For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)

[Hankshouse]

Buzz kill here- Rocky Mount has some shady, scary areas to it. I'm not too familiar with the I-95 area there, but there are some scary parts I wouldn't go to there.
Wilson is much nicer, at least the area near 95 is. I've driven through there more times than I can count (used to drive through there back in the day before they built a bypass around it heading towards Raleigh), and that part of Wilson is nice. Wilson is only about 20 minutes south of RM.
Roanoke Rapids is closer to the VA border, and I think there are some nicer places near there too.

The Rocky Mount hotel we booked is the Holiday Inn Rocky Mount - I95@US64. Tripadvisor.com reviewers mention easy access to the highway and give it very high ratings. So I'm assuming it is the I-95 area. We're only looking to stop for the night, no sightseeing. Though your info is good to know for anyone who might be spending more time visiting. Anyone got the scoop on this place?

 

[BC1836]

Yesterday's drive along I-95 (from Norfolk, VA to the Jersey Shore; WDW next month!) wasn't bad at all, except for the DE toll plaza. Lines of 2+ miles north and south make this THE worst spot of all on the well-traveled interstate. Also an accident on I-95 south in northern MD caused a back up of 3+ miles. It was rough going for those heading south on I-95 in DE and MD yesterday.

All the best.

 

[amcnj]

My recollection is that Rocky Mt hotels are not right on 95 like in some other towns. I think it was a few miles east of 95. The Holiday Inn was nice. It has been more than a few years since I was there though, as now we try to reach VA before stopping on the way home.

 

[sorul82?]

Though your info is good to know for anyone who might be spending more time visiting. Anyone got the scoop on this place?

I would trust the word of those of us who live near this area over reviews on trip advisor, regardless of if you are just staying the night or "spending more time visiting."

The scoop on the place is to not stay in Rocky Mount hotels. Choose something at exit 95/97 in Smithfield or 121 in Wilson.

Oh, and don't use that i95exitguide site. That site is laughable with misinformation for NC exits.

 

[sorul82?]

Waffle House all the way!!!

Did you ever eat at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House before it closed?

 

[Andrea464]

Did you ever eat at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House before it closed?

No, but I bet it was good! There is a place down here (past Grifton) that is awesome. It's owned by some Mennonite folks and they have the most awesome breakfast. I dare say it's better than Waffle House. We're heading down this weekend for my birthday breakfast!!!

 

[uicbear]

Done the drive to the World from Chicago 3 times, but this last summer was the first "are we there yet?" trip as my nephew is now 5. Already planning our next drive down for July 2011!

 

[HeatherC]

Hi Everyone! Thinking of driving for Frb. school break from Mass. Wondering what 95 traffic might be that time of the year? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[nytimez]

Hi Everyone! Thinking of driving for Frb. school break from Mass. Wondering what 95 traffic might be that time of the year? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I'll be leaving from NY at the same time... I went during this week one other year and maybe it's because of how I timed the trip but traffic was pretty much the same as usual. It can get heavy around the cities of the NE and mid-Atlantic, and was largely clear after northern Virginia... with the usual exceptions for construction here and there.

 

[sharadoc]

I'm at about 1300 miles round trip, but I'm still going to post here- it's an all day trip for us!

Woohoo! We live about thirty minutes east of Wilson. Beautiful little town. Try some of the BBQ next time! Or a Bojangles cheddarbo biscuit. True southern goodness right there! Bojangles is only one stop light down from the Cracker Barrel!

You're welcome to post here, of course!!

I've been wanting to go to Parker's since last year, and our schedule never works out for us. We usually get to Wilson too late on the way home, and pass it too early on the way down.

Where else would you recommend for a dinner in Wilson? We went to Duke's in Walterboro, SC and LOVED IT! Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils, trash cans in the dining room, paper towels and Sunbeam bread on the table. Any good "real" places like that?

 

[sharadoc]

Hi Everyone! Thinking of driving for Frb. school break from Mass. Wondering what 95 traffic might be that time of the year? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

We drove from PA last February and had no problems other than the TWO FEET OF SNOW on the way home

Traffic is a breeze because it's only "regular" stuff - no beach or weekend trip people.

 

[HeatherC]

Sharadoc....thanks for the input! I think it cannot be any worse than the summer, right? Even with weather, there should be a few less cars on the road that time of year.

Will probably leave around 6am and bypass NYC...should also help us miss Dc traffic if we hit that early afternoon. Unfortunately, we are big wimps and physically can't drive through the night. Even leaving at 3am this summer wrecked us. Neither of us wanted to drive later in the day because we just wanted sleep. What happened to those days of all-nighters! We are getting old....just can't do them anymore.

Now I have to save my pennies and convince dh...which is really not a problem.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Nissi]

This is on this thread somewhere...I'm just sure it has to be. But I can't read it all right now. (I'm at work...shhh)

We do not have AAA or any type of roadside assistance through our auto insurance or anyone else. Do you think it's wise to purchase it before the longggg road trip? (Ronkonkoma, Long Island, NY to WDW)??? Do you have it or have you purchased it before a long drive?

P.S. I just love this thread.

 

[nytimez]

This is on this thread somewhere...I'm just sure it has to be. But I can't read it all right now. (I'm at work...shhh)

We do not have AAA or any type of roadside assistance through our auto insurance or anyone else. Do you think it's wise to purchase it before the longggg road trip? (Ronkonkoma, Long Island, NY to WDW)??? Do you have it or have you purchased it before a long drive?

P.S. I just love this thread.

It's a good safety net. I recommend it.

Also, the maps and brochures and junk they give you that you probably don't need can occupy your 4-year-old in the car for a little while.

 

[sorul82?]

Where else would you recommend for a dinner in Wilson?

Most of the local places such as Bill's, Parkers, etc close around 9:00PM. I know of lots of restaurants between Wilson and Benson, it just depends on what time you are passing through.

 

[HeatherC]

And don't forget the AAA discount if you stop along the way.

 

[BC1836]

And don't forget the AAA discount if you stop along the way.

And the AAA discount...when applicable...at WDW!

All the best.

 

[pwdebbie]

This might be important info for someone. My dh loves to read the trivia on the Snapple bottles. Yesterday he got this:

"It is illegal to run out of gas in Youngstown, OH." Yep, that's what it said. I checked it out online and evidently this really is the law there. So. any of you that might be traveling through Youngstown, make sure you gas up before you hit town!

 

[rak5701]

We are planning to leave on Friday the day after Thanksgiving to heasd home to Maryland. Does anyone have experience traveling home that day? I was hoping it would be better than leaving on Saturday!!!!

Also, any good suggestions on where to stay on the way home? Somewhere a little more than half way home would be good!

 

[dvczerfs]

We are planning to leave on Friday the day after Thanksgiving to heasd home to Maryland. Does anyone have experience traveling home that day? I was hoping it would be better than leaving on Saturday!!!!

Also, any good suggestions on where to stay on the way home? Somewhere a little more than half way home would be good!

ive never done it but my gutt feeling would be you should be ok. the travelers will be out on sunday heading home. the only thing i can see is its black friday. yes, that one day ever year that 20 billion women are out killing each other to save a dollar. just stay away from the shopping centers.