DC to Alexandria late afternoon or early evening commutes -- what days have the LEAST bad traffic?

[Anonymous]

We have to commute from Capital Hill to Alexandria once a week for the foreseeable future for therapy for my kid. We have some leeway on which day. Appointment will be at around 5 or 5:30pm.

For those of you familiar with this commute is there a day you recommend trying to do it? Is there a day you recommend NOT doing it if we can avoid it? We've commuted to this office before but only in the summer and generally earlier in the day so I don't have a sense of how bad this is going to be. If you have recommendations for when we should leave or how long we can expect it to take that would be helpful too.

Thanks in advance for useful info!

[Anonymous]

I do this commute daily (from CH to Alexandria at PM rush hour). Monday and Friday will be your lightest days (especially Friday). Do not do Thursdays. They are notoriously the worst. Tuesday and Wednesday are a toss up as those with flex schedules generally go into the office one of those days.

Are you going to Old Town or the West End?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do this commute daily (from CH to Alexandria at PM rush hour). Monday and Friday will be your lightest days (especially Friday). Do not do Thursdays. They are notoriously the worst. Tuesday and Wednesday are a toss up as those with flex schedules generally go into the office one of those days.

Are you going to Old Town or the West End?

West End. Looks like 395 to Quaker Lane is the most direct though I'll probably just use Google maps to game traffic. Thank you for the info -- fortunately Thursday is the one day we definitely can't do it so that's easy. I'll see if I can get on the schedule for mondays since I'd prefer not to give up Friday evenings to it!

[Anonymous]

Fridays are by far the best except on holiday weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do this commute daily (from CH to Alexandria at PM rush hour). Monday and Friday will be your lightest days (especially Friday). Do not do Thursdays. They are notoriously the worst. Tuesday and Wednesday are a toss up as those with flex schedules generally go into the office one of those days.

Are you going to Old Town or the West End?

West End. Looks like 395 to Quaker Lane is the most direct though I'll probably just use Google maps to game traffic. Thank you for the info -- fortunately Thursday is the one day we definitely can't do it so that's easy. I'll see if I can get on the schedule for mondays since I'd prefer not to give up Friday evenings to it!

Just take the express lanes and get off at Shirlington. It’ll be less than $6 from the 14th St bridge to the Shirlington exit. Depending on where you’re coming from on the hill, you should easily make it in under 30 minutes if you take the express lanes.

[Anonymous]

If you pay for express or have 3 people, it’s not bad at all

[Anonymous]

Monday and Friday is the answer. But not doing it at rush hour would be a big help as well

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill to Alexandria is an easy commute with the HOV/Express lanes. Just avoid Tuesdays and Wednesdays (the worst day).