Community Forums

wcjadnil · 08-11-2014, 01:34 PM

Hi all,

We will be traveling from Florida to Delaware very soon in our 38' Safari Simba. On past trips we stayed on 95 all the way from Jax to the Concord Pike in Wilmington. However, we endured a series of harrowing experiences on the Baltimore and Washington beltways, and we swore we would never, ever drive those highways again! We plan on taking 301 from VA to Middletown this time. Is this route still a good option? I know it can be slow and congested as the areas surrounding 301 are now heavily populated but it still seems to be a less stressful option than dealing with 95/695. Any insight you all could provide is truly appreciated. Thanks! LJ

Route 66 · 08-11-2014, 01:52 PM

I agree with you on the DC and Balt hassles and I always take 301.

I suggest exiting I95 at Carmel Church onto 207. Watch your speed along this stretch as it's radar patrolled.

207 becomes 301 at Bowling Green and stay on 301 all the way.

It does get a bit congested in Waldorf, La Plata around Annapolis and it may take a bit longer, but it's mostly a pleasant and pretty ride.

jackrobinryan · 08-11-2014, 02:19 PM

We live in Richmond after 20+ yrs in DC doing the beltway and I95......hate it. 95 and the beltway can be 2 hours, or 8!

301 to get around DC hassles is well worth it. There might be a little congestion south of Andrews AFB but stay on 301 to I695 past BWI airport and on up to the Balt Harbor tunnel and back onto I95.

Did this just last week.

F239141 · 08-11-2014, 02:31 PM

301 is ok, the Henry Nice bridge is old narrow and junk, have to pay a toll going from MD to VA. Waldorf and LaPlata are not to bad. I used to stay in Waldorf 2 or 3 times a year seeing family, it's not that bad of an area

BBQ Judge · 08-11-2014, 02:32 PM

I just did the portion of VA into MD; only one slight problem. The bridge into MD was under construction and down to one lane at the very top. At least a 15 minute delay but take heart, no toll east bound. I have done the rest into DEL sometime ago, no problem for a rig except possible construction. I think Concord Pike is U.S. 202 which is a lot of red lights and malls northbound towards PA.

dabrooks · 08-11-2014, 06:45 PM

After you get through Waldorf stay on 301 until you get to Bowie Md and then take Rt 50/301 across the Bay Bridge and then back on 301 all the way to Delaware. 301 after it splits off from 50 around Queenstown is almost deserted
from there to Delaware.

Remember you can't go through either tunnel at Baltimore if you chose to go back on 95 instead of staying on 301. There are also lots of tolls on that route.

Westwind · 08-11-2014, 06:58 PM

We have used 301 south when traveling from Rhode Island to Florida on a January weekend pulling our FW for the last 3 years, we get on to it by taking exit 1 after the Delaware Memorial Bridge and it sure beats battling traffic.
This year we took it for the first time returning from Florida and it was a great ride. Definitely beats the traffic on the Baltimore beltway and Washington Beltway. Going north we got on at Ruther Glen, VA and off right before
the Delaware Memorial, we then took Jersey Turnpike, Garden State, and Tappan Zee bridge to get to I95 and home.
I prefer I-81 to I-78 to I-287 to the Tappan Zee Bridge, I feel for us it's a better less stress full route. Delmarva (301) is great but it's the NJ Turnpike and especially the Garden State at commuter time stink big time and I-95 isn't much better.
Don't know what Middletown your headed to but I hope this helps.

JiminJersey · 08-12-2014, 10:58 AM

I second all the above kudos for 301 from almost anywhere in VA north to Delaware. As noted, take the US 50/301 Bridge at Annapolis, then stay on 301 north when it splits away from US 50 ( unless you're headed to Ocean City, MD).

301 in MD/DE is like Xanax for your soul, very sedate and calm, divided almost all the way, just a few miles of traffic lights and such after you come down off the Annapolis Bay Bridge, then not another light until Middletown, DE.

Once you cross the C&D Canal up at the very top, you have several choices as to how to proceed farther north. We live just across the river, so sometimes we do US 40 to US 13, sometimes we just hop on I-95 NB and do that. There was a LOT of construction around Exit 7 of I-95 (Christiana/Newark) the last few years, but it's almost all done now, except for barrel pickup. Still gets congested at times, but nowhere near as bad as it used to be.

The only thing you need to be aware of on 301 coming up the DelMarVa is a lot of at-grade crossings of the little county roads. People are usually pretty good at waiting for traffic to pass, but I've seen a half-dozen nutballs sit there and then jump across ahead of me when I was 30 yards away.

Enjoy!