Avoiding rush hour traffic to Williamsburg, VA - help please! (Norfolk: shop, safe)

[eea5016]

Hi, I am traveling this upcoming Friday at 4pm from PA/MD town (Glen Rock) to Williamsburg, VA. Both mapquest/google maps said that it would take 4hrs 15mins (w/o traffic) on the route going through Baltimore and then down through DC (both on the beltway). I would like to avoid this since I am sure it will take much, much longer.

Below is the alternate route I found that will supposedly take 4hrs, 50mins. I would like to make it down there at a decent time, and I am not familiar with these roads, so any input would be greatly appreciated!! Also, if you know an alternate route that would avoid traffic, that would be great! Thanks!

Alternate Route:

A) Glen Rock, PA 17327-1013 US
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1. Start out going EAST on HANOVER ST toward MAIN ST/PA-216/PA-616. (go 0 miles)
2. Take the 1st RIGHT onto MANCHESTER ST/PA-216. Continue to follow PA-216. (go 5.42 miles)
3. Turn LEFT onto STELTZ RD/PA-516. (go 0.11 miles)
4. Take the 1st RIGHT onto LINEBORO RD/PA-516 (Crossing into MARYLAND). (go 2.76 miles)
5. LINEBORO RD/PA-516 becomes MD-86. (go 3.99 miles)
6. Turn LEFT onto HANOVER PIKE/MD-30. Continue to follow MD-30. (go 1.17 miles)
7. Turn RIGHT onto MD-27/MANCHESTER RD. Continue to follow MD-27. (go 18.64 miles)
8. Turn RIGHT onto LIBERTY RD/MD-26. (go 16.06 miles)
9. Turn LEFT onto LIBERTY RD/MD-26 W. (go 1.91 miles)
10. Merge onto US-15 S toward FREDERICK. (go 3.38 miles)
11. Take the US-15 S/US-340 W exit toward LEESBURG/CHARLES TOWN. (go 0.11 miles)
12. Merge onto US-15 S/US-340 W. (go 4.65 miles)
13. Merge onto US-15 S/CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN HWY via the exit on the LEFT toward LEESBURG. (go 5.86 miles)
14. Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto US-15 S (Crossing into VIRGINIA). (go 11.38 miles)
15. Take US-15 BYP S/LEESBURG BYP. (go 4.32 miles)
16. Merge onto US-15 S toward WARRENTON. (go 10.66 miles)
17. Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto JAMES MONROE HWY/US-15. (go 0.32 miles)
18. Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit onto US-15 S. (go 13.39 miles)
19. Turn RIGHT onto LEE HWY/US-29 S/US-15 S. Continue to follow US-29 S/US-15 S. (go 15.15 miles)
20. Turn LEFT onto US-17 S/MARSH RD. Continue to follow US-17 S. (go 26.8 miles)
21. Merge onto I-95 S toward RICHMOND. (go 48.09 miles)
22. Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the LEFT toward ROCKY MOUNT NC/RICHMOND INT'L AIRPORT. (go 14.84 miles)
23. Merge onto I-64 E via EXIT 28A toward NORFOLK/VA BEACH. (go 37.95 miles)
24. Take the VA-143 exit, EXIT 238, toward US-60/CAMP PEARY/COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG. (go 0.16 miles)
25. Merge onto VA-143 E toward WILLIAMSBURG/JAMESTOWN/YORKTOWN. (go 0.52 miles)
26. Turn RIGHT onto VA-132. (go 1.16 miles)
27. Turn RIGHT onto BYPASS RD/US-60. (go 0.5 miles)
28. 600 BYPASS ROAD. (go 0 miles)
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B) Quality Inn Historic Area, 600 Bypass Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 US
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>> TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 4 hours 51 minutes | DISTANCE: 249.33 miles

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by eea5016

Hi, I am traveling this upcoming Friday at 4pm from PA/MD town (Glen Rock) to Williamsburg, VA. Both mapquest/google maps said that it would take 4hrs 15mins (w/o traffic) on the route going through Baltimore and then down through DC (both on the beltway). I would like to avoid this since I am sure it will take much, much longer.

