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Post by cakediva on Feb 6, 2015 2:49:24 GMT
DH and I are driving to Myrtle Beach next weekend. We plan to leave around midnight on the Friday night. Google Maps gives two similar routes. One goes near Pittsburgh and the other goes down 95 by Washington. What is the better route to take? I have to admit I'm a tad leary of the Pittsburgh route - but only because FIL just had his GPS recalculate right as they were approaching the cutoff to bypass it, and they got into downtown and it took them an hour and a half to get out (don't even want to know what stupid settings FIL had on his GPS!) Is the Washington route bound to be busy even on a Saturday? Is the other route better? ETA - it does appear to have a fairly wide bypass of Washington, down the 495 to the west of the Potomac River... ETA - I hope this works! Here's a link to the directional maps Google gives me: Google Map routes |
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Feb 6, 2015 3:02:41 GMT
I would say Avoid Pittsburg and DC.
DC traffic sucks.. I would go via Pittsburg if I had to choose.
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Post by nysparkle on Feb 6, 2015 3:11:09 GMT
My dh and I travel from Long Island NY to NC frequently. We use route 81.I'm guessing the "near Pittsburgh" may be route 81. It's a well traveled truck route and the trucks can slow traffic up a bit but it's only until the truck get's back into the right lane. Route 95 sucks especially through VA. Saturday is a better day to travel that route if you must. We went to Williamsburg VA last summer and were shocked it took us 10 hours. If you could post the route numbers you are considering the Peas may have better answers for you. *Spelling of Pittsburgh corrected as not to ruffle anyone else's feathers.  |
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Post by christine58 on Feb 6, 2015 3:19:23 GMT
Where in Canada are you?? There's a better route...via 390 south to Corning. I can post it here if you want...This is how we always go...you avoid DC altogether.
Since you cross at Ft. Erie...you could take the NYS thruway to Rochester and take 390 south through Corning...if you go back to Mapquest it will let you click and drag the route.
Anyhow..this is how we go...
Take 390 South to US 15
Merge onto US-15 S via EXIT 44A toward Williamsport (Crossing into Pennsylvania).
Turn slight left onto Montgomery Pike/US-15 S. Continue to follow US-15 S.
US-15 S is just past E 7th Ave
Merge onto US-15 S/US-11 S toward Harrisburg.
Merge onto I-81 S toward Carlisle (Passing through Maryland and West Virginia, then crossing into Virginia).
Merge onto US-50 E/US-17 S via EXIT 313A.
Turn right onto Winchester Rd/US-17 S.
Merge onto I-66 E/US-17 S toward Marshall/Fredericksburg.
Take the US-17 exit, EXIT 28, toward Warrenton/Fredericksburg.
Merge onto US-17 S toward Warrenton.
Take the ramp toward US-17 S/Fredericksburg.
Merge onto US Hwy 17 Bus.
Turn slight right onto US-15 S/US-29 S/Eastern Byp. Continue to follow US-15 S/US-29 S.
Continue to follow US-17 S.
Merge onto I-95 S toward Richmond.
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Post by cakediva on Feb 6, 2015 3:24:13 GMT
Where in Canada are you?? There's a better route...via 390 south to Corning. I can post it here if you want We are in Southern Ontario - and will cross at the Fort Erie bridge into Buffalo |
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Post by Crazyhare on Feb 6, 2015 3:32:11 GMT
Can you look at taking I-81 from Harrisburg Pa until you can cut across to Richmond Va and follow I-95?
We usually take I-95 to NJ from SC and it never fails we run into some sort of traffic mess around Washington. At Christmas, we tried cut across PA to Harrisburg and got on I-81 and it was a much better trip. It's still a 4 lane interstate, but there wasn't as much traffic.
Edit: we usually have clear sailing after Richmond on the way south. You just want to make sure what ever route you choose below it cuts diagonally across the states towards the coast. Don't wait and drive straight across NC. It's a long drive if you do that.
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Post by cakediva on Feb 6, 2015 3:55:47 GMT
Thanks christine58 - when I do all the dragging to that route, it adds over an hour to the drive. DH plans to follow the weather, and based on that, pick the route from there. We'll be doing a good chunk of the driving through the night - and when we went to Florida in May, that helped HUGE with traffic and mess! |
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Post by Crazyhare on Feb 6, 2015 4:00:57 GMT
Mess is liable to happen at anytime in Washington. We've tried all sorts of times. Never fails. Idiot doing something like, not realizing the gate is down on the HOV lane. That means traffic is using it in the other direction. Hits gate and starts coming straight for our lane and car. Good thing DH was paying attention. Him jerking out of the way woke me up. It really is hard to miss the gate with the orange reflective stripes and the flashing lights.
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428 
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Post by luvnlifelady on Feb 6, 2015 4:19:28 GMT
I rarely correct spellings but for the Refupea that said "Pittsburg" that would be a really long drive since it's in CA. Pittsburgh (with an "h") is in Pennsylvania. My parents are from there so just thought I'd pass on the spelling.
OP-good luck on your drive. I would wait until morning but I'm a nervous driver at night. I hope you have smooth sailing regardless of the route.
