Southern Side by Side routing???

[Fox-Events]

Several of our boys who want to remain anonymous are going to the Southern Side by Side, and want to avoid driving on I-95 between Philly and around Washington, and possibly avoid I-95/Richmond as well. I believe all of them will be driving south on I-81 coming thorugh Pennsylvania. Does anyone have a suggestion for staying on I-81 into WV and VA and then jumping off south to Sanford from there? I am posting this for them.

[sidreilley]

Taking I-81 would be a good way to avoid the mess in the DC area, however I would take I-64 east at Staunton (VA) to Richmond then I-95 south. If you remain on 81 past Staunton, you will be going as far west as you do south and not have another interstate to get you back east. Richmond has several ring bypasses to get you around the worst of the congestion.
That would be my suggestion as the best compromise to heavy congestion as well as a very slow slog along 2 lane roads thru innumerable small towns.

[Laxcoach]

Here's a shorter route------I-81 to I-64E at Staunton. 64 E to Charlottesvile, then US 29S to Greensboro, then 421 S to Sanford.

[mike campbell]

Several of our boys who want to remain anonymous are going to the Southern Side by Side.....

I'd suggest they remove their masks when driving in the DC area....they're touchy about such things.

[eightbore]

I don't know where you guys are actually coming from, but in the middle of the week, the 95 and DC route isn't all that bad. Of course you wouldn't want to bank on getting through DC at 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM, but you won't be that far along until later. I would pick the most direct route and bite the bullet if you get hung up a little. If I had to use 81, I would get off at Harrisburg and follow mapquest from there. Don't head south from Harrisburg to DC earlier than about 8:30 AM during the week. I would not go to Staunton and turn left, too much out of the way.

[NJdblgun]

Eightbore is correct, its all in the timing. accidents can shut Rt 81, just like Rt 95, as happened this AM. just dont drive south on 95 past DC after 3pm. however, if youall use Rt 95 and hit DC at 3pm, use the HOV lanes, if there are more than 3 in the car, from DC to Stafford. After the Quantico/Stafford merge at mile 150 it will be tough, but traffic will clear after mile 140. once you are thru Richmond, it is clear sailing. the beltway around Richmond wont save time in my opinion, but watch out for the VA Troopers and the radar gun when going thru Richmond. S

PS, if you get to mile 140 and want to stop, the BP gas is a good place, nice people work there. need anything, I'm 2 miles up a side road. Tune into FM 103.5, WTOP, traffic every 10 minutes, on the 8s.