Have to be at IAD by 3pm friday (10/18)...how's traffic? (Centreville: buy, versus)

[rsh56]

As the title states...how will traffic be? I'll be coming in from MoCo, MD and I have an errand to run there but I plan on leaving a bit earlier, earlier than 2 maybe?

Going back I'm also expecting the beltway to be very hellish at 495 and 267. Would US15/340/270 be a good alternative?

Thanks

[Flamingo13]

You never know when there might be an accident somewhere - why risk cutting it close? This is leaf-viewing season, there may be more traffic than usual - Aren't you supposed to be there at least 1 hr. beforehand anyway? Give yourself time, if you get there early, go have a snack or a beer or something.

[toosie]

I'd decide what time you want to be arriving, google the directions, and add 15-20 minutes to their estimate. Are you actually flying out or just picking someone up, interview, etc?

[rsh56]

I actually have to pick someone up, unfortunately his flight is suppose to arrive by 3 which of course is the beginning of rush hr.

[toosie]

Oh well that's not as bad since he has to deplane and get to landside anyway. That'll buy you some time just in case. If he has to wait at all, it won't be long.

[rsh56]

I know, though I might run another errand in MD that I hope won't last very long.

[spencgr]

While traffic is normally heavier on Friday afternoons (so I hear from the traffic reports), it is actually lighter on Fridays heading west on 267. So, not sure where you are coming from in MoCo, but (barring any accident), you should have minimal traffic on the Beltway (before 2:30) and zero traffic on the airport lanes out to Dulles.

Going back, I would take 15N to Maryland, IF you can leave Dulles by 3:30ish and take the Greenway out to Leesburg. If not, you are facing a hoard of traffic on 15, and it won't be any faster than heading back to the Beltway and back up 270.

[jarednova]

I frequently am on the NW side of the Beltway around 2-3pm...*if* there is not an accident, you'll be fine coming in that way, and you can take the Dulles Access Road as well versus the toll road which will make it even easier. Agree with the poster above -- for the return trip, you should be fine 267/15/270 if it's before about 4:00 -- I might even say that's best after that too, but you won't exactly be going fast between Leesburg and Frederick. You could always dump off at Point of Rocks and take back roads eastward though, depending on what part of MoCo you're in.

[rsh56]

Thanks for the info.



We went to Dulles at speed though honestly, the volume of traffic began to build but we made it to Dulles at speed. Apparently, since this was in int'l flight, he wouldn't be able to come out for an hr so I passed time by going to Centreville and back to the cell phone waiting area. On the way back at 6pm (through the beltway), the traffic, heavy as expected was actually moving at a steady pace. Was surprised but whatever.

[toosie]

Thanks for reporting back - glad everything ended up ok