Getting to Greensboro on Friday... (Charlotte: travel, construction, business)

[sstern]

I'm in NOVA (DC)

So Mapquest tells me to go down 95 but I hear 95 is like a parking lot on Friday afternoons.

I was thinking of going down 81 to Roanoke and taking 220 down to Greensboro from there. Mapquest says 6 hrs. Another option is 81 to 29 straight down from 64. Or I could head over to 77 from 81 and come in the back way 81-77-40.

Any suggestions?

[flipster]

We travel the 81 to Roanoke/220 route when we drive to DC. Much prettier drive, too! 6 hrs sounds about right.

[X-Greensboro Resident]

Hey, when I lived in N. VA (Gainesville, Haymarket area), we took 29 down, aside from being a beautiful drive, it only took 4 hours. Check it out, it's a great route, you just have to pay attention to the signs and NOT take the Business routes. Good luck!

[sstern]

Interesting. I heard that 29 was mostly stop lights and would take like 10 hours to complete. How is 220? Is it four-lane or what?

Anyone have any experience with 95 on a Friday evening?

[X-Greensboro Resident]

I have never taken 220 so I don't know but 29 at some areas has stop lights or what not but at other areas, it is a true highway. It is definitely much much quicker than 95 and does not take 10 hours. At most, it would take 5 hours depending on how you drive. You just have to pay attention and follow the signs, do not take the business route into the cities along the way like Charlottesville and what not. 29 around Charlottesville gets backed up at times but overall, it's a great, short and beautful route.

[jjp4]

Originally Posted by X-Greensboro Resident

I have never taken 220 so I don't know but 29 at some areas has stop lights or what not but at other areas, it is a true highway. It is definitely much much quicker than 95 and does not take 10 hours. At most, it would take 5 hours depending on how you drive. You just have to pay attention and follow the signs, do not take the business route into the cities along the way like Charlottesville and what not. 29 around Charlottesville gets backed up at times but overall, it's a great, short and beautful route.

Agreed....29 is the way to go. 220 is a nice drive, but 29 is much faster.

[sstern]

Even though Mapquest says 29 is an hour and a half longer than taking 220 from Roanoke?

Should I go 66 to 29 and take it the whole way down?

[jjp4]

Originally Posted by sstern

Even though Mapquest says 29 is an hour and a half longer than taking 220 from Roanoke?

Should I go 66 to 29 and take it the whole way down?

Yeah...take it from 66 all the way down. If you were already in Roanoke, then 220 would probably be quicker than back-tracking all the way to 29. But, if you can just hop on 29 from 66, then that is quicker.

[X-Greensboro Resident]

^^^
I agree with him 110%. Take 29 from 66. Be wise about what time you get on 66 around 29 because it gets backed up during rush hour.

[roanoker 4]

As someone who lives in Roanoke, travelling from NoVa take I-66 to US29 thru Charlottesville to Greensboro. There is construction on I-81 north of Roanoke and US220 from Roanoke to Greensboro is a curvy road. Unless you like scenic roads, take US 29!!