Northeast - Washington DC to Yorktown VA. Is there a "best" route?

Google maps had a few bike options: http://g.co/maps/htz3r
Is this third route the ideal route (when factoring in traffic/road hazards and distance)?
178mi is doable in day light (if elevation is minimal and low winds) but would also like to know if there is a better route.
TIA

I think you must have pissed off someone at Google, because it looks like there are trying to kill you.
Centreville Rd? Nokesville Rd? Route 17?

I’d take Old Centreville instead of Centreville Rd?
Nokesville Road used to be sleepy country lane, but in the past 10 years it has become a major highway. Better to take Lucasville out of Manassas to the quiet country roads aroudn Brentsville and Aden. Skirts the west edge of Quantico.
Route 17 to Falmouth has a rideable shoulder, but the road is a busy-scary mess. Truslow would be better, that way you deal with just a short piece of route 1.
Their route through Fredricksburgh is ok, but route 17 south is not. From Fredricksburgh to Port Royal it is one narrow lane each way, busy, lots of blind curves and lots of trucks. It is VERY dangerous for a bike.
Past Port Royal it is a divided highway. Still busy but there are shoulders for much of it.

Route 17 would be the shortest route, but I’m not sure it is the best. Are you going to try it in one day? What time of year?
I’ve been wanting to check out route 2 to Bowling Green and route 40 to West Point. Looks doable and I’ve heard from others who ride that area that it is not bad.

There have been discussions on the forums on how to get to Fredricksburgh and Williamsburg. Here’s the link to a couple of them (I’ve got some maps posted in there)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/613148-Bike-Route-From-George-Mason-University-to-University-of-Mary-Washington?highlight=Lucasville
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/523420-DC-to-Williamsburg-How-to?highlight=ashland

Good luck.

CC_Rider, Thank u for the heads-up and the links. I will have to make some adjustments to my Garmin (adding the mods provided by U, Tulip and Mtn Mike).
I plan to do this at the crack of dawn next weekend. (weather permitting). If the stars do not align, I will attempt it at another time.

Hope the ride works for you.

I forgot to mention the route through Fairfax City. Chain Bridge Road and Jermantown Road are both multi-lane, but are pretty busy. Part of Jermantown narrows to single lanes with no shoulders, so be careful if you go that way.
I prefer using the connector trail through Nottaway Park, then Old Lee Highway and University through Fairfax City to Braddock. Here's a map of the segment from W&OD to Braddock. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5234744
If you take this way, look right and wave as you cross Lee Highway. You'll be passing under my office window.:D