<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad, its because its summer and people are on vacation now. even the metro trains arent as crowded. but come back in the middle of the year…</p>
<p>^^ I know. Traffic’s generally bad around any heavily populated area. I’ve traveled in that area before but it’s been quite a few years. I may head back there this summer and drive from DC to points north but I’ll likely stop at a few points in between so it shouldn’t be so bad. If possible, I’ll try to avoid the peak rush hour times.</p>
<p>But here’s the real question:</p>
<p>We all assume you’re going to Princeton to visit Princeton University.</p>
<p>What’s in Arlington?</p>
<p>I don’t think the drive would be that bad either. We drove from Baltimore to Princeton for auditions/visits to Westminster Choir College several times and it was a very easy drive. I never take 295 between DC and Baltimore - unless I know I95 is a parking lot. Where are you staying in Princeton?</p>
<p>The slugg lines might be riotously interesting lolol [Slug-Lines.com</a> - Slugging and Slug Lines Information For Washington DC](<a href=“http://www.slug-lines.com%5DSlug-Lines.com”>http://www.slug-lines.com)</p>
<p>The Pentagon is in Arlington-ish.</p>
<p>Do the freeways around there (Beltway, I-95, I-295) have HOV lanes? If so, are they just as jammed as the rest of the lanes during the busy times?</p>
<p>Driving in LA is not so bad, as long as you know the freeways & major surface streets by heart :)</p>
<p>None of us mind getting in at 12 or so (it’s only 9 pm our time) so night driving wouldn’t be so bad. 5 am driving - that would mean getting up around 2 am our time :eek: I don’t even go to sleep that early… :)</p>
<p>You’re right about Princeton being to visit Princeton University - though that’s not the only reason (some people have family business to take care of). It’s not a college visit (I’m already in college 
), I suppose you could say I’m partly visiting for grad school…except I’m not really likely to apply there anyways. </p>
<p>As for Arlington, it’s also academic related, in some sense - but no visit to the Pentagon, sorry :)</p>
<p>I also live in the Metro DC area in Southern Fairfax County. My H slugs both ways to the Pentagon for years. My college student has worked in DC for the last 4 summers. She takes Metro train and bus. Both have noticed a signicant increase of sluggers and Metro riders, perhaps due to ga$ co$t$.</p>
<p>In any case, I had an 8:00 am appt in Bethesda the other day and then had to go to work on Ft Belvoir. I left southern FFX at 0630 and had found parking and inside the hospital by 0730. My appt was over around 1015 and I thought it would be much quicker to get back to Belvoir since rush hour was officially over. I was so wrong. It took 90 minutes. </p>
<p>Listen to WTOP 103.5 on the 8s for traffic updates 24 hours a day.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Just got back in LA and I thought I would say thanks for all the great advice :)</p>
<p>The drive from Arlington to Princeton wasn’t too bad. It took a long time to get from Arlington to Baltimore, but after that it was smooth sailing. On the way back we drove traffic-free late at night through Baltimore and went from Baltimore to Dulles traffic-free on the beltways the next day.</p>
<p>Also I didn’t realize how much tolls were :)</p>
<p>Princeton was really hot and rainy. It was interesting to learn about some of the graduate programs - like the fact that the funding for PhD students is excellent (basically, fellowships for everyone admitted) - even though it didn’t seem like a place I would go.</p>
<p>But now that I did such a rocking job on this trip, I get to plan next months trip to Knoxville too! O_o</p>
<p>tolls - yeah forgot about tolls - lol. we are just so used to paying for every mile…
late at night is generally the best time to drive through Baltimore-
Glad it worked out and you had a good time! Knoxville should be easier! ;)</p>
<p>Motherdear - funny that you work at Fort Belvoir - my brother and his family live across the street from it in a teeny-tiny house with an absolutely beautiful backyard.</p>