Originally Posted by
mhnadel
I-81 is scenic, in theory. But it tends to have heavy truck traffic. If you have time, there are scenic (but slower) drives through the Shenandoah Valley. The last time I was out that way, I detoured through Shenandoah National Park. Route 11 is another option.
I've also been known to get off 95 north of Fredericksburg (which is worth a stop) and go up 123.
Originally Posted by
whlinder
Downtown Fredericksburg is lovely area. 123 is nothing but a slightly faster option to IAD and the western NOVA suburbs from I-95.
I do like the idea of a leisurely trip up Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park after I-81. I've done that when coming back from SW Virginia.
Originally Posted by
mhnadel
OP's destination is IAD. I wouldn't have suggested 123 to someone who was going to DC (or Arlington).
Are you guys really meaning either Routes 29 or 17? Cause Rt 123 has terminals at 95 next to Occoquan many miles north of Fredericksburg and the other end is close to CIA and DC/Chain Bridge in Arlington.
But 17 is next to Fredericksburg and 29 would give some great scenery - both have excellent opportunities for sightseeing (Monticello at Charlottesville, Appomattox and lots of other civil war locations along the way) coming out of North Carolina. If taking three days and looking to go about 4 hours of driving a day then one could fit in lots of potential sites: such as stopping at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (they still show a film my step-dad made in the visitor center!), the Biltmore in Asheville, NC, for example. With three days you could fit in tons of cool places.