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Best way to get around dc traffic?

Travel Info
hey all im driving from nyc to myrtle beach whats the best way to avoid the DC and richmond traffic, maybe taking route 301?

Travel Tips

Take 81 to 64 south then jump on 288 around Richmond..you can't fail. Also, if you hit DC in the morning or late afternoon just drive right through the city.
If you go from 7-10 or from 3-5 your doomed.
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H E L I C O P T E R
I still think you will hit the "mixing bowl" in Northern Va, but I would take the Baltimore/Washington Pkwy after you exit the Harbour tunnel. Take the BW pkwy to 495 (on the Virginia side, you should be in Alexandria). Take 495 for about 10 miles until you reach 95 S. I know you may hit traffic, but I think that's the best route. 301 is a bit too local in my opinion.
If anybody really knew that answer they could sell it. 301 is not really going to help you as a million other people have the same idea. Yes there are alternate routes but the same applies. And if you try the side routes then you will hit really local traffic. Best to just go to it and stick to the main route.

Though traffic in DC can be horrible anytime try to be passing through between 10:00 AM and Noon. That should be about right as Myrtle Beach is what 5 or 6 hours from DC? That puts you there at a decent time of day. And as far as Richmond you would be passing through before rush hour there even if you got through DC at Noon and hit a bit of traffic. But still a tad earlier at the least would be good.

Once you get past Richmond it will be cool sailing for the rest of the way for the most part. Again skip 301 as it will add hours to your trip.
I once tried selling US 301 as a way to get to Williamsburg on a previous question and was outvoted. I've taken US 301 to Myrtle Beach when I used only I-64 and I-664 and drove through the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel complex.

If you can time your trip for the early morning (like leave NYC enough to pass through MD around 6:30 AM or so), you'll fly through the small towns like LaPlata and Waldorf. I would still recommend US 301 over I-495 to I-95 Mixing Bowl. {EDIT} Follow US 301 down to either VA 2 (which connects to I-95 near Kings Dominion) or I-295, bypass Richmond and rejoin I-95 south of Richmond for that pleasurable drive through NC. {/EDIT}

I-81 will take you at least 200 miles out of your way. If you decide to take I-81, I would take I-581 from Roanoke to US 220 to US 1 (Rockingham, NC) to SC 9 to US 501.
Route 301 will take you on really congested and slow way around Washington DC. Route 95 is terrible but about your only way of going.