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Alright recently licensed and just got my car. I live in Clayton and so far my first week has been....satisfactory. I'm alive
That being said, I need to get to Raleigh around Glenwood avenue to head to Crabtree to look for something for a party.
My mom is nervous because she is worried about me and 40 and how busy it is. I am nervous too of course but I need to get to the mall and more importantly, I eventually need to know how to drive on busy places. I've driven on I-95 to Wilson and rocky mount and that was pretty fast.
Still, to appease her, is there any way to get to crabtree from Clayton while avoiding highways as much as possible?
I pretty much discovered I can ride 70 from clayton through Garner to get to downtown Raleigh when I go out on the weekends.
Glenwood is also route 70 past 440. If you can get to downtown, you can then get to capital blvd, get off on Wade to glenwood. Or three other ways I could think of. Shouldn't be an issue using google.
If you just stay on 70 through downtown Raleigh you can get right to the Crabtree Valley Mall. 70 turns into S. Saunders street (when it merges with 401). Then you follow McDowell street through downtown Raleigh. McDowell turns into Capital Blvd (401) so you will need to bear left onto Wade and follow the signs for 70 West. 70 is Glenwood avenue so you stay on that all the way to the mall!
My daughter got her licence last year and I was always nervous about her driving to the Mall. Getting there isn't the hardest part - it's parking once you are there! I recommend taking the left onto Blue Ridge Road and parking in one of the garages back there. Good luck!
I believe statistically freeways are actually safer. Personally, I never understood why some people are ok with local roads but scared of the freeways. Everyone goes in the same direction, exits are marked, just go with the flow. Easy peasy. On the local streets you never know when some crazy person will jump out of a plaza, lanes suddenly become turn only with little warning, intersections not marked, so someone suddenly brakes in front of you because they just noticed it's their turn. Yikes.
Agree that parking at Crabtree might be worse than the whole trip. I'm much older and the whole Crabtree area gives me the hibby jibbies.
You should be perfectly fine on 40 IMHO unless you go during rush hour. And you need to learn to drive on different roads anyway. Good luck!
Highway 70 will indeed take you directly there. and only 3 "turns" - including the turn into Crabtree. All should have signage.
When you come out of the heart of downtown Raleigh, you won't bear LEFT onto Wade Avenue. It's an exit to the RIGHT (+/- 1/4 mile after Peace St exit) that then "flys over" Capital Blvd. look at this intersection on satellite view.
As soon that exit is to rejoin the through-traffic, you have to get off on the right, to Highway 70/Glenwood. Sometimes, with cars merging from Capital from the opposite direction (southbound), it can be a little dicey to get into the right lane.
When you see the Beltline, go ahead and get in the left 2 lanes. Take the first left, Blue Ridge Rd, as from there you have access to all parking. A LOT of people (presumably unknowing) will wait FOREVER to turn into what's considered the main entrance - 2nd floor at PF Chang's. That's a bad thing to do.
as far as navigating the actual parking at Crabtree, you're own your own. Be cautious.
My personal opinion would be to avoid the highways until you are ready and have practiced on them off-peak hours. I am an experienced driver and have never been as uncomfortable as I am on the roads here.
Back roads require more attention as there is a lot of stop and go, so be vigilant, leave adequate distance between you and the car in front, and don't worry too much, you should be ok. The prior advice on the turns is quite helpful.
Try to come at a quiet time your first trip there.
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