Taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is definitely a scenic route, and if you don't mind going many miles out of your way for the scenery, it's a good way to go to avoid the Rte 95 Delaware to Baltimore to DC to Richmond congestion, take in the scenery and enjoy a leisurely drive, but with the extra miles, you won't save much time. Plus having to then "backtrack" northwest, and go through the Norfolk/Hampton/Newport News area (depending on time of day) may increase your travel time significantly, making the trip longer in both miles and time. A better way, and still somewhat scenic, but definitely shorter, that avoids the Rte 95 Baltimore to DC through Northern VA to Richmond nightmare, is to take Exit 1 off Rte 95S in Delaware (the last exit before crossing into Maryland), getting onto Rte 896S, which turns into Rte 301S, you can then take 301S (at times there are Rte name changes, such as Rte 71, Rte 299, but is picks up again as Rte 301), through what's called the Eastern Shore (as defined by the Chesapeake Bay not the Atlantic Ocean), of Maryland, to and across the Chesapeake (Annapolis) Bay Bridge (just prior to which it merges with Rte 50), to, what's called, the Western Shore of Maryland, and by staying on 301S (Rtes 50 and 301 divert near Bowie, make sure you follow the Rte 301S signs, otherwise you'll wind up in DC), you can avoid all the Baltimore through DC and Northern Virginia area congestion. Staying on 301S you travel though, a portion of what's called Southern MD, across the Gov Henry Nice Bridge (over the Potomoc) in King George County, VA. You can then either stay on 301S, to Richmond and Rte 295S to Rte 64 which takes you directly into Williamsburg. Check the map for the different routes, this one will be most direct, in fact the mileage is about equal to taking 95 all the way, but without the congestion. By-the-way, all tolls take EZPass.
Enjoy the trip, and Williamsburg, which is one of our favorite places.
One caveat to this route, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, if you travel from west to east Friday afternoon/evenings, or Saturday mornings, try another route (DC metro traffic going to Ocean City & DE beaches). Likewise during the same timeframe, avoid traveling east to west on Sundays (DC metro traffic coming home from beaches)
Nick
Chespaeake Beach, MD