We are planning our Convoy down south and are planning to take this route:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by g-s2k
[B]Hi Guys!!!

I too am interested if you are meeting up with the New England Convoy, and where and what time that would be.

We (the New England Convoy) are planned to pick up the NY/NJ group at around 2:00 AM at the first rest stop pass Exit 9 off of the New Jersey Turnpike which is I think also Route 95, then we plan on taking 95 down into Baltimore to 695 (west or south?) to 70 West to 81 south.

 

Pinky, I grew up in the D.C. area but live in Richmond now. What roads are you concerned about?

I would avoid 495 (Capital Beltway) and 66, which looking at your route shouldn't be a problem.

[Edited by VA S2K on 03-30-2001 at 01:00 PM]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by VA S2K
[B]Pinky, I grew up in the D.C. area but live in Richmond now.

 

US 81 is quite a ways west of the DC area. If you wanted to pass thru this area, you would need to take 95S to 495 (the DC beltway), go around the western side and pick up 66W to 81. 70 out of Baltimore looks like it is a little longer way to go, but it will probably be a lot less traffic.

 

Yes, exactly what rocketman said. 95-495-66-81 if you guys are planning to go THROUGH the D.C. area but 70 to 81 is the way to go I think.......way way less congested.

It's very easy to do 70 to 81......you can't miss it. I'm not familiar with places north of there, like Baltimore/Philly

[Edited by VA S2K on 03-30-2001 at 01:05 PM]

 

if you went thru DC you'd be cutting veeeery close to rushhour. it's ~ 4 hours NY to DC and the beltway start filling up around 530-6am. also on I66 going in AND out of the city. driving from fairfax county from baltimore during rushhour turns a 45 minute drive into multiple hours.

if you're taking 81, be SUPER DUPER careful for VA state poopers. they looove to rape you with speeding tickets, esp. near Blacksburg b/c of VA tech. had more than one friend lose his license on 81. and you will get cited if caught with a radar detector and probably have it confisgated as evidence since you're from out of state.
just a heads-up!

if you're going to hop 70, get off at frederick and take 340W to 7W to 81. it's a prettier drive and it keeps you going south so it's shorter as well.

personally i'd go west in pensylvania on I78 and go thru harrisburg to pickup I81. but your route is good since you're meeting up on the NJ tpike.

 

It does look a little better thought we decided to keep our selves away from the DC area because we will probably be hitting the early dawn by then. So traffic we wanted to avoid. I am traveling over 700 miles do you really think another 10-20 is gonna kill me! no. Thanks for the input though.

Guess im just really worried about the 95-695-70 negotiation. VA you familiar with that?

EDIT: New England Convoy: 95 down into Baltimore to 695 (west or south?) to 70 West to Rt. 340 to Rt 7 to 81 south. This does look shorter!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rocketman
[B]US 81 is quite a ways west of the DC area.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pinky
[B]
Guess im just really worried about the 95-695-70 negotiation.

 

The intersection of I95 and I695 in MD can't be missed, just bear to the right at the split. I believe the sign is marked 695 West, and may say "Towson". This is what you want. The intersection of I70 and I695 is also where the Social Security Administration is located, so I would avoid this area at 3:00 PM or later. Try to get through here before then. Traffic is always horrible on the Baltimore Beltway, so there is either bad traffic or really bad traffic. On I70 West, there are often MSP just before US29 South, and also near the intersection of MD32 and I70. There is construction on I70 in Frederick, and this can be messy. Again, avoid this area if possible after 5:00 PM - the folks coming up I270 from DC drive horribly. West of Frederick, the road is OK to Hagerstown, but there are usually MSP somewhere along the stretch. I used to drive from Boston to DC about 6 times per year for 5 years. If you take I287 across the Tap, Garden State Pkwy to the Jersey Turnpike, you miss the CBX and GW Bridge, and I've found that it took me the same amount of time. Taking the Jersey Turnpike all the way through to the end, aren't you? I95 through Trenton and Philly suck.

 

I am glad I started this thread. Though remember guys were leaving NJ around 2:00AM! So we will be cruzing through the Baltimore area hopefully before rush hour happens.