Williamsburg via Washington DC

[Pompey Family]

We haven't even had our 2014 summer holiday yet and already we're weighing up options for next summer.

Considering Marriott Manor Club in Williamsburg next August but unsure about the best route to fly in. The closest airport is Newport News but this requires a flight change from the UK so I was looking at the option of flying into Washington, staying over for one night and then driving down to Williamsburg. Google suggests that this is a 2.5 hour drive which is acceptable however I don't know how accurate this is, any advice?

We'd also like to know about school dates and whether the beginning or end of August would be best to avoid crowds at Busch Gardens and the waterpark so any info would be appreciated.

 

[NKN]

Do you realize you posted this on the Western States board? I would suggest moving it to either the Eastern States or to the Marriott board. [MOVED]

From our experience, drive from DC is 2-3 hours depending on traffic.

US kids usually go back to school around the last week in August. So, a trip at the end of August, MAY have fewer kids around. Particularly mid-week.

We stayed at the Manor about a year ago. Loved it. Stayed in the Patrick Henry building as we didn't want to be too close to all the noise and activity.

nkn

 

[dsmrp]

A 3 hour drive from Washington sounds about right.
You might want to consider flying to Richmond Virginia, which is much closer than Washington, and a larger airport than Newport News.

We were in Williamsburg in early August a couple of years ago.
It was hot and humid. I think in general most schools start in late August to early September.

 

[thheath]

Not a bad drive and all major highways / Interstates.

The only time the drive is difficult is during morning and late afternoon commute times.

Depending on your flight arrival time you might consider driving direct and not staying over in DC. Meaning if your flight arrives by noon, I'd go for it.

I agree that later in August will be a little less crowded. Of course August will be quite hot and humid

PS: Keeping in mind there are 2 airports in the DC area, Regan and Dulles.

 

[dvc_john]

PS: Keeping in mind there are 2 airports in the DC area, Regan and Dulles.

Not to nit-pick, but there are three DC airports: Reagan National DCA, Dulles International IAD, and Baltimore-Washington BWI.

But any non-stop from the U.K. will almost certainly go to Washington Dulles or Baltimore-Washington.

 

[Aviator621]

We live just South of DC and suggest some minor adjustments to the estimates you have been given. Assuming you are flying in Dulles, it takes you about 40 mins just to get to and around the Beltway and heading South on 95. From there with no traffic, it's about two and half hours to Manor Club. It was mentioned earlier about the rush hours (5-9AM northbound and 330-6PM southbound) but summer weekends are even worse with the vacationer traffic which turns 95 into a parking lot all the way to Fredericksburg. Normally, as a family, you could take the HOV lane, but by your arrival the new Toll HOV lanes will be open and you can only ride if you have EZPass, which the rental companies may or may not offer.

If you have to drive for a Sat or Sun check-in, recommend getting past Fredericksburg by 9 AM. Fri morning is a little better, have the flexibility until around 1 PM, dependent on where construction is ongoing.

 

[MALC9990]

We haven't even had our 2014 summer holiday yet and already we're weighing up options for next summer.

Considering Marriott Manor Club in Williamsburg next August but unsure about the best route to fly in. The closest airport is Newport News but this requires a flight change from the UK so I was looking at the option of flying into Washington, staying over for one night and then driving down to Williamsburg. Google suggests that this is a 2.5 hour drive which is acceptable however I don't know how accurate this is, any advice?

We'd also like to know about school dates and whether the beginning or end of August would be best to avoid crowds at Busch Gardens and the waterpark so any info would be appreciated.

Last year we did a 9 night stay at the Manor Club and flew from Heathrow to Washington Dulles with BA. We actually did a 3 night stay in DC first but then took a shuttle back out to Dulles to pick up the rental car for the drive down to Williamsburg. I also installed USA maps on my Tom Tom Sat Nav to save the cost of the rental car Sat Nav and this was a good move.

It is an easy drive with some road works (back then) worst bit is around DC area but the Sat Nav was a big help.

 

[artringwald]

Have you checked out flights into Norfolk (ORF)? It's an international airport and it's only 45 minutes from Williamsburg, unless you get caught in rush hour traffic.

 

[Pompey Family]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm not sure why I posted it in the Western area originally!

I think flying BA direct to Dulles will be the best option plus I hear that the BA lounge in Dulles is quite nice.

As for the weather I know that it will be hot and humid in August but we experienced it in SC and Georgia two years ago and it really wasn't that bad.

Good to hear that the drive to Williamsburg shouldn't be too much hassle.

