Route to Ashburn

Load Waze on your phone. 

Do what it says. 

If it says it's going to be over an hour, then it's going to be over an hour. There are no shortcuts. 

Best route?

1. Go to bar with great happy hour deals

2. Hang out and have fun until like 7pm

3. Go home

Fastest route?

Whatever Waze says and gods help you if there's an accident, it's weathering outside, or any other bullshit fucks up the barely functional traffix pattern.

You need to pick one - optimize for time, or optimize for money. Thats a personal value decision. There's also a metro option to consider.

Also, it *really* depends where in Ashburn you're talking about. Northern Ashburn closer to 7 is very different than the southern parts closer to 50 or the toll road.

I commute regularly from Ashburn Village to 19th and L.

If I'm lucky to leave at 3pm, I just zip zoom down 66 to the toll road. If 66 has a significant backup, I suck it up and take the GW Parkway to Chain Bridge Road to the toll road.

Those are the only two routes I ever take now that the beltway construction makes it not an option.

It depends on exactly where in Ashburn you want to go. For most of Ashburn, you’re looking at 66 to toll road. If you want to avoid more tolls, you can do 28 to Waxpool. If you want to be a few minutes faster, continue on the Greenway past the airport. We’re looking at a $20-$30 commute or even more depending on traffic.

If you live in the southern part of Ashburn you can take 66 to 50 or 66 to 28 to 50 and cut north at Loudoun County parkway.

Depends on where in DC and where in Ashburn, but on a typical day (no wrecks) the quickest is 395 or Constitution to 66W to Dulles Toll Road W, and then you can stay on to the Greenway to the Ashburn exits or jump off at 28 and get into Ashburn via Waxpool or Rt. 7.

If you can't bear to to pay the Dulles Toll Road toll at all and don't get out 66 in time to beat the HOT lane tolls (before 3 pm), then: 395 or Constitution to GW Parkway northbound, Beltway, then Georgetown Pike all the way out to Great Falls/Sterling intersection with Rt 7 or, off Beltway, Chain bridge Rd, immed right onto tysons Blvd around Galleria, Right on International, Left on Spring Hill, Rt on Tyco, Right on Rt 7 - Rt 7 all the way to Ashburn.

You can save money or save time, not both.

That said, 66 to 267 shouldn't be too bad. The 66 tolls should be fairly low since that's the early portion of the afternoon commute. Then it's up to you if you want to:

1. Take the toll road to Tysons and then take 7 from there (specifically exit at 123 and then turn onto 7). A fair amount of lights between Tysons and Sterling but they just wrapped up widening the road.

2. Take the Dulles Toll Road out to 28 and then 28 to waxpool/7/whatever.

3. Stay on the toll road as it switches to the Greenway and then exit locally.

I leave around that time and 66 to 267 is the fastest and most consistent route. It depends on your destination what you take after 267.

Also, 66 toll is usually around $15-30.

You and 100k other people want to know. There is no shortcut, you bought a house with a long commute just deal with it and drive chill.

In the 1970’s, the best route was Route 50 to Route 7 West. No 66 or toll road. Traffic lights on 7 about every half mile until you got to all the farms in Loudoun County. Count your blessings.

I'd say I-66 to 50 or take the 495 exit & use the Toll Road. Inside the Beltway you will pay the HOV-3 toll after 3pm, but it's the quickest to the Beltway

then, it's a matter of time vs $, Toll Road would be quicker, but costlier.

If this is a onetime deal; stick with toll roads on 66. If it’s daily and you’re budget minded, then I suggest sticking to route 7. But it also depends where in Ashburn as there are other routes

I would just park at the metro in Ashburn and take that in. Might take slightly longer, but you'll be able to close your eyes, read, listen to podcasts or do whatever and it would be cheaper than gas, wear & tear and toll road fees. Not to mention save you the stress from idiot drivers.

I-66 => 267 toll road => Dulles Greenway ~ $11

I-66 => Rt 7 $0

You either save time or save money, can't be both.

You need to check out the tolls at the time of the trip. You're the only one that can determine if the spend is worth the time you're saving.

Traffic really isn't bad at 3PM. Choose whatever route satisfies your appetite for paying or not paying for tolls.

I only pay for the Dulles Toll Road, although Google Maps regularly says Route 7 is only a few minutes longer.

Take the metro it ends up being faster most days