Virginia beach?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Kansas
Virginia beach?
This Friday (6/8/12) my girlfriend and I, along with my mom and dad are riding from Wichita Kansas to Virginia beach and back to Wichita. Dad and I are nervous about getting in to the va beach traffic. We are planning to check in to a hotel sometime on Sunday evening. Stay all day Monday. And head back Tuesday morning for blue ridge parkway, deals gap, jack Daniels distillery, etc.
Any times or back roads to help us in and out of va beach?
Thank ya!
Any times or back roads to help us in and out of va beach?
Thank ya!
Not sure where you're going to pick up the BRP, what time you want to get there or exactly when you are leaving. From your trip out it looks like you're taking three days to go about 1400 miles, so it doesn't sound like you have a lot of time for back roads.
So assuming all you want to do is beat the traffic out of Va Beach and get on up I64 to Waynesboro, your options aren't great. You'll be going with the major rush in the morning to get to the naval base so 7-9 will be bad. You will be able to use the HOV lanes to the base but after that your stuck with the rest of the traffic. On the peninsula you will be able to pick up HOV lanes through Newport News which will help some but they don't last very long. Once you get to the Williamsburg area things should start to thin out a little and the rest of the ride is a straight shot on I64. Again depending on the time of day if you leave early to miss the Va Beach rush you will hit the rush around Richmond so would suggest taking 295 around Richmond as I64 goes right through downtown.
So assuming all you want to do is beat the traffic out of Va Beach and get on up I64 to Waynesboro, your options aren't great. You'll be going with the major rush in the morning to get to the naval base so 7-9 will be bad. You will be able to use the HOV lanes to the base but after that your stuck with the rest of the traffic. On the peninsula you will be able to pick up HOV lanes through Newport News which will help some but they don't last very long. Once you get to the Williamsburg area things should start to thin out a little and the rest of the ride is a straight shot on I64. Again depending on the time of day if you leave early to miss the Va Beach rush you will hit the rush around Richmond so would suggest taking 295 around Richmond as I64 goes right through downtown.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 121
From: Southern WV
Rode to Va Beach last month. Got caught in traffic on I 64 about 4 miles from the tunnel under the bay on Sunday evening. Stop and go for the next 4 miles then after the tunnel it was all clear. Left out about 9 am on a weekday and had no traffic problems getting out. Definitely take 295 around Richmond on your way to the BRP
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: East Coast
i used to live there...all points about I-64 are true...so the best thing is to time your ride...either early, early in the morning or late, late after rush hour...the stop and go through the tunnel sucks...done that many times...I-64E will take you to I264E. mid-day is a crap shoot...good luck, have fun! one other thing, be mindful of cagers on cell phones or texting...
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 129
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From: Norfolk, Va
Since your coming from Kansas I'm assuming you'll pick up I-64 in St Louse and take that all the way in. If so pick up Rt 60 at Charleston WV and ride the mountain road. It will put you back on I-64 and will add maybe 45 minutes but well worth it. Actually you could follow Rt 60 all the way to Va Beach but it gets stupid around Richmond.
Take I-295 around Richmond then follow I-64 then I-264 into Va Beach. You can't go anywhere in Tidewater without crossing a bridge, tunnel or ferry and the traffic sucks from sun up to sun down. There are no real good back roads/short cuts to get around it. The few that exist the locals know so they are just as hammered. Don't even try it. Plus with the summer tourists it makes things even worse. Get here and leave as early or late as you can (read that as - if it's day light you missed your window).
Now for the ride out, I just did a ride that way the other weekend. I took I-95 south at Richmond then the Chippenham Pkwy west (150) picked up Rt 60 west and took that to Buena Vista then caught the Blue Ridge Pkwy there and headed south. It was a great ride but I did it on a weekend. On a week day morning Richmond is nuts.
If you want some other routes out of the area PM me.
Take I-295 around Richmond then follow I-64 then I-264 into Va Beach. You can't go anywhere in Tidewater without crossing a bridge, tunnel or ferry and the traffic sucks from sun up to sun down. There are no real good back roads/short cuts to get around it. The few that exist the locals know so they are just as hammered. Don't even try it. Plus with the summer tourists it makes things even worse. Get here and leave as early or late as you can (read that as - if it's day light you missed your window).
Now for the ride out, I just did a ride that way the other weekend. I took I-95 south at Richmond then the Chippenham Pkwy west (150) picked up Rt 60 west and took that to Buena Vista then caught the Blue Ridge Pkwy there and headed south. It was a great ride but I did it on a weekend. On a week day morning Richmond is nuts.
If you want some other routes out of the area PM me.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Kansas
Thanks guys!
We are leaving Wichita KS to Paducah Kentucky to Kingsport Tennessee and then to Virginia Beach. (small stops for gas in between of course) YES! we are planning on shooting around Richmond via I-295. I have read quite a bit and have heard many people say Richmond is terrible traffic for a motorcycle.
So it sounds like the Sunday we arrive it needs to be early to avoid the evening "sunday drivers"..?
And what about hitting the road at 9 am on a Tuesday?
If we must we could probably leave about 4 or 5am... Wow.. thatll be really early cause we are use to central time.. ugh.. hahaha..
We are leaving Wichita KS to Paducah Kentucky to Kingsport Tennessee and then to Virginia Beach. (small stops for gas in between of course) YES! we are planning on shooting around Richmond via I-295. I have read quite a bit and have heard many people say Richmond is terrible traffic for a motorcycle.
So it sounds like the Sunday we arrive it needs to be early to avoid the evening "sunday drivers"..?
And what about hitting the road at 9 am on a Tuesday?
If we must we could probably leave about 4 or 5am... Wow.. thatll be really early cause we are use to central time.. ugh.. hahaha..
I would say the 9 am start would be the best. Your at the tail end of the morning rush as the base traffic is an early rush and you shouldn't have problems getting around Richmond. Figure about 3 hours to get to the BRP, have a nice lunch and head down the BRP. There's not much in the way of eating at the BRP exit off I64 but if you go another 5 miles or so there's plenty of places to grab a bite in Waynesboro. Safe riding!
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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If you're not in a huge hurry, when leaving Virginia Beach follow 64 to 664 and take exit 9A onto 17 West. Follow that to 10 West and take that route to Richmond. You'll avoid most of the rush hour traffic, so you may end up getting there quicker.
Unless you've got your heart set on riding through the tunnel, it's not that bad of a ride.
Another option if you have a GPS, set your destination to the Richmond HD and change your GPS settings to "avoid highways". Gives a pretty nice ride up there.
Unless you've got your heart set on riding through the tunnel, it's not that bad of a ride.
Another option if you have a GPS, set your destination to the Richmond HD and change your GPS settings to "avoid highways". Gives a pretty nice ride up there.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,443
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From: North Carolina
This, I work the tidewater area, I do not ride there and I know all the shortcuts. Find another destination besids Va beach.