Community Forums

Pat Z · 03-26-2009, 05:36 AM

When I travel South I take the Francis Scott Key Bridge around the Baltimore Tunnels. I was looking at a route to the west using Pulaski Highway, Ore leans Street and Martin Luther King Highway. Looking on Goggle Street view the roads look pretty good. I was wondering if anyone has any comments or suggestions on this route.

Greg I · 03-26-2009, 06:11 AM

If you go that way it will take you right through the heart of Baltimore. Lots of traffic lights and potholes. Some of the turns will be tight depending on the size of your rig and Baltimore drivers will not cut you any slack for wide turns. Probably just as fast to stick to the Key Bridge.

If you want to cut out some of Baltimore beltway and are heading for I95 South after you cross the Curtis Creek drawbridge take I97 South to Rt50 West and pick up I95 at the Washington Beltway.

UPS 34 · 03-26-2009, 06:16 AM

Use the Key Bridge or 695 Beltway. MLK Hwy is Downtown and tight. I like 695 the best. A little more miles but a good ride.

Roam America · 03-26-2009, 12:42 PM

I took the west route once. never agin. OMG it took 1.5 hours to get thru that traffic and back to 95. I was originally from NJ and began taking I-78 west to I-81 south until I get south of DC. depending on where i'm headed then I'll go back over to 95 using Rt-17 or I-64 or further south. If you must take 95, stick to the bridge.

Whaler · 03-26-2009, 02:12 PM

Pat-z,by you web site,it looks like your from Ft. Washington Pa.I'm down by Philly airport.I hate that long ride around Baltimore too!
Bring up google maps and check this way.A friend who drives for UPS goes this way from Philly to somewhere between Wasington and Richmond every night to beat the traffic.
Go down 95 to the last exit north of the toll booths in Delaware,Rt. 896,Middletown,Newark and take that south.Stay on that untill in Middletown it will turn into Rt 301 south.From the C&D canal down to just past Middletown it is one lane(one lane each way),then opens up to two lanes each way.From Middletown 'till Annapolis is like the highway that time forgot.I've been this way and for dozens of times.Son lives in Middletown,and I've had boats down at Kent Island and Baltimore Inner Harbour.(Outlets Mall in Queensland,for DW), I've never seen 10 cars or trucks per hour on this road,nobody seems to use it.No red lights between Middletown and Annapolis either!
I've been across the bridge there,over to the western shore,only toll. The road there is actually route 50/301.I have always gone north from this point,but on my next trip south,I'm gonna go over to 95 or Maryland 295 and head south.I see where rt 301 heads south to just north of Richmond,but I have never been this way.Maybe somebody with locol knowledge can fill us in.
It's strange,no problems with the Pa turnpike tunnels or the Chesapeake Bay tunnel bridges with the propane.Baltimore must have had a bad experience with propane.
PS Great crabs and sea food at Harris' seafood on Kent Island

Pat Z · 03-26-2009, 02:31 PM

I have taken that way a number or times. I pick it up off 3/50 and take it down to Bowling Green and take 207 right to the Flying J at exit 204 off 95. I got away from it because they added a lot of traffic lights and shopping centers. The last time I took it, it took a long time to get through. It;s a much more relaxing ride than 95 and the 2 lane portion really moves. I am not surprised that the west rout through Baltimore is no good or I would have heard about i before this. Try 301 it's a nice ride.

RVDude · 03-26-2009, 02:47 PM

I'll ditto Patz on the 3/301/207 Bowling Green route if you are heading deep into VA from Balto AND especially if you would hit DC anywhere near rush hour. You'll hit some suburban traffic lights in the MD portion, but smooth and uber-RELAXING the rest of the way. Lots of great seafood stops near the river too. And then bingo a FlyJ at the I95. I think there is a SB toll (a buck or two??) at the 301 river bridge.

If you are coming out of Del, (Newark) pick up 301 there.... It's far more enjoyable a ride than the DE-balto-DC corridor. I used to commute from Del to Richmond weekly, this route is a most pleasant one and took only about a half hour longer than the highly variable 95 route which could easily add hours due to traffic in multiple spots even at midnight.

UPS 34 · 03-27-2009, 02:29 AM

Unless your at rush 2 hours Washington and Baltimore traffic is not that bad. Maybe because I live here and see it all the time. The big problem is rude drivers. You will be cut off and given some funny hand signals.

RVDude · 03-27-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UPS 34

The big problem is rude drivers. You will be cut off and given some funny hand signals.

You mean they really do that in our Nation's capital??????

ppeter313 · 03-27-2009, 06:52 PM

We use 695 west all the time and only ran into slowdowns back when they were addiing lanes. We came up from Florida on Tuesday and went around at noon. The 27 miles took my speedy wife 25 minutes from 95 to 95.

Paul

read & learn · 04-04-2009, 05:20 PM

We have use the bridge both coming and going many times. We enjoy the nice little ride around Baltimore. Last time missed turn and paid the toll for tunnel. Toll collector just had the hand out for the money.
Guess they didn't realize we had propane on board or that it is just too much of a hassle to turn us around.
Hey, if you want to wave hello to us, use all your fingers next time.