Suitland road from the base is challenging but doable (though I’ve never done it personally). The Morningside portion isn’t too bad, as the local police force has some semi-famous speed traps through that stretch, but between where Suitland Road crosses Suitland Parkway up to Silver Hill Road can be somewhat of a speedway. (they have widened the road somewhat recently, but right around the time I stopped working at suitland the area immediately around the parkway was under construction)
Once you get to the Suitland Federal Center, it’s more amicable, trafficwise (however my commute to Suitland Federal Center was always a reverse commute, so I didn’t have to dodge as many cars) – but hilly. From the crossing at Spring Hill Rd, just go all the way past the cemeteries and Southern Ave and up to Alabama, where you make the left. (depending on the traffic, the sidewalk may be better than the road, esp to pass the stopped cars at the light at Branch Ave). Then a right onto Branch (down a fairly steep hill) which puts you on Pennsylvania. (again, sidewalks maybe your best choice here with the traffic). Alternatively, go past Branch Ave to Skyland and get on Naylor Rd (if you still want to cross the Penn Ave bridge – go all the way to the end then make a right [edit- follow the wayfinding signs to take you through some of the one-way streets to get back to Penn]. This path also avoids most of the shenanigans of the I-295 interchange, though it’s much better now that Penn Ave isn’t the 395 to north 295 connection) or Good Hope Rd (if you want to take the 11th st bridge)
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