Need Help Avoiding Wash DC on Saturday

[JudyJB]

I made my plans for heading from near Gettysburg to Williamsburg and Jamestown, VA, but unfortunately a lot of protestors made plans for a big rally in Wash DC on Saturday, the exact day I am going to end up driving through there!!! I will get there and drive through at about noon, so maybe no one will be on the roads then????

My GPS is routing me from Codorus SP in PA, as shown in the blue line here. The alternate route is the red line I have drawn. Problem is that both of these go around DC on the beltway--west or east side of city. I am worried about traffic or protests on the highway itself. Also, both the recommended and the alternate routes are about 240 miles which is about my limit. So what about the purple route I have drawn?? I have no idea what these roads are like, and I don't want to spend a lot of time on narrow and winding roads, so what is my best choice?


Click For Full-Size Image.

Any other suggestions?

[Cudedog]

Good luck with that, Judy. I have never visited D.C., so all I can offer is my unsolicited opinion.

I have been reading quite a bit on this. . . rally thing, and by all reports it might have the possibility to get rather. . . unpleasant.

I would, personally speaking, avoid the entire area if I possibly could (yes, I am a major wimp at such things).

Any chance you can stay where you are for an extra day or two (at least until the dust settles) before proceeding to your destination?

Anne

[Othersharon]

Judy, if it were me I would take your purple route. Anytime we’ve had to be on the Washington DC highways and no matter what time of day or week it’s super congested. Admittedly it’s been years since I’ve been that way but I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better! If I’m looking at this right from Gettysburg you’d be traveling on 15 and that’s a decent road. Just my opinion with what I remember. There is definitely some beautiful country to see. Frankly, I would avoid DC under normal circumstances but with what’s happening this weekend I would really avoid it! Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Shirlv]

Judy, I’m hoping Irmi and Steve see you post. It’s been so long long since I traveled from Gettysburg I don’t remember. I think it would be the red line to #695 around Baltimore, to #97 toward Annapolis. Think there are signs to #301 I always took #301 to Virginia Message Irmi and am sure Steve would give good directions.

[Bethers]

I would take the purple route even without the rally. I've driven on the beltline more than I've ever wanted to and hated it in a car, but hated it more in my RV abs promised myself if I ever did it again, it would be overnight. And while I liked driving at night long ago, I avoid it whenever I can now.

[Irmi]

Judy, I'm sorry I didn't see this until now. We always take 301 south from Annapolis. You would go through lots of towns and there are lots of traffic lights in those towns, but it sure beats going around Washington. The traffic there is busy all the time.

[Ackcminnie]

Judy....
We have a 30 foot Winnebago class C and We take the route from Gettysburg to 95 South very often.
I followed your route that You posted but one exception.

At Leesburg we stay on 15 South To Warrenton, At Opal we take 17 South through Bealeton and Goldvein right to I 95.
It’s great highway, very scenic and not busy.

It is the only way we would ever go from here at home in eastern Pennsylvania to our place in North Carolina.

BTW.... when you pass through Thurmont after leaving Gettysburg there is a nice family buffet restaurant called Mountain Gate.
Very accessible and lots of room to park the Rv. A big Weis food market there and gas stations.

Hope this helps! Karen

[Bethers]

Not to steal Judy's post, but Karen it sure is good to hear from you. I hope you join in more often!

[Acadianmom]

I can't help you with the route but with what might be going on in Washington DC this weekend I would stay away from there. I got too close to Washington going to New Jersey and I would never go there again.

Martha

[Othersharon]

Karen, when my husband did his last assignment in the Air Force he was stationed at Langley AFB and I do remember a couple trips the kids and I drove down we went thru Thurmond and I believe once when DH was with us I think we stopped at that restaurant. He always jumped on 17 to go to the base. So much thanks for the reminder of good memories! From our home in Central PA we always went around Harrisburg to Gettysburg and then on down. Only a few times for one reason or another did we actually go on the Beltway and that was to get to a specific place. Otherwise we stayed away from it! So Judy, looks like you have a few options here! Let us know which way you go! And Karen, ditto to what Beth said!

[Ackcminnie]

Beth and Sharon....thank you for your kind words!
I usually think that I don’t have much to offer, but then on the other hand, when we share info it helps All of us.

Judy, I hope you found the best way to go. The further you stay away from the DC area, the better. We are planning to take that same route I mentioned in about a week.
Karen

[Cudedog]

Beth and Sharon....thank you for your kind words!
I usually think that I don’t have much to offer, but then on the other hand, when we share info it helps All of us.

Judy, I hope you found the best way to go. The further you stay away from the DC area, the better. We are planning to take that same route I mentioned in about a week.
Karen

Good morning, Karen.

I would also like to say. . . um, Welcome! I only added the "um" part because I didn't recognize your name, so thought you were new here - until I checked your "join" date - you have been on here almost as long as I have!

So, anyway, WELCOME. Hope you join in more often.

Thanks!

Anne