<p>Not that we can change anything, but my kids will be driving from DC to Atlanta tomorrow, leaving early in the morning. Any idea what the traffic will be like traveling south on I-95 between DC and a bit south of Richmond; picking up I-85 South for the remainder of the trip to Atlanta? My daughter has this idea in her head that most everyone was on the road today and their trip shouldn’t be longer that normal; I on the other hand don’t think that is the case. I remember one Thanksgiving trip back to school years ago that took her 8 hours instead of 6 hours and she swore she would never travel the Sunday after Thanksgiving by car ever again! </p>
<p>The question is if this trip tomorrow will find the kids in the car ready to kill each other after the 10 1/2 hour mark; that usually is her door to door drive on a good day.</p>
<p>If I were the betting type, I would bet it’s going to a take a few hours longer than usual. Consider it a learning experience for your daughter.</p>
<p>Get on the road by 7 AM. Even on bad weekends that got us a little ahead of the traffic on that route. We haven’t gone as far as Atlanta so don’t know about the part from about Raleigh on down on that kind of day. We were OK going to Raleigh. most of the construction on I85 is out of the way. Watch for the weather though.</p>
<p>The weather will be fine tomorrow and I would guess construction will be halted for the holiday weekend. I just think there are many people that will be traveling tomorrow as not everyone took today off of work! </p>
<p>It will be whatever it is; it is not like she could have left any early anyway. At least her brother was kind enough to fly up there and spend a few days with her; making it where she didn’t have to drive home alone.</p>
<p>The hope is that they leave around 7:00am, and the 2 of them are not big on stopping along the way home. They will stop for a quick lunch, or drive through and how ever many gas stops. Now, if my husband was in the car, they would have to stop every hour or so; when you drink diet coke the entire car ride, what goes in much come out :-0</p>
<p>We will be traveling tomorrow. Not nearly as worried about tomorrow as we are about the return trip on Sunday with snow in the forecast…ugh. Wish we could just stay home but DH is determined to go.</p>
<p>Atlanta is painful on a normal Friday, it has the potential to be nightmarish tomorrow. However, perhaps they will hit Atlanta after most of the traffic is gone!</p>
<p>Atlanta traffic today was terrible. Lots of people hitting the road. And the weather forecast isnt so great-- possible white christmas here, with weather starting to turn on Friday :eek: Tell them to get on the road early, load up their Ipods with music or the digital version of the latest Harry Potter book, and drive safely!</p>
<p>Both Kindles have all the Harry Potter books as PDF’s; downloaded for free!! The kids got their Kindles on Thanksgiving and when I woke up Friday morning my son informed me that he had ever Harry Potter book on his Kindle for free. He was very proud of himself!</p>
<p>I am not worried about the Atlanta traffic as there will be none by the time they get home; actually the Mall of Georgia area could be funky for a bit. Yes, today Atlanta was a zoo even in the burbs. No rain until Saturday jym626, so all should be good.</p>
<p>I drove from NJ to CT last night, and I was expecting a nightmare. Instead, I absolutely flew! I was a little later than rush hour – left at 7:00-ish and got to my destination by 8:30. So, you never know. Good luck!!</p>
<p>If they got started early and made it as far as Fredericksburg with no problems, they should be OK for the rest of the trip. We have never run into anything on I85.</p>
<p>Another option is taking I66 to I81 to I77 to I85. We did that once coming back from DC because I95 south was a mess. It took exactly the same amount of time as the I95/I85 route.</p>
<p>The trip back is going to be worse. People spread their departures out. Sunday everyone is coming back. 95 will probably be a mess from Richmond to DC. Not sure if going the reverse of cap’s route would be better. Otherwise, do the opposite and leave late, getting into DC in the wee hours.</p>
<p>Well, they didn’t leave as early as I would have, but they were on the road by 8:30. I have not gotten an update, but guess they will text when they grab lunch.</p>
<p>Luckily the return trip is not for 2 weeks, so no holiday travel back; just normal traffic.Cap- we have taken both routes, but when my daughter drives alone we prefer she stay on I-95.</p>