[ricthemic]

Have driven about eight Village round trips. No question worst part of the drive, IMO is Washington DC > Baltimore area. (Jersey turnpike and parkway are not bad) NYC, we usually time it right or take the tappan zee.
Most recent two day trip north was last weekend. Looked at a map today and noticed a rte 301 which bypasses all of Richmond, DC and Baltimore. Can be picked up off of 95 south of Richmond, then through Delaware, Maryland and connect to 95 close to Delaware Bridge and on to Jersy Turnpike.
Question: Anyone familar with this?
How is this route? How is the highway regarding traffic lights, reduced speed limits, going through small towns etc?
On the map it looks great. Will be heading bk in six weeks wd like to try it.
Thanks in advance

[VillagesFlorida]

Originally Posted by ricthemic

Have driven about eight Village round trips. No question worst part of the drive, IMO is Washington DC > Baltimore area. (Jersey turnpike and parkway are not bad) NYC, we usually time it right or take the tappan zee.
Most recent two day trip north was last weekend. Looked at a map today and noticed a rte 301 which bypasses all of Richmond, DC and Baltimore. Can be picked up off of 95 south of Richmond, then through Delaware, Maryland and connect to 95 close to Delaware Bridge and on to Jersy Turnpike.
Question: Anyone familar with this?
How is this route? How is the highway regarding traffic lights, reduced speed limits, going through small towns etc?
On the map it looks great. Will be heading bk in six weeks wd like to try it.
Thanks in advance

Where in NE are you going to and coming from? We are currently in Maine and make the drive up here every summer. We do NOT go through the big cities, with the exception of Richmond and Hartford. We take 3 days to make the trip so our first overnight is in Smithfield, NC. The next morning we go through Richmond at around 9:30.....no problems, but you CAN take the by-pass. We take Rt. 17 out of Fredericksburg, Va. on up to Winchester where we pick up I 81. Here there are a couple of ways you can go to avoid the big-city traffic. You can go to Scranton and take I 84 east into Connecticut or you can take I 78 in Pa. to, I believe it's 287 across the Tappan Zee into Connecticut that way. Since we come all the way to Maine we eventually hit 495 in Ma. and on to I 95 from there. If we go via Scranton, our second overnight is usually in that area, leaving us 400 miles for our last day's drive. We took 301 part of the way one year and if I remember correctly some of the stretches that we were on were 2 lanes! Yes, we went through a lot of small towns. We have had very good driving going either of the two routes I mentioned above. I have done the mileage using many different routes and it isn't all that much farther to skirt those cities. And, if Hartford is on your route you can also bypass that city by using 91 and 691....only a few miles longer and a lot less stress! I wish I knew more about the route you are asking about...I really suspect it would be a long, slow ride but perhaps there are others on this board who can give you more information.

[Boudicca]

I drove 301 from Bowling Green Richmond (Doswell/Kings dominion) all the way to Maryland, and over the Bay Bridge for many many years. Easier than 95 by a long way - even with all the traffic lights through Waldorf.

[John_W]

Taking Hwy 301 is the only way I've gone. I go through Richmond and about 20 miles north exit onto 301 and cross the Potomac into Maryland, go through Waldorf, Upper Marlboro and Bowie and pick up I-97 about 30 miles south of Baltimore which connects with I-295 through the old Harbor Tunnel and then join I-95 on the northside of Baltimore. From my old home in Belair, MD (near Aberdeen Proving Ground) it was 3 hours exactly to Richmond. You'll hit a lot of traffic in Waldorf, but if you're hungry they have every restaurant you could want.

[Chief X]

Originally Posted by John_W

Taking Hwy 301 is the only way I've gone. I go through Richmond and about 20 miles north exit onto 301 and cross the Potomac into Maryland, go through Waldorf, Upper Marlboro and Bowie and pick up I-97 about 30 miles south of Baltimore which connects with I-295 through the old Harbor Tunnel and then join I-95 on the northside of Baltimore. From my old home in Belair, MD (near Aberdeen Proving Ground) it was 3 hours exactly to Richmond. You'll hit a lot of traffic in Waldorf, but if you're hungry they have every restaurant you could want.

Exactly! Just did that trip last weekend to here, from Jersey. It's the best way I know.

Chief X

[downeaster]

We take US301 through Virginia and Maryland then into Delaware. I Delaware we take rt 299 east to rt 3 (toll) then rt 3 to I95.

If going to New England or upstate NY we take I 95, I 26, I 77, I 81, I 84.

[JJ&TJ]

It's not a bad way. Bay bridge can be fun sometimes. It will add about an hour to your time, depending on traffic. Used it many times to go to Richmond.

[VillagesFlorida]

Originally Posted by downeaster

We take US301 through Virginia and Maryland then into Delaware. I Delaware we take rt 299 east to rt 3 (toll) then rt 3 to I95.

If going to New England or upstate NY we take I 95, I 26, I 77, I 81, I 84.

We have also taken this route...it's more scenic than I 95! The views from I 77 are breathtaking coming southbound through the mountains.....a great ride on a clear day.

[tpop1]

We drive from Clinton CT to FL a couple of times per year....(20 hours driving). Tried every way and found this route is usually the fastest.

