Drivers only: Recommendation for overnight hotel in VA

[NUHuskies#1]

Hi there-
Now DVC members and are taking sis and fam to WDW 8/05. DBIL won't fly so we are driving. Actually looking forward to it. DH and I have made trip before when we were dating but now there are kids and extended family. My sis is so excited she hasn't been in 20 years!!! I need a recommendation for a good overnight hotel possibly in Fredricksburg, VA. Looking at BW Fredricksburg and wanted to hear some thoughts. My parents used to make the trip a lot and one time their car got broken into during their overnight stay so I want to make sure things go well. I have read over the disboard site on driving to FL but would also like to hear your experiences- thanks in advance!

 

[canwegosoon]

We take 81 so I forget how much further south Fredricksburg is, but here you go www.virginia.org/accommodations and you can search there.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

canwegosoon, I live on Route 81 and may drive to Florida this summer. Do you take 77 to 95, or another way? Where do you stop?

Many thanks for humoring me, plus apologies for hijacking this thread...

 

[my3kids]

If you are going to be going through Fredericksburg, are you taking 81 or 95? I can help you with places a little farther south on 81, but am not familiar with the 95 corrider through VA.

 

[NUHuskies#1]

We planned on going straight down 95. Ive read about other routes but if I deviate my route, DH will freak-lol! (He has issues with maps, directions and getting lost.) Anyway, I read Fredricksburg was about the halfway point so Im trying to stick to that. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[canwegosoon]

We stop on 81 near Front Royal, My brother lives there, there is a great stickey at the top of the transportation board for some driving hints where to cross over from 81 to 95 south of VA

OP I would check on the Transportation board for drivers tha use the 95 corridor.

 

[Maddie's Nana]

We frequently drive from Florida and find 81 to 77 and then over to 95 the best route - that is the way AAA routes us

 

[my3kids]

We drive south a lot an always go the 81-77-95 route becaus we live on 81. If we were already on the 95 corridor I wouldn't switch over to go to 81. Some stretches of it are so overcrowded and dangerous.

 

[Lorix2]

Boston is 40 minutes south of here. We drive down I-95 as well, as AAA routes us too.

We were aiming for staying in VA for our halfway point too, but made such good time and everyone was in good spirits and feeling good, that we drove to Roanoke Rapids, NC. We stayed at a Sleep Inn (AAA discount) on exit 173 right off the interstate right next to a Crackel Barrel and across from a Texas Steakhouse. It was clean, comfortable, and felt safe here.

It had a CO breakfast and small indoor pool.

We leave at 4 AM and got to NC around 5:30 PM or so.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cindy B]

Theres a stretch of hotels not far from the Potomac Mills Mall (off of 95). I've passed them, and they look ok to me in passing.

 

[soccerchick]

Hi,
It's been a few years since I stayed there, but there are several hotels right off I-95 at the Route 3 exit (used to be exit 145, I think). It is the Mary Washington College (opps, University of Mary Washington) exit. I stayed at a Hampton Inn about 1/2 mile off 95 that was quite nice. There was also a Ramada, etc. I have had bad luck with BW, they are evidently owned independently so quality is inconsistent and I will not stay at one again. The Fredericksburg area has exploded with growth, so you should be able to find something fairly new. There are also a few hotels at the Massaponax (sp?) exit, which are probably all 10 years and younger. Massaponax is the next exit south and there are a few outlets there as well. There are several fast food restaurants at both exits. I'd suggest searching for Massaponax outlets and University of Mary Washington to see if they suggest or list hotels.

 

[jlkmn]

we drive from the south shore and take I-95 then the new jersey turnpike and then back on I-95 we ususally make it by 8-9pm to rocky mount, N.C. and they have a couple Marriotts at that exit. we usually leave around 9am. we get to Disney around 3-4pm the next day. And that is stopping at rest areas quite often. Have fun and drive safe. Also make sure you stop at the rest areas and get the discount hotel books to save you money.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

If you keep on heading on down 95 for about 20 more minutes, you could stop in Doswell, Va. There is a Best Western Kings Quarters right off the interstate. It is actually in the Kings Dominion(a theme park) parking lot area. I checked their web site & rooms in Aug. 2005 seem to be going for $60 double occupancy (2 double beds). Here's the link I used: http://hotel-guides.us/virginia/doswell-va-hotels.html .

 

[NUHuskies#1]

Thank you all for your wonderful replies! We are looking forward to this very much. After looking at some maps I think we will try to get to Emporia, VA or Rocky Mount, NC the first day.

For jlkmn- what time did you leave South Shore? We are picking up sis and fam around 5:30 AM and she is very close to 95 on South Shore.

 

[Imzadi]

If you have AAA, or know someone who does, you can get one of their travel books for each state. I traveled twice this way. When I wanted to stay over in a particular town or city, