Richmond,Va to Ohio - 95 or 17

[MisterB]

Flying into Richmond this afternoon and driving back my new to me 996.
If I take 95 back it will put me in Springfield around 6:30pm, am I going to hit gridlock in rush hour the closer I get to DC on 95? Or am I better off taking 17?

Thanks

[VincentVega]

Are you planing 95n to 66w? If so, yes that will be gridlock.

[MisterB]

95 to 495 to 270 west

[cabmandone]

I wish I could remember all the roads I take to avoid DC. You end up on 522 through Berkley Springs going up to 68 then west to Morgantown. I take it every time I go to Stafford VA.
I'd probably stay away from the 95 to 270 route if you think you're going to be even remotely close to rush hour traffic. You can spend hours stuck in 95 traffic.

I just checked, if you mapquest Stafford VA to Berkley Springs WV you'll avoid DC and take about the same route I would leaving my brother's house. It will show a little longer but in reality it takes about the exact same amount of time.
If you're from NE Ohio, take 522 up to the Breezewood tool plaza and run 70 it's faster than 68.

BTW, this route will be much funner than running 95 up to 270. The roads aren't that curvy but they've got some turns.

Sorry to keep editing but I just noticed you're heading to Springfield OH. Take 522 to 68 to Morgantown then 79 up to Washington PA then jump 70 and you're on your way home.

[MisterB]

Thanks..my second route is what you just described...I will avoid 95

Traveling back to western suburbs of Cleveland,OH

[Seahawk]

Where in Ohio? Edit: Oops, the suburbs of Cleveland. Just do the bolded below. I have done it a few times, not a bad drive and miss all the bs, especially if you get tired and stop tonight.

Take I64 out of Richmond to I81, go either north to I68 or work your way to I76 depending on where you live in Ohio. You can also go south south on I81 to continuing on I64 to I77N.

I64 is 75/80mph in the slow lane. It is not about the distance, it is about the traffic. DC is a mess until 7pm local at least.

[6e0ff]

95 between Richmond and DC is never the right answer, the question doesn't matter.

[RacerX1166]

The 95, 17, 66, 81, 70, etc. that Google Maps suggests seems reasonable to me. 95 is a nightmare heading toward DC during rush hour. 95 south of Fredericksburg isn't too horrible but I wouldn't want to go anywhere north of that on the road. Honestly, almost any route will have you running into traffic in NOVA, short of taking 64 out to 81 and up.

[VincentVega]

It's really not a bad drive. 95/495/270 or 95/495/66w is hell. You are but one of thousands trying to get home from work.

[cabmandone]

Didn't know there was a Springfield in NE OH. Only Springfield I knew of was down around Dayton.

oooooooooooh Springfield VA. at 6:30 Now I get it. You couldn't pay me enough to drive 95 at that time of day.

[Rtrorkt]

64 West to 522 to Berkeley Springs, short hop onto I 70 then I 68 to Morgantown. From there you can decide to bump up to 70 or drop down to 50.

Another suggestion, 64 W to Staunton, 25 W to 219 to Elkins, then 33. You could end up in my old college town Athens.

In any case, avoid 95/495/270 through DC

[VaSteve]

6:30 through Springfield would be hell.

Why not 64 to 81 to OH?
522 is "OK" single lane either way. Depends on how quick you wanna get back.

[Rtrorkt]

OOPs, 250/219 to Elkins not 25. Would be a great trip, but no interstates, just wonderful VA byways.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

6:30 through Springfield would be hell.

Why not 64 to 81 to OH?
522 is "OK" single lane either way. Depends on how quick you wanna get back.

Did that, it's the long way around. 522 is faster. I've traveled from NW OH to NOVA many times and tried about every route there is to avoid DC and even gone through DC on 95 on a Sunday going home and without fail 522 ends up being the best for traffic and equal on time.

[Stutzdriver]

MisterB

Where in the SW suburbs of Cleveland? I'm in Strongsville, have a 3.2 Targa if you need help with anything.

[VincentVega]

Maybe he's still stuck on 495?

I hope the new car and the trip turned out ok.

[MisterB]

Well left near Short Pump at 5pm and I hit a jam about 1.5 mile away from 17, took 17 north followed GPS ended up on 522. Car drove awesome as mother nature created several rainstorms, a real bad one on the PA turnipike by the tunnel .... thinking the C4 handled all the water road pretty well, and the hardtop was on.. don't really know since this is the first time I have driven one but certainly did not hurt. I had the car prepped before pickup new blades and the windows were dressed with RAINEX was a true godsend... rolled into my driveway at 12:45am and got to know my car.