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Driving Route Advice: I-77, I-81 vs. I-95
Old 04-08-2018, 02:02 PM   #1
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Driving Route Advice: I-77, I-81 vs. I-95

I'm mapping out our annual drive from south to north and we are thinking of taking a route that avoids Washington area traffic. It takes us off I-95 in SC. We would take I-26 for a bit, then pick up I-77 near Columbia, SC. Take that to I-81 in Virginia, then I-81 until just past Harrisburg, PA. Then pick up I-78 until we get into New Jersey.

Does anyone have any experience with this route versus taking I-95? Aside from the issue of traffic around Washington, I-95 isn't our favorite road. But, we don't want to make a worse choice. I'm most interested in the stretches on I-77 and I-81, since those are the longest segments. Factors like road condition, traffic, amount of trucks, major lengthy construction, etc. would be of interest. I'm not really interested in quality of rest stops, scenic views, attractions, etc.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 04-08-2018, 02:10 PM   #2
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I'm mapping out our annual drive from south to north and we are thinking of taking a route that avoids Washington area traffic. It takes us off I-95 in SC. We would take I-26 for a bit, then pick up I-77 near Columbia, SC. Take that to I-81 in Virginia, then I-81 until just past Harrisburg, PA. Then pick up I-78 until we get into New Jersey.

Does anyone have any experience with this route versus taking I-95? Aside from the issue of traffic around Washington, I-95 isn't our favorite road. But, we don't want to make a worse choice. I'm most interested in the stretches on I-77 and I-81, since those are the longest segments. Factors like road condition, traffic, amount of trucks, major lengthy construction, etc. would be of interest. I'm not really interested in quality of rest stops, scenic views, attractions, etc.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
We take part of this route on our annual pilgrimage from Ontario down to St. Simons Island, GA and back. Basically it would be the same from your 77&81 junction south (or north depending).

I like it a lot better than using 95. 26 going across SC is only two lanes in each direction but it moves fast. 77 through Charlotte can get congested at rush hour times since Charlotte seems to have a civic mandate that all roads must always be under construction at all times.

Still, Charlotte isn't that big so not a lot of time gets wasted and north of it 77 is a nice easy pleasant drive. Beautiful scenery in that western area of Virginia too.

Having once driven home on 95 thru DC for a "change" and getting stuck in a 2 hour jam, this route is a lot better.
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Old 04-08-2018, 02:38 PM   #3
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Another possibility would be 95 to I 26 to I 81 and see a bit of the mountains, and then north.
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Old 04-08-2018, 02:39 PM   #4
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I've driven I-81 the length of VA a lot, and there are A LOT of trucks on it. I think the professional drivers are avoiding I-95 too. So expect to be vary your speed from 70 down to 45 mph when two loaded semis try to race uphill.

Otherwise it will be much better than I-95 if you don't mind a few extra miles. I agree with Koogie, try to time Charlotte to avoid rush hour.
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Old 04-08-2018, 02:46 PM   #5
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I-81 can have a lot of truck traffic, and because it's hilly, trucks often have to slow down to climb them. This can cause slowdowns for everyone, but it's nothing like going thru DC. It used to be that if one truck was doing 45, another truck would be slowing passing it going 50, really bogging everything down, but there is a law that trucks can't be in the left lane going slower than 65. It's not always followed, but it's better than it was years ago.

It's been years since I've been on I-95 but I can't imagine that's gotten better.

Google maps shows this to be about 1.5 hour longer, if I understand your proposed route. You could easy lose that through DC, but if you drove on the weekend or otherwise miss the large rush hour window it might not be too bad. I know DC can have bad traffic on the weekend too, but chances are better than on a weekday.
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Old 04-08-2018, 02:49 PM   #6
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Another possibility would be 95 to I 26 to I 81 and see a bit of the mountains, and then north.
Google says that adds yet another 1.5 hours.
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Old 04-08-2018, 03:05 PM   #7
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The construction north of Charlotte has really screwed thing up (I live a stone's throw from mile marker 23).

If you come through on 77, take I-485 (inner) around Charlotte. That way, you'll stay out of Charlotte and a big chunk of the construction. The construction ends at MM 36.

