Fly into D.C. for VCU interview

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Quixotic

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Do you think I can make it back to Dulles airport in DC by 4:30 if I leave Richmond by 2p.m.? It is over $300 cheaper to fly into DC as opposed to Richmond. Dulles smaller and easier than Regan, right? Anyone have recommendations on hotels to stay at while in Richmond?

Quixotic
 
If your flight leaves at 4:30, you are taking a chance few would want to. Generally, that is a reasonable time frame though: 2.5 hours from Dulles to Richmond (actually 1:45 traveling 10 over the speed limit). Can you take a bus, etc?

Coops
 
Can you make it .........NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't even try it. Heed my words, I live up here and have traveled MANY times between the 2 cities........... Don't do it........NO No NO

Have I stressed not to do it loudly enough for you. Do a search on SDN for lots of comments about this very topic.

Actually I have posted them below.
 
Fly into Norfolk, its only a two hour drive, so if you leave at two plan to fly out by no earlier then 5:30 that way you have time to check in etc plus traffic
 
quixotic,

i was contemplating the same thing. i interviewed back in december and was thinking about flying into dulles from cali. since i wasn't familiar with the road or weather conditions, i decided to just fly into richmond. trust me, it gave me a lot of peace of mind. i would totally recommend flying into richmond rather than dulles or norfolk. also, i found a pretty reasonable deal through orbitz. if you go to their website (orbitz) and select hotel + air ticket you can save big bucks. that's what i did. i got plane ticket (roundtrip) and a two night stay at a three star hotel all for a little under 5 bills, which is not too bad. also, if you don't want to rent a car, stay at a hotel in downtown. mine was quite a drive away, about 15 mins, but i rented a car. enterprise had some outrageously good deals, i got a jetta for like 18 bucks a day. anyway, hope this has helped. if you need anything else please feel free to pm me. i had a wonderful experience at VCU and i hope you do to as well. regards.
 
My flight leaves at about 7p.m. so I just want to be there by 4:30 to return my car and get through security. I shall check on Orbitz for cheaper fares, but the cheapest I have found thus far is $490. Plus I only need one night at a hotel as I will staying with a professor for a night visiting. I am trying to save money seeing as how I have spend ove $4000 on this process and have a wedding coming up.

Quixotic
 
hey. i lived right outside DC for about 17 years (in northern virginia) and I go to school at VCU. i've made the trip from richmond to dulles and vice versus numerous times when I need to pick up a friend or fly to see my girlfriend. anyways what you're saying is definitely possible but the problem is that you're not familar with the airport/car rental place or any of that so you may run into trouble. also im not sure if you have your driving route down or not but the easiest way to get between richmond and dulles is taking 95 to 495 to the dulles toll road, which takes u straight into the airport.

im not sure if any of what I have said has helped you at all but anyways good luck and you can ask me any questions if you need to.
 
Originally posted by Quixotic
My flight leaves at about 7p.m. so I just want to be there by 4:30 to return my car and get through security. I shall check on Orbitz for cheaper fares, but the cheapest I have found thus far is $490. Plus I only need one night at a hotel as I will staying with a professor for a night visiting. I am trying to save money seeing as how I have spend ove $4000 on this process and have a wedding coming up.

Quixotic
Click to expand...

Ok, well that sounds better than your original post. I guess we were all thinking you wanted to get there for your 4:30 flight.
If you have a flight at 7, that is possible, but you will be driving up there during rush hour so that is always a pain.
 
Over five hours is perfectly reasonable. Driving will be no issue for you from Dulles. Where are you coming from. A bus might be cheaper. The greyhound station in Richmond is on N boulevard and is only a 5 or 6 dollar cab ride to Sanger Hall.

Coops
 
DC traffic is hell, so I wouldn't count on it. It take me roughly an hour to get home to the Dulles area from Falls Church (West of DC), and I take the carpool lanes. I-95 is always bad, though there are ways to circumvent it. Maybe you could get a later flight out of Dulles or spring for a cheap hotel and leave the next morning? Good luck!

u2ecila
 
Never in the history of I-95 has it taken more than 3 hours to get from DC to Richmond.

Leaving atg 2 pm from Richmond, you will avoid most traffic, but be prompt!

The only time traffic has been delayed longer than 3.5 hours or 4 hours (ever and that is extremely rare only in major accidents) is when in 1996 I think two tractor trailors overturned on I 95 Southbound just north of richmond. Gasoline was spilt and a HAZMAT crew had to come take care of it (no one could go bc of hazmat priority). So barring catalysmic disasters, you will make it ... but isnt that always the case. Wouldnt a cataclysmic disaster always prevent you from getting to a flight on time ... ?

If you are really paranoid take train (no traffic) it is cheaper to come to richmond than a flight and then car. YHou can take route 301 from DC to richmond which never has traffic (by car from dulles), or you can fly into richmond directly.

I think you are fine though.

But if you are still worried, try those other options. Where are you coming from?
 
I'll be heading in from the Rocky Mountains. The latest flight I was able to get was at 7:15 p.m. I can rent a car for about $17 a day which is a really good price considering I will have the freedom to visit the mountains and explore either the coast or city. I have heard it is fairly quiet in Richmond on Sundays, does anyone have an opinion on what to do? I could always leave the campus tour early as my interview is first thing in the morning. The tour is supposed to go until about 2p.m. but I suspect I can leave around 1 p.m. to ensure I am on time for my flight.

Quixotic
 
Originally posted by Cooper_Wriston
Never in the history of I-95 has it taken more than 3 hours to get from DC to Richmond.bc of hazmat priority).
Click to expand...

Maybe never in YOUR history has it taken more than 3 hours. I guess you have been a very lucky person. However for all the rest of us unlucky people there has been numerous times we have taken longer than that.

And since you said you have driven this path, you know full and well that I-95 during rush hour is AWFUL. Granted they will be getting there during the begining of rush hour but things stack up early. And people need to be aware of those facts when they are not familiar with this area.
There is a reason that most people on SDN tell people to stay in Richmond and pay the extra dollars.

Quixotic - It is possible for you to leave early since you have a morning interview. Unless things have changed in the last several years, lunch and a med school tour will be in the afternoon. You can skip these. It would be great if you left at 1. That would give you the extra cushion and get you there BEFORE rush hour becomes a problem. And that would give you a piece of mind. Good luck at whatever you decide.
 
Have you locked in your time, can you stay another day?

If you can: stay with a student host in richmond (free) and go to BOTTOMS UP PIZZA ... do it at some time. ITs about 3 miles from the med school on Canal St and Cary St intersection.

If you have locked in your time, then leave before the lunch as Amy suggested. If it takes you more than 2.5 hours to get from Richmond to Dulles, I will be shocked and awed. Barring the cataclysmic disaster situation described earlier.

If you can--check southwestern airlines and jet blue to try to get some good prices for plane tickets to fly into Richmond. I know Southwest does. Expedia and all those (travelocity) etc don't carry these airlines bc they are too "cheap" and would cost their payers (delta, etc).

Best
Coops
 
I am flying in on Saturday and leaving Monday night. I already locked in my time for Monday night and I think I'll just leave the campus by 1. As Amy B said,I should get to D.C. early enough to miss traffic, Ihope. I should have time on Sunday to whatever, so I'll head to Bottom's Up Pizza and give it a try. How long does it take to get to the Smoky Mountains National Park from Richmond? Are the speed limits in the East 55?


Herp
 
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