I-95 to 495 to 270 to 70 -- Is It As Bad As It Sounds?

[DC's Finest]

Originally Posted by DCforever

Clarification about our beltway. The west side of the beltway is I-495 the east side is I-95. You want to take the western loop, which is I-495.

The entire beltway is I-495 homey! I-95 shares the eastern portion through PG county, a teeny tiny slice of DC crossing the Wilson Bridge, Alexandria and parts of Fairfax.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

The entire beltway is I-495 homey! I-95 shares the eastern portion through PG county, a teeny tiny slice of DC crossing the Wilson Bridge, Alexandria and parts of Fairfax COUNTY.

Fixed it for you.

[carthell]

After being caught up on the I-295/MD 295 multi-mile back-up because of the soccer game at RFK that I didn't know about, I ran into another multi-mile morass of construction involving much of the southern and western parts of the beltway (Virginia HOT Lanes). Four lanes, I believe, were squished into one or two lanes on the inner loop. Although it was Saturday (afternoon), it was impossible to exceed 10 mph (when the traffic moved!) from the end of the I-495/295 junction to VA 7, where I gave up and got off.

If you can't stand sitting in slow interstate traffic, I suggest the following:

-Drive on I-95 north to the Fairfax County Parkway (VA 7100), exit 166B.

-Go to VA 7 west (Leesburg Pike)

-Go to U.S. 15 north. Eventually it intersects with I-70 in Maryland.

Study the online maps of the areas immediately to the east of Dulles International. There a few alternatives that you can use to go north faster, such as a possible combination of I-66, Sully Rd. (VA 28) and the Dulles Greenway (toll).

Many segments of the simpler, toll-free directions I gave above have a speed limit of about 50 mph or more: the Parkway, from what I see when I passed it on VA 7 and on Google, appears to be an interstate-like expressway; while Leesburg Pike has many 50 mph segments. U.S. 15 is a rural route with mostly a 50-55 mph (or more) limit and few traffic lights.

Taking the scenic route affords more time to pick from a more diverse market of supplies; have meaningful, inexpensive rest breaks, etc.

[WellShoneMoon]

That's a very interesting alternative route -- thanks for the suggestion.

[Cruzincat]

Another alternative is to head south on 95 and take 234 up to I66. (Prince William Parkway might look better on the map, but the first couple miles of it are nothing but traffic lights that you sit at for so long you think you are going to die there).

Take 66 west to 17N and take 81 North to exit 317,(turn left to 37, the bypass around Winchester). Take 522 North to I70 west. If there is no traffic tie ups on 95/495/270/70(Frederick), it would be quicker to go that route, but if you are tired of travelling the interstates and want to see some prettier country try the above route.

If you do take the route around Winchester, there might still be a place called Virgina Farm Store just after you turn onto 522. If you like pies, you will have to stop here.