Note: Use HOV-3 Lanes - Make sure all vehicles have a minimum of 3 passengers!

HOV-3 in effect, Southbound, 3:00 - 6:00 (but gets crowded quickly after 5:45 or so with "HOV-cheaters.") It is strongly recommended that you leave Arlington/McLean by no later than 5:15pm. (And please remember, registration ends at 8pm.)

Listen to WTOP (AM-1500) for traffic updates, every 10 minutes "on the 8's."

Preliminary Note: The HOV lanes can be accessed from either the G.W. Parkway or from I-66 East/Rt. 110 South. I would personally avoid the G.W. Parkway because the area under Key Bridge is usually a complete standstill from folks trying to exit up to the Bridge; I would also strongly counsel against using the Beltway to pick up I-95 South. However, it's your choice - whatever works for you. These directions take you down the I-66 East/Rt. 110 South option, which is usually fairly clear even on the busiest Fridays.

1) Take I-66 or Lee Highway eastbound to the T.R. Bridge

2) Just before bridge, take the right-hand lane exit to Rt 110 South (Exit 75)

3) Take 110 S all the way to the "395 South/to Washington Boulevard/to Colombia Pike" exit just after you pass Arlington Cemetery - look for the HOV-3 lanes on the left just as you get onto the entrance ramp. Watch out for speeders as you cross over to the left.

4) Take the HOV lanes all the way to the Lorton Exit (Exit 163); there'll be an exit from the HOV lanes into the regular lanes about three miles before the exit. The HOV exit places you into the left hand lanes of "regular" I-95 South; you have 3 miles to work your way across 3 lanes of traffic. This stretch is typically quite slow on Friday afternoons, but it should be the only bad section you'll have to face. [See below for alternate route to avoid this slow stretch.]

5) At the end of the Exit 163 ramp, come to a stop-sign; TURN LEFT ONTO LORTON ROAD. You will pass under I-95, then under a railroad bridge - use caution, the road is narrow and winding from the railroad bridge underpass on. Note that the underpass was rebuilt in 2001, so is much safer than previously.

6) In about a mile, the road improves, and you'll come to a large intersection - no traffic light, but note large traffic sign: "to Rt 1" and brown colored Regional Park sign for "Pohick Bay Regional State Park." TURN RIGHT ONTO ARMISTEAD ROAD.

Trivia Question: Ask Scouts, "Who was Armistead, whom this road (and many others) is named after?" Answer: General Armistead led the final Confederate rush up to and over the stone wall at Gettysburg during Pickett's Charge. He was mortally wounded while attempting to turn captured Union cannon on the advancing Union reinforcements. A Hero of Virginia.

7) In about an eighth of a mile, you'll come to U.S. Rt. 1, TURN RIGHT ONTO U.S. RT. 1 SOUTH.

8) Proceed South for three traffic lights (about three quarters of a mile); at the third light (note Citgo Gas Station and 7/11 on the opposite left-hand corner, plus numerous signs for the Park on the right), TURN LEFT ONTO GUNSTON RD.

9) Proceed exactly 1.8 miles down Gunston Rd.; when you see several small, yellow signs on the right shoulder for a Fire/Rescue Squad, slow down. TURN LEFT ONTO THE DIRT ROAD JUST BEFORE FIRE/RESCUE STATION (Note that Road is outlined by 2 old stone sentinel/signposts; there's also a white mailbox with the name "Moore" at the entrance). If you pass the Fire/Rescue Station (just past the entrance road on the left), you went too far! Note that we'll have signs up and will try to have road-flares after dark if any Troops are missing.

Please watch your speed! The people who live there have several small children and have bitterly complained about Scout Groups racing up and down the access road into the camp.

10) Proceed 100 yards to entrance gate, and through into camp. A Registration Point will be set up in the field to your right (good weather) as you enter the camp - stop and register with the Senior Scout acting as Registrar/Treasurer, and get a map to your Campsite. [The registrar will be located inside the comfort station (on the left, at the end of the field) if the weather is bad.) At your site, please park your vehicles off the access road (which is too narrow to allow parking), immediately unload and move on. With a dozen or more Troops in residence, the campsite will be rather cramped, so after you unload, please park your vehicles behind the old Dining Hall or in the parking areas by the Comfort Station. Finally, a reminder - please do not set up anything in the access road; the road was essentially impassable one year with vehicles and Troop gear.

To repeat, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VEHICLES PARKED IN THE CAMPING AREA; NO EXCEPTIONS!

Additional Notes: There are no fast-food outlets at the Lorton Exit; however, you can continue down the HOV-3 lanes to the next exit and take U.S. Rt 1 South into Woodbridge. Turn right at Rt 123 and into the strip mall area, which has a McDonalds, Roy Rogers, Taco Bell and a LUMS. To return, get back onto Rt. 1 North and proceed all the way to Gunston Rd. (be careful to stay on U.S. Rt. 1 as it recrosses I-95 about 2 miles North of the Shopping Center. Watch for the brown signs for the Park, and look for the Citgo Gas Station on your right marking the right-hand turn onto Gunston as you approach from the South). At this point, follow directions as detailed in #'s 9 and 10.

Note that this is also an alternate way to get to the park which avoids having to fight traffic on the regular lanes - that is, don't get off HOV at Lorton/Exit 163; instead, continue on to Woodbridge on the HOV lanes, exit onto Rt. 1 South (you can only exit south), and turn around at your first opportunity. BE CAREFUL! - Turning around on Rt 1 is not particularly easy, but it is do-able. Up to you....

- Dr. Bob

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27 April 2003