Advice-Driving 81-77-26-95 - Hotel Suggestions

[taychase1015]

I am looking to stop between the 8 1/2 to 10 hour marker. This puts me between Columbia, SC and almost to Savanah, GA. I am afraid to push it to Savanah. (working 5:30 am to 2 then starting drive at 2:45 pm from Chambersburg, PA)

I see a Microtel in Walterboro, SC has anyone stayed here, if so what do you think. IF not, any other suggestions for a nice hotel and area.

I want to try to make reservations. I am not as familiar with this route as we normally always drive I95 from MD. And I know I can't drive straight through. I am traveling with just my two kids who are 15 and 16 so am doing all the driving.



Updated to correct from GA to SC for Walterboro

 

[Robert P]

I am looking to stop between the 8 1/2 to 10 hour marker. This puts me between Columbia, SC and almost to Savanah, GA. I am afraid to push it to Savanah. (working 5:30 am to 2 then starting drive at 2:45 pm from Chambersburg, PA)

I see a Microtel in Walterboro, GA has anyone stayed here, if so what do you think. IF not, any other suggestions for a nice hotel and area.

I want to try to make reservations. I am not as familiar with this route as we normally always drive I95 from MD. And I know I can't drive straight through. I am traveling with just my two kids who are 15 and 16 so am doing all the driving.

My input:
From what I can determine based on my notes, the PA/MD line to the I26/95 interchange taking the 'inland' route is roughly 570 miles. Assuming you mean Walterboro, SC you are at about 600 miles when you get on I-95. I think you are correct that Savannah would be a stretch to make in your driving window of 8.5 - 10.0 hours, let alone the leaving after work factor.
The problem is there are few, IMHO, what I would call 'nice' hotel options coming across 26, so you would either stop at Columbia, or get onto 95 and find something there. Walterboro, SC fits that bill, though I have no opinion on hotels in that area. It's too close for us to ever stop there, since we live in NC.

Again, IMHO, I think Columbia, SC would be the better choice. Leaving after work, you'd have alot more options for hotels there. And you'd only be a little over 1:20 behind your starting point the next morning leaving from there versus Walterboro, and you could just adjust your wake up time to accommodate some of that difference. From Columbia, SC to WDW, it's roughly 440 miles on day 2.

Hope that helps.

 

[minnierocks]

In our experience, there are no good options on that stretch of highway. We never stop between Rock Hill, SC and Savannah, GA. We have stopped twice on that stretch and it was not a great area. We gas up either before Charlotte or in Rock Hill and do not stop before we get to the Savannah exits.

 

[RookieLady]

I grew up in Columbia and visit often because my parents still live there. When you go "through" Columbia on the 77, 26 route, you are not going through it; you're going around it. I don't think there are great hotel options along that stretch of road. There are lovely places to stay in Columbia, but you would need to get into town. From I-77, take 277 into downtown. But then, you have added 15 minutes to your trip and you are wandering around a town you are not familiar with.

I can get to the outskirts of Savannah from Columbia in about two hours fifteen minutes. That may be a little long for you. I would not stay in a hotel off of 26 or 95 in South Carolina. To get to the nice hotels, you need to exit and head to the coast, and given the windy roads, you are adding an hour to your trip.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

If you decide to push trough to Savannah, there's a nice collection of hotels at the Savannah Airport exit, which is exit 104 in Georgia. Its right off the highway and feels quite safe.

Same might be true of the Columbia (SC) airport area, but I haven't personally been there.

 

[RookieLady]

Same might be true of the Columbia (SC) airport area, but I haven't personally been there.


This route doesn't take you by the airport. The airport is off a portion of 26 that you won't be on because of where 77 merges with 26.