Below is the alternate route I found that will supposedly take 4hrs, 50mins. I would like to make it down there at a decent time, and I am not familiar with these roads, so any input would be greatly appreciated!! Also, if you know an alternate route that would avoid traffic, that would be great! Thanks!

Alternate Route:

A) Glen Rock, PA 17327-1013 US
--------------------------------------------------
1. Start out going EAST on HANOVER ST toward MAIN ST/PA-216/PA-616. (go 0 miles)
2. Take the 1st RIGHT onto MANCHESTER ST/PA-216. Continue to follow PA-216. (go 5.42 miles)
3. Turn LEFT onto STELTZ RD/PA-516. (go 0.11 miles)
4. Take the 1st RIGHT onto LINEBORO RD/PA-516 (Crossing into MARYLAND). (go 2.76 miles)
5. LINEBORO RD/PA-516 becomes MD-86. (go 3.99 miles)
6. Turn LEFT onto HANOVER PIKE/MD-30. Continue to follow MD-30. (go 1.17 miles)
7. Turn RIGHT onto MD-27/MANCHESTER RD. Continue to follow MD-27. (go 18.64 miles)
8. Turn RIGHT onto LIBERTY RD/MD-26. (go 16.06 miles)
9. Turn LEFT onto LIBERTY RD/MD-26 W. (go 1.91 miles)
10. Merge onto US-15 S toward FREDERICK. (go 3.38 miles)
11. Take the US-15 S/US-340 W exit toward LEESBURG/CHARLES TOWN. (go 0.11 miles)
12. Merge onto US-15 S/US-340 W. (go 4.65 miles)
13. Merge onto US-15 S/CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN HWY via the exit on the LEFT toward LEESBURG. (go 5.86 miles)
14. Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto US-15 S (Crossing into VIRGINIA). (go 11.38 miles)
15. Take US-15 BYP S/LEESBURG BYP. (go 4.32 miles)
16. Merge onto US-15 S toward WARRENTON. (go 10.66 miles)
17. Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto JAMES MONROE HWY/US-15. (go 0.32 miles)
18. Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit onto US-15 S. (go 13.39 miles)
19. Turn RIGHT onto LEE HWY/US-29 S/US-15 S. Continue to follow US-29 S/US-15 S. (go 15.15 miles)
20. Turn LEFT onto US-17 S/MARSH RD. Continue to follow US-17 S. (go 26.8 miles)
21. Merge onto I-95 S toward RICHMOND. (go 48.09 miles)
22. Merge onto I-295 S via EXIT 84A on the LEFT toward ROCKY MOUNT NC/RICHMOND INT'L AIRPORT. (go 14.84 miles)
23. Merge onto I-64 E via EXIT 28A toward NORFOLK/VA BEACH. (go 37.95 miles)
24. Take the VA-143 exit, EXIT 238, toward US-60/CAMP PEARY/COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG. (go 0.16 miles)
25. Merge onto VA-143 E toward WILLIAMSBURG/JAMESTOWN/YORKTOWN. (go 0.52 miles)
26. Turn RIGHT onto VA-132. (go 1.16 miles)
27. Turn RIGHT onto BYPASS RD/US-60. (go 0.5 miles)
28. 600 BYPASS ROAD. (go 0 miles)
--------------------------------------------------
B) Quality Inn Historic Area, 600 Bypass Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 US
--------------------------------------------------
>> TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 4 hours 51 minutes | DISTANCE: 249.33 miles

I'm going to be making a similar commute down to the Hampton Roads area this Friday myself. I am not very familiar with the Baltimore area so I can't advise you there, but I will tell you a way that will cut your time coming to the DC area, by the way those directions are awful because they avoid most of the traffic, but it takes you really far out of the way. Check this out:

