traffic DC beltway

[Fritz]

anyone here have any thoughts and/or experience if either the western or eastern half of the beltway is less likely to be jammed heading south on a weekday?

[Panopticon]

Take EAST. West is always eff'd up, especially @ the I-270, the DTR, & I-66.

[Chupa Chupa]

What time of day? During rush all directions are slow.

[pRICE cUBE]

[quote Panopticon]Take EAST. West is always eff'd up, especially @ the I-270, the DTR, & I-66.
That's been my experience too.

[Fritz]

seems like I remember rush hour there is 7A to 7P

[Chupa Chupa]

Nah. 10:30am to 3pm things move pretty well in most parts. The exception is going north toward Alexandria with all the Wilson Bridge and 95 re-alignment construction. That's always stop and go from the Eisenhower Connector to the bridge. Always lots of traffic from 270 to Tysons but it moves. After 4pm though going south is going to be a B* from any direction. It clogs up at Occoquan on 95 and ripples up to 395 and 495.

[MacMagus]

Where are you going from and to and what time of day?

There are quite a few shortcuts that expose one to the belt for the minimum amount of time necessary...

[Fritz]

NYC today. We usually get to DC at the top of "Rush", 3-4P.

[MacMagus]

> NYC today.

From NYC to...

DC? Maryland? Virginia? Any particular town in the area? Further south?

It matters.

Example: If you're heading into N. VA or points south, take the GW Parkway. There's just 15 miles of 495 to traverse and then you bypass a huge stretch of it with convenient exits in Arlington and Alexandria and easy access to 395 for local exits or to catch 95 again in Springfield.