Traffic out of DC on a summer Friday looks more like a hurricane evacuation than rush hour. Get a weekend trip off to a good start by heeding our advice. Here’s how to get out of the city without wasting hours trapped in gridlock.
1. Leave late: In the summers — thanks to “summer Fridays” and government workers ducking out early — rush hour extends all day. Just when the stragglers are getting to work and the morning traffic is clearing up, a whole new rush of taking-a-half-day-ers begins. So, if you truly want to beat the traffic, don’t leave early, leave late. After 8p.m., you can fly out of DC. The downside, of course, is that you will arrive late at your destination.
2. Take Dulles Toll road instead of 66: This is our best find. If you’re headed west, consider taking the Dulles Toll Road (which will cost you about $5) instead of Rt. 66. Rt. 66 narrows at several points causing huge back-ups. Dulles Toll road is also a possible replacement for Rt. 270, if you are headed towards Cumberland or Morgantown.
Last weekend, in the middle of the Friday afternoon rush, this alternative route had little traffic on it and no congestion. We soared out of DC to Rt. 81. It was worth the toll.
3. 95 N instead of 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway: I thought I was being so clever when I found a new route up to Baltimore on 295. I thought cutting across the city on New York Avenue would save me so much time. The reality is that this route is backed up from downtown DC half way to Baltimore. These narrower roads are less suited to handle the throngs of traffic than the beltway and Rt. 95.
4. Avoiding New York Ave.: When headed to the Eastern Shore, it’s possible to avoid the traffic clogged New York Ave. (Route 50) and cut an hour off the trip. Try this convoluted route: take I-395 to the Pennsylvania Avenue (Sousa) Bridge, cross the bridge, turn left at the first light to get to Route 295 north (Kenilworth Avenue) and take that to Route 50. You’ll avoid all the lights on New York Avenue
The Worst Traffic in DC
According to a study by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, these areas have the worst traffic in the DC metro region. Be sure to avoid these exchanges, especially the last two, which made the list for their long back-ups and sustained congestion.
Southbound I-395 from 4th Street to Route 1 (5:30pm to 6:30pm)
Westbound 11th Street Bridge from I-295 to Southeast Freeway (8:00am to 9:00am)
Northbound I-395 from 11th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue (4:30pm – 6:30pm)
Outer Loop from New Hampshire Avenue to Route 29 (8:00am to 9:00am)
In the morning, eastbound I-66 from the Route 234 Bypass to the Beltway. The average delay there is 21 minutes.
In the evening, the worst stretch of highway is the Inner Loop between Route 7 in Tysons Corner and the I-270 Spur near Bethesda.
Escaping DC without the traffic
Traffic out of DC on a summer Friday looks more like a hurricane evacuation than rush hour. Get a weekend trip off to a good start by heeding our advice. Here’s how to get out of the city without wasting hours trapped in gridlock.
1. Leave late: In the summers — thanks to “summer Fridays” and government workers ducking out early — rush hour extends all day. Just when the stragglers are getting to work and the morning traffic is clearing up, a whole new rush of taking-a-half-day-ers begins. So, if you truly want to beat the traffic, don’t leave early, leave late. After 8p.m., you can fly out of DC. The downside, of course, is that you will arrive late at your destination.
2. Take Dulles Toll road instead of 66: This is our best find. If you’re headed west, consider taking the Dulles Toll Road (which will cost you about $5) instead of Rt. 66. Rt. 66 narrows at several points causing huge back-ups. Dulles Toll road is also a possible replacement for Rt. 270, if you are headed towards Cumberland or Morgantown.
Last weekend, in the middle of the Friday afternoon rush, this alternative route had little traffic on it and no congestion. We soared out of DC to Rt. 81. It was worth the toll.
3. 95 N instead of 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway: I thought I was being so clever when I found a new route up to Baltimore on 295. I thought cutting across the city on New York Avenue would save me so much time. The reality is that this route is backed up from downtown DC half way to Baltimore. These narrower roads are less suited to handle the throngs of traffic than the beltway and Rt. 95.
4. Avoiding New York Ave.: When headed to the Eastern Shore, it’s possible to avoid the traffic clogged New York Ave. (Route 50) and cut an hour off the trip. Try this convoluted route: take I-395 to the Pennsylvania Avenue (Sousa) Bridge, cross the bridge, turn left at the first light to get to Route 295 north (Kenilworth Avenue) and take that to Route 50. You’ll avoid all the lights on New York Avenue
The Worst Traffic in DC
According to a study by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, these areas have the worst traffic in the DC metro region. Be sure to avoid these exchanges, especially the last two, which made the list for their long back-ups and sustained congestion.
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