Dulles Toll Road (Arlington, Reston: house, live in, business)

[arlingtoncommuter]

Does anyone know how the toll road is leaving ashburn to 495? I leave my house at 6:30am. and vice versa, after 5 to ashburn? Is it worth it?

[NOVAmtneer82]

Ehh...It's better than the alternative which is Route 7. If you leave at 630 you should be fine, but don't wait much later than that. I'm in the consulting business and routinely work at client sites out along the Toll Road, so I've seen the good and bad many times over.

I'm always headed in the opposite direction (live in Arlington) and from what I notice is that usually the eastbound lanes are very backed up from Rt. 7 on through the last toll plaza and to 495. Before that it is a series of smaller back ups usually occuring around every on ramp or at the top of hills where the sun slams drivers right in the face. Evenings its jammed where the Beltway goes into the Toll Road through the first toll plaza and then again similar smaller backups from place to place.

I think the Toll Road is somewhat unpredictable though, some days I feel like the drive is fairly smooth sailing on both sides and other days it's an absolute mess with backups from Reston pretty much all the way in to the Beltway. That $2.50 does tend to add up after a while though...

Hope this helps...