Driving to Charlotte from DC Area

[noelr]

Anyone driven it before? 2 ways seems about the same difference in mileage. 495 to 95 south or taking 66 West to 81 south. Any preference? I’d guess 66 West to 81 south would be less of a traffic problem. Thanks

 

[panther.fan]

Depends on the day and time your leaving. I would check on google maps before you leave. 95 is shorter with no traffic I believe, but there is almost always traffic (especially during a work day). 81 doesn't have as much traffic but is very truck heavy, and there are bad accidents sometimes.

 

[upj87]

Anyone driven it before? 2 ways seems about the same difference in mileage. 495 to 95 south or taking 66 West to 81 south. Any preference? I’d guess 66 West to 81 south would be less of a traffic problem. Thanks

If it is a matter of 10 or 15 minutes difference in driving time, I'd take 81 to 77...much more scenic a drive

 

[FireballZ]

There's a ~50 mile stretch of road on I81 around JMU that is, for my money, the worst stretch of road in the country. It's all 2 lane mountain road and extremely tractor trailer heavy. And those dudes don't give AF and will ride the left lane and cut you off like it's nothing. If you're coming in Friday and don't mind the possibly of getting stuck in a 90-120 minute accident delay (I've done the I81 trip all the way from NC to PA probably 10 times), which I've seen probably 7/10 times, usually heading north, then I agree, it's a pretty scenic ride. Just know that with the tractor trailers and hayseed 1980 pickup truck drivers in western Virginia, it can be a very stressful journey.

That said, I hate I95 around DC, so I always take I77 to I81 to get back to the PA turnpike.

 

[noelr]

Or there’s the way through Charlottesville and 29

 

[RaleighPittFan]

https://www.expedia.com/lp/flights/clt/dca/charlotte-to-washington