Driving Directions from Buffalo, NY:

Note: this route takes about 7-8 total hours to drive (including a couple of stops), about an hour less than taking the more “traditional” route down the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It’s also a lot prettier than the turnpike route, and doesn’t make you inhale as many fumes from tractor-trailers! Many thanks to Jan and Diane Williams for discovering and documenting it!

190 West

US 219 South through Ellicottville, Springville, Bradford PA, Johnsonburg, etc (a long ways)

A few miles past Brandy Camp/Elbon/Challenge exits, take Rt. 153 South towards Clearfield (about 16 miles)

153 joins up with US 322 East – stay on US 322 East, towards Philipsburg

After about 20 miles on 322 East, get on 350 South

Follow signs to, and get on, I-99/220 South (towards Altoona)

Take US 30 East

(Bedford/Breezewood; this cuts off the main Breezewood congestion, but there are places to stop)

Through Breezewood, get on I-70 South (towards Washington, DC)

Continue onto I-270 South

Take 495 West (toward Northern Virginia). This is the infamous “Beltway” – try to avoid being on it during the afternoon rush ‘hour’ (4-7pm)!!!

Exit onto George Washington Memorial Parkway South, just on the other side of the american legion bridge over the potomac river.

The Parkway runs along the Potomac River, past National Airport, into the heart of Old Town Alexandria.