Best Way To Travel Up?

[Dragonfly]

Hi All,
We want to bring our new boat up to the gathering, but my brother in law that lives up that way says what ever you do don't bring a boat through DC. So what route do those of you that are coming up from Florida take to get to Md? Now that we know it's in Md. lol Larry would love to bring the boat and get some tips and tricks about how best to set it up inside and out. I'd like to find out about curtains and such. So any way around DC and grid lock as my brother in law called it ? Any help would be great ! Thanks.. Tracy

[Bill.Secure]

Here's how to do it. Exit I-95 just north of Richmond and pick up route 301. You then have a number of options as to how you want to proceed.

Two things about 301. First, exit from VA to MD is over a fairly steep narrow two lane bridge. Also there are a fair number of malls, traffic lights, etc. on 301.

I do want to add that I-95 doesn't take you through DC. If you pick up I-495 (Washington Beltway) toward the east, you'll go over the new Woodrow Wilson bridge. Time it for after 9 or 10 pm and it shouldn't be difficult.

If you'd like more info on the area, just private message me.

Bill
Edgewater, MD

[Captains Cat]

And make sure you listen to WTOP Radio when you get around Fredricksburg heading north to I-495 (the Beltway) IF you go that way.... They have traffic reports every 10 minutes on the "eights":08 :18 :28 ETC. The exit onto 495 is a little tricky, I-95 goes that way too, follow signs for Baltimore, it's a LEFT exit although you will be heading EAST. RT 50 towards Annapolis is about 12 miles or so beyond the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. If you can possibly come on Thursday night rather than Friday, it will save you a lot of time. Fridays around DC are miserable..

Charlie

[Lucky Day]

Another $.02 --

There is significant congestion 24/7 on I-95 as you approach DC and along the Beltway as you skirt the actual city-limits of DC. I have always found the I-95 to US Rt. 301 to US Rt. 50 to the Bay Bridge a lot easier on the nerves. When I was trucking I always went that way. Just another opinion.

[mikeporterinmd]

Anyone have thoughts on him taking the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel?
I have only done it once or twice, so I can't really offer advice. It's an
interesting diversion, if not the fastest way to go. Don't know about towing
over it.

Mike

[Bill.Secure]

Mike has a really interesting idea there. I just looked at an interactive marine-road map and the Bay-Bridge-Tunnel sure looked like a reasonable alternative.

I went to the Bay-Bridge-Tunnel info site and noticed there was a $60 charge for vehicles in excess of 8'6". I doubt they count guide-ons but with my CD-25 I'm right at 8'6" so size may matter a little bit.

Bill
Edgewater, MD

[Dragonfly]

Thanks for all the helpful ideas ! We will be checking maps and taking all advice into account. We'd really like to get the boat up there with us. It will only be our second time out with it IF we get it on time. LOL Crossing fingers and toes on that one.. .