in august the wife and i are planing a road trip from western ny down thru west va into n.c. and s.c.we will be ending up in myrtle beach s.c .looking at the map it looks like route 95 to 81 is the the most direct way home.only problem is i have heard horror stories of 95 past the dc area.can body suggest a good alternate route?

 

95 between DC and Richmond is horrible. Avoid at all costs. I have no idea your plans but if I had time and I were you, I'd ride from Myrtle Beach to Asheville, NC. In Ashville pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ride it onto Skyline Drive and now you are into northern VA. From Front Royal (where Skyline Drive ends) take Rt 66 west and pickup 81 to head home.

 

You're probably going on 390 to 15 through PA? (I live about 13 miles west of Mansfield.) I go to Norfolk about every 6 weeks to 2 months. To avoid DC (on the way home) get off 95 at exit 133 Fredericksburg VA (between Richmond & DC), and up 17 to 66 west which will bring you back to 81. Can't help you with routes that are south of Richmond, but I don't envy you being on ANY of 95 for that long. 81 is busy, but I think not as bad as 95. I've also taken 64 west from Richmond VA to 81. It's only about a half hour longer to get up to Harrisburg that way, and that's beautiful country in western VA. Traffic lightens up ALOT as soon as you get west of Richmond.


Also if you can get over to western VA, west of 81, you can take 220 up to Cumberland MD, and then 99 (also still 220 north) up past Penn State to 80 east. Then exit 178 Lock Haven (still 220 north) and it runs into 15 in Williamsport. Once you get up to 80, it'll be only about a half hour ride to Williamsport & 15.


If you feel like you wanna tough it out on 95, but just wanna avoid DC, do the exit 133 at Fredericksburg, and 17 north to 66 west to 81.

 

Take 15 out of Corning and stay on it till 85 in NC then work your way back east.

 

I've gone thru the Baltimore DC area on 95 and the beltways countless times. I go to Myrtle Beach often. The whole secret to that area is simply avoid rush hour. I've gone thru the area around 05:30 to 0700 headed south and averaged 70 mph. When coming north, I avoid morning rush hour south of DC and go thru the area northbound around 8 pm. Lot's of traffic but it moves well. Yea like anywhere else you can run into accident traffic but generally it moves well. 81 is not as crowded but still lots of trucks.

 

i had a feeling i needed to avoid 95 between richmond and baltimore.i think ill just back track the way im heading down there from troutman nc.has any body every run 220 up thru the viginia mountains?it looks like a long but nice ride.i am greatfull for the info,thankyou

 

Rte 81 Is an easy Ride. 95 is Hell.
I just came back from a southern trip and It's worth going out of Your way To avoid 95. Not Just Balt and Dc, But Philli, NJ, NY. Not to mention the Tolls. $24.00 just in Md!!

 

You will love US220 in WV and VA. Mountain twisties all the way.

 

I ride from Northern NJ to Atlanta area a couple of times a year. Look at 209 to 78/81. Keep on 81. It's not a bad road and pretty scenic in areas. Roanoke gets a bit crazy. If you want to run the Blue Ridge Parkway, suggest getting on at Waynesboro, VA. Mile '0' of the BRP. I avoid Skyline. Too many campers. Not sure where you would cut over for the beach but there are great east/west roads.

Rt 33 in WV and VA is highly ranked as one the top roads. The switchbacks in the mountains are floorboard grinders.

 

If 220 looks like it could take too long, another option would be to take a look at taking 81 up to Winchester VA, and then 522. It runs all the way up to Selinsgrove PA, and runs into 15. Then it'll be smooth sailin' on 15 all the way home from there. A few of us are going down to Luray Caverns & Skyline Drive, and I think we'll take 522.