Gettysburg Pa to Williamsburg Va.

[Btm]

Need advice on route. I have a GT5 with a Jeep unlimited toad.

Is the best route 270 to I-95 then 64 to Williamsburg.

Any problems using this route other than traffic ?

Thanks for any advice.

Btm

[timfromma]

Other than traffic, which can be epic the route you describe will work just fine.

[The Evil Twin]

Beach traffic is really bad going in. Thursday and Friday are the worst. Plan around that if you can.

[Jimbo K.]

Originally Posted by Btm

Any problems using this route other than traffic ?

As others suggest, that can quite enough!

Much depends on when you travel. These are my observations based on living in central VA and making dozens of work-related trips to Emmitsburg, MD (10 miles south of Gettysburg).

Highways around DC (270, 495, 95) are commuter routes and are among the worst on the East coast during weekday rush hour(s). Vacation traffic on 95 in the summer makes it worse. Your best bet might be to start out early on a weekend morning if you can. I usually find it smooth sailing driving home on Saturdays if I leave Emmitsburg at about 8 or 9 am. Problem with weekends going east from Richmond, though, is I64 (see below).

If I have to make the trip later in the day, or if Google Maps tells me I've got an hour-long delay somewhere along the way, then I'll often take US15 from Frederick MD (where normally I'd pick up 270) into VA, then to US17 at Warrenton, and from there to Fredericksburg where I get on 95. 95 south of Fredericksburg, though still busy, is usually much better than between there and DC. Under ideal driving conditions, 15 & 17 still add a considerable amount of time due to dozens of stoplights and reduced speed limits. But I'll take that over a classic I95 traffic jam.

Then there's I64 between Richmond and Williamsburg. As Evil Twin suggests, that's the main feeder route to the beaches of Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I would add that weekends can be just as bad as Thursday and Friday. But to the Williamsburg area there is a decent backroad alternate: VA30, exiting off 95 a few miles north of Richmond. It's mostly two lanes but also mostly rural and relatively light traffic. You can totally avoid 64.

[Nomore9-5]

Originally Posted by Btm

Need advice on route. I have a GT5 with a Jeep unlimited toad.



Is the best route 270 to I-95 then 64 to Williamsburg.



Any problems using this route other than traffic ?



Thanks for any advice.



Btm

If your concern is avoiding Washington I give you a partial answer based on how we come home to Ontario from FL up 95 eventually crossing at Buffalo NY .
You might consider a slight detour from Gettysburg to allow you to somehow get onto I81 S ( ( 30 to Chambersburg ?) Follow 81 down to I66 E , from I 66 take 17 down through Warrenton to Fredricksburg putting you on I95S
I guess from that point you could go as far as Richmond take 295 to 64 and follow it as far as Williamsburg

My 2 cents - good luck .

[Jimbo K.]

Originally Posted by Nomore9-5

If your concern is avoiding Washington I give you a partial answer based on how we come home to Ontario from FL up 95 eventually crossing at Buffalo NY .
You might consider a slight detour from Gettysburg to allow you to somehow get onto I81 S ( ( 30 to Chambersburg ?) Follow 81 down to I66 E , from I 66 take 17 down through Warrenton to Fredricksburg putting you on I95S
I guess from that point you could go as far as Richmond take 295 to 64 and follow it as far as Williamsburg

My 2 cents - good luck .

That is a valid option, though it takes longer (assuming no traffic-related delays on either route) than US15. The OP might prefer it to avoid the lights and slowdowns on US15. US17 still has its share, though.

Then, to reiterate, I would avoid 64 by taking VA30 off 95.

[mgas]

Take 15 south down to 17 south and pick up 95 down around fredericksburg. Take 95 to 295 to 64 from there. It is a much nicer ride and you miss all of tha dc trash but to each his own. Safe travels.

[camaraderie]

Just did this today in the opposite direction and IMO...Jimbos route is the one to take. Dont forget to take I295 to bridge between i95 and i64. Avoid DC like the plague and take the Winchester, Warrenton, Fredericksburg scenic route!

[mgas]

No arguments from me, I was just not familiar with the part east of 95. I can validate your remarks about 64. I was in Williamsburg a few months ago and 64 east is certainly no prize when weekend beach traffic is on the move.

[Jkingesmd]

Hello, when we drive south and want to bypass DC traffic, here is another route to look at.
Come down 695 from 15, take 695 to 97 towards Annapolis. Exit at 3 south to go towards Bowie, Then 301 south. Enter Virginia at Potomac River bridge. Stay on 301 out to 95. We try to travel this Early when all traffic is heading opposite direction. Minimum time on 95.

[Jimswim]

Rts 15 and 17 would be my suggestion

[vasnipe]

An option for you to avoid the possible I-64 parking lot from Richmond to Williamsburg is to take US Route 60 at Mile Marker / exit 205 as noted on the map link. Route 60 parallels I-64 and has none of the stress of idjits trying to race to Virginia Beach.
A bonus is that Route 60 takes you straight into Williamsburg.


https://bit.ly/3e0PFRb


I've used Route 60 for many years to bypass things traveling to and from Williamsburg from home plate here in Roanoke, VA when things went bad on 64.



Just a suggestion here, but the Virginia 511 App can assist.


Hope this helps


Chris in Roanoke, VA

[PopUpPop]

Originally Posted by The Evil Twin

Beach traffic is really bad going in. Thursday and Friday are the worst. Plan around that if you can.

You just need to go through early. If you roll through before noon you are fine in my experience.

[tkarper14]

Originally Posted by Nomore9-5

If your concern is avoiding Washington I give you a partial answer based on how we come home to Ontario from FL up 95 eventually crossing at Buffalo NY .
You might consider a slight detour from Gettysburg to allow you to somehow get onto I81 S ( ( 30 to Chambersburg ?) Follow 81 down to I66 E , from I 66 take 17 down through Warrenton to Fredricksburg putting you on I95S
I guess from that point you could go as far as Richmond take 295 to 64 and follow it as far as Williamsburg

My 2 cents - good luck .

Travelled numerous times from Carlisle to Richmond with this route.

I give two thumbs up.... It might be a few more miles, but time wise will be about the same and a lot less stressful.

[Btm]

Thanks for all the info.

I believe I will take the longer scenic route.

Gettysburg-Winchester-Warrenton-Fredericksburg-Richmond- and Hwy 60 Williamsburg.

Right now Google Maps show this route to be faster, because of traffic.

Thanks again

Btm

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by Btm

I believe I will take the longer scenic route.
Gettysburg-Winchester-Warrenton-Fredericksburg-Richmond- and Hwy 60 Williamsburg.

Good choice. Access US60 from I-295, just east of Richmond.

[Chuck_S]

Running back and forth Richmond to Gettysburg College shows no great routes. Wide detour to I81 (and then I64) reveals that road is vying for Most Trucks status. The pavement is worn to the point that while smooth the truck tramllines towing a travel trailer in certain sections.

The alternate routes sound better than the "straight shot." The Frederick-Fredericksburg "bypass" is no joy but it completely avoids DC. We're in Richmond and my daughter was just stick in traffic for "several hours" (probably 2 ) trying to get back from DC two weeks ago.

US60 Richmond to Williamsburg will work. We don't even take that to there but we're SW of Richmond -- and ain't lugging around a giant motorhome! -- we go VA10 an take the Ferry to W'burg.

-- Chuck