Driving from MA to South Carolina (Boston, Wilmington: summer, east coast, unsafe)

[G-fused]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Yeah, not only is the toll for the George Washington Bridge heinous, the traffic in NYC is heinous as well. Coming from Newburyport, I use 495->290->84->684 and the Tappan Zee Bridge when I visit family in South Jersey and northern Delaware.

It will be on a Saturday though, so not as heinous as a weekday I would guess. Although a backup at the GWB can happen almost anytime.

OP, leaving super early is a good thing.

[Williepaws]

Originally Posted by aboucher33

My wife and I will be driving from Western MA to Charleston, SC. We are leaving on a Saturday so we are wondering if it just best to take 95 the entire way or is there a better way you guys recommend? I obviously don't want to sit in traffic in NYC, DC, etc. so do you think driving on a Saturday will be fine or should we avoid 95 all together? Thanks guys!

i would check the weather first.Plowable snow possible on friday, dont know how south the storm goes. Wouldnt want to get stuck in a major snowstorm.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by aboucher33

We were actually thinking of leaving at 4 AM.

Pre-COVID, I always had to be in Philly a lot. Sometimes, flight or train wasn’t possible. Midweek, if you’re on the GWB at 6am, you don’t usually hit big delays. It’s probably not too bad at 7am on a weekend.

Let Waze plan the trip. If it says GWB, take the GWB. Keep an eye on it as you approach the option to take the Tappan Zee. I close the application, re-launch it, and have it re-compute the route.

[tovarisch]

I highly recommend I 81 if it's worth it to you to be a bit farther west.

[dazzleman]

I think it depends whether you are going to the eastern or western part of South Carolina. I have driven only to Myrtle Beach, so I have taken I-95 the whole way.

It's about timing. You want to get through Washington before the evening rush hour. That is one of the most important things. My brother drove down there a couple of weeks ago, and got stuck in the Washington DC evening traffic. It was a nightmare.

I drove straight through once. Never again. Now I do 2/3 of the drive on the first day, and 1/3 on the second day. I stop just over the border in North Carolina on the way down, and then drive the rest of the way the next morning. I get there before lunch. On the way home, I stop just north of Washington, DC. I go around the western side of the Capital Beltway because they have nicer restaurants on that side in Montgomery County.

Be careful of speeding in Virginia. I almost got a bad ticket there the last time I did the drive. I was lucky that there were a few cars going to same speed as I was, and the trooper stopped the car directly behind me and let me get away.

[CaseyB]

He's going to Charleston so that would be 95. Would be in the DC area around lunchtime.

We've driven straight through all but once, arriving in Hilton Head around 10 o'clock but we don't stop to eat at restaurants. Just drive through take-outs and eat while we're moving.

[aboucher33]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

He's going to Charleston so that would be 95. Would be in the DC area around lunchtime.

We've driven straight through all but once, arriving in Hilton Head around 10 o'clock but we don't stop to eat at restaurants. Just drive through take-outs and eat while we're moving.

We were thinking of driving straight through. We are both in in our mid 20's and think we should have no problem.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by aboucher33

We were thinking of driving straight through. We are both in in our mid 20's and think we should have no problem.

If we can do it, then you can. I know people who have driven straight through to Florida in one day but they are crazy.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by aboucher33

We were thinking of driving straight through. We are both in in our mid 20's and think we should have no problem.

Guessing this is about 900-1k miles, which is easily* doable in 1 day on the interstate.

*especially with 2 people in good weather conditions.

[western mass and love it]

I honestly take the scenic route and go down 84 to 684 to 287 hop over the Tappan Zee and right down the GSP till I hit the Jersey turnpike. Then I take the turnpike to the Wilmington bridge and then take Rt 1 to Rt 13 through the Eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. Once I hit Virginia Beach I take 58 over to 95 and then head south. It’s longer mileage wise and time wise , But I prefer to avoid as much as the traffic congestion as I can. Plus I’m generally not in a hurry so taking my time isn’t a big deal.