HOV Northbound Exits (Arlington, Springfield, Fairfax: how much, campus, area)

[Muffy62]

The Vdot website says there is an exit to Washington Blvd -- is this exit 8A on the HOV?

[Phyxius]

There is no exit tab. You stay in the left lane to exit as the sign indicates (VA 27).

[pcity]

Are you asking if there's an HOV equivalent to the normal lanes' exit 8A?

If so, then no. The "Washington Blvd." exit in HOV only goes East to DC. It's the equivalent of the normal lanes' exit 8B.

To get to Washington Blvd. West (towards Clarendon) from HOV, you need to take the Pentagon exit. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp, turn right at Army Navy Dr., go through one traffic light on Army Navy, then bear right to get to Washington Blvd. West.

[Muffy62]

Thanks for the detail directions! How is the traffic on Washington Blvd during morning rush hour? I am heading to North Fairfax Drive. Would getting on Columbia Pike and then Glebe work better?

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Muffy62

Thanks for the detail directions! How is the traffic on Washington Blvd during morning rush hour? I am heading to North Fairfax Drive. Would getting on Columbia Pike and then Glebe work
better?

Which North Fairfax drive? There are several. Actually, it's like one road that stops one place and then continues again a few blocks later. Im assuming you mean in the Ballston area and not Clarendon or Rosslyn, so that would mean Columbia Pike to Glebe would be better than 395 to Washington Blvd to Fairfax. However, all of that depends on where you're coming from. In my opinion the traffic on Washington Blvd towards Ballston is not too bad. It's heavy but it moves okay. So, if you're in th3e HOV it might be better to use Washington Blvd, but I can' say for sure. Try both.

[Muffy62]

Coming up from Springfield and heading to the Arlington Campus of George Mason. Can take the HOV so I pick it up at Springfield then get off at the Washington Blvd/Pentagon exit -- just trying to figure out how much time I should give it? Need to be there by 8:30 AM so if I leave by 7:30, would an hour be enough time?

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Muffy62

Coming up from Springfield and heading to the Arlington Campus of George Mason. Can take the HOV so I pick it up at Springfield then get off at the Washington Blvd/Pentagon exit -- just trying to figure out how much time I should give it? Need to be there by 8:30 AM so if I leave by 7:30, would an hour be enough time?

I'm pretty sure that an hour is more than enough time on most days. Use the earlier suggestion to get to Washington Blvd as in post #2 above.