1.Head east on PA-616 S/Baltimore St toward Valley StContinue to follow PA-616 S
1.2 mi
2.Turn left at PA-616 S/Pleasant Valley Rd1.5 mi
3.Sharp left at Glen Valley Rd0.5 mi
4.Continue onto W Forrest Ave2.1 mi
5.Take the Interstate 83 S ramp0.2 mi
6.Merge onto I-83 SEntering Maryland
27.5 mi
7.Continue onto I-695 W19.8 mi
8.Slight left at I-97 S (signs for Annapolis/Bay Bridge)17.5 mi
9.Take the exit onto US-301 S/US-50 W toward Washington/Woodmont7.6 mi
10.Take exit 13A to merge onto US-301 S/Blue Star Memorial Hwy/Crain Hwy toward RichmondContinue to follow US-301 S
Partial toll road
Entering Virginia
81.2 mi
11.Turn right to stay on US-301 S0.2 mi
12.Turn left at US-301 S/VA-2 S/Richmond TurnpikeContinue to follow US-301 S/VA-2 S
29.3 mi
13.Merge onto I-295 S via the ramp to I-64 E/Norfolk/Rocky Mt NC12.3 mi
14.Take exit 28A to merge onto I-64 E toward Norfolk/VA Beach37.9 mi

I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think there is anyway that you can completely avoid traffic at that time, but by getting on US-301 you will avoid the bulk of the traffic. Once you get to US-301 in Bowie, there will be a few lights, but traffic is usually lighter there as opposed to I-95. If you keep following it down, the road will merge with Route 5 in Brandywine. This is when traffic can sometimes pick up. It might look bad to travel through Brandywine-Waldorf-La Plata traffic, but as you start to get through the Waldorf shopping areas, it lightens up considerably and by the time you get pass La Plata there should be virtually no traffic.

Next you will cross the Potomac River Bridge (has a toll of $3.00) into King George, VA. From there you will have a few lights, but the road is very light on traffic. As you get into Caroline County, please look for the sign to stay on US-301 South, because otherwise you will be heading straight to I-95. This is important because once you get here you will be driving down on this very long, but straight country road where there are very few traffic lights through Caroline and Hanover Counties. Stay on this road until it crosses I-295. Once you get to I-295 you commute should be straightforward to Williamsburg.

By taking this way you avoid all of the I-95/I-495 traffic, you avoid the horrible NoVA traffic, and US-301 is a more direct way to get to Williamsburg because it runs straight into I-295, which is what you will need to get to I-64. The time mapped for this commute is 4h 53 minutes, but it won't take that long because US-301 South in VA has no traffic and flows very well so you should get there closer to 4 hours if you drive around the speed limit. Best of luck and have a safe commute.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by eea5016

Hi, I am traveling this upcoming Friday at 4pm from PA/MD town (Glen Rock) to Williamsburg, VA. . . .

I'm not sure where you're leaving from Baltimore, but taking Rte 70 west towards Frederick, MD might be faster than taking Liberty Rd (as Liberty Rd has stoplights). If you're on Liberty Rd, stay west and go south on Rte 21 (I think?) which puts you in Mt Airy, MD which will intersect with Rte 70 west. Stay on this until you hit Frederick and then look for those signs of "340W/15S". BTW, the scenery at Point of Rocks (where you cross over the Potomac River) is gorgeous.

Rte 15 South will be crowded/busy during rush hour when you pass through Lucketts, Leesburg, Aldie, Haymarket, Gainesville, and the sw part of Manassas. Once upon a time, these areas were quite rural, but not anymore. It could get a little hairy around 15 and 29 also. If you take this route and travel during the DC area's non-rush hours, you might be okay. Not sure about how 64 south would be but I believe it's fairly rural and shouldn't be that bad.

If you are traveling through rush hour, take the route meatkins suggested. You'd be going on Rte 301 south which runs somewhat parallel to 95 South.

Anyway, have a great trip!