Have to be in DC by 7-7:30am. Can i make it there if I leave by 2am? What time in the morning do the roads become a clusterfuck up there?

1/4/2012 9:57:39 AM

south to north you're going to start hitting traffic in fredericksburg around 6am i bet, if not 5:30

1/4/2012 10:00:09 AM

Depends. We need the make and model of your car, approximate MPG, planned route, any stops along the way, number of passengers, total gross tonnage and whether or not you plan to drive with your windows down to make an accurate assessment. Otherwise we're just blowing smoke.

1/4/2012 10:00:16 AM

did you say time travel?

1/4/2012 10:00:57 AM

You would probably be best to spend the night here. You can use my couch. I promise you wont be raped much.

1/4/2012 10:01:28 AM

If you don't stop and you drive 9 mph over the speed limit, it should take you about 4 hrs 15 minutes. If you drive 15 over, you can make it in ~4 hours. If you hit traffic or drive the exact speed limit, it will take you 5 hours. If you leave at 2 AM, you'll be in Richmond by 4:30 and should be in DC before traffic starts up bad.

1/4/2012 10:10:38 AM

Hop on the Megabus.

1/4/2012 10:14:42 AM

I would spend the night before there, honestly. Of course it depends on how important it is for you to be there that early (interview? meeting?)

1/4/2012 10:19:46 AM

I've left at 3AM for a 9AM meeting in Springfield and barely made it because of traffic. Traffic will be worse at 7:30, and you're wanting to drive through the heart of the clusterfuck.

1/4/2012 10:55:37 AM

go up the day before.

1/4/2012 10:57:01 AM

I'm driving up there on Friday, gonna leave around 7:30-45

have a couple apartment visits and getting fingerprinting done for the new jerb

1/4/2012 10:57:25 AM

OP, what day of the week are you traveling?

Friday is lighter in the AM than most days due to so many people working flex schedules, however, getting out of there will be gridlock from 2pm until at least 7pm.



[Edited on January 4, 2012 at 11:01 AM. Reason : .]

1/4/2012 11:00:38 AM

The traffic between Fredericksburg and DC is not to be messed with. Last time I dealt with it I decided that all my traveling to/from DC would take place such that the trip through that section would occur between 11:00PM and 3:00AM.

1/4/2012 11:48:45 AM

^^I need to be there tomorrow at 7am.

I can't leave before 9pm tonight regardless so nix to staying the night.


So leave at 1am instead?

[Edited on January 4, 2012 at 12:29 PM. Reason : .]

1/4/2012 12:28:59 PM

its always better to be having a leisurely coffee beforehand than sweating in traffic...

1/4/2012 12:32:19 PM

sounds like you should leave at 9PM

1/4/2012 12:32:59 PM

I have only done this once before

[Edited on January 4, 2012 at 1:05 PM. Reason : safety not guaranteed]

1/4/2012 1:04:22 PM

safety not guaranteed

1/4/2012 1:05:52 PM

If at most you will only be getting 3-4 hours of sleep regardless, I'd say leave at 9PM. It will be a much easier drive at night. Plus, like the previous poster said, you can relax once you get there rather than being all stressed out about traffic.

1/4/2012 1:08:47 PM