Best way to avoid Baltimore and DC when travelling south from Delaware

[camrynh]

Originally Posted by jdoll

Rt 896 So which becomes Rt 301 at Middletown, DE.
Rt 301 So into MD until it joins Rt 50.
Across the Bay Bridge.
Route 301 South again (301/50 split again, east of I-97)
At Bowling Green, VA you leave Rt 301 (I forget the VA route #) and travels east to join I-95, just north of the Kings Dominion amusement park.
Total travel from Middletown to Richmond, VA is 4 hrs.

I travel this route twice a year, down on Friday and back on Sunday with no issues.
There is greasy spoon restaurant, tourist rest area and motel that was likely THE place in the 1960's, near LaPlate, MD that makes a nice spot for a break and a snack.
Tolls crossing the Bay Bridge and the Potomac River.

Anytime I've risked it to save time and taken I-95 I've been sorry. Three hours, Alexandria to Richmond is common.

This.

We moved here from VA (Fredericksburg, and lived in Richmond for 10 years before that). We *just* this week made the trip to Richmond for a business trip for my husband and to visit with old friends. We took 301 from Middletown allll the way to 95, coming out just north of Ruther Glen.

We took 95 back, and it was fine on a Thursday around 12. However, the southbound lanes were insanely backed up. Also, there is a huge amount of road work being done all along 95 from Richmond to DE right now. It's hit or miss. It could take you 4, 4.5 hours, or it could take you 8.

[RehobothBeachDela_where]

I came from No Virginia and avoid it like the plague!

If we head south we just go the Bay Bridge Tunnel route over to 95!

BJ

[nannerzz]

better to take 50/301 back to 95 or 13 all the way down and then to 11?

[Legendof302]

I agree that the Bay Bridge Tunnel route is good if you can't use 95 during the hours of late at night or mid-day when rush hour is not going on.

[kaj215]

DC traffic is pretty much hell. I was so glad to leave it!

I agree, best route to Richmond is probably 301. You'll hit some traffic where 301/50 come together for a bit, most of it around where 301 branches off again in PG county, but that will also depend on the time of day you are there.

For those western parts of VA, I definitely suggest winding your way across the northern parts of MD or southern PA (83, 70, etc) and hitting up 81, it's usually pretty good with minimal traffic that is constantly moving.

[genlee]

I have a trip next week from Richmond to Lancaster PA. The mapping services take you up 95 around DC (east) and then 695 (west) around Baltimore, a route full of stop and go interstate traffic and pain per the previous comments. Does anyone have a better suggestion? What about 95-17(Fredericksburg)-15(Warrenton)-30(York) to Lancaster? Or going out to 81 to 30?

[nuts2uiam]

Doctorjef, I am admittedly directionally challenged in the most severe degree. Therefore, thanks for my morning brain hurt. I read your thread title and before reading the rest of the thread sat here and tried to figure out why traveling south in DE. you would be bringing up Baltimore. Even directionally challenged me, know that Baltimore is north of where we are. Thank God I read your post, if I didn't it would have me "hurting" the rest of the day. (all I can say is pity my dh, he has lived with my limitations and now just takes one look at me and says "directions", to which I simply shake my head and laugh.

[bus man]

If you're going to the western part of Virginia, and if you don't want to use 301, then I would suggest I-95 from New Castle County south into Maryland, to I-695 (north of Baltimore). Use that road to wrap around the city to the north and the west to I-70. Avoid the rush hour periods (roughly 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) and the traffic generally moves pretty well. Once you're on I-70, follow it west to Frederick, then take U.S. 340 into West Virginia and then on to Virginia. Follow State Road 7 west and then I-81 south.

(Yes, I know that I-70 intersects directly with I-81 at Hagerstown. But from Frederick, the road curves to the northwest to get there, so you're actually going somewhat out of your way. The route I'm suggesting is more direct, and I believe it's faster.)

Note that this would not work if you're going to the Richmond area. This only works if you're going to someplace along I-81 or west of it.

[comblago]

Rt. 301 is a whole Lotta fun! It's the way to go, and I'm telling you so! If you want to avoid 95 all the way to Fredericksburg try this: take 301 to 301/50, get back on 301 south at bowie, md. Take 301 all the way to the Potomac river bridge. Stay on 301s to dahlgren, va. Take 218w (the Virginia byway), it will take you rt. 1 just north of fredericksburg. Happytrails!

[ShaneSA]

I always go 13 south and over/under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. It's a nice drive, maybe lights and slow small towns but it's a nice calm drive. Norfolk can be a pain, not nowhere near the Washington/Baltimore hassle.. I am usually going to South Carolina and arrive with low blood pressure and relaxed.
Even times I have gone to Florida or New Orleans I go the long slow route and enjoy the drive and miss the Washington/Baltimore drama.