rush hour drive time: 395 N, Army/Navy exit to 295/395 split (Arlington: living in, moving to)

[fsmla3]

To any commuters: During rush hour, how long does it usually take to crawl the 3-4 miles on 395 North between the Army/Navy Drive/South Pentagon exit and the 295/395 split where 395 veers due north?

Thanks in advance.

[caution]

The trick is where you get on 395.

For example, if you enter the HOV down at the last left from Army Navy (forget the name of the little street there) you are heading north and you are in the HOV lane section that has NO restrictions. Others are also piling on that section from the main lanes, but you normally can get over the bridge faster that way. I did it every day for a few years when living in Arlington (near Pentagon) and working in DC.

If you are just running the main lanes passing through, there's always two or three choke points, and they can each take a good 10 minutes to go through.

You do realize that if going north from 395 to "295" ( DC "295" or in MD) you have to get off 395 at Pennsylvania Ave and hang a left at a light. That alone can take 15 minutes due to back up. Going south from MD 295 in through DC to catch 395 south into Arlington requires a U turn using one of two exits from DC 295 south, back north, exiting for 395. A bridge closure on south capital (I think that's the street, it pushes more traffic over into that area) has made that more difficult recently.

If I'm reading your question right, there's no easy way to get from VA 395 N to MD 295. I did it for a few months going from Arlington to work in MD, and ended up moving to MD.

If I misread what you wanted to know, sorry.

[fsmla3]

I really appreciate the response..will keep an eye out for the HOV entrance.

I'm on commuting from Arlington (near Glebe and Jefferson Hwy) up to Maryland. I've had a bit of time to practice the commute, but only from downtown DC going on 395-Penn-295, which only took an easy 15-20 minutes door-to-door.

So, I was mainly wondering how long the first part from Arlington to the split would take.

My partner will be working in Fairfax, so we're trying to find a middle ground commute-wise.

I realize it won't be easy.

Thanks again.