NOTES:
All times are eastern daylight time (EDT) (UTC−04:00), as DC is located entirely in the Eastern Time Zone and this trip occurred in daylight savings time, as opposed to standard time.
For parts of the trip, the two buses for freshman students (operated by Campbell Bus Lines) and the eight buses for 8th grade students (operated by Worldwide Tours) were separated, and sometimes made different stops. This route transcript follows the two buses for freshman students. Information on the other buses is provided when known and applicable.
I wanted to have a path of some sort that easily follows road routes in Google Earth Pro, but I cannot figure out how to do that without buying a Garmin and following the entire route in real life.
NB - Northbound
SB - Southbound
EB - Eastbound
WB- Westbound
Unconfirmed directions (which may be inaccurate) are marked with an asterisk (*).
Text in orange with triple asterisks (***) around it are unfinished notes for myself.
Directions in bold are important stops (the stuff that would go on the itinerary).
This trip happened almost 4 years ago at time of writing, so some of the route is likely guesstimation.
ROUTE TRANSCRIPT NOT COMPLETE
START: October 27, 2021, 5:00 AM
Fairfield Freshman School, Student Drop-Off Lane ( 39°20'17.19"N, 84°31'12.69"W) (Approx. Time: 5:29 AM)
Left turn towards N Gilmore Rd
Left turn SB N Gilmore Rd
Right turn SB Holden Blvd
Left turn EB Dixie Hwy
Right Lane towards EB I-275
Take ramp to EB I-275
Take Exit 49 towards I-71
Left to I-71 NB towards Columbus
Continue I-71 NB to Columbus
Take Exit 100 towards I-270
Take ramp to EB I-270 (Approx. Time: 7:09 AM)
Take Exit 43B to EB I-70
Stop at Rest Area 5-17 (Licking Rest Stop, EB I-70) (Approx. Time: 8:30 AM)
Continue EB I-70 to St. Clairsville
Take Exit 219 to EB I-470
Enter West Virginia (Approx. Time: 9:36 AM)
Rejoin EB I-70
Enter Pennsylvania
Continue EB I-70 to Hunker
Take Exit 58 towards I-70 Pennsylvania Turnpike
Take ramp to EB I-70 Pennsylvania Turnpike
Continue EB I-70 Pennsylvania Turnpike to New Baltimore
Enter Allegheny Mountain Tunnel, marvel at the fact that you are in a tunnel (Approx. Time: 12:00 PM)
Continue EB I-70 Pennsylvania Turnpike to Bedford
Stop at South Midway Travel Plaza (Lunch Stop, Approx. Time: 12:30 PM) [8th grade student buses stop at Gateway Travel Plaza after Direction 31]
Continue EB I-70 Pennsylvania Turnpike to Breezewood
Take Exit 161 towards Breezewood
Pay toll at Breezewood Interchange
Take ramp to WB US-30
Marvel in the wonders of American planning (that [in]famous image of Breezewood)
Turn Left to EB I-70 (Approx. Time: 1:20 PM)
Continue EB I-70 to Braddock Heights
Enter Maryland (Approx. Time: 1:41 PM)
Take Exit 52A to SB US-15*
Keep left to stay SB US-15*
Continue SB US-15 to Leesburg*
Enter Virginia*
Keep left to SB US-15 Bypass*
Take ramp to EB VA-7*
Take ramp to SB VA-28 Darrell Green Blvd*
Take ramp to WB Air and Space Museum Pkwy*
Arrive at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum (38°54'36.95"N, 77°26'35.42"W) (Approx. Time: 3:27 PM), passengers exit buses
(Buses Only) Turn right to SB Air and Space Museum Pkwy, turn right to Ramp Rd, park in bus lot
Passengers reboard
Exit bus lot, turn left to NB Air and Space Museum Pkwy*
Take ramp to SB VA-28 Darrell Green Blvd*
Keep left and use ramp to EB I-66*
Take Exit 64A to SB I-495*
Take Exit 57B to NB I-395*
Take Exit 8C to SB S Hayes St
Arrive at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (38°51'52.6"N, 77°03'32.5"W) (Approx. Time: 5:45 PM), enter bus parking lane, passengers exit buses
Marvel in the existence of Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
(Me only) Come out to friend as gay via pride flag sticker on back of phone case
Passengers reboard
Exit bus parking lane and continue SB S Hayes St
Use left lane and turn left to EB 15th St S*