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Post by christine58 on Feb 6, 2015 10:23:42 GMT
Thanks christine58 - when I do all the dragging to that route, it adds over an hour to the drive. DH plans to follow the weather, and based on that, pick the route from there. We'll be doing a good chunk of the driving through the night - and when we went to Florida in May, that helped HUGE with traffic and mess! From where you live, I wouldn't doubt it. Your best bet is to go the Pittsburgh route. |
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Post by monklady123 on Feb 6, 2015 10:39:09 GMT
I was going to feel the necessity of correcting "Pittsburg" also, so thankfully someone else did it! Pittsburg!  The *real* Pittsburgh is the only one with an "h" at the end. Anyway, yes another route might add an hour to the travel time over the 95 route. However, remember that those travel times are usually calculated just based on mileage. If you get involved in any of the usual 95 messes between Washington, DC and at least as far south as Fredericksburg you might add three more hours to your travel time. ugh. Honestly, there is hardly a time on 95 when something isn't going on. Even if you think it's a non-peak time that's when the road crews will start setting up cones for work zones. I'd avoid the DC-Fredericksburg part if I could. |
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Post by christine58 on Feb 6, 2015 10:45:34 GMT
I was going to feel the necessity of correcting "Pittsburg" also, so thankfully someone else did it! Pittsburg! The *real* Pittsburgh is the only one with an "h" at the end. Anyway, yes another route might add an hour to the travel time over the 95 route. However, remember that those travel times are usually calculated just based on mileage. If you get involved in any of the usual 95 messes between Washington, DC and at least as far south as Fredericksburg you might add three more hours to your travel time. ugh. Honestly, there is hardly a time on 95 when something isn't going on. Even if you think it's a non-peak time that's when the road crews will start setting up cones for work zones. I'd avoid the DC-Fredericksburg part if I could. I completely agree...the traffic around DC is HORRIBLE...no matter what time of day. From where I live near Rochester NY, it takes us 13-14 hours to get to Myrtle Beach. |
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Post by moveablefeast on Feb 6, 2015 12:51:33 GMT
I live outside DC and have driven the 95 corridor from NY to NC, and yes, there's some traffic on 495.
You could try 81-64-95 getting on 95 at Richmond. Or 81-77-74-95, which will have lots of pretty scenery.
But honestly from here I would just suck it up and use 95. Traffic sucks at times around all the major cities on that route. You get south of Richmond and you can pick up the pace a bit because it is long and flat and boring and you can make up some time.
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Post by cakediva on Feb 6, 2015 13:05:08 GMT
Thanks everybody - I appreciate all the input!
DH is the master driver - I never drive when we go long haul. But we will definitely be discussing it this week! And it sounds like the Pittsburgh route should be the one to take.
Besides - our GPS is actually new, and updated, and we don't tinker with ours like FIL does, so it should route us around the city a-ok!
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Post by songbird on Feb 6, 2015 14:19:06 GMT
Avoid DC if at all possible. When I drove from SC to CT, traffic was pretty heavy from Richmond on up, and it wasn't much better in the middle of the day when I drove back!
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Post by thatmarie on Feb 6, 2015 14:29:38 GMT
We always did 95 and then took 495 around DC. It isn't too bad. Probably depends on the exact time you are going through though
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Post by nysparkle on Feb 6, 2015 16:43:25 GMT
Ah thanks, that was me however I'm sure the OP knew they weren't going to CA. I'm usually not that bad with my spelling. I must have been tired when I posted. I have dyslexia and when I'm tired I make all sorts of mistakes.
* Edited to add I wasn't the only one. LOL
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Feb 6, 2015 17:12:27 GMT
When we have gone, we take the route thru Pittsburgh to MB. DC is horrible very bad no good.
I can check my trip book for the exact route that we took, if you wish.
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Post by BuckeyeSandy on Feb 6, 2015 17:23:58 GMT
We live between Baltimore and Washington D.C.; the worse part of your trip will likely be from I-70 to I-495 to I-95 and then to Richmond. There is no "good" time to do it and every day can be a "bad" day. There is just so much traffic being funneled onto ONE highway. The drivers are lunatics and seldom obey traffic laws. Getting off and taking "surface streets" does not help much either.
Because of the season, I-81, aka the "highroad," meaning the backside of the mountains and into the Shenandoah Valley; you may encounter more snow and ice, but there is also the equipment in place because it is so common. The route while longer is somewhat faster. DH's relatives from West Virginia take that route to go to Atlanta were some of the family have relocated for work and they drive it at all hours without problems.
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Post by powderhorngreen on Feb 7, 2015 3:23:33 GMT
Route 81 is hands down better than 95.
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Post by monklady123 on Feb 11, 2015 11:01:16 GMT
I live outside DC and have driven the 95 corridor from NY to NC, and yes, there's some traffic on 495. You could try 81-64-95 getting on 95 at Richmond. Or 81-77-74-95, which will have lots of pretty scenery. But honestly from here I would just suck it up and use 95. Traffic sucks at times around all the major cities on that route. You get south of Richmond and you can pick up the pace a bit because it is long and flat and boring and you can make up some time. I meant to comment on this also. Yes, once you get a bit more south (past Fredericksburg at least) the speed limit is 65 and even 70 in places. You can really move along down there. I've also discovered a window of opportunity with the I-95 traffic. I drove south on that road one day at about 8:45 in the morning and it was smooth sailing. I realized I was right in between the morning rush hour (which is more of a mess going north, but south-bound has its own rush) and the time when the works crews would start setting up cones. So now I try to get in that window any time I need to go to Ikea or to pick up my daughter from school. (my two main reasons for driving on the interstate.) |
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Post by cakediva on Feb 11, 2015 13:54:47 GMT
Mapquest suggested this route: Mapquest routeWhich appears to drive between the two others.....it looks to be I-70, after US 219 - it comes closer to the Washington side, but no 495 though. |
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The *real* Pittsburgh is the only one with an "h" at the end. 
