Arbutus to DC: A Guide to Driving Time

Are you planning a trip from Arbutus, Maryland to Washington, District of Columbia? Maybe you're heading to a meeting or event, or maybe you're just exploring the city for a day. Either way, it's important to know the different options for routes and the time it takes to drive them based on traffic patterns. In this blog post, we'll break down the fastest and slowest routes for your journey, as well as estimate drive times for peak and low traffic hours.

Fastest Route: The Baltimore-Washington Parkway

The quickest way to get from Arbutus, MD to Washington, DC is to take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295 S). This route is approximately 34 miles long and takes around 45 minutes to drive during low traffic hours. You'll begin by exiting on the 7B to MD-295 S and eventually merge onto the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Of course, during peak hours you can expect to add around 15-30 minutes to your travel time.

Slowest Route: I-95 South

Though the I-95 South is a popular route to DC, it's also notoriously slow during peak travel times. The total distance from Arbutus to DC via the I-95 South route is approximately 50 miles, and under normal traffic conditions, it takes around 1 hour. However, during rush hour traffic, you can expect to add another 30-45 minutes to your drive time. The downside is the slow nature of traffic, but the upside is that you pass through a range of cities and sights on the way south.

Other Route Options: I-295 South or I-95 North and MD-295 South

There are other route options that could be useful during high traffic times. You could consider taking I-295 South which is the Anacostia Freeway, or I-95 North and MD-295 South, which allow you to bypass traffic by exiting and taking local routes. Though these will add a few extra miles to your trip, they can be faster options during peak hours. More importantly, different areas of the city are accessible depending on which route you take.

In conclusion, your drive from Arbutus in Maryland to Washington, D.C. can vary depending on the route you take and the time of day you are travelling. Regardless of your choice, however, expect to arrive at your destination with an abundance of exciting things to do and explore in the nation's capital.