Turn left to NB US-1 Richmond Hwy*
Continue NB US-1 to NB US-1 I-395 towards Washington*
Cross Potomac River on NB I-395 US-1 Arland D. Williams, Jr. Memorial Bridge, enter District of Columbia*
Take Exit 1 to NB US-1 14th St*
Continue NB US-1 14th St
Turn left to WB US-50 Constitution Ave
Turn right to Homefront Dr SW
Arrive at WWII Memorial (Approx. Time: 7:30 PM), passengers exit buses
(Buses Only) Turn right to WB Independence Ave, turn right to NB 73rd St, turn right to EB Lincoln Memorial Cir, continue to EB Daniel French Dr, park in bus loading zone*
(Passengers only) WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial*
Passengers reboard (Approx. Time: 9:15 PM)*
Turn right to WB Independence Ave*
Continue NB Ohio Dr*
Take ramp to SB Lincoln Memorial Cir*
Continue to WB Arlington Memorial Bridge*
Turn right to NB S Arlington Blvd*
Turn left to SB S Washington Blvd*
Keep right to stay SB VA-27 S Washington Blvd*
Enter Virginia*
Keep left to SB I-395*
Continue SB I-395 to Springfield*
Take Exit 1B to Franconia Rd*
Take Exit 169A to EB VA-644 Franconia Rd*
Turn right to SB Loisdale Rd
Turn right to Hilton Springfield parking lot
Park in Hilton Springfield parking lot (north side closest to VA-644 Franconia Rd), passengers exit buses (after being given room key) (Approx. Time: 9:45 PM)
Male passengers climb stairs to room because the tour guide is a fucking cunt (female passengers use hotel elevator), only sanctioned activities happen in hotel, totally nothing gay at all.
END: October 27, 2021, 10:00 PM
START: October 28, 2021, 6:30 AM
Buffet Breakfast at Hilton Springfield
Hilton Springfield parking lot
Passengers board (Approx. Time: 7:40 AM)
Turn left to SB Loisdale Ct
Turn left to NB Loisdale Rd
Turn left to WB VA-644 Franconia RD
Take ramp to SB I-95 towards Richmond
Continue SB I-95 to Exit 150A
Take Exit 150A to EB VA-619 Joplin Rd
Turn right to SB US-1
Turn right to WB Semper Fidelis Way
Continue straight at roundabout
Park in bus lot (Approx. Time: 8:30 AM)
Passengers exit buses (Approx. Time: 9:00 AM)
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Passengers reboard (Approx. Time: 10:10 AM)
Turn right to EB Semper Fidelis Way
Turn left to NB US-1
Turn left to WB VA-619 Joplin Rd*
Take ramp to NB I-95 towards Washington*
View a blue Ford Crown Victoria towing trailer down highway, unknown exact location (Approx. Time: 10:27AM)*
Continue NB I-95 to Exit 170A-B*
Keep left to continue NB I-95 EB I-495 towards Baltimore*
Continue I-95 I-495 past Exit 174*
Keep right to I-95 I-495 Local Exits towards Alexandria*
Continue I-95 I-495 Local to Exit 177A-B*
Take Exit 177A to SB US-1 towards Ft Belvoir*
Keep right to Old Richmond Hwy to Fort Hunt Rd*
Turn left to SB Fort Hunt Rd*
Turn left to EB Belle View Blvd (OR skip to next direction)*
Turn left to Belle View Shopping Center parking lot
Pull around front of Primo Family Restaurant
Reverse, park next to Primo Family Restaurant (next to yellow bollards)
Arrive at Primo Family Restaurant (38°46'35.19"N, 77° 3'43.97"W) (Approx. Time: 10:45AM), passengers exit buses
Passengers reboard buses
Exit parking lot to the south
Turn left to EB Belle View Blvd
Turn left to NB George Washington Memorial Pkwy
Continue on NB S Washington St
Marvel at old architecture on this six lane avenue
Stop at railroad crossing (38°49'16"N, 77°02'39"W) (Approx. Time: 11:50AM)
Continue on NB George Washington Memorial Pkwy
Use the right lane to exit to NB I-395 towards Washington
Take Exit 1 to NB US-1 14th St
Turn right to EB Independence Ave SW
View "FALLOUT SHELTER" sign at the Knapp Memorial Arch (Approx. Time: 11:59AM)
Turn left to EB Maryland Ave SW
Turn left around the Garfield Memorial to NB 1st St SW*
Arrive at US Capitol Building, Park in the circle at the Peace Monument, passengers exit buses*
