Travelers headed to Ocean City, Maryland or the Delaware beaches from the Washington Metropolitan area are almost certain to include a ride over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in their trip. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, begun in 1949, provides a necessary connection between the eastern and western shores of Maryland and the quickest and easiest route across the Chesapeake Bay. Today, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge continues to undergo renovations and improvements to help with problems related to the effects of time and the increased traffic that it sees each year. Handling the Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic has become a central component to planning a summer vacation to Ocean City and the Delaware beaches.
The best advice, and the advice my family has often found to be the most helpful when traveling over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, is to go early and stay late. Traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has peak times, just like most other traffic. Don’t try to head to the beach on a Friday afternoon at 4 PM without planning to sit in some traffic at the toll booths. Traffic often begins before the Severn River Bridge, miles before the toll booths and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge come into sight. Instead of fighting the crowds, take some advice from the Maryland Transportation Authority and leave early in the morning, before the traffic starts, and stay late into the evenings, once it’s died down for the night.
Another tip for traveling over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that my family has utilized over the years is to travel to the beach on off days. Week-long rentals in Ocean City, Maryland and most Delaware beaches start and end on Saturdays, meaning traffic on these days is the heaviest. In addition, people who own homes in the eastern shore will often head down just for a weekend, leaving Friday and returning Sunday. The best way to avoid the Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic associated with major travel days is stay off of the roads. Weekend travelers should consider waiting for traffic to die down on a Friday night, or heading out early on Saturday morning. Stay until early Monday and avoid Sunday’s major traffic. Not picky about the days you head down? We often try to come to the beach on a Tuesday, and stay until a Monday. Traffic over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is much lighter on these off days.
Another trip for reducing travel time over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and especially at the toll booths, is to purchase an EZ Pass. I’m always in awe at the amount of people who sit in queues at the bridge, when an EZ Pass would have them zipping through. Sign up online, especially if you are a frequent traveler over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, or on any toll roads on the East Coast.
Finally, travelers to the eastern shore shouldn’t forget to check the Maryland Transportation Authority’s Bay Bridge website . According to the website, on Sunday August 10, the eastbound Chesapeake Bay Bridge is shut down due to an accident and an investigation. As a result, there is two-way traffic on the westbound span. Checking the website before leaving could save travelers some major headaches.
Enjoy Ocean City, Maryland and the Delaware beaches like my family and I have for years. Avoid the traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and the trip can start and end on a happy note.
