Best Route to Washington, DC from northern RI?

[AirHog]

We will be taking a trip next week to Washington,D.C. from Rhode Island, and wonder what's the best route to take to advoid the overpriced tolls of I-95. We took I-95 last year to D.C. and paid over $150 in tolls.

So.....any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Gail

[Janets Husband]

Don't know if this will help but try this link.

http://www.usastar.com/i95/alternate...oter=ExitGuide

[robandzoe]

Hello. I drive from Upstate NY to Washington DC all the time, and never pay a toll...I'm an anti toll guy!

Take I-84 across Conneticut through NY to Scranton, PA, take I-81 south to I-83 south to 581 West to Route 15 south to I-270 south to DC? What part of DC are you going to?

I-15 is a good four lane highway now, through Gettysburg area and Frederick, MD. If you don't want to go that way, you can take I-83 south to Balitmore, then I95 south to the I495 DC Beltway.

Either way, no tolls.

Good luck.

Rob

[myboyburt]

Hi Gail,

I-81 is Leon's choice to get "down south" also. I'm not in love with it due to the steep mountain grades and the number 18 wheelers using this road to avoid the tolls on route 95. I will say the professional drivers are for the most part very considerate of those of us "pullin' one of them there camper trailers with a pickum' up truck" (heard this on the CB as we were traveling up a wicked steep grade and the truckers were making room for us in the slow lane).

My folks just came up to NH from AZ two weeks ago and they used I-81. My father said it was fine and my mother said she would never want to travel it again in a motorhome because of the number of professional trucks on the route. So, I guess not liking I-81 could be a Plunkett woman thing.......

[53flyingcloud]

Originally Posted by Titu & Gail Ahmed

We will be taking a trip next week to Washington,D.C. from Rhode Island, and wonder what's the best route to take to advoid the overpriced tolls of I-95. We took I-95 last year to D.C. and paid over $150 in tolls.

So.....any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Gail

Gail,
I've gone the same way as posted by robandzoe. It's a simple route but, just be aware of the switch over near Scranton..If you miss the turn, you'll be headed North instead of South on I-81..(How do I know this?? lol)
For what's worth, no RV's are allowed inside of Washington, DC..You'll see the sign just outside of Washington, as you come around on the beltway..(Just so you know..)
There's a great place to stay in College Park, MD. called 'CherryHill Park'. Stayed there 4yrs ago and, it was very nice. Even runs a shuttle service to downtown Washington, every half hour on the hour, as I recall.
Good luck~!
ciao
53FC

[AirHog]

Originally Posted by 53FlyingCloud

Gail,
There's a great place to stay in College Park, MD. called 'CherryHill Park'. Stayed there 4yrs ago and, it was very nice. Even runs a shuttle service to downtown Washington, every half hour on the hour, as I recall.
Good luck~!
ciao
53FC

Great minds think alike! That's exactly where we are going, to Cherry Hill Park! Didn't get to see everything last year, so we are going back for more.

Thanks everyone, we need to review all your recommendations to see which route will be best for us. Will let you know how it all works out.

Gail

[robandzoe]

I'd take the I-83 from Harrisburg, to I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) west, sixteen miles to I-95 south about 20 miles to I-495 and you're at College Park. IKEA is right there too. Good luck!

Rob

[fireflyinva]

I head up North a bit to visit family in Mass. (so a good way out of DC is welcome, too). I do know that I-95 is shorter to Boston, but typically much more annoying (in terms of traffic) and then there are those darn tolls.

We generally swallow the tolls if we are driving the regular car--but I never realized the tolls cost that much for towing! I picked up the trailer when we bought it in Long Island, iirc, tolls were about $30 from the George Washington Bridge on--certainly it wasn't over $35. I don't believe there are any tolls North of there. Maybe you paid more in terms of extra axels? Granted, I made this trip in August 04, but that seems like a very steep escallation.

Mary