(Passengers only) Admire temporary fences, reflect on Jan 6th
(Passengers only) Walk to other side of Capitol Building, talk with real-life Lego minifigure Warren Davidson (R), representative for Ohio's 8th congrssional district (including Fairfield)
(Passengers only) Walk past Library of Congress and Supreme Court (Approx: Time: 1:00PM)
Passengers reboard buses
Overhear definitely not gay talk
Exit the circle to WB Pennsylvania Ave NW*
Turn right to NB 15th St NW*
Turn right to EB New York Ave NW*
Bus parks, passengers exit buses
(Passengers only) Take pictures at fence of White House (Approx. Time: 1:45PM)
(Passengers only) Light conversation with other tour group, "woo!" at the fact they are on a very similar trip and are from Ohio as well (northern Ohio)*
Passengers reboard buses
***FIGURE OUT ROUTE FROM WHITE HOUSE TO ARLINGTON***
Turn left to SB King Dr, pull around to parallel parking area and stop bus
Arrive at Arlington National Cemetery (Approx. Time: 2:30PM), passengers exit buses
(Translator's Note: There is no fucking way I'll be able to tell in detail where we went. This happened four years ago and it all looks the same, not to mention I was slowly becoming more dehydrated during it. We went to the Tomb of the unknown soldier, Kennedy graves, probably some memorials, etc.)
Passengers reboard buses
Turn right to EB Memorial Ave
***FIGURE OUT REST OF ROUTE TO IWO JIMA***
Turn ***LEFT OR RIGHT?*** to WB Marshall Dr
Turn right to NB Iwo Jima Access Rd
Arrive at Iwo Jima Memorial (Approx. Time: 4:57PM), passengers exit buses
Passengers reboard buses
***FIGURE OUT ROUTE TO BIG TENTACLE THINGS***
(Translator's Note: The road layout in this area has changed significantly since Oct 2021, so directions may not make sense today)
Turn right to WB Columbia Pike
Turn right to NB Air Force Memorial Drive
Arrive at Air Force Memorial, passengers exit buses
View Air Force Memorial (big tentacle things) dehydratedly (Approx. Time: 5:14PM)
Passengers reboard buses
Turn left to EB Columbia Pike
Turn right to SB Joyce St
Turn left to EB Army Navy Dr
Turn right to SB S Hayes St
Arrive at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (38°51'52.6"N, 77°03'32.5"W) enter bus parking lane, passengers exit buses
(Me only) Drink soda with Popeye's order, not enough, buy ice cold Dasani water from vending machine, dehydration likely quenched (the only situation in which Dasani or Aquafina is acceptable is when you are dehydrated and the "water" is so cold you can't taste how awful it tastes), then also get McFlurry because reasons
(Passengers only) March down the street in the United States capitol city holding a Canadian flag and chanting some shit about 2044 (Approx. Time: 6:58PM)
Passengers reboard buses
(Me only) Tiredly, sleep-deprivadly, not-giving-a-shit-ily voice crush on other member of trip to friend next to me, to which they are surprised, to which I remind them I came out to them as gay yesterday
***FDR MONUMENT, JEFFERSON MEMORIAL**
***RETURN TO HOTEL***
***END OF OCT 28th***
***SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM***
***FORDS THEATRE + GIFT SHOP***
***L'ENFANT PLAZA LUNCH**
***SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM***
***AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM***
***BACK TO AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM***
***PENTAGON CITY MALL DINNER***
***KENNEDY CENTER***
***END OF OCT 29th***
***GROUP PHOTO***
***MT VERNON***
***MALL FOOD COURT PIZZA DEAL***
***GIANT SONG FUNERAL PARTY***
***REST STOP(S)***
***SUBPAR SANDWICHES***
***REST STOP(S)***
***RETURN TO FRESHMAN BUILDING***
***END TRIP***
***POTENTIALLY USEFUL INFORMATION***
Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.
Valley Mall, 17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Breezewood, Pennsylvania
ROUTE TRANSCRIPT NOT COMPLETE