Philly to Norfolk on a holiday weekend...

**toxigal** · 06-07-2010, 12:06 PM

i should just suck it up and fly, right? it's going to be a long assed drive and the train is not much cheaper than an airplane.

google maps says it's a 5.25 hour drive, but how long will that be on July 2/July 5?

**Alley** · 06-07-2010, 12:34 PM

I have family that live in the Norfolk area. Usually I take the train from Philly because it is easy. Probably not the fastest or cheapest. On the other hand I get on the train and relax for a few hours.

Driving is not that bad my problem was the cops...speeding tickets! We take route 13 across the cheseapeake bay bridge which does save time. Taking 95 or 13 you got tolls.

I have not looked at the flying option in a few years. It used to be expensive.

**JBL** · 06-07-2010, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Alley

I have family that live in the Norfolk area. Usually I take the train from Philly because it is easy. Probably not the fastest or cheapest. On the other hand I get on the train and relax for a few hours.

Driving is not that bad my problem was the cops...speeding tickets! We take route 13 across the cheseapeake bay bridge which does save time. Taking 95 or 13 you got tolls.

I have not looked at the flying option in a few years. It used to be expensive.

5+ hours seems like a longer time than it should be. Even with all of the speed limit changes through the small towns on I-95, I recall making Norfolk in closer to 4 hours. We're also talking in the middle of the night, but still, at legal speeds.

**lemonfresh** · 06-07-2010, 12:49 PM

I usually go down there by car a couple times a year, and it's normally about 6 hours each way, counting a pit stop or two. There's definitely some places with some hairy holiday traffic, namely 95 near the Commodore Barry Bridge exit and another part south of Wilmington where, I think, 295 and 495 converge. It's pretty bad there northbound until the NY/NJ traffic leaves.

**toxigal** · 06-07-2010, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Alley

I have family that live in the Norfolk area. Usually I take the train from Philly because it is easy. Probably not the fastest or cheapest. On the other hand I get on the train and relax for a few hours.

Driving is not that bad my problem was the cops...speeding tickets! We take route 13 across the cheseapeake bay bridge which does save time. Taking 95 or 13 you got tolls.

I have not looked at the flying option in a few years. It used to be expensive.

flying (from baltimore) isn't much more expensive than the train (about 234) and i estimate a 4 hour total trip each way (2 hours to drive to baltimore, arrive 1 hour before flight, 1 hour plane ride). If i take a 4:40 AM train it's about $160 round trip (7 hours down, 9 hours back). If i take a later train it is actually more expensive than flying.

i'm not worried about speeding tickets, i'm not a speeder.i just have no concept of what traffic will be like on a holiday weekend.

**Sailaway** · 06-07-2010, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Alley

I have not looked at the flying option in a few years. It used to be expensive.

It's not too bad, around $200-$250.

**toxigal** · 06-07-2010, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by JBL

5+ hours seems like a longer time than it should be. Even with all of the speed limit changes through the small towns on I-95, I recall making Norfolk in closer to 4 hours. We're also talking in the middle of the night, but still, at legal speeds.

so you go through MD/VA on 95 instead of down 13 or 113 and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

I don't see how you can make it in 4 hours. it's 2.5-3 to DC and it's gotta be more than an hour from DC to Norfolk.

**Alley** · 06-07-2010, 01:00 PM

Regarding traffic what Lemonfresh said. Horrible by the Christinia mall in Delaware. When driving I would always try to get on the road early 5 am ish. Also, instead of getting off route 1 / route 13 (exit 97 I think) the Norfolk exit I keep going straight and take route 113 until it meets back up with route 13. This helps avoid traffic a bit. You miss going thru Salisbury, MD.

The early morning Amtrak train is awesome. Keep in mind they switch engines in Washington that is why there is a layover. If they are running behind they usually start right back up when the engines are switched. Mention this because don't count on having enough time to go upstairs at the station. Below Washington the train can get delayed because of Conrail having the right of way. If this happens they usually somehow try to make up the time though.

**Alley** · 06-07-2010, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Sailaway

It's not too bad, around $200-$250.

Amtrak sometimes if I reserve early I can get a roundtrip ticket for $50 to $80. Alright $50 was my best RT ever there was some promo going on. Still $80 is not bad for RT. Of course, I'm fortunate I can be flexible with my schedule. The early morning train is the cheapest and my favorite.

