Found Easier Route to DW!

[Cinderella]

Morning Guys:

Awhile ago I asked for suggested trip routes from PA to DW and got lots. Thanks. DH was still obsessing about traffic around D.C. which I've been able to avoid in the past.

Yesterday I went to AAA again and told them I wanted another way around D.C. due to the construction and the fact that I now decided to leave a day early (11/28) to get a few hours in and make the 29th an easier drive so I'm not totally drained by all the driving with my fibromyalgia. Nice lady at AAA was surprised I wasn't given the route she gave me yesterday.

I'm taking 81S (right near me) all the way to Rts 50/17 near Winchester and then straight 17 to 95 where it connects right above Richmond VA. It will be no longer then old way (81 to 70 to 270 around beltway) and we avoid the whole D.C. thing. Can't imagine why none of our neighbors knew that when half of them worked in D.C. and/or lived in VA/MD area.

Anyhow, it looks good so we're leaving the day after Thanksgiving (after we take FIL to assisted living home kicking and screaming) and I'm driving only until dinner time, taking my time driving on Saturday and stopping just a few hours before DW so I can get up late, not be dead tired, and ready to take on Mickey and the World for Sunday 11/30 MVMCP!!!!.

How does that sound??????
AND...............it's 29 days and counting from TODAY!!!!!

Now I won't sleep at all for the next 29 days.

Cinderella

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:minnie: :mickeyXmas: :minnie: :mickeyXmas:
:sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep:

[pinoch]

That's the route we usually take when we go that way and it's a lot less stressful than around DC area. The last few miles of 17 are a little congested right before you get on 95 but it's not bad and a good place for a gas stop/potty break/food break. We've also gone down 81 even further to below Roanoke, taken 77 to 26 and then to 95. It's a little longer mileage-wise (about 40 miles) but the same time in driving time (about 16-1/2 hours from Wilkes-Barre area). There's no major traffic on that route except for around Charlotte and then in Jacksonville (which you hit on other route anyway). Either route is a more relaxing drive than around the DC area.

Barb

[Cinderella]

Thanks Barb: If we leave here (8lS exit 16) around noon (or earlier) do you think we'll hit much traffic by dinnertime?

Depends on how traffic is that day and we'll stop early for dinner along the way and then head back out after a leisurely meal.

Any idea where we might be by dinnertime (about 5 hours or so from 8l exit 16?). The total trip should take us about 14 1/2 to 15 hours. We get to Dulles Airport in D.C. in about 1 hour and 45 minutes going81S to 70 to 270 to 15.

Do you drive straight through or stop overnight?
When my DD and DS were younger, ex-husband and I would leave at 11:00 pm, put the kids in the back in pajamas and head out from NY. We were well into VA before breakfast and missed alot of the congestion.

My DH is not as good about long drives in car as I am and I have to work hard at getting him up and out by 4 or 5 a.m. most trips. This time by leaving Friday, I can take my time and just do a few hours and then stop overnight and not have the hassel of dragging his tired old body out of bed so early the next day. :roll:

Cinderella

[Brer]

17 is a BEAUTIFUL drive..or at least it was 14 years ago the last time I lived in that area. Not knowing exactly where you live, the question I had was...would it be better to take 81 all the way to I 40? I'm sure it isn't, or AAA and y'all would have already done it

[DisneyBUff]

That is the rt we took in March and that is the way we will be taking on the 28 on our decent to live a dream ...

We Disn't stop on our way down except for potty and pee breaks. we had snacks and sandwiches in the van with us .we stopped some where down south at a waffle house for b-fast. it took us 21 hrs BUT we hit 2 hrs traffic in Daytona Beach and then another hour near Orlando becasue of an accident on I4.

[Cinderella]

Brer:

The normal route AAA gives is to go 8l south to 70 to 270 to beltway around D.C. and then pick up 95 again. This way going farther down south on 81, we can pick up 17/50 and avoid the entire D.C. area.

When we drove to Dulles Airport in the summer, we took 81 south to 70 and ended up on 15 - at any rate - it was a nice ride - no traffic at all but 15 ends up a single lane in each direction at some point. It only took us 1 hr. 45 minutes to get there taking our time. I know we could take that route and then go south more and hit 95 too but 15 would probably be a long ride on a Friday afternoon/evening.

Cinderella

[pinoch]

We usually stop overnight somewhere -- we've only driven straight through once and that was coming home several years ago. If you leave around noon you should probably be across NC border by dinnertime. You may hit some traffic on 17 if you get the afterschool traffic or get behind a school bus (I don't remember what day of the week you are going). I do seem to remember a number of school bus stops marked on that road on certain stretches. I'll try to check my trip notes to give you a better idea of time frames. We're at exit 165 on 81 and it takes us about 6 hours to get to Petersburg, VA (exit 45 on 295). So you guys should easily be into North Carolina in 5 hours.

Barb

[Brer]

Cinderella

YES...avoid the DC area at any cost...I lived there for 10 years and recall an acident about 3 or 4 pm once at the Cabin John bridge and that accident had traffic blocked until after midnight

[3princesses]

Cinderella, I'll never forget DC traffic when I visited my friend who lived in Fairfax. It seemed it never mattered what time of day we drove, the beltway was always crowded. That was one place I was actually afraid to drive. I'm glad you can avoid it, you'll enjoy your trip so much more!!!

Wanda