 

[Pompey Family]

Have you checked out flights into Norfolk (ORF)? It's an international airport and it's only 45 minutes from Williamsburg, unless you get caught in rush hour traffic.

Yes we did but it still requires a flight change. Usually this wouldn't be too much of an issue but with two young children it becomes a pain and direct flights are so much easier.

 

[pedro47]

Suggestion, I would catch a fight from the Dulles Airport to the Newport News / Williamsburg Airport and rent an automobile for your stay. The flight from Dulles to Newport News is only one hour and you will avoid all the traffic headaches on Interstate 95 & 64. Suggestion only. Good luck and enjoy your stay in colonial Williamsburg.

 

[Pompey Family]

Suggestion, I would catch a fight from the Dulles Airport to the Newport News / Williamsburg Airport and rent an automobile for your stay. The flight from Dulles to Newport News is only one hour and you will avoid all the traffic headaches on Interstate 95 & 64. Suggestion only. Good luck and enjoy your stay in colonial Williamsburg.

Thanks Pedro but after last years debacle of interconnecting flights I think I prefer dealing with the traffic.

 

[Passepartout]

It's a completely do-able drive. We flew into Baltimore/Washington (BWI) on SW tickets, then drove down, enjoyed a week in Williamsburg, then back in a hurricane that had struck further south. More rain than I'd ever seen, but even that didn't make the drive impossible. Sort of an additional adventure.

I'll be interested in hearing your (as Brits) impression of Colonial America, at a time when we too, were Brits. The time frame celebrated at Williamsburg and Jamestown was 150ish years before the revolution that separated us.

We don't do heat/humidity all that well, but most everywhere is air conditioned.

Enjoy.

Jim

 

[n777lt]

Not to nit-pick, but there are three DC airports: Reagan National DCA, Dulles International IAD, and Baltimore-Washington BWI.

But any non-stop from the U.K. will almost certainly go to Washington Dulles or Baltimore-Washington.

Umm, to those of us who grew up in DC long enough ago, there is only one DC airport - National (DCA). But it doesn't get many of the international flights - that's what they built Dulles (IAD) for.

In any case, BWI is not a realistic option for a trip to Williamsburg, unless you want to fit in a day in DC - it's quite a drive nonstop.

Adding the DC day might be nice, but if you plan to rent a car consider renting at IAD and then staying at a hotel in Roslyn, VA which is a hub for the Metro that takes you right to the Smithsonian museums (including Air & Space) and other tourist sights. I'm sure you'll be paying for parking at the Roslyn hotel, but finding space around the tourist sights in DC can be a hassle, and with Metro is unnecessary.

The National Park site at Yorktown is fascinating if you are into history and British defeats <g>.

BTW, the Google estimate of 2.5 hours from IAD tio Williamsburg sounds wildly optimistic to me -- finding a time that isn't rush hour can be tricky! It can take at least that long for my brother to drive from Richmond to DC if he doesn't time it carefully. Count on 3+ hours and be pleased if you do it in 2.5.

 

[Big Matt]

I live ten minutes west north of Dulles airport and am in the Berkeley building at Manor Club right now. I do the drive to Williamsburg about six times a year (I have family here).

Traffic on 95 south from DC to Richmond is not a joke. I left my house yesterday at 9:00 am and got to Williamsburg 4 and a half hours later. Two hour delay for a number of accidents. It is like this every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during holiday weeks and during the summer.

If you can fly into BWI, you can take a route through Maryland on route 301 crossing the Potomac River into Virginia and miss the 95 traffic mess.

Flying into DCA, you are one metro stop from the Alexandria Amtrak station. You can take Amtrak to Williamsburg and get a car there. Round trip from Alexandria to Williamsburg is something like $60-90 depending on when you travel.

If you opt for Dulles, shoot me a note, and I'll give you some other options to drive that avoid the bad traffic.

Manor Club is 45 minutes to the Richmond airport, 35 to Newport News, and about an hour to Norfolk. Manor Club is on the west side of Williamsburg (closer to Richmond).

Also, look to see how much rental cars cost. You may get a much better rate in Williamsburg.

If I were you, I'd look into flying into New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or DCA and taking the Amtrak to Williamsburg. Get the car there.

Total time travel from Charlotte or Raleigh Durham to Williamsburg isn't a lot more than Dulles, and you won't hit traffic.

 

[Old Hickory]

If I were going to drive from DC to Williamsburg, then I would plan a stop at Mount Vernon.

In fact, the entire off-interstate drive between the two is chocked-full of American history sites.

