Fastest Way from Columbus, OH to the Outer Banks?

If I take 64 through Richmond, VA, is it faster to stay on that through Norfolk, or would 64 through Richmond, then 460 through Suffolk back to 64 south of Norfolk be faster?

Fastest Way from Columbus, OH to the Outer Banks?

If you%26#39;re coming through Richmond on I-64 the fastest way is to stay on I64 until you reach the Hampton. Across from the Hampton Coliseum there is a 2 lane right exit for 664 which will take you down across the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel (rather than the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel which is what you%26#39;d cross if you stayed on I64 to Norfolk). The sign for 664 will say ';Nags Head'; on it. Once on 664 you just need to follow the exit signs that say ';Nags Head';. From 664 you%26#39;ll take an exit that will put you back on 64 again and then 64 will dump you onto the Chesapeak Expwy which will then connect to Rt. 168. Rt. 168 will turn into Rt. 158 and that will lead you straight across the bridge.

Fastest Way from Columbus, OH to the Outer Banks?

Just curious, Chazz, google maps says that it is about the same time and distance taking I-64 to I-664 to the Outer Banks as it does staying on I-64. Is it quicker going I-664 in terms of traffic volume? I know last year coming back from VA Beach on a Saturday, we had a long wait on I-64 near Hampton for no apparent reason other than the large amount of traffic, so if this route will help eliminate that, I%26#39;m game!

Yes that route will eliminate the possiblity of being stuck at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. It can be a nightmare!

Melb,

I%26#39;m a big fan of Google Maps but every now and then it%26#39;s not on top of its game. Hampton Roads is divided into 2 sections. ';The Peninsula'; which encompasses Williamsburg, Newport News and Hampton. And ';The Southside'; which encompasses Norfolk, VA Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth.

If you%26#39;re going from the Peninsula to OBX, 664 is the way to go for 3 reasons: 1) it cuts diaganol from Hampton to Chesapeake/Suffolk saving time from driving across to Norfok and then having to cut down and go south. 2) Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel is the less congested of the 2 bridge tunnels (HRBT being the other) 90% of the time. 3) You ditch all of the cars headed to VA Beach that continue on 64 to the HRBT.

Now if you%26#39;re heading to Norfolk or VA Beach from the Peninsula staying on 64 and taking the HRBT is the more direct method. However, I work in Newport News and some of my coworkers commute from Norfolk and VA Beach. They generally take 64/HRBT home, however, the first thing they do when they get in their cars is listen to a traffic report. Often the HRBT has a traffic backup or worse an accident in or around the tunnel...if that%26#39;s the case even though taking the Monitor-Merrimac is slightly longer they%26#39;ll take it in a hearbeat to avoid long delays.

So in short has you approach Hampton on I-64, if you%26#39;re heading to points SE like Chesapeake or OBX definitely take 664/Monitor-Merrimac. If you%26#39;re in Hampton and heading due east to Norfolk or VA Beach staying on 64 and taking the HRBT is the most direct, but 664/Monitor-Merrimac can be used has a backup route in the event of a big traffic backup for the HRBT.

Ask anyone from Hampton Roads that does a good deal of commuting about the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and you%26#39;ll probably see some clenching of teeth. Even in the late hours of the night when you expect to coast right through it..they%26#39;ll often have repairs going on and have it closed down to one lane.

Thanks so much, Chazz (and Lynne)! We will definitely take I-664 to OBX! Definitely sounds like a better way to go and I do well remember sitting there for almost an hour and a half on a Saturday morning waiting to get home from VA Beach last year! Posters like you are the reason this website works so well... great information! Thanks again!

Drive safe and enjoy your trip!