Road Trip Planning - Washington DC to Baltimore

Richard in Florida

Richard in Florida

Well-known member
I'm drawing up a drive from northern Virginia to southern Vermont. I don't want to do it all on high-speed mega-highways.

Between Washington DC and Baltimore there are four possible routes:
US 29 -- Columbia Pike
I-95
US 1
MD 295 -- Baltimore Washington Parkway

Which of these four routes might be the most enjoyable and the easiest on a 60-year-old car?
 
Can't comment on any of those specific highways but on previous trips to the New England area the toll roads and bridges were a real pain.
 
sounds like the new rear end is in and you are going to see what amount of gas you use in the trip mate !!:)
 
If you are going to be in southern,VT, check out Hemmings in Bennington. Great cruise-ins every other Thursday evening. John
 
You might consider the short drive west to Leesburg and taking US 15 up through Frederick and Gettysburg and then work your way towards Vt., maybe through Amish country.
 
Cecil/WV said:
You might consider the short drive west to Leesburg and taking US 15 up through Frederick and Gettysburg and then work your way towards Vt., maybe through Amish country.
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That's a GREAT RUN, Air & Space Museum on the SE side of Dulles Airport, US 15 starts in Maryland at Point of Rocks, crossing the Potomac River, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg, Hershey/Carlisle if there is an event, a drive along the Delaware River, from Easton to Port Jervis,PA,(not 209, but either the PA or NJ side of the river) and pick up I-84.
 
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you did not say where in n va if near 81 n take it to 84 e to new england no tolls & you stay away from the citys what ever you do stay away from 95 lots of trafic tolls & cops & busses & trucks
 
Depends on how long you want to take and when you are going. Baltimore Washington parkway is still a highspeed 4 lane road. More trees on it, but not what I would call scenic. I would also recommend either route 15 or 97. 15 is a fourlane but with crossroads and goes through farm country. 97 is mostly 2 lane through horse country. If I am not in a hurry, I go 270 north to 15, to 81 in Harrisburg, to 84 east in scranton to Taconic state parkway. to 295 to 22.... then depending on how scenic you can take route 2 into williamstown and 7 north into Vermont.

Living in DC and my Parents in the NY,MA,VT corner, I do it alot. Taking the 95 through to New Jersey Turnpike to NY throughway is like $30 in tolls. If you haven't driven the taconic state, I recommend it.
 
I was having those same thoughts about US 15. Highly recommended. One of the "must drive" roads in the East.
 
Do you have any stops planned for the Washington, DC or Baltimore areas? If not I would avoid going near those areas like the plague. Usually lots of back ups, crazy drivers and all the other things already mentioned, etc., etc.. I would suggest taking some of the other alternate routes already mentioned here. The tolls on the Interstates north of Baltimore to the Vermont area can be a real expensive pain (and if our Gov'na gets his way all tolls in MD will soon nearly double) especially if you happen to be pulling a two axle trailer. Don't ask me how I know this :-(
 
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Thanks for all those posts. Great food for thought.

Any experience using 29, the Columbia Pike?

Let me clarify my trip a little. I'll be starting from Fairfax, Virginia. I plan to cross the river on I-495, make my way around both DC and Baltimore avoiding both beltways, and then take I-83 up to Harrisburg where I'll pick up I-81.

Once north of Baltimore the 81 to 88 to 90 to NY 7 to VT 7 route has been recommended. 15 sounds interesting for when I am strictly sightseeing.
 
if you want to avoid DC all together you can pick up 17 N by fredericksburg south of DC take this to Haymarket and pick up 15 N to Gettsyburg.....from gettysburg you can go to Harrisburg PA and then either take 81n to 84E to cross the Hudson or take the Pa Tnpk east to 95 N to the garden state parkway to the Tappanzee bridge to cross the hudson.

You can also take the road that parrallels 95N from DC all the way to the delaware memorial bridge, it has traffic lights and will take longer but its a great alternative i think its route 40 and you can pick this up off of the Baltimore Washington parkway. heres a little tip from the Baltimore washington parkway....go east on the baltimore beltway 695 and cross the bridge this avoids baltimore tunnel traffic and since you are ready east of 95 it doesnt take any longer and its less travelled

I would be scared to drive an old big car on the Taconic parkway. its beautiful but those lanes get awfully small
 
Richard in Florida said:
Thanks for all those posts. Great food for thought.

Any experience using 29, the Columbia Pike?

Let me clarify my trip a little. I'll be starting from Fairfax, Virginia. I plan to cross the river on I-495, make my way around both DC and Baltimore avoiding both beltways, and then take I-83 up to Harrisburg where I'll pick up I-81.

Once north of Baltimore the 81 to 88 to 90 to NY 7 to VT 7 route has been recommended. 15 sounds interesting for when I am strictly sightseeing.
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if you are going to start from fairfax (my backyard) and go to harrisburg take the toll road that parallels rte 7 or rte 7 to leesburg and then take 15 north to frederick and then on to gettysburg.... you can take 28N depending on where you start to get ot the toll road.

no reason to deal with 495 or baltimore at all....
 
37ford4dr said:
if you are going to start from fairfax (my backyard) and go to harrisburg take the toll road that parallels rte 7 or rte 7 to leesburg and then take 15 north to frederick and then on to gettysburg
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How about Route 50 over to 15? Route 50 is closer to Fairfax Station, my starting point.
 
Richard in Florida said:
How about Route 50 over to 15? Route 50 is closer to Fairfax Station, my starting point.
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Take 50 west to 15 north to Frederick, Gettysburg, Harrisburg then I-81 north

"no reason to deal with 495 or baltimore at all...."++

"15 sounds interesting for when I am strictly sightseeing." 15 from 20-30 miles south of Frederick north is 4 lane divided
 
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Lots of Route 15 is divided 4 lane. And the two lane part such as where you cross the Potomac at Point-of-Rocks is just spectacular. I like 15 quite a bit. But I think I already said that....:o
 
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