"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message

......D.C. easily has the worst roads
for visitors in any city in any country I've ever visited. It is very
hard to find things...

1) Many roads have formal names as well as common names. The map lists
the formal name but the signs often only use the common name (i.e. U.S.
123 is formal but Foobar St. is common).

This is standard procedure everywhere. Roads have different names in
different municipalities. Route number signs are posted along the right
side at intervals. This is a federal standard that applies everywhere.

2) Often turn off signs are located at the turn off or just after the
turn off, no warning. For example, from 66 to 50 there is a sign "50
next turn", however, there is a concrete barrier between you and the
off ramp. You had to predict that you needed to get off before the
barrier begins, but the sign is after the barrier

No, not often, but that one case you cite is a bear. When you hit I66w from
the Beltway North, the exit for 50 comes quickly. The "50 next turn" sign
refers to the Ox Rd exit, about a half mile down. That turnoff on the other
side of the barrier just goes into a residential development.

3) Slower drivers don't seem to have any inclination to stay to the
right.

I agree with you here. Some are deliberately playing the politically
correct speed game, but for the most part I have never anywhere encountered
a more generally oblivious group of drivers than in the Northern VA area.

4) Sometimes two roads will have the same name. For example, when you
get to the end of 66 W you have the option of taking the 66 E ramp.
That ramp takes you North of the hwy and down another freeway entirly,
seeming to never get you back to the original road (also named 66) that
you were just on.

Look at a map [perhaps before your trip, next time]. Where I66 and the
Beltway intersect, there is a large, triangular intersection that actually
spans a few miles, so there are really two I66s that you'll encounter from
the Beltway.

5) Even though the museum is at the airport DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, DO
NOT take the "Airport road". This is a 7 mile long hell hole with NO
EXITS until you get to the main Dulles terminal.

Actually, iirc, the Dulles Road is now a double barreled highway, with one
section express to Dulles and the outer section having local exits. I also
recall pretty good signage at the start of the double section, but I guess
you just missed it. Kinda like getting stuck in an express HOV lane if you
miss the signs.

Sorry you had such a frustrating time.