Hey there. Need some help. I'm heading down to Suffolk/Chesapeake/Norfolk, VA area soon to meet up with my Dh (who's currently in Afghanistan but will be coming back to the US for a few days next month for an exercise).
I'll be heading from the DC area with my kiddos. I plan to take Rt. 301 S...but then, is it best to take 95S around Richmond or get onto 17S into the Norfolk area? I don't know the roads down there and here are my concerns:
1) traffic
2) red lights
3) safety
4) rest stops/places I could stop with the kids to use a bathroom
Any tips?
Thanks in advance!
Sorry I don't know any answers to your questions, but I do want to say Thank you to you and your family for your sacrifices! I hope you have a great trip to see your hubby!
Well on the interstate you have your usual amount of stops. So it isn't like going through say Texas where you can drive 2 hours without seeing anything.
Don't you need to take I64 at some point? I think once you get to Richmond you switch to I64-- It has been a while since I have gone that way so I don't remember
but as far as traffic....not to bad. Late afternoons seems to be the worst -- **you will think it a breeze compared to DC traffic.
Are you staying at the AF Lodge? It;s something like $40 a night if not cheaper, and has a kitchen, living space, washing machine and dryer, and 2 bedrooms. We love the AF lodges so much better than the NAvy Lodges.
We would go 95S to 295S then take 64E. But then I am on 95 in VA.
If you go 95S DO NOT STOP at exit 118 Thornburg for gas. Stop at 104 at the Flying J. It is much cheaper, by about 15 cents.
THere is a rest stop at exit 131, there is Central Park at 130~Culpepper, this has everything you could ever want, fast food, the mall, Walmart, or exit 126 which has more of everything you never wanted.
There is not much on 295S until you reach 64. 64 is pretty bare until you hit Williamsburg and then there is everything you ever wanted until you hit the ocean, then of course it's just water until you hit Spain :o).
Have a great time with your hubby, he will be amazed at the green. My hubby kept sayign it's so green, there;s' not much vegetation over there.
I think the fastest way is 95 S to the Richmond bypass to 64.
There are rest areas on 64 that are very nice and have playgrounds.
Enjoy your trip!
LBC
Traffic is much lighter down here than in DC. You will probably be driving through one of the tunnels, and those can get very backed up in the afternoons. Plenty of places to stop--it's a pretty heavily populated route so there are rest stops/restaurants/gas stations everywhere. Hope you enjoy Hampton Roads and mostly getting to see your hubby!
