West Conway Street, Baltimore, MD.

In return for your generosity, I will reconnect with you when I'm super rich and have lots of soup (which will be very soon) cause I am a redhead (ginger) named Jen or Tim (who's middle name is Ken) that kissed Colonel Sanders (aka Sam) on the lips after he loaded his loafers with lots of soup, which made him a celebrity. But I know his secret and I have not told Homer whose very silly in the mind.

Help is on the way! Welcome to C/D, I think we'll all be bathing in barrels of soup very shortly in Baltimore!

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I can understand people taking 77/81 to North Jersey/NY, Jack. For South Jersey/Philly, it's not an improvement, in my opinion.

I just mapped it for kicks and giggles...here's what I found...

Charlotte to Philly via 77-81-76 is 600 miles

Charlotte to Philly via 85-95 is 550 miles

Yes, the 85-95 is shorter, but you have to value whether risking sitting in more traffic is worth the shorter trip (ie: Richmond/DC/Baltimore areas you have to be careful (even in the middle of the night)..I've experienced slow driving many, many times when that was the only way we took down here...).

Not saying you definitely will hit more traffic on 95, but I think we all agree its more risky than option A....JMHO....


Food for thought....

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

I just mapped it for kicks and giggles...here's what I found...

Charlotte to Philly via 77-81-76 is 600 miles

Charlotte to Philly via 85-95 is 550 miles

Yes, the 85-95 is shorter, but you have to value whether risking sitting in more traffic is worth the shorter trip (ie: Richmond/DC/Baltimore areas you have to be careful (even in the middle of the night)..I've experienced slow driving many, many times when that was the only way we took down here...).

Not saying you definitely will hit more traffic on 95, but I think we all agree its more risky than option A....JMHO....


Food for thought....

Well, it's not so much the slightly shorter difference, Jack. I have driven down 81, for other purposes, that did not bring me into NC. I have 2 options to get there from South Jersey. One is to cross the Ben Franklin Bridge, drive through Center City Philly on the Vine St Expressway & connect to the Sure-kill, which connects to the PA Tpk.

To avoid the Tpk toll I can cross the Commodore Barry, take 95 S, paying DE & MD, to the Baltimore Beltway & from there take 70 west. However, if you recall, I loathe the Baltimore Beltway. It's high-speed bumper cars. So, to go to South Jersey or Philly, you can not avoid tolls, unless you take Route 1 from the Baltimore Beltway & cross the Conowingo dam & eventually end up on City Line Ave in Philly. I don't recommend this, unless you are a masochist. I have driven it.

DC doesn't bother me at all. I'm thrilled to hand over $2 to take the tunnel to avoid the Baltimore Beltway. Nothing on the 85/95 route bothers me as long as I can avoid the Baltimore Beltway.