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Old 06-26-2011, 01:45 PM
 
172 posts, read 563,803 times
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My family will be driving up from TX during the holidays and will be taking Hwy 81 once they hit VA. For anyone who's driven this route - I'm wondering if it's easier/faster to take 81 all the way to Winchester & then 7 down to Sterling OR take 81 to Front Royal & take 66 & 28 into Sterling. They will likely arrive into the area around rush hour, so even though they will be going against traffic on 66, 28 to Sterling will be backed up. I've never taken 81 all the way up to Winchester, so not sure if that would be easier, even considering the traffic issues they could face during rush hour on 28. They're used to traffic, but even D/FW traffic hardly compares to NoVA TIA!
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Old 06-26-2011, 05:24 PM
 
Location: Spartanburg, SC
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It's kind of a toss-up. There's plenty of traffic along Route 7 from Winchester to Sterling so I'd take I-81 to I-66 to Route 28. Cuts out a few miles.

Good luck.
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Old 06-27-2011, 05:00 AM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
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I assume you mean evening rush hour? If so, they will be going against most of the traffic once on 66 and 28.
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Old 06-27-2011, 01:23 PM
 
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28 is a zoo in both directions during rush hour.... Rt 7 and I-66 shouldn't be bad though... Honestly? I'd just take 7.... It takes you directly to Sterling and should be a fairly easy jaunt, save for the last 5-10 miles...
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Old 06-27-2011, 02:36 PM
 
Location: Spartanburg, SC
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Here's one more option -- I-81 to I-66 to Haymarket then Route 15 north to Leesburg. Then take Route 7 east to Sterling. Might miss some of the Route 28 traffic but cut out the whole Winchester/Clarke mileage. Going all the way to Winchester to then go east just adds a lot of mileage.
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Old 06-27-2011, 02:38 PM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,234,258 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhett_Butler View Post
28 is a zoo in both directions during rush hour.... Rt 7 and I-66 shouldn't be bad though... Honestly? I'd just take 7.... It takes you directly to Sterling and should be a fairly easy jaunt, save for the last 5-10 miles...
I've made several trips going north on 28 from Centreville to Dulles this past week and it was a piece of cake. Now SB, forget it. You have less lights to deal with by staying on 66 to 28 N.
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Old 06-27-2011, 06:36 PM
 
Location: Thornrose
894 posts, read 2,314,193 times
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Just tell them to watch out for all the crazy truck drivers on i81. There are wrecks on that interstate daily that shut it down, or at least every other day. Just check in with 511 and it'll let you know. If there is a wreck, they can take US 11 as a detour. Once you get to i66 it should be a breeze the rest of the way.
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Old 06-27-2011, 07:18 PM
 
Location: DALLAS COUNTY
509 posts, read 1,261,759 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowBat View Post
Just tell them to watch out for all the crazy truck drivers on i81. There are wrecks on that interstate daily that shut it down, or at least every other day. Just check in with 511 and it'll let you know. If there is a wreck, they can take US 11 as a detour. Once you get to i66 it should be a breeze the rest of the way.
It might have been you who posted that in another thread or maybe someone else but in any case, that has me worried. Is there any other route that might not have such crazy semi-drivers as i81?
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Old 06-27-2011, 07:39 PM
 
Location: Richmond va
1,570 posts, read 4,616,343 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moorhen3 View Post
It might have been you who posted that in another thread or maybe someone else but in any case, that has me worried. Is there any other route that might not have such crazy semi-drivers as i81?
I-81 is 2 lanes, which makes it diffcult, and yes the trucks do go fast. BUT I dont find I-81 to be all that bad I use to take that route a lot and still do when I visit Roanoke. I would do 81 to Front Royal to 66 to 28 myself, but you will run into traffic.. which is the norm. around here anyway.
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Old 06-27-2011, 07:43 PM
 
Location: Spartanburg, SC
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I drive from the DC area through VA and the Carolinas a lot. I detest I-81 and I-95 and try to avoid both.

You could take I-81 to I-64 to Charlottesville. Then take Route 29 to a bit north of Warrenton to north on Route 15. It does add a couple hours. One more option would be to take I-40 through Winston-Salem to Greensboro and up Route 29, which cuts right through the middle of Virginia. It's a beautiful drive through the Piedmont area -- Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Warrenton. Then just north of Warrenton, go north on Route 15.

There are lots of accidents on I-81 especially north of Roanoke.

Good luck.
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