Going to Baltimore in Jan. Anything I need to know?

I would try to get good directions.I always had a hard time getting around in Baltimore and Philadelphia.I personally found NYC was easier with the way streets were layed out.

 

What are you doing in Baltimore? Are you driving a big truck or your pov?

 

Are you kidding? Try me. Born and raised there.

Let's start off real easy. Where are you going? Exactly? Are you passing through?

I70 assumes you are coming off either 68/81 etc. Going east to Baltimore. You have two ridges before frederick, the second is notorious for fog conditions that will steam your visibility to nothing due to temperature inversions some days as you start down. There are scales at Newmarket, MM64 I think right about.

The traffic will get predatory as you pass roughly the washington road exit into the US 29 area. There is a bridge just beyond that comes up against a hill that fills up with cars in the afternoon. Interchanging with 695 if you are going north and east, you are needing to reduce to speed signed whatever it might be signed at and then subtract 5 mph beacause that interchange stack was built in the mid 60's and if they aint replaced it yet you are rolling onto old iron girders.

Certain times of the day demand caution on the beltway. Used to be 10 to 2 pm in the day time north and east or south and east for running ok, but otherwise gridlock in rush hours. At night the situation is not much better unless it's like 2 am.

South and east presents you with a 3 mile downgrade towards 95 on what I call the old National Road or otherwise known as Canton. You will get fair warning of the coming hill when you work through the twisties as you come over the top.

The problem with 695 to 95 south is two lanes on that ramp becomes one and then nothing. YOU will be playing bumper trucks fighting 5 lanes worth of big trucks trying to sort yourselves out before Jessup.

If you are going down town... you need precise directions. Boston street has a low clearance bridge 895 old tunnel has a 13.5 protected by electronic signs and lasers measuring you ordering you probably onto US 40. The Baltimore truckstop is still there as is miles of bridges at the new tunnel. If it's 31 and wet it's ice gauranteed.

I95 695 has become a YUGE mixer. Choose carefully. Tolls begin NE of the city on 95 past the White marsh area.

695 and 83 north is a real dangerous problem. If the speed sign says 45, you slow to 40 or less, there is a curve that tightens as it steepens to dive under the 695 with a large concrete pillar that has eaten speeding gas tankers about once a year. If you come off 695 onto 83 south jones falls, the signs say 30 be ready to merge because it dumps u into three lanes and presents you with a 5% grade. And there you are fat and slow.... Don't stay on south 83 Jones falls too long, it will put you next to City hall downtown.

Without precise information of your upcoming trip I cannot help you better. These are just general thoughts.

 

5 pm on a Friday is the worst possible time to leave any city.

 

It shouldn't be too too bad, two or three hours of moving foward is still better than five hours sitting still waiting for the green light.

 

5PM? HA. you Sir are going to be doing BATTLE. Not only Baltimore you will go into Gladiator work against the aggressives in DC at that hour.

Im very interested in learning more. A Parade indicates a downtown staging intersection or lot near the parade route. I feel good in being able to help you where possible with routing. I'll look forward to your information.