We do 2 days...1 long day(12-14 hours) and 1 short day(6-8 hours).


Our normal practices & recommendations are:
Try to travel on Sat. & Sunday if possible,
Make Tappen Zee / GW Bridge decision based on radio traffic reports(WCBS 880 Traffic on the 8 minute mark, 1130 Bloomberg radio on the 5's, and 1010 WINS on the 10's)
Getting an EZ Pass for tolls can save 1-2 hours during busy travel at tolls(good for all tolls til you hit the FL line).,
Take 895 outside Baltimore to the Harbor Tunnel(avoids Baltimore Center city traffic)
Take the BW expressway & 295 Balt. to D.C. (straight shot and avoids I-495 around D.C.)
Take I-295 around Richmond(few miles longer, but much faster...avoids Richmond
traffic and curves)
IN FL we take I-95 to I-295 south above Jacksonville to I-10 to 301 south.

Tried 301 one time but cost us the hour mentioned above!

All good suggestions in these replies, so you takes your choice and all roads lead to The Villages...be safe and welcome back!!!!
__________________

[2 Oldcrabs]

Have been driving to Fl for 25 yrs. We use I-95 most of the time, it is the quickest. Rt 301 has lights and MD state troppers looking for revenue. It is about the time of day you go thru Balt-DC. If you can be south of DC before 6am or go thru between 11am-2pm you should be fine. The worst part of the drive for us is the "speed traps" on Rt 301 in Fl .

[ricthemic]

Originally Posted by tpop1

We drive from Clinton CT to FL a couple of times per year....(20 hours driving). Tried every way and found this route is usually the fastest.

We do 2 days...1 long day(12-14 hours) and 1 short day(6-8 hours).


Our normal practices & recommendations are:
Try to travel on Sat. & Sunday if possible,
Make Tappen Zee / GW Bridge decision based on radio traffic reports(WCBS 880 Traffic on the 8 minute mark, 1130 Bloomberg radio on the 5's, and 1010 WINS on the 10's)
Getting an EZ Pass for tolls can save 1-2 hours during busy travel at tolls(good for all tolls til you hit the FL line).,
Take 895 outside Baltimore to the Harbor Tunnel(avoids Baltimore Center city traffic)
Take the BW expressway & 295 Balt. to D.C. (straight shot and avoids I-495 around D.C.)
Take I-295 around Richmond(few miles longer, but much faster...avoids Richmond
traffic and curves)
IN FL we take I-95 to I-295 south above Jacksonville to I-10 to 301 south.

Tried 301 one time but cost us the hour mentioned above!

All good suggestions in these replies, so you takes your choice and all roads lead to The Villages...be safe and welcome back!!!!
__________________

Thanks, I hv done this route both dn and bk but last week going north after driving 14 hours for some reason I had trouble finding 295 north (is this the one that is cars only?) and I ended up going all the way around 495. THe GPS does not help (mine anyway) it always wants another route. The other thing about this area is the crazy drivers doing 85mph weeving in and out. I usually stop at Stafford VA but this time we went to town of northeast MD
Thank you, I added a picture on my profile based on yours... not sure it is going to work... go sox and thanks to all the other posters too

[ricthemic]

Originally Posted by ricthemic

Thanks, I hv done this route both dn and bk but last week going north after driving 14 hours for some reason I had trouble finding 295 north (is this the one that is cars only?) and I ended up going all the way around 495. THe GPS does not help (mine anyway) it always wants another route. The other thing about this area is the crazy drivers doing 85mph weeving in and out. I usually stop at Stafford VA but this time we went to town of northeast MD
Thank you, I added a picture on my profile based on yours... not sure it is going to work... go sox and thanks to all the other posters too

seeing if it worked this time

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

Have been driving to Fl for 25 yrs. We use I-95 most of the time, it is the quickest. Rt 301 has lights and MD state troppers looking for revenue. It is about the time of day you go thru Balt-DC. If you can be south of DC before 6am or go thru between 11am-2pm you should be fine. The worst part of the drive for us is the "speed traps" on Rt 301 in Fl .

Have been driving between Jax and SW Florida since 1965 on US301. Speed zones are clearly marked. The slowest is 45MPH, except Starke, and that is not unreasonable.

[Ralph Kaberngael]

Originally Posted by ricthemic

Have driven about eight Village round trips. No question worst part of the drive, IMO is Washington DC > Baltimore area. (Jersey turnpike and parkway are not bad) NYC, we usually time it right or take the tappan zee.
Most recent two day trip north was last weekend. Looked at a map today and noticed a rte 301 which bypasses all of Richmond, DC and Baltimore. Can be picked up off of 95 south of Richmond, then through Delaware, Maryland and connect to 95 close to Delaware Bridge and on to Jersy Turnpike.
Question: Anyone familar with this?
How is this route? How is the highway regarding traffic lights, reduced speed limits, going through small towns etc?
On the map it looks great. Will be heading bk in six weeks wd like to try it.
Thanks in advance

Lots of towns to go though on 301 so lots of traffic including troopers so be careful. This is from a retired Maryalnd trooper. Lots of traffic lights so stop and go. It opens up somewhat in VA. 301 is a very old route so very populated now. Be safe on your trip.