Traffic on George Washington Memorial Pkwy (Arlington, Alexandria: live, store, airport)

[DiderotsGhost]

I've lived in NoVa for the past 14 months and yet, I don't think I've ever driven the GW Memorial Pkwy before. I'm not even sure I was aware of its existence before tpday!

How bad is afternoon rush hour traffic on GW Pkwy heading East/South on it from I-495?

I work in Rockville, MD and want to visit a store in Old Town Alexandria and Google seems to think that taking the GW Pkwy is the best route. Would anyone agree with that or see it differently?


(The 2nd route Google recommends is getting on I-495 East and taking Georgia Avenue through DC. I don't know about Georgia Ave, but I know for a fact that getting on I-495 East from Rockville is extremely miserable and not worth it.)

[k8p]

my husband travels GW Pkwy at rush hour every day from Mt. Vernon to the Pentagon. there is little traffic. the only back-up usually happens in Old Town, but it's nothing horrible. I've also left Bethesda during busy hours traveling back to Alexandria and didn't experience too much congestion.

[Stephen 81]

Taking the GW Parkway from the American Legion Bridge towards DC/Alexandria in the afternoon rush hour shouldn't be too bad, at least as far as highway traffic goes in this area. I end up doing that drive once every week or two. Usually you'll stay moving at a good pace, but if there's an accident, you can't really bail. I can't vouch for what it's like S of the Roosevelt Bridge, but the first half of your trip shouldn't be too bad. I would turn on WTOP in your office before you leave - if they don't mention an accident on the Parkway going south, go for it.

Plus, it's a beautiful road, so if you are sitting in traffic you can always look at the changing leaves and maybe a deer or two.

[jbird82]

I've taken the GW for almost 2 and half years doing the south commute towards old town. It's my favorite highway in the area and doesn't experience congestion normally (atleast compared to the rest of the area) unless there is an accident. If there is an accident however, it can be brutal as there aren't many exits.

[normie]

It's a beautiful road, one of my favorite ways to get to Alexandria.

The one confusing section, IMO, is at Arlington Cemetary. A couple of different roads cross and it's not immediately clear which one to choose to stay on GW Parkway. So be sure to look at that part of the map before you start driving so you'll know which road to pick.

Other than that it's a delightful drive (although, as someone else pointed out, it sometimes backs up.) With the leaves turning right now it should be gorgeous.

[DiderotsGhost]

Thanks for the info, everyone!

I just got back and I must say, it was quite a beautiful road. I felt like I was driving in a national park --- probably because I was

[dkf747]

Every once in a while it gets bad. It can be really bad when it does. Most days it moves fine from 495 to the Airport.

[PBSG2]

I commute from Rockville to DCA airport once a week, and for a while I followed the GPSs advice of taking the Clara Barton Pkwy. One day I took the GW Parkway and haven't looked back. Not too bad of traffic unless you get stuck behind someone going 5 under the limit in the left lane and can't move over. If everything flows properly it can be quite nice.

[anonymous703]

Originally Posted by PBSG2

I commute from Rockville to DCA airport once a week, and for a while I followed the GPSs advice of taking the Clara Barton Pkwy. One day I took the GW Parkway and haven't looked back. Not too bad of traffic unless you get stuck behind someone going 5 under the limit in the left lane and can't move over. If everything flows properly it can be quite nice.

I can get from my apt in Reston to DCA airport during rush hour in 30-40 minutes by using the GW Parkway.

[venturion]

I commute from Old Town to North Bethesda every day for the last four years. Commute times are roughly Min, Median, Max: 30, 38, 80 minutes.