 

[pedro47]

Big Matt did Marriott completed the renovation project at the Manor Club for spring break ?

 

[Pompey Family]

Thanks for the advice about the Amtrak but I'm afraid I'm a man of convenience and messing about with trains and hauling luggage and young children around really isn't the best start to the holiday.

I've checked with Hertz and they quoted identical prices for car rental in Dulles and Williamsburg and other quotes from Budget, Avis etc are all quite reasonable so I think I'll settle on flying into Dulles and driving.

Is the I95 trouble all the way down or just a part of it? Playing around with Mapquest there is a route that takes you onto the I66 and joining I95 at Fredericksburg, would this be an option or will the traffic be more of the same?

 

[Aviator621]

The backups on 95 are primarily once you leave the beltway to Fredericksburg, although occasionally you can experience backups south of that during the summer months. As far as the I66 route you are looking at, that is a solid option, but would leave that to a 'day of' decision, based on the actual traffic conditions.

Please realize though I95 will be significantly different by the time you arrive. As I mentioned in the previous post, they are converting the HOV lanes to toll and extending them farther south. That should all be complete by the time you arrive so the construction delays will be gone, but as far as traffic backups, time will tell if the toll lanes will ease congestion or just move it further south.

 

[pedro47]

The backups on 95 are primarily once you leave the beltway to Fredericksburg, although occasionally you can experience backups south of that during the summer months. As far as the I66 route you are looking at, that is a solid option, but would leave that to a 'day of' decision, based on the actual traffic conditions.

Please realize though I95 will be significantly different by the time you arrive. As I mentioned in the previous post, they are converting the HOV lanes to toll and extending them farther south. That should all be complete by the time you arrive so the construction delays will be gone, but as far as traffic backups, time will tell if the toll lanes will ease congestion or just move it further south.

Will these new tolls lanes be using the EZPass System and for only the HOV lanes?

 

[Aviator621]

Will these new tolls lanes be using the EZPass System and for only the HOV lanes?

If you are familiar with the HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes currently on the beltway, these will be the same. The toll lanes are a conversion of the old HOV lanes and is separate but parallel to the normal 95 lanes. The lanes start at the beltway and are being extended to Stafford (just south of Quantico.)

Basically, the lanes will require EZPass at all times for all cars, and there will be a toll at all times unless you are HOV (3 or more in the car.) However, the catch is you have to have a special HOV EZPass, with an HOV switch on it, for the system to not charge you. If just have a regular EZPass, you will get charged regardless of how many are in the car.

 

[Pompey Family]

Basically, the lanes will require EZPass at all times for all cars, and there will be a toll at all times unless you are HOV (3 or more in the car.) However, the catch is you have to have a special HOV EZPass, with an HOV switch on it, for the system to not charge you. If just have a regular EZPass, you will get charged regardless of how many are in the car.

How will this work for tourists in a rental car? There'll be four of us so I presume we'd be exempt from the toll but would we need to purchase a particular pass or would it be cheaper simply to pay the toll there and back?

 

[Passepartout]

I think there is a transponder in a 'box' on the windscreen that you can either use by paying the rental outfit, or keep closed and just drive in the free lanes. iirc they don't have toll booths where you can pay cash. Ask Hertz.

 

[Big Matt]

The grounds are awesome. The best I've ever seen them. They built little storage shelters for the luggage carts away from the buildings. They keep the area neat and keep the carts dry.

Big Matt did Marriott completed the renovation project at the Manor Club for spring break ?

 

[Big Matt]

From Dulles Airport:
Take route 28 south to I-66 west
Take 66 west to route 29 in Gainesville.
Take 29 south and west towards Warrenton where it intersects with 17 south
Take 29/17 south towards Fredericksburg
Take 95 south to 295 west to 64 east
Take 64 to Williamsburg

IF the HOT lanes are open you still have another 10-15 miles to the route 17 exit north of Fredericksburg and if it is like the current HOV lanes there will be a backup where the HOV lanes merge with the normal lanes.

Thanks for the advice about the Amtrak but I'm afraid I'm a man of convenience and messing about with trains and hauling luggage and young children around really isn't the best start to the holiday.

I've checked with Hertz and they quoted identical prices for car rental in Dulles and Williamsburg and other quotes from Budget, Avis etc are all quite reasonable so I think I'll settle on flying into Dulles and driving.

Is the I95 trouble all the way down or just a part of it? Playing around with Mapquest there is a route that takes you onto the I66 and joining I95 at Fredericksburg, would this be an option or will the traffic be more of the same?