best way to get to merriweather

[Arthwys]

I'm headed up to Merriweather tomorrow for the Tom Petty/Black Crowes concert, and have never been there before.  I've heard that the traffic getting in and out of the place is terrible, so was wondering which entrance is the best to go for to avoid all that, and how to get there.

[sonickteam2]

drive to Baltimore and then double back to Columbia!  cause i have never ever had traffic problems

[Arthwys]

That's what I was beginning to suspect would be the best way....go up 95 to 100 and then head down 29 where there's some South Entrance road exit that takes you right there.  Good to hear that it's usually hassle free!  Thanks for the input.

What's best way to get to merriweather?
 
 Practice, practice...

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by Arthwys:
  That's what I was beginning to suspect would be the best way....go up 95 to 100 and then head down 29 where there's some South Entrance road exit that takes you right there.  Good to hear that it's usually hassle free!  Thanks for the input.

yeah, actually, i was joking, but sure, do it that way.  thats how i go (except i come from the north) but 95 to 100 to 29 and no problems. maybe a touch of rush hour traffic, but that just cause there are lights. 15 minutes down 29 is all it takes.

[hitman]

Be careful of the South Entrance Rd. exit, that is always backed up.  You would probably be better off coming in through 175 towards the mall and parking at the mall, and crossing the street.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by hitman:
  Be careful of the South Entrance Rd. exit, that is always backed up.  You would probably be better off coming in through 175 towards the mall and parking at the mall, and crossing the street.

is 175 the road that turns into Little Patuxent parkway?  thats the road i take, cause i always park in the mall lot. (its easier to get out of too!)  175 turns into 29 right before the mall right?

[kosmo vinyl]

going to the neil young show a couple years back, i went 175 to 29 and used the South Entrance and drove right into the parking lot.  
 
 taking 175 until it turns into Little Patuxent Parkway will get one next to the mall.
 
 if you can into Columbia before the gates open the traffic around the venue is light.  this summer i've been getting there around 45 mintues before gates.  kill time in the mall if you have too... i believe the parking lot opens before the gates do.
 
 the worst part of the trip is getting out of DC but 95N usually gets moving by the time you get to Laurel.
 
 getting out is alot easier than Nissan that is for  sure.
 
 Merriweather got a bad rep because of the Radiohead show, where tons of people all showed up at the same time clogging 29, etc.

[Got Haggis?]

last time i was at merriweather was like 12 years ago and we parked in the mall...i remember traffic being horrible.
 
 i'm going to the show tonight too - a friend won tickets.
 
 (not a huge fan of either band, but hey can't pass up free tickets)

[Sir HC]

Well there are the insider ways and the easy ways.
 
 First, 32 west to 29 north to Broken Land Parkway west is not that good.  Everyone from DC takes it.  They have improved it some and the exit ramp becomes the lane to enter Merriweather but still it can be really ugly.
 
 Next, 95 to Rte. 100 west to 29 south to South Entrance Road.  Pretty good.  Only problem is that you have to leave to the south which means getting onto 29 south and then 32 east.  Just remember that you can not return the way you came.
 
 Then you can take 95 north to 175 west straight in.  You have to deal with the normal rush hour traffic here (there are several lights) but usually everyone else doesn't go this way.  175 goes right by Merriweather and you either make a left onto South Entrance road (sometimes blocked off when that lot is full) or make a right into the mall parking lot and walk.
 
 There are other ways that are really convoluted and too much trouble to get into.  
 
 Me, I just visit my parents and walk.

[millard]

If you go the 95 route, you hit Broken Land Parkway as soon as you get off the Columbia exit (the one after Skaggsville). This takes you directly to the south gate parking lot. Or go to the light right after it, make a right, and you'll have the mall on your left.

[Arthwys]

Excellent!  I'm planning on getting there fairly early, probably about 5 pm ish.  So I'm thinking about just going w/ the S. Entrance road.  But if that fails I'll now know other ways to try for next time.  Many thanks.

[ttuamy]

what's the capacity of merriweather?
 
 i was there for the first time last night and it was bigger than i expected.

[kosmo vinyl]

approximentaly 15,000... 5K in the pavallion, another 10k on the lawn.  They recently added more space for people on the lawn.

[ttuamy]

oh man.  i had guessed 10,000.  thanks.