Baltimore Travel Forum

I am attending a conference in Baltimore in the coming weeks. As I live in Reston, I would come down the toll road to the inner loop north to 95 north. In the evenings, I would reverse, taking 95 south to the outer loop to toll road.

Am I generally flowing against the Baltimore commuter traffic staying north and west of the city (aside from the 270 split)? How long should I expect the trip around the beltway for at 6:45 a.m. and 6:15p.m. respectively?

Thanks,

A better question should be what time should I leave the house to make a meeting in Baltimore that starts at perhaps 9am. Well, I don't know how long you have lived in Reston, but if you have been in this area any length of time you probably know that trip is unpredictable as far as length of time; especially in the morning and evening. I work in Reston and have co-workers that commute from Severn, Baltimore, and Mt. Airy. The person from Baltimore takes about 90 minutes each way. Bad weather is going to add another 20 to 30 minutes to that...since you said in the coming weeks. I suggest you drive the route on a Saturday or Sunday and then figure on doubling whatever time it takes for you at the time of day you have in your post. Personally whenever I have had to go that way at that time of morning or evening it has taken me about 30 to 40 minutes to get around that portion of the beltway.

Regarding the Baltimore part of your trip, the answer is NO, you are not flowing against Baltimore commuter traffic, since many people live south of the city, or work in the city and get on I-95 to reach the Baltimore beltway (695).

Last night, in fact, I drove from Baltimore to Silver Spring (a tiny portion of your trip), leaving Baltimore around 5.30 pm, and found plenty of stop and go traffic on I-95 going south, but there were stretches where I could drive normal speed. Of course, add a little accident, or rain, and everything just stops.

Also, depending on where you are in Baltimore, just getting to 95 can be a major pain.

And, I guess from Reston it makes no sense at all to get to Union Station to take the MARC train....

You are most correct Ellen, that trying to get to Union Station from Reston that time of morning would be pretty much senseless. 267 turns into a parking lot between Weihle and Hunter Mill Rd and you need to be on it before 6am to avoid that. You can even save some time by taking Rte 7 down to the beltway vice using the toll road...at least from Reston. There really isn't an easy way to get to Baltimore from Reston that time of day. If it were me, and and the conference was going to be at least 3 days, I would probably get myself a hotel room near the conference and have my company eat the cost or take it off my taxes. Fortunately for me I also have the option of staying in Ft Meade lodging.