Routes to Washington, DC

[AirEgger]

Will be in the Charleston, West Virginia area early September and heading to WDC. Any suggestions re routes. Have been looking at continuing on I-64 to I-81, then up to I-66 and also looking at I-79 out of Charleston up to I-68 and east to I-70. Don't have any experience with either route. Appreciate comments re road conditions, steepness, etc. Will be driving a 2015 F-250 diesel and towing a 30 ft FC. Thanks in advance.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by AirEgger

Will be in the Charleston, West Virginia area early September and heading to WDC. Any suggestions re routes. Have been looking at continuing on I-64 to I-81, then up to I-66 and also looking at I-79 out of Charleston up to I-68 and east to I-70. Don't have any experience with either route. Appreciate comments re road conditions, steepness, etc. Will be driving a 2015 F-250 diesel and towing a 30 ft FC. Thanks in advance.

I would take I-64 to I-81 to I-66. Tamarack is a good place to stop and eat. I believe the food there is prepared by the chefs at the Greenbrier hotel. Lewisburg, WV is also a good place to stop and eat.

I don’t know where you are going in DC, but this is a tough place to drive period let alone towing a trailer.

Dan

[AirEgger]

Thanks Dan, we're heading to Cherry Hills, was there before several years ago. On that trip we came down I270 to I495, on a Sunday, and the traffic was tolerable. While I would like to sample the food you mentioned, I think we're going to go I79/I68/I70 which will bring us down I270 again and shorten our time on I495. Thanks again for your reply.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Traffic in the Washington area its self can be a mess petty much any time of day / day of the week. Indeed the usual "rush hour" times will always be an issue. Allow lots of time for that part of it. Know what lane you need to be in well ahead of time. Stay out of anything marked "HOV" regardless of what the signs seem to say. (All the *real* rules are on their web site if you want to have fun reading up on it .... Found that out from the State Trooper who wrote the ticket ....)

Bob

[AirEgger]

Thanks Bob for the information. Good advice re the lane selection and the "HOV" warning. Barry

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by AirEgger

Thanks Bob for the information. Good advice re the lane selection and the "HOV" warning. Barry

Hi

In our case, the "RV" GPS was very insistent we wanted to go through the toll booth and be in the left lane or else the world would end. The navigator and driver did not understand the need to bring up a web browser (while driving) and check the internet for the full set of regulations on that side of the road.

The trooper sitting a quarter mile down the road from the booth apparently spends his whole day pulling over RV's. He pulled out from behind one to grab us. He went after another once he was done with us.

Bob

[rideair]

Barry,

As someone that lives in Front Royal, VA and has to travel to Charleston, WV and Washington, DC for work, may I suggest you do the following. The I-64, I-81, I-66 getting off at I-66 exit#6 (Rt. 340/522). You then follow Rt.340 north up through Berryville, VA, into WV through Harpers Ferry, onto Frederick, MD where you can pick-up I-270 south down and around to the beltway. (Nice KOA at Harpers Ferry)

"OR"

Same as above but at Berryville, VA pick-up Rt.7 east to the Dulles Greenway at Leesburg, VA, then onto the Dulles Toll-Road, to I-495 north (the tolls should be about $10.00 or so). I personally go this way when heading to Cherryhill.

Enjoy,