I-95 travel advice?

July 8, 2007 9:28 AM

Job interview, Tuesday at 2 PM near Aberdeen, MD. Driving down I-95 from the Bronx. When should I leave in order to (a) not get stuck in too terribly much traffic anywhere along the route and therefore (b) not freak out about being late?

Yes, I've Mapquested and all, but I'd like to hear from people who make this run frequently, in real life, at this time of day and week, if possible. Sure, I could leave at like 5 am but I also don't want to have to sit in the parking lot in Aberdeen all morning and get progressively nervouser.

(Bonus points for recommending good indie radio stations on the southerly end.)

posted by scratch to Travel & Transportation (14 answers total)

Add two hours of insurance: one to get out of NYC and another to get through Philadelphia. It doesn't sound like you need to deal with rush hour traffic, though.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:52 AM on July 8, 2007

Hmm - for these things, I do actually like to drive at 4/5 am - I get an open road, free of traffic - I then caffenate and turn on the tunes while I breeze up the highway stress-free.

Then when I get there - invariably several hours early, I:
- go for a walk in a park (depends on city, most of mine have been in Canada, so typically no fears of early morning muggers ;-)

- go shopping (electronics/geek stuff)

- find a WiFi cafe and fire up the laptop - catch up on my blogroll

- read a book.

- read some local "rags" to get a feel for the city/environment.

Just basically unwind, relax - then about 1/2 hour before the interview, I re-read my paper copy of my resume (you did bring at least 3 copies, right? In nice portfolio folders, right?) to think about the areas I want to highlight. Then I walk leasurely to the interview.
posted by jkaczor at 10:11 AM on July 8, 2007

Why not drive down the night before?
posted by killdevil at 10:18 AM on July 8, 2007

If it is an important job interview, I try to make it as stressless as possible. I second trying to go down the night before. You might get all sweaty or rumpled sitting in the car for a couple of hours.

I like to get up early the next day and press everything and then go get a hair cut. It really relaxes me and of course, my hair is perfect.
posted by stormygrey at 10:43 AM on July 8, 2007

oh yeah - I normally also wear comfy clothes & bring my interview clothes for a quick change later.
posted by jkaczor at 10:49 AM on July 8, 2007

Leave at 8:30 am
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:35 AM on July 8, 2007

Take into account it's going to be 95 degrees on Tuesday in Aberdeen so whatever you decide to do leave yourself at least an hour to chill out somewhere close by that is air conditioned because the last thing you want to do is have to run two blocks in that heat in order to make it to the interview on time.
posted by any major dude at 11:49 AM on July 8, 2007

I second leaving the night before.
posted by travosaurus at 12:25 PM on July 8, 2007

Get there early enough to cruise up the MD. side of the Susquehanna River and chill out. There’s some nice country there and Deer Creek St. Park is on the river not far from Aberdeen.
posted by Huplescat at 2:44 PM on July 8, 2007

Can't leave the night before b/c have a class until 9:30, don't like driving at night*, don't wanna spend $ on motel, etc. But thanks for suggesting the state park and the two hours of "insurance." Good ideas both.

*What's the only thing more boring than the Jersey Turnpike? The Jersey Turnpike in the dark.
posted by scratch at 5:01 PM on July 8, 2007

Add two hours of insurance: one to get out of NYC and another to get through Philadelphia

Insurance is great and all, but you really shouldn't be driving through Philly. The Jersey turnpike will steer wide of that. What it will do instead is deliver you to the Delaware Memorial Bridge—at which, if there is an accident or other traffic issue, can be a devilish choke point. Monitor the traffic reports and make yourself aware of alternate routes.
posted by deadfather at 7:29 PM on July 8, 2007

There is no good indie radio in that part of Maryland in my experience! it's pretty boring. I don't think you make it into 92Q Baltimore range there.. (speaking as one who's driven I-95 from Massachusetts to the DC area many, many times)
posted by citron at 7:30 PM on July 8, 2007

So you have, for all practical purposes, 5 hours of drive time. That strikes me as cutting it pretty close, so maybe you should cut your class. In any case if I-95 gets bad anywhere after the Delaware Memorial Bridge, just about any exit heading East will take you to I-40 which has a few stop lights, but goes right thru Aberdeen.
posted by Huplescat at 4:45 PM on July 9, 2007

You might be able to get 89.7 which is Towson University's station in Aberdeen, although it might be a stretch. As for Aberdeen, the Ordinance Museum on the Proving Ground is a one of a kind place. Any other questions, I grew up there, feel free to email.
posted by electroboy at 10:30 AM on July 10, 2007