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Alternative Route

Alternative Route ?




We drive down from Michigan to D.C. Richmond, Norfolk, OBX like a lot of people do. The traffic is always sooo bad getting onto the island I've been thinking of another route. What about going south on 95 from Richmond to Rocky Mount and then taking 64 east to Manteo? We stay down in Avon anyway so I'm thinking we might beat some traffic. What do you think, less traffic on 64? I have driven across it before but it was back in the 90's and I'm sure things have changed a lot.


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RE: Alternative Route




Where are you coming from in Michigan? How about heading down through Ohio, into W.V., crossover the southwest tip of Virginia into N.C., go through Greensboro, Raleigh and through Manteo?

I know what you're thinking, that's an added 100 miles or so, so you'd just rather take the same old route you always do and roll the dice. Yes, it is farther, however, when you hit D.C., and do the 95 creep and crawl through Fredericksburg, and then do more of the same on 64, you'll be wishing you took that scenic route through W.V.!

See the thread titled, "No D.C = Much smoother trip".

Unless you plan on being in D.C. around 4 - 5 am, and head straight through, seriously avoid traveling 95 and 64 in Virginia!

Best wishes.


RE: Alternative Route




I myself have not taken this route, but after my last trip to OBX (sadly 2 years ago) and I was stuck in traffic for 2+ hours crossing the bridge. I have no need to cross there since we stay in Avon as well.

I have seen many posts recommending this route and will be taking it next year for sure!


RE: Alternative Route




US64 from Rocky Mount is usually smooth sailing. You'll need to watch your speed through Plymouth and Columbia. After Columbia it is a two lane road from there on with a speed limit of 55. (NOTE: Columbia drops to 35 but only for a few miles)


RE: Alternative Route




I need to get to Hatteras Village, either tomorrow or on Wednesday. I would much rather do it tomorrow, but I won't be able to leave until after a doctor's appt., so that means leaving Winchester, VA around 12:30 pm. If you don't know where that is, it would mean hitting 95 south (at Rt 17) around 2:15. Any way I figure this, it's going to get me into the rush hour mess around Hampton Roads. While we are talking about alternate routes, could anyone suggest one for me?


RE: Alternative Route




I need to get to Hatteras Village, either tomorrow or on Wednesday. I would much rather do it tomorrow, but I won't be able to leave until after a doctor's appt., so that means leaving Winchester, VA around 12:30 pm. If you don't know where that is, it would mean hitting 95 south (at Rt 17) around 2:15. Any way I figure this, it's going to get me into the rush hour mess around Hampton Roads. While we are talking about alternate routes, could anyone suggest one for me?


It may be an option for you to take 295 around Richmond, and then meet up with 460, instead of going 64. You'll avoid Hampton, Newport News, and you'll only have to drive on the Hampton Roads beltway for a short period of time. Only a few miles longer as well. Check out this mapquest route: http://mapq.st/1ai1Nbd

Good news for you is that if you can truly hit 95 at 17 at 2:15, you should be clear to Richmond. Good luck!


RE: Alternative Route




Thanks. Yeah, any good thing helps. I have wanted to try to 460 route for a long time, and maybe this is my chance.


RE: Alternative Route




Kathy make sure you take 295 and not just stay on 95. Otherwise you will hit traffic in Richmond. Watch your speed on 460 and no tunnels!


RE: Alternative Route




Thanks for the advice. I actually do pretty well at keeping the speed down on the way to the beach. Amazing, since I am usually known for pushing it. I think it's something to do with knowing where I am going to end up that just automatically relaxes me. Hopefully that holds true when I am only going to be down for a couple of days. Honestly, on 12 South, I sometimes have to remind myself to drive faster.


RE: Alternative Route




US64 coming in from the Raleigh area is very good; no or very few delays and usually only from someone doing the speed limit....

From MI, I would head down I75 to Lima, cut down US33 to Columbus, and then down US23 to Chillicothe, and then US35 into Charleston WV. (We use this route to get from Charleston up into MI for racing.) Get on I64, which joins I77 in Charleston WV, and keep in I77 into NC, then I74 to US52 to Winston-Salem, and then on I40 to Raleigh, then I540 around the north side of Raleigh to hit US64 and head east to Nags Head.


RE: Alternative Route




Thanks for the replys. Maybe I'll take a route we used to a long time ago. Get on the OH turnpike to I-77 south to N.C. I-40 east to Rocky Mount and 64 over to Manteo. There are problems with this also, I-40 can have very heavy traffic and I think it's at least 100 miles farther. I just don't think I can take the D.C. Richmond, Norfolk crawl again.


RE: Alternative Route




I-40 is a lot better nowadays in NC. It is 3 lanes each way most of the way from Winston-Salem to Raleigh, and there is a bypass around Greensboro and the I540 bypass around Raleigh.

The thing to try to avoid is west of Raliegh over to Chapel Hill in rush hour; it can get bogged down pretty badly. Other than that, you will find I-40 pretty easy these days, just a lot of traffic on it, 'specially compared to I75 above Grand Rapids!

If you use the route I spelled out above, it'll save you much time and miles vs the OH TPK and I-77. (I forgot that you can save a few miles around Lima; let me know if you are interested.) But you may prefer more insterstate type of driving.


RE: Alternative Route




Use some trip planning software to try hypothetical routes. They won't take local backups like DC or the Wright Bros Bridge into account.

On long trips, I make a game of not taking the same route twice. There's a lot of country out there to see. With a GPS, you won't get hopelessly lost.