My riding buddy and myself are riding to the Skyline Drive the third week of September from Delaware via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Route 50. My buddy does not want to get on 495 to go around Wash DC. We would like to take 66 into Front Royal. Is there anyway around or through DC without getting on 495? I think 29 will get us to 66 but from what I can see on the maps, it looks like it goes through the middle of DC and turns into local street traffic. We're not in a rush but would like to get through/around DC without much of a hassle. Any help and suggestions would be very appreciated.

 

I live in Annapolis for about 6 months and been over to Skyline dr twice now, each time I leave Annapolis around 7-8am (sat or sunday) and get to the 495 about 20mins later....at that time in the morning its an easy cruise, not much traffic, I can ride in the middle lane going about 60 and not worry about much. I then come back around DC around 1600-1800 and traffic is backed up and so you cruise along going 40mph or less.

honestly unless your on a bike that is under 750 cc(non sport) and can ride with traffic going about 60 you will be just fine. Now I did find that 495 SOUTH is a lot better than 495 NORTH. SOUTH has a nice few of the ferris wheel and going over the river is pretty neat and seeing the airport and the monuments and is shorter than the north route.


I am usually more "alert" on 50 with all those dam "bumps and "humps" in the road where it looks like the road expanded at a joint and pushed up. Also when the road turns into concrete near DC there a lot of them also.

BTW I love riding over there on the eastern shore and around ocean city great area!

 

Also since my sportie has a 2gal tank, I fill up in Annapolis, then on 66 I stop at exit 43A and theres a WAWA just two or three stops lights down on 29South that I stop and get gas again and a mid morning snack.
Then I take exit 23 and run 55 into Fort Royal, ( its a scenic byway) and my wife likes the views.
Once in Fort Royal I will stop and get gas one more time before I enter the park.

 

Thanks for the tip on getting gas at the WAWA off exit 43A...My buddy is dead set against riding on 495 for personal reasons. How viable is 50 to the 295/695/395 connection and then 110 to 66? We're leaving Dover, Delaware mid week Sept 13-15 leaving at 6:20am. What kind of traffic will we be hitting in Wash DC around 7:00am or so? Should he bite the bullet and take 495 around DC against his wishes or is the local route I mentioned ok at that time period?

 

If hes dead against 495...have you thought about taking 301 south, to 3, then to 20 and jump on 64, then would be taking skyline dr south-north. and then just reverse that route to go back?


Weekday DC drive would be 'fun" specially doing 7am rush hour.....
On the weekends when we go and be a tourist in DC we take 50-295 and park at the Navy yard and metro in.....295 is a 4 lane road that has narrow shoulders and is very dirty, like gravel on the shoulder and such, that was about a month ago so maybe they cleaned it?

taking local rounds IN DC at 7am wouldn't be much of a choice either with everyone trying to get to work and the bases, 395 is a major route to the Pentagon and the Navy Yard and 295 is to the Navy Yard......

Honestly I would just take 495, its mostly 4 lanes, and often the two right lanes split off for the "local" traffic to merge and exit...plus it makes it simple...50, 495 south and then 66 west.

 

I used to live in Waynesboro VA and had to travel to DC almost every week. When I got sick and tired of 66 to 495 into the mess I would take an alternate route that only added 15 - 30 min depending how I drove and it would save time in the pinch traffic times of DC.

From where you are I would take 70 out of Baltimore and run it toward Frederick and pick up 340. That is a real nice scenic route through Harpers Ferry along the river. You can connect with 81 or take 340 on south. Nice ride.

 

695 around Baltimore to 70 to 340. Maryland will rape You In Tolls to Boot on 95. I did this from So Jersey a couple of months ago. 340 is a pleasant ride.

 

I plotted a nice route using Garmin's BaseCamp traveling on RTE 50 after the Chesapeake Bridge to RTE 2 to 100 to 29 to 40 to 70 and then down 340. BaseCamp calculated the distance to be 194 miles with traveling time of 3 1/2 hrs. from Harrington, Delaware to Front Royal. I also plotted going around DC via 495 and came up with similar times and distance. Since my riding buddy is not in favor of riding on 495 I'm thinking he might like the northern route better once I can show him the maps. Thanks all for the suggestions and comments. Much appreciated.

 

THIS!!! And just stay on US340. Taking 81 won't save you any real time, and it is loaded with truck traffic and a crappy ride.

 

And from the bridge take 50 to I-97 to RT 32 to I-70. Better traffic and ride all around.

US40 andRt 2 can be a bit sketchy and will have plenty of stoplights.