I-95 Alternatives? (town, time, looking for)

[Doppelganger69]

All ideas sound good, but are mutually exclusive. And I can't see doing 5 am with two kids who already have sleep issues. How about a vote, then?

1. Friday, 4 pm, leave Vienna via 66 to I-95 HOV
2. Friday, 4 pm, leave Vienna via 123 to I-95 (no HOV)
3. Saturday, 8 am, leave Vienna via 66 to I-95 (HOV not applicable on weekends, right?)
4. Saturday, 8 am, leave Vienna via 123 to I-95

What do you say?

(I'm not quite ready to choke down the extra mileage in Bigfoot's suggestion, but may well change my mind after this ordeal!)

[Bigfoot424]

66 doesn't go to 95. Do you mean 66-495 to 95?

[Doppelganger69]

Yep. Unless there's a better way to do it (I'm all in favor of avoiding 495, too!)

[gp123]

I'm in the process of purchasing a house in Southern Stafford. I came across apart of Bigfoot's method to get around 95. It's a somewhat shorter-cut than going to 15/29 in Culpepper and then back to 17. It avoids traffic, but probably takes longer.

On Rt. 28 in Catlett, make a left on Elk Run Road.

Follow Elk Run Road to Rt. 616 (Bristerburg Rd) and make a left

Continue on Rt. 616 (which becomes Poplar Road) to US 17 (Warrenton Road). This intersection is somewhat closer to 95/1 than having to go the whole way to Culpepper and back across, and gives you the option to hop on 95 @ Exit 133 or use 17 to continue South.

If 95 is still a parking lot @ 133, you can use Rt 17 to VA Rt 2 all the way to Bowling Green where it picks up with 301. Then follow VA-2/US-301 to VA-30 and that will get you to I-64 just outside Williamsburg.

It's a scenic route, but should keep you out of major traffic logs on the 95/1 corridor. It probably takes as long (if not longer) as sitting in traffic on 95, but if you fear for your sanity and need to keep moving, it should work.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger69

Yep. Unless there's a better way to do it (I'm all in favor of avoiding 495, too!)

You might consider taking 66 to Manassas and taking exit 144 (234 bypass-Prince William Parkway) This will take you to I-95 south of Dale City. It's a 4-lane road all the way with not too many lights. Allows you to pass up 495 and the Springfield area. Make sure you do not take the first exit in Manassas after the rest area as that's business 234. Go to the next exit which is the bypass. It only goes one way so you can't go wrong.

[michgc]

No to #1 at all costs. I don't think being able to use the HOV will help too much on Memorial Day Weekend. I would probably do Saturday at 8 AM but then you may miss valuable time on your vacation. I'd still probably use Route 123 even on Saturday morning since it's a holiday weekend. Otherwise, leave at 4 PM and go Route 123 if you want to wake up on Saturday and have a full day on your vacation even if it was a crappy, terrible drive the night before.

[springfieldva]

I vote for #2 - get the drive over with and have a fun Saturday.

[Doppelganger69]

#2 it is! And for future trips, I probably will be ready to try some of the more alternative routings. Thank you all.

[Doppelganger69]

Reporting back - we left Vienna at 5 pm via 123. Hit 95 at 5:35 after an easy ride, then crawled along 95. Ugh. Watched the HOV speed by with envy, but reminded myself that it would have looked uglier had I gotten on further north. Promised self to pack more quickly next time. Ate dinner at a really awful place around 17. Toyed with taking 17, but GPS said it would add an hour. So back onto 95 - and arrived in Williamsburg around 10.

The good news: took the easy route back this morning - 64 to 95 to 495 to 66, and it only took 2.5 hours, including a long unexplained clot on 64.

Thanks for all the advice!

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger69

Reporting back - we left Vienna at 5 pm via 123. Hit 95 at 5:35 after an easy ride, then crawled along 95. Ugh. Watched the HOV speed by with envy, but reminded myself that it would have looked uglier had I gotten on further north. Promised self to pack more quickly next time. Ate dinner at a really awful place around 17. Toyed with taking 17, but GPS said it would add an hour. So back onto 95 - and arrived in Williamsburg around 10.

The good news: took the easy route back this morning - 64 to 95 to 495 to 66, and it only took 2.5 hours, including a long unexplained clot on 64.

Thanks for all the advice!

Glad you had a safe trip . Did you enjoy your time in Williamsburg?