Driving from Arlington to Chapel Hill, NC day before thanksgiving (Charlottesville: safe, move)

[Jtrain12]

Like the thread title says, I'm driving from Arlington to Chapel Hill the day before thanksgiving. I can't leave any earlier than 9 am or so. What's the best way to drive that'll hit the minimum traffic?

[Flamingo13]

Sorry, it's not going to happen

[LynchburgLover]

If time is not a huge issue, Route 66 to Route 29 south to the Greensboro area then over to Chapel Hill.

It's a beautiful, scenic road. It does take longer but the traffic will be minimal after Warrenton. You'll hit a bit of a slowdown around Charlottesville but then smooth sailing especially since they raised the speed limit. Just watch your speed through Amherst County--notorious for speed traps.

Have a safe trip.

[gomason]

Least traffic would be 66 to 29 but 95 would probably still be quicker even with traffic.

[Fundman]

I-95 until you get south of Fredericksburg will be slooooooow.

[jeff22152]

Originally Posted by Jtrain12

Like the thread title says, I'm driving from Arlington to Chapel Hill the day before thanksgiving. I can't leave any earlier than 9 am or so. What's the best way to drive that'll hit the minimum traffic?

If I were you, I'd be inclined to take I-66 to US 29. Indeed, it's a longer drive than I-95 and I-85, but both I-95 and I-85 -- especially the two-lane I-85 southwest of Petersburg -- can be frustratingly sluggish and unpredictable around the holidays. US 29 will carry some bailout traffic from I-95 and I-81, but it should move fairly smoothly.

[cb at sea]

That Wednesday before T-giving is the heaviest traffic day of the year....If you can leave before 9am, you will avoid some of the traffic, but certainly, not all....
I-95 is a bear ALL OF THE TIME, but it becomes a parking lot on Fridays and holidays!!!

[ChristineVA]

Traffic patterns have changed a bit from year to year on I95. I commute every "day before Thanksgiving" from DC to Woodbridge. It used to be that the Wednesday before was horrendous. People have changed their travel so much that now it seems to be bad on the Monday and the Tuesday before but the Wednesday seems to have lightened up. I haven't hit traffic after work in years.

What is bad is trying to leave around 8AM and go south before the HOVs have turned south. It is BAD until they open those. So if you do leave and take I95, wait until about 11AM.

Another alternative is to go very early Thanksgiving morning. We had to go to Asheville one Thanksgiving and I just wasn't making a 8.5 trip a 14 hour trip. So I left early on Thanksgiving morning. Piece of cake.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Another alternative is to go very early Thanksgiving morning. We had to go to Asheville one Thanksgiving and I just wasn't making a 8.5 trip a 14 hour trip. So I left early on Thanksgiving morning. Piece of cake.

I agree with this. Traveling on Thanksgiving day is always a breeze!

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I agree with this. Traveling on Thanksgiving day is always a breeze!

Yes it is and Chapel Hill isn't very far so you could get there relatively early.