Driving to Outer Banks, NC from Northeast

I live near DC and we go to the outer banks every summer.  If you're not south of DC by 8 am, you are in for some rough traffic.  I've never driven down 13 to the bridge/tunnel but I know that 13 gets congested when you go through Maryland.  A lot of the houses in Rehobeth/Bethany/Ocean City rent Saturday to Saturday and 13 carries a lot of traffic to those beaches.  The best solution would be to drive to Hampton/Norfolk/Williamsburg on Friday and leave Saturday for the beach. 

I live in Baltimore, and take 13 every time (I kayak in virginia beach regularly).  95 can be just as fast, or it can be an enternity... and there's just no way to know.  13 is a bit slower sometimes, but pretty regular.  I echo the previous poster's comment that 95 does not guarantee you'll be driving over the speed limit.

I don't pick up 13 until Salisbury MD... so I skip the delaware portion.  My guess is that you'd be better off on 1 south (tollroad) in Delaware... pick it up just after Wilmington... take it all the way to the end past Dover where you can pick up 13.

However you do it, you're bound to run into some beach traffic at some point... that's just the way it is.  Personally, if you're up for it, I'd leave after the evening rush hour and drive through the night (in which case I vote 95 for speed and services).

Enjoy your vacation - I love the OBX!

I live in Newport News, Va (just north of Norlolk/Va Beach) and we take 13 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel going up to south Jersey and back all the time.

That is DEFINETLY the way to go vice 95.  You get some good speed (just like on 95).  you will have some slowdowns here and there, but nothing compared to what you would on 95.  Especially around DC.  The Bridge/Tunnel will cost you $12, but it's worth it.

Thanks Dan, and everyone else! I had a moment of clarity regarding this whole drive.  We try so hard to get wherever we are going as fast as possible and never see anything along the way.  I've always wanted to go over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and never have and this is the route we will be taking and will make the ride as much fun as possible with a 2.5yr old and a pregnant wife suffering from nausea

Dan, do you know any kid friendly routes?

I don't know if you want to go this route, but taking the Parkway down through the Jersey Shore and then taking the Cape May/Lewes ferry- it's like an 80 minute- I just took it back from DE yesterday makes for a really nice trip.  You can easily get to 13 from there.  It might be a nice break for your kid to get out of the car for a while and see the water and everything.  It's a much better trip than taking the Turnpike or 95 down through NJ/PA.

My family and I went on a couple of trips down south taking the bridge/tunnel.  I remember it being pretty cool, at least at age 8