Traffic In Washington Dc... About This Page:

[pooh222]

We are leaving early Friday morning (2-3 am)for our drive to WDW.
With President Reagans body being in Dc What kind of traffic jams do you think we can expect?
I know gov't offices will be closed, but how many people do you think would actually come to view his body?

[LisaJ]

How far are you from DC? That will determine whether or not you hit rush hour. Are you about 3 hours? You should be able to get through without too much trouble. If it were me, I would want to be going through DC no later than 5-ish.

There will be tons of people wanting to see Reagan, so that is a given. How it will affect your travel, can't say. But I would definitely not be driving through any later than 5 am. I think after that, you will be asking for trouble, and believe me, there is nothing worse than sitting in traffic in the DC area. There's no way out. It's awful!

[my2girls]

Here are (2) clips from the local news channel in Chicago.
I think that you are in for quite a crowd. I would definitely plan on trying to be out of the Washington area very early in the am.

Mourners endured hours-long waits just to drive into a nearby college that was shut down to provide parking. They waited hours more to board shuttle buses to the library, which had to add more buses and extend the period of lying in repose to handle the turnout.

Authorities expect more than 100,000 people to move through the Capitol Rotunda to view Reagan's casket by early Friday morning. Rope lines and fencing have already been set up in the area.

Kristine

[denwol]

One word: NIGHTMARE



Rush hour in the evening usually starts around 3:30 - ends around 6:30. In the morning I would try to give yourself enough time to get through before 6:00-6:30, just like the others said...I think with Reagans viewing, though, you should expect rush hour all day long...

[pooh222]

We are leaving from NE phila. If we leave around 2am we could be in that area in 2-2 1/2 hrs. I do have a AAA triptik I guess that will show us a different route if needed.
UGHHH I can't beleive this. Not that of course I don't give these people the right to see him, but don't they know we are headed to see Mickey?!?

[Valerie]

I wanted to give you some more information about the events on Friday so you can make some decisions about when to leave. The federal government will be off, so traffic won't be as bad as usual, but not everyone has off. They are expecting about 200,000 people to visit. You will not do through DC, so won't have to deal with street closures in town.

Friday

10:45 a.m. EDT: Motorcade departs U.S. Capitol.
11:30 a.m. EDT: National funeral service at Washington National Cathedral.
1:45 p.m. EDT: Motorcade departs National Cathedral.
2:45 p.m. EDT: Aircraft departs Andrews AFB.
4:45 p.m. PDT: Aircraft arrives at Naval Base Ventura County-Point Mugu.
6 p.m. PDT: Motorcade arrives at presidential library.
6:15 p.m. PDT: Private interment service at presidential library.
7:30 p.m. PDT: Interment ceremony concludes.

495/95 south might be shut down in a small section for the funeral procession after the funeral. The have not announced the path the procession will take to Andrews AFB yet. When you are coming down 95 and you get to the Capital Beltway 495 intersection, you can take the 495W exit. I can't remember what cities the sign says. Maybe Bethesda and Northern Virginia. It will take you a little longer, but not much. Here is a local news web site that you might want to check before you leave.

WTOP News

Good luck. If you leave in the middle of the night, you should not have any problems, well at least with the funeral. Accidents and construction maybe a problem

[AmyJune]

There really shouldn't be a normal rush hour with most (see rant) of the Federal gov't shut down. That said there is no way to predict what traffic will be like.
RANT: even though the President has said that all Federal offices should be closed and workers given the day off except for essential personnel, the Director of the National Park Service has stated that all National Parks will be open. this means that the folks who work the visitors centers have to work but of course the administration will have a 3 day weekend (which of course includes the Director herself). Her rationale is that national parks are reflective places for people to come to mourn. My question is can't people mourn without going into a visitors center??

[LisaJ]

You know what, Marni, I think if I were you, I would just decide right now on an alternate route. I'm very familiar with the DC area (my sister lives there) and I think that you should play it safe. There are not that many ways to get around the DC mess "smoothly", but there are some back roads and I would certainly try them.

You will have to look at a detailed map and have some alternate escape routes planned or one full change of route. If you find that you are making good time, then plug along, but you could easily come across traffic at a stand still and that will be the most aggravating experience.

I would just plan now on NOT going near DC, Northern Va area.

Good Luck.

[RocklandRVers]

DC is a nightmare on good days so with the Reagan funeral and all the heads of state with their enterages coming my bet is it will be one big parking lot from Delaware to Virginia. I would take a big loop around that area. Maybe swing out to Harrisburg and take I-81 then swing back on I-64 to pick up I-95 below Richmond. I have taken I-81 down and found it smooth sailing even in the usual rush hours. Sure its more miles, but sitting in traffic in sweltering heat could be what you face around DC.