Early Drive to Baltimore (Richmond, Williamsburg: home, calculating, live in)

[caiawren]

Hello all, I'm new to the forums, just trying to find the best route to Baltimore.
I'm planning a trip to the Baltimore Convention Center this summer, and I want to arrive before 10am. So gonna be an early riser on that day. I've read that the parkway can be a nightmare, but Rt 301 can be used to avoid traffic. Just wondering if anyone would know if this is the best way to travel for early morning?
Thanks in advanced!

[Scratch33]

From where; and on what day of the week?

[caiawren]

Most likely somewhere in the west end - haven't pegged that yet since I'm carpooling with others who live in Williamsburg (I live out in Rockville in Hanover).

It will be on a Thursday morning (August 11th).

[Scratch33]

Not sure what you mean by "west end".

[caiawren]

West End - as in closer to Short Pump outside of RVA

[jobber123rd]

First off, have fun at Otakon! I attended last year as staff for the arcade games -- I hope to be back again this year.

In your position, I'd leave at 6am (I know that's not entirely up to you), and just follow 95 all the way up and around the Outer Loop of the beltway. Whether to take the B-W Pkwy or 95 from there would depend on the traffic conditions.

I haven't driven all the way to Baltimore on 301, but I have been as far as Bowie, and the stoplights and traffic starting at around La Plata wouldn't really be to my liking for that sort of trip. Google's estimates for RVA to Baltimore in Thursday morning traffic show little difference in estimated time going either way -- just a wide range in the estimated time for both (basically 3 hrs +/- 30 mins based on traffic luck for 95, add 10 minutes for 301).

[caiawren]

Originally Posted by jobber123rd

First off, have fun at Otakon! I attended last year as staff for the arcade games -- I hope to be back again this year.

In your position, I'd leave at 6am (I know that's not entirely up to you), and just follow 95 all the way up and around the Outer Loop of the beltway. Whether to take the B-W Pkwy or 95 from there would depend on the traffic conditions.

I haven't driven all the way to Baltimore on 301, but I have been as far as Bowie, and the stoplights and traffic starting at around La Plata wouldn't really be to my liking for that sort of trip. Google's estimates for RVA to Baltimore in Thursday morning traffic show little difference in estimated time going either way -- just a wide range in the estimated time for both (basically 3 hrs +/- 30 mins based on traffic luck for 95, add 10 minutes for 301).

Thanks! This is my first time driving up, and I'm a volunteer so I need to be there to take the orientation class at 10am. o.o Don't want to start the weekend off late~

[VA Yankee]

I've driven 301 before and it may be a good choice to avoid the DC nightmare. It would be best to leave your home around 6:30 and take whatever route works best to get on 95N, take that till you get to the Bowling Green exit then get off for 301. Yes I know you can take it through Hanover but its a 2 lane road and winding. Waldorf in MD will be a challenge most likely traffic will start getting heavy but continue till you hit I97 into the 695 beltway. I really can't give insight to traffic/traffic patterns in the Baltimore metro in the morning.

[caiawren]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

I've driven 301 before and it may be a good choice to avoid the DC nightmare. It would be best to leave your home around 6:30 and take whatever route works best to get on 95N, take that till you get to the Bowling Green exit then get off for 301. Yes I know you can take it through Hanover but its a 2 lane road and winding. Waldorf in MD will be a challenge most likely traffic will start getting heavy but continue till you hit I97 into the 695 beltway. I really can't give insight to traffic/traffic patterns in the Baltimore metro in the morning.

Thanks for the input! I'll definitely map out this route to compare with the more direct route too. (Some people are saying what you suggested to avoid DC, others are saying even w/ traffic it's the same time, so I have some calculating to do. )

[cbl1]

Leaving Richmond 6am on a weekday - I would probably go the 301 route to avoid I-95 going into DC. Sometimes it won't be bad but you never know. At least going 301 route it may be a little longer but it will be predictable. You can take 301 all the way to 3 to I97 and avoid beltway all together.