DCA from NJ
Mar 26, 2015, 8:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 10
DCA from NJ
Hi,
I will be flying out of DCA at 12:30PM on the Monday after Easter and I will be coming from South Jersey.
I can't leave until 7AM and wondering if I have enough time.
I 40 minutes to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
So I should be into Delaware before 8AM.
Figuring I should be safe getting to the airport no later than 11am?
So I also have to get through the tunnel.
I am hoping the morning commute will be over by the time I will be coming through.
Advice?
I will be flying out of DCA at 12:30PM on the Monday after Easter and I will be coming from South Jersey.
I can't leave until 7AM and wondering if I have enough time.
I 40 minutes to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
So I should be into Delaware before 8AM.
Figuring I should be safe getting to the airport no later than 11am?
So I also have to get through the tunnel.
I am hoping the morning commute will be over by the time I will be coming through.
Advice?
Mar 27, 2015, 2:33 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I too can't understand why one would fly xDCA. But, if there is a reason, I would not bother with the drive. Amtrak to WAS and Metro to DCA. No muss, no fuss, traffic or anything else.
Mar 27, 2015, 4:40 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 10
I got 4 roundtrip tickets for DCA to MCO for 13544 each, plus 1 companion for 40,632.
Beats driving to Orlando.
I will look into the train option.
What am I in for on the drive?
Mar 28, 2015, 1:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
Theory - you have a family and trying to save on cost which made DCA logical. Next time check all options including EWR, ABQ, Trenton and ACY (before they get rid of the flights).
Anyway, as the week after Easter is typically a light traffic week due to school breaks (reduced at minimum 15% of road traffic) - removing any major accident should be fine.
Now, on the flip side because it is a major vacation weekend for families - you must allocate MUCH more time arrival & parking at airport.
Anyway, as the week after Easter is typically a light traffic week due to school breaks (reduced at minimum 15% of road traffic) - removing any major accident should be fine.
Now, on the flip side because it is a major vacation weekend for families - you must allocate MUCH more time arrival & parking at airport.
Mar 31, 2015, 3:10 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Apr 1, 2015, 6:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
Apr 1, 2015, 6:39 pm
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,399
OP will largely be driving against rush hour until late morning. Near DC, they will have access to the carpool only roads.
For one person, I would suggest the train, but this could be expensive (and crowded) for a family.
For one person, I would suggest the train, but this could be expensive (and crowded) for a family.
Apr 2, 2015, 12:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Premier Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 441
As much as I love Amtrak, I wouldn't say that it's a sure thing on time. I did a Fairfax-WIL commute on Monday AMs for about a year and tried train and car. Car was more predictable time wise.
Also, there are no car pool lanes south of B'more. on either 95 or BW Parkway. Listen to traffic or watch google maps to pick the quicker of the two.
Also, there are no car pool lanes south of B'more. on either 95 or BW Parkway. Listen to traffic or watch google maps to pick the quicker of the two.
Apr 2, 2015, 6:40 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
As much as I love Amtrak, I wouldn't say that it's a sure thing on time. I did a Fairfax-WIL commute on Monday AMs for about a year and tried train and car. Car was more predictable time wise.
Also, there are no car pool lanes south of B'more. on either 95 or BW Parkway. Listen to traffic or watch google maps to pick the quicker of the two.
Also, there are no car pool lanes south of B'more. on either 95 or BW Parkway. Listen to traffic or watch google maps to pick the quicker of the two.
Apr 2, 2015, 8:13 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
Hi,
I will be flying out of DCA at 12:30PM on the Monday after Easter and I will be coming from South Jersey.
I can't leave until 7AM and wondering if I have enough time.
I 40 minutes to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
So I should be into Delaware before 8AM.
Figuring I should be safe getting to the airport no later than 11am?
So I also have to get through the tunnel.
I am hoping the morning commute will be over by the time I will be coming through.
Advice?
I will be flying out of DCA at 12:30PM on the Monday after Easter and I will be coming from South Jersey.
I can't leave until 7AM and wondering if I have enough time.
I 40 minutes to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
So I should be into Delaware before 8AM.
Figuring I should be safe getting to the airport no later than 11am?
So I also have to get through the tunnel.
I am hoping the morning commute will be over by the time I will be coming through.
Advice?
If you're really going to drive, you will need to rethink leaving as late as 7am. If driving is that important to you, saying you "can't" leave before 7am is a mistake. After the Del Mem Br, you'll have DE traffic and then traffic as you approach the Bmore beltway and then bumper to bumper between Bmore and DC. The risk of missing that flight is real. So turn that "can't" into a can.
Apr 3, 2015, 8:44 am
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
got a deal on a new wash machine dryer. it was shipped to a north balt. warehouse. i picked it up friday at about.12:30. i think NSA had a short school day. i got from balt beltway to dc beltway down the bwi parkway in only 1 1/2 hour(20 or so miles). it was the week before easter, and maybe that was the cause.
but there always is a cause for a DC backup. only a couple dignitary motorcades a day.
but there always is a cause for a DC backup. only a couple dignitary motorcades a day.