**toxigal** · 06-07-2010, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Alley

Regarding traffic what Lemonfresh said. Horrible by the Christinia mall in Delaware. When driving I would always try to get on the road early 5 am ish. Also, instead of getting off route 1 / route 13 (exit 97 I think) the Norfolk exit I keep going straight and take route 113 until it meets back up with route 13. This helps avoid traffic a bit. You miss going thru Salisbury, MD.

The early morning Amtrak train is awesome. Keep in mind they switch engines in Washington that is why there is a layover. If they are running behind they usually start right back up when the engines are switched. Mention this because don't count on having enough time to go upstairs at the station. Below Washington the train can get delayed because of Conrail having the right of way. If this happens they usually somehow try to make up the time though.

i definately will take 113 instead of 13, according to the CBBT website there are 17 fewere traffic lights that way!

The earliest i can get on the road will be 8:30ish as that is the earliest i can drop the dogs at the kennel.

**JBL** · 06-07-2010, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by toxigal

so you go through MD/VA on 95 instead of down 13 or 113 and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

I don't see how you can make it in 4 hours. it's 2.5-3 to DC and it's gotta be more than an hour from DC to Norfolk.

Well, I guess I am speeding then...

I normally take 95 down to Route 1 in Christiana, then pop off a little after Dover to rejoin Route 13 and take that down to the Bridge. The maps say it takes 5 hours (like the OP), but I swear it's never taken me that long...Nags Head, NC is only a little more than 6 hours. Like I said though, this is early morning, but still in the summer.

Route 1 is like a drag strip for the whole distance though...it's a fast highway all the way to Dover.

**lewblum** · 06-07-2010, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Alley

Also, instead of getting off route 1 / route 13 (exit 97 I think) the Norfolk exit I keep going straight and take route 113 until it meets back up with route 13. This helps avoid traffic a bit. You miss going thru Salisbury, MD.

I drove to Norfolk a month and a half ago and route 113 was much slower because of road construction down that way.
Going thru Salisbury on the way back saved some time.

**tommystar** · 06-07-2010, 04:27 PM

leave at midnight. i always drive overnight when going on long drives, there's no one on the road then.

**toxigal** · 06-07-2010, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by tommystar

leave at midnight. i always drive overnight when going on long drives, there's no one on the road then.

no thanks. driving while tired is dangerous.

**Alley** · 06-08-2010, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by toxigal

no thanks. driving while tired is dangerous.

agree

My sister is not a morning person I begged her not to leave Philly one time early to head back to Norfolk area. She falls asleep drivng and re ends a hummer in her honda going thru the toll on route 1. Who falls asleep going thru the toll she does not even have ezpass. The hummer was fine the honda lots of front end damage.

Lewblum thanks for the heads up on 113 construction.

Ezpass is now accepted on the Chesapeake bay bridge.

**radiocolin** · 06-08-2010, 11:31 AM

I've taken the train to Newport News (you need to transfer to a bus to reach Norfolk). It's a haul, and not worth it for the cost, IMO. 95 is way out of the way. I always take 13 when headed to the Outer Banks. It's a nice drive.

**eldondre** · 09-01-2012, 11:34 AM

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/786/907/...-12-075%20.pdf

looks like it will be 4h55m to DC with the plan eventually to get it down to 3h35m (which would make the trip from Philly much more competitive). initially it will not be very competitive (for philly) with the drive since you no longer have to drive via 95. fare is $51 each way from Philly.

**toxigal** · 09-01-2012, 11:49 AM

it was funny to see this thread pop up again as I made the drive to Norfolk yesterday. once i got past the mall in delaware it was smooth sailing. took 13 down, may take 113 back.

**Alley** · 09-01-2012, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by toxigal

it was funny to see this thread pop up again as I made the drive to Norfolk yesterday. once i got past the mall in delaware it was smooth sailing. took 13 down, may take 113 back.

Drove back 113 about two weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon smooth sailing. I still prefer the train, but caught a ride back with my parents who drove. It takes forever with them they stop all the time. Applebee's on 113 is fine food and service ;-)

**Geno** · 09-01-2012, 04:30 PM

I have been making this drive about twice a month for over a year now as I reunited with an old flame in Hampton, VA and now we are married. She is moving in with me now but we are keeping her house and will still make the trip occasionally. I was stationed at Ft Monroe for 6 years in the nineties and also lived in Norfolk briefly in the eighties so I am well versed in this trip. The eastern shore using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel, 113, rt 1etc is the way to go. About 5.5 hours of driving. The train to Newport News is 7 plus hours and very limited in frequency. It is near my house in Hampton though. Seems like the train to Norfolk won't save time if you then have to cross the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to get to the peninsula.