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Quickest route to annapolis?

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by hberg, Jul 1, 2005.

  1. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I have to travel to Annapolis next friday - besides greenway to tollroad, to 495 to 50 - does anyone know of any construction delays out that way? or a better way to go?
     
    hberg, Jul 1, 2005
    #1
  2. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    Helicopter!

    err, seriously... I don't think there's a better way than 495 to 50... i tried 50 all the way once (thought DC), and it was horrible... but you can try it!
     
    boomertsfx, Jul 1, 2005
    #2
  3. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    the best way is to cut across DC. As long as you aren't doing it during DC commute hours, its by far the best.. as it avoids all the major 'potential' traffic pitfalls of the wilson or 270-29 area of the beltway.

    Take the greenway (or alt) all the way to tollroad, to Rt-66
    Take Rt-66 to Rt 110 South (towards pentagon)
    Take Rt 110 to the I-395 North Junction (right next to pentagon)
    Take I-395 North and Cross the river. Stay to the right as the road splits after crossing the river (staying on I-395)
    You are now on the SE Expressway
    Stay on this road (ignore the signs to exit to stay on I-395 towards the capitol)
    The Expressway will end as you exit to Pennslyvania Ave (left side of expressway is event-only traffic to RFK)
    Turn right at the top of the ramp to go south on Penn. Ave and move to the left lanes
    Bottom of hill will be light to turn left onto DC 295. Turn left and merge up onto DC 295
    Stay on DC 295 until you get to the exit to Rt 50 East.

    Coming this way back from the beach also works, but is a little more complicated. One, the exit from Rt 50 to 295 coming back is confusing in labeling at times (I always forget) and second, you can not exit onto Penn Ave going the proper direction. You must make a u-turn on Penn Ave to get back heading towards I-395.

    This is by far so much better then either side of the beltway. This method also works to go south of DC as well.. but instead of staying on the SE Expressway till it ends, exit to I-295 south and this will drop you out right on the MD side of the wilson bridge.

    Going this way I can get to Fort Washington (south of DC) in ~50 minutes from Ashburn with no potential backups.

    You don't go through the best parts of town at the DC 295 interchange, or I-295 near Ft Bevior (if heading south) but I have no problems driving my family through there (if it were 2am maybe I'd think otherwise).

    We used to only go this way as a alt. if I-95 was screwed up.. but I do it EVERY time now.. its sooo much better.

    -Steve
     
    flynnibus, Jul 4, 2005
    #3
  4. pamD

    pamD New Member

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    I am 50-50 on whether the beltway or DC route is better. They seem to have finished a lot of the construction on the Montgomery County part of the beltway, but we drove it on Sunday, and there were about 3 miles around College Park that had been graded, but not paved. Bumpity, bumpity.

    I did want to give advice on the DC route back. There is a way to avoid the Penn Ave U-Turn: Go past the Pennsylvania Ave exit and take the Howard Road exit (might be 2 or 3 exits later). From there you can:

    1. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp. Follow Howard Road right onto South Capitol Street. This will take you to 395 S.

    2. (A little simpler) Turn left at the bottom of the ramp. Take the next left onto 295N, then immediately exit to 395.

    It still blows my mind why they didn't build an expressway through DC...

    Good luck!

    Pam D.
     
    pamD, Jul 5, 2005
    #4

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