Safe travels!
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Old 04-08-2018, 03:21 PM   #8
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We do this route as well heading north-south to Florida but coming down to the I-77/I-81 junction from Pittsburgh then taking I-77/I-26/I-95. Definitely take I-485 around Charlotte and try to time it to avoid rush hour. It always seems to be the major choke point on the route now that all the construction in Columbia seems to be done. Don't have any experience on I-81 east of the I-77 junction.
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Old 04-08-2018, 04:31 PM   #9
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On days when one or more of the colleges along I-81 in Virginia let out, it is a major gridlock. There is a stretch, or used to be, where speed limits were strictly enforced. That section was well marked. If it still is, keep your speed down to avoid a ticket.
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Old 04-08-2018, 04:39 PM   #10
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I'm familiar with both I-95 and I-81 through the northern half of VA, WV and MD. No question I-81 is better. The others are right about the trucks on I-81, but a two-hour backup is by far the exception (usually if that happens there's a wreck somewhere) and not the rule as it is on I-95. Even if Google maps says I-81 takes more time, I'd still choose I-81.
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Old 04-08-2018, 07:29 PM   #11
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The construction north of Charlotte has really screwed thing up (I live a stone's throw from mile marker 23).

If you come through on 77, take I-485 (inner) around Charlotte. That way, you'll stay out of Charlotte and a big chunk of the construction. The construction ends at MM 36.

Safe travels!
Wish I had known this when we went to Hilton Head in February. Construction on I-77 N of Charlotte was terrible. Added almost two hours to our drive.
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Old 04-08-2018, 08:13 PM   #12
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The Shenandoah Valley route on I-81 is so much more beautiful than taking I-95. I used to travel the region for work. It is fairly busy but okay to drive.

A few years ago, we rented a Hertz car in Orlando for $7 a day in April if we'd move it north. We took in Disneyworld before stopping at Daytona Beach, Savannah, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. I just remember how absolutely boring I-95 was.

A different route that is prettier is always welcome.
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Old 04-08-2018, 08:27 PM   #13
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The Shenandoah Valley route on I-81 is so much more beautiful than taking I-95. I used to travel the region for work. It is fairly busy but okay to drive.

A few years ago, we rented a Hertz car in Orlando for $7 a day in April if we'd move it north. We took in Disneyworld before stopping at Daytona Beach, Savannah, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. I just remember how absolutely boring I-95 was.

A different route that is prettier is always welcome.
I might add that I 26 crosses a pass in the mountains between NC and Tn and the scenery in the Great Valley ( the name of the Shenandoah valley in Tn) is also nice. Plus you miss any big cities After Columbia, as 26 bypasses Spartanburg, and Asheville is not a really big city.
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Old 04-09-2018, 04:49 AM   #14
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I would just map the route as you are starting out and take the quickest option.
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Old 04-09-2018, 05:14 AM   #15
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I would avoid the DC traffic unless you plan on cruising through their after midnight and before 5 AM...I hate the Charlotte traffic. You will get stuck, but DC is worse, and your chances of avoiding it are smaller.
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Old 04-09-2018, 06:00 AM   #16
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The construction north of Charlotte has really screwed thing up (I live a stone's throw from mile marker 23).

If you come through on 77, take I-485 (inner) around Charlotte. That way, you'll stay out of Charlotte and a big chunk of the construction. The construction ends at MM 36.

Safe travels!
A clarification I-485 - inner going north; outer going south. YMMV.
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Old 04-09-2018, 06:18 AM   #17
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I-81 in VA is the pits but better than 95 IMO. Historically truck traffic is worse going north on Sunday evenings. In case of a crash know that US 11 parallels 81 most of the way.
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Old 04-09-2018, 06:38 AM   #18
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I might add that I 26 crosses a pass in the mountains between NC and Tn and the scenery in the Great Valley ( the name of the Shenandoah valley in Tn) is also nice. Plus you miss any big cities After Columbia, as 26 bypasses Spartanburg, and Asheville is not a really big city.
Asheville was surprisingly slow on I-26 when I was there last summer. Nothing like Charlotte, but I still saw traffic at nearly a standstill, backed up for over a mile, at least twice.
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Old 04-09-2018, 06:41 AM   #19
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Thanks for the helpful information. We will be traveling daytime during the week, so no chance to transit Washington at night or on the weekend. The truck issue on I-81 is a concern, but we might give this a try.
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Old 04-09-2018, 06:53 AM   #20
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Thanks for the helpful information. We will be traveling daytime during the week, so no chance to transit Washington at night or on the weekend. The truck issue on I-81 is a concern, but we might give this a try.
I-81 is probably a better bet in that case. Certainly a more scenic drive, and probably more relaxing.
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