Any stop-off tips for the long I95 trip to Disney?

[rutgers1]

We are taking sons ages 9 and 10 to Disney (again --- third time this year!) in July. It will be our first time driving since they were very young, and our plan is to take our time and spend at least 1.5 days in every place where we stop. In other words, starting in New Jersey, our first stop will be Washington DC, where we will stay for 1.5 days before heading back off down I95.

Considering vacations at this point are more about the kids than us, we would love to plan the trip so that our stops are as kid-friendly as possible. On the way down, we were considering beach stops in the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach. Other than that, though, we are stumped. We have no plans for the way back up.

Any suggestions?

(And if anyone suggests 1.5 days at South of the Border, I will permanently ignore them, lol)

 

[wildernessDad]

Does the South of the Border motel still exist?

if so, Pedro would welcome you, I think.

 

[GingerJay]

I live in NC- wouldn't go to Outer Banks if you can help it- I think it will take you pretty far out of the way. 95 goes right through Wilmington though- you might want to stop there. There's always Atlantic Beach, but that's pretty far off 95 too. Myrtle Beach is a pretty good idea.

I've always wanted to take a trip like that, too with stops along the way. I really want to check out Savannah, GA but I'm always in such a rush to get there

 

[spiceycat]

savannah or st augustine - both are fairly old and have stuff for kids of all ages - although st augustine is definitely older.

 

[dopey2]

You could try Disney's Hilton Head resort. We have been there a number of times and I think the kids would like it. It is about an hour's drive from I-95.

 

[rutgers1]

I don't think I could afford to stay at Hilton Head (no points left for this year....and want to stay on the cheap).....but is that less out of the way than Outer Banks?

 

[5forDiz]

I don't think I could afford to stay at Hilton Head (no points left for this year....and want to stay on the cheap).....but is that less out of the way than Outer Banks?

Yes HHI is more convenient to I95 then Outer Banks. It is approximately 30 mile from I95 to Sea Pines Circle on Island and that drive typically takes under 45 minutes. OBX is much longer (map it from Rocky Mount, NC which I think might be best route from I95 to OBX).

Check with MS to see if they've got a cash rate available with 25percent member's discount if you think you may like to try DVC HHI and are short on points.

OR If you are absolutely positively certain of date(s) that you would visit HHI you could Priceline bid at Resort level for HHI ( this is what we often do if we can't get DVC HHI Resort ); if you bid Resort level you will get an ocean front resort either Marriott Beach & Golf, Hilton, Crowne Plaza or Westin, all are very nice properties and although you wont get a choice on which of these 4 you will get, you can't go wrong with any of them. We've had very good success getting bid accepted at around $80 -$100 per night during summer months. Check each hotels site for their lowest rate for dates you are considering and try bidding at 60% less.

We always drive to/from NY to WDW and like to stop in DC and HHI. In August we will stay 3 (maybe more) on HHI and from there plan to go to Charlotte for night or maybe 2 to visit NASCAR Hall of Fame and some of the team race headquarters and maybe Carowinds Amusement Park which is just south of Charlotte ( they have a reduced rate ticket from 4pm on which we'll probably take advantage of since we don't think we want to spend entire day at park) and then from Charlotte we may take Blue Ridge Parkway north & head back towards DC and then on home to NY after overnight stop there.

 

[katmittens]

We have been driving to Disney for about 18 years. Our kids are now 22 and 25 and we still drive. We love the drive and enjoy the time in the car and we had some crazy times. We have stopped at Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Savannah, and St. Augustine, and World Golf Hall of Fame as well as some of the beaches on the East coast of Florida. DS was in law school in Durham at Duke and we stayed there on the way home a few times to visit more with him after we would drop him off. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[drakester]

Charleston! I love Charleston, you could spend a day in downtown. They have a great visitor center where they can book everything you want to do at a discount. We stay at the Holiday Inn river view and liked it very much this past Easter.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Jeez how long is your vacation?

DH says you could try Savanah, the 82nd Airborne Div at Ft. Bragg, Myrtle beach, Hard Rock Cafe theme park, St Augustine, just to pick a few.

He's a truck driver and these are the places that he would like to visit if he had 1.5 days to sit.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I live in NC- wouldn't go to Outer Banks if you can help it- I think it will take you pretty far out of the way. 95 goes right through Wilmington though- you might want to stop there. There's always Atlantic Beach, but that's pretty far off 95 too. Myrtle Beach is a pretty good idea.

I've always wanted to take a trip like that, too with stops along the way. I really want to check out Savannah, GA but I'm always in such a rush to get there

Not sure where you live in NC but I-95 but I live about 5 miles off '95 and have all my life and it doesn't go anywhere near Wilmington for all intents and purposes. It certainly doesn't go right through it. Maybe you have 95 and 40 confused?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

OBX is much longer (map it from Rocky Mount, NC which I think might be best route from I95 to OBX).

It's a HAUL from R. Mount to Nags Head/Kitty Hawk (and you BETTER DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT AND NOT SPEED) and another haul from Nags Head down to Rodanthe, Hatteras and on to Ocracoke. If you're claustraphobic, you might not want to get on 12 and head to Rodanthe, Hatteras and Ocracoke. It's basically a 2-lane road with water on both sides. LOTS of water. LOL BEAUTIFUL drive though. I know of nowhere more beautiful on this earth than the outer banks of NC and I'm blessed with having been to a lot of beautiful places.

About 2 hours from R. Mount to Nags Head but well worth the drive if you have the time to drive south down the shore (the Outer Banks). Just be aware there's one way in and basically one way out unless you know your way around the ferry system so you will back-track everywhere you go all the way back to R. Mount to get back to I-95.

I feel like I'm discouraging tourism here and that's far from the truth. On I-95 in east-central NC (we're considered the western edge of the sandhills region), we're only about 50 miles from the water as the crow flies which leads people to severely underestimate drive times when they just don't know how you have to go around your elbow to get to your thumb when it comes to getting to most touristy places on our coast.

All I'm saying is that none of them is a 15 minute casual, "Oooo, let's run over there for an hour." Almost anything coast-wise here from I-95 should be considered a day trip at a minimum.

 

[mecllap]

St. Augustine is a great day and a half (or more) stop. I always go to the Disney Outlet at the Premium Outlets and find fun stuff (that's actually a handy lunch stop on the way home for us). The Leightner Museum is interesting and the architecture around there is wonderful. There's a fort that the boys might enjoy -- and for sure, they'd love the Alligator Farm -- it's excellent. There's a really good Alligator Place in Myrtle Beach also. Hilton Head is lovely and relaxing -- but not as many "attractions" -- you have to look hard even to find Mini-golf, and it's almost an hour east of the freeway (great place for a long, relaxing stay).
Since St.A is so close to Kissimmee, it's tempting to pass it by, but with its history, good beaches, and neat stuff to do, it's well worth a stop.

 

[DVCLiz]

Wilmington is about 90 miles from I95 - don't know where a previous poster got the idea that 95 runs through Wilmington. It would take about an hour and a half to detour to the NC coast from Fayetteville over to Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach. It would be fun, though - it's a great beach!!

 

[keishashadow]

Does the South of the Border motel still exist?

if so, Pedro would welcome you, I think.

we stayed there several years ago (at DSs repeated urgings) it was nice

had deluxe roomhuge, quiet with security everywhere, even had a covered car port for grand sum of $60 lol

peddler steak house was best food we've had off I-95

re driving to Myrtle Beach...an hour's drive can easily turn into near gridlock if accident or busy time on a Saturday.

 

[mom2g3]

I live in NC in Eastover and we could literally walk to I-95 if we went through the woods.

Wilmington, NC is about 1.5 hours from here. It's worth it, though. It's a beautiful town. But...the beach is not in Wilmington, it's about 15 minutes further in Wrightsville Beach. It's a pretty drive if you take the exits from the Fayetteville area.

We also love HHI, Charleston and Savannah!

BUT.....we stopped in Brunswick, GA on or trip last weekend on our way down to WDW. We stayed at the brandnew Hampton Inn and it was very nice. We just wanted to break up our trip and get to WDW early on Friday to enjoy more park time.

You can also stop in the Premium Outlets in Smithfield, NC. It's about 1/2 way through and the hotels are all pretty new.

have fun!

 

[bonrea]

95 goes right through Wilmington though

Hmmmm... I-95 does not go through Wilmington. One would have to take I-40 off I-95 to get to Wilmington. It is about an hour or so after getting onto I-40. Not a good stop off if just for a day. 1.5 days would be good if you get there in the morning. The boys would love the USS North Carolina Battle Ship Memorial. One could then go down highway 17 and follow the signs to Calabash and go to Ella’s. This is where the Calabash style seafood came from. YUMMY!

Highway 17 then would take them down to Myrtle Beach and one could take in the fun at the beach amusement parks and such. Then take highway 501 to Conway and then to Florence, SC which would take one back to I-95 south.

I can tell you that the construction in GA is just about complete. In January there was a 27 mile stretch, they have completed and opened more so that is down to 15.5 miles of construction to slow you down. That difference cut off 45+ minutes to the drive and should be complete by next spring. So for us, from Charlotte, NC, that 9+ hour drive to WDW will be 7+ or just over 8+ in the future. No need to speed anyways.