Can anyone tell me what traffic is like on the DC Beltway (495) in the mornings between 6 and 8?

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julie travelcaster

Right at 6 AM there is significantly less traffic than even a half hour later. Nonetheless even at this point it is busy. By 7 and especially by 8 it becomes extremely congested and sometimes stops completely.

Which direction, between which stops, matters. I have, however taken the beltway right at 6 AM and had pretty smooth sailing - but very quickly it becomes congested.

ghouly05

Do you know what hell is like during rush hour? Well, at that time of day, the beltway is not even that good.

david o

It's like standing in line to get on "Space Mountain" at Disney World,only worse!

Gulfstream_five_fifty

a parking lot...sorry

Bob

After labor day and when schools are fully back in session, the traffic will start at 4 AM. The peak traffic occurs between 6-8 AM if there are no accidents or incidents. After 9 AM, things begin to simmer down - until 2 or 3 PM.

Mike R

One of the worst highways in the country for traffic.

justmotherlyadvice

It can take 2hrs to go 10 miles.

Crystal P

It's like horrible. Take public transportation!

slim trim

sure you can stand outside your car and have a smoke whilst waiting to move

oracleguru

Very heavy - that isn't the time you want to be on the Beltway.

hulahoops

are you serious....that's the time that you shouldn't drive

Mrsjvb

worse.place.ever.

mike b

Like sitting in your living room--only your recliner will move a little quicker--seriously though---I lived in LA for a while, I don't know how they rank worse in traffic, in my opinion DC is the worst by far. I lived there for 7 years and I worked at night and had to drive in with traffic on my way home, about 22 miles, typical day 2 hours, accident anywhere and it's taken up to 4 hours. There is no real grid pattern in VA so backroads aren't really much of an option.

Anne

Traffic is really bad then! I have even left at 4:30am during the week and the highway is fairly crowded. It clears up around 9:30-10. It is best to avoid as much as possible. Route 1 is an alternate to 95.

HeadLiner

495 is ALWAYS busy. hope you can find another route.

ErBear

heavy, heavy, heavy traffic. just like anywhere else in a populated area during rush hour. try looking for back roads if your going somewhere locally, or try community transit.

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