What not to do at rush hour

[paulthemapguy]

Every radial expressway in and out of Chicago.  Take Metra.

[bzakharin]

If you're heading through the Philadelphia area, the only relatively congestion free North-South route during rush hour is the NJ Turnpike. The PA Turnpike is ok East-West. Otherwise, any freeway that enters Philadelphia or leads to a road that enters Philadelphia is jammed.

[epzik8]

Don't stop!

[1995hoo]

Around here, I'd say the key principle for rush hour is not to be one of the people who only knows one route and always uses it, even if that route happens to be the HOV lanes (this because they do occasionally have a wreck that will shut them down and back up the traffic). Sooner or later there will be a problem on your route and you'll have to go another way, and you're better off knowing the other options instead of trying to figure it out as you go.

There is no one road I'd say "always avoid" or "always use." Driving from Virginia to DC you also have to deal with getting across the river, of course, so no matter what route you use, you're going to funnel down to one of the bridges.