Best way to avoid Baltimore and DC when travelling south from Delaware (Middletown: amusement park, motel)

[doctorjef]

Can anyone suggest routes they've actually taken when travelling to Virginia and points south from DE that completely avoid I-95 and the precincts of Baltimore-DC-Beltway land? To me that whole area is a huge obstacle sitting between me and car-trips south of DE. I understand I-95 can be bad all the way to Fredericksburg, so I'd wish to avoid it entirely north of Fredericksburg. What's the best route through southern PA and central/western MD to avoid DC and NOVA?

[SXMGirl]

We take 301 to Route 50, cross the bridge at Kent Narrows and follow the signs. If you need more directions, DM me and I'll get them for you. The only time we take I-95 south is if we are stopping for breakfast at one of the great Baltimore diners. Other than that, we do the 301 route.

[doctorjef]

It seems to skirt the suburbs of DC -- how's the traffic?

[pcity]

There's no good route from Delaware to Fredericksburg that involves going west to Central PA and MD. That's just too far out of the way.

SXMGirl's route is the way I would go as well, but it can be very bad on summer Sundays when there is beach traffic returning to the DC area. On those days, you're better off taking 95.

[RememberMee]

As bad as it gets, I-95 trough Baltimore and DC is the fastest option. There is nothing better, including routes 301&50, way too many traffic lights, way too much traffic and stop&go. Simple interstate stop&go is by far more relaxing (and faster).

[jdoll]

Rt 896 So which becomes Rt 301 at Middletown, DE.
Rt 301 So into MD until it joins Rt 50.
Across the Bay Bridge.
Route 301 South again (301/50 split again, east of I-97)
At Bowling Green, VA you leave Rt 301 (I forget the VA route #) and travels east to join I-95, just north of the Kings Dominion amusement park.
Total travel from Middletown to Richmond, VA is 4 hrs.

I travel this route twice a year, down on Friday and back on Sunday with no issues.
There is greasy spoon restaurant, tourist rest area and motel that was likely THE place in the 1960's, near LaPlate, MD that makes a nice spot for a break and a snack.
Tolls crossing the Bay Bridge and the Potomac River.

Anytime I've risked it to save time and taken I-95 I've been sorry. Three hours, Alexandria to Richmond is common.

[jdoll]

Originally Posted by RememberMee

As bad as it gets, I-95 trough Baltimore and DC is the fastest option. There is nothing better, including routes 301&50, way too many traffic lights, way too much traffic and stop&go. Simple interstate stop&go is by far more relaxing (and faster).

My last I-95 trip, New Castle to Richmond; 7 hours & 20 minutes. I can peacefully wait at a lot of lights on that 20 mile stretch of 301 that has stop lights, arrive 3 hours earlier and shave 40 points off my blood pressure thank you. Trying to save 30 minutes on I-95 isn't worth that mess.

[longnecker]

For a pleasant ride why not head through DelMarVa and use the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel?

[doctorjef]

I guess the real question is what would be the shortest/quickest route with a minimum of traffic? To clarify, Fredericksburg itself wouldn't be a terminal destination for me; I just mentioned Fredericksburg because these days it seems to be where the NOVA suburban sprawl finally peters out and the traffic lightens up on I-95. My actual destinations would be points south of Richmond or west, like the Shennandoah Valley. This also raises the question as to how far west one's destination needs to be before it is more efficient to take a route from New Castle County that goes west of Baltimore rather than skirting around the eastern borders of the Beltway in order to get into VA.

[jdoll]

Even from the northern reaches of DE, 301 is the most time effective route I know unless your destination is western VA. I-81 is generally drama free. As I said, in my experience Rt 301 to avoid DC, north and south and a good route anytime east and west is MD-100, from Ellicot City to I-97/Glen Burnie. Good travels.