Best route Centreville to Rosslyn (Annandale, Falls Church: construction, cars, commute)

[Grsz11]

Anybody know what would be the best route from Centreville to Rosslyn?

[Major Barbara]

They're all good at two in the morning. I'd advise travelling then, as things can get clogged up at other hours.

[Carlingtonian]

I-66 unless during HOV hours. Otherwise, maybe Lee Highway. Route 50 is your last choice unless it's non-rush hour or early on a weekend morning.

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I-66 unless during HOV hours. Otherwise, maybe Lee Highway. Route 50 is your last choice unless it's non-rush hour or early on a weekend morning.

Is 50 bad both outside and inside? At what point does it become limited access and not all lights?

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by Major Barbara

They're all good at two in the morning. I'd advise travelling then, as things can get clogged up at other hours.

This isn't as bad as what I thought I would get...something like, "drive to the dealer, sell your car, because you might as well walk."

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Grsz11

Is 50 bad both outside and inside? At what point does it become limited access and not all lights?

It usually takes about 20-30 minutes to go from 495 to Rosslyn during rush hour on 50 (it says 27 minutes this morning but Thursday mornings are the absolute worst time to commute). There aren't any interchanges really until you get through the seven corners area and even then there are occasional lights but left turns aren't allowed during rush hour so it's not a huge deal. The worst stretch of it is really through Falls Church when it goes from three lanes to two and then the traffic light at Annandale Road backs traffic up pretty far, so once you get to Seven Corners you're pretty golden.

[Major Barbara]

Originally Posted by Grsz11

This isn't as bad as what I thought I would get...something like, "drive to the dealer, sell your car, because you might as well walk."

LOL! It's not all THAT bad, but as literally everyone in the area knows, travel during rush hour can be a significant challenge in these parts. There are plenty of roads alright, but there are too many cars all trying to use those roads at the same time. There are even too many who try to go in early to "beat the traffic" when going in late would work much better. Either way, starting in Centreville kind of dooms you to one difficult route or another. With some trial and error, you can probably discover a route that isn't as bad for you as the other options. Good luck and all...

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by gomason

It usually takes about 20-30 minutes to go from 495 to Rosslyn during rush hour on 50 (it says 27 minutes this morning but Thursday mornings are the absolute worst time to commute). There aren't any interchanges really until you get through the seven corners area and even then there are occasional lights but left turns aren't allowed during rush hour so it's not a huge deal. The worst stretch of it is really through Falls Church when it goes from three lanes to two and then the traffic light at Annandale Road backs traffic up pretty far, so once you get to Seven Corners you're pretty golden.

It will take you about 45 minutes (on a good day) to get from 28 to 495 on Rt 50. So, add that to the above, your commute (on Rt 50, only) is over an hour.

[Major Barbara]

Originally Posted by gomason

It usually takes about 20-30 minutes to go from 495 to Rosslyn during rush hour on 50 (it says 27 minutes this morning but Thursday mornings are the absolute worst time to commute). ...

Well, Thursdays plus all rain, snow, accident, construction, and bright sunshine days. And first you'd have to get from Centreville to 495. To answer a different original question, Route 50 NEVER becomes limited access. There are five or six places where 50 has been tunneled underneath another major road which is a big help, but there are still lots of lights along the way, the bright side of those being that once you catch a wave, you can sail right through quite a lot of them in a row. But some of them will still get you.

Possibly because the stay-at-home population is out and about to an extent that they are not in the morning hours, evening commutes are often the tougher of the two. 50 outbound can be a complete mess for miles and miles and miles. 66 is typically worse. 29 can be useful, but it will have its bad moments as well. C'ville to Rosslyn and back is just not an easy thing to do in a car during rush hour.

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by Grsz11

Is 50 bad both outside and inside? At what point does it become limited access and not all lights?

50 isn't too bad once inside the beltway but it's awful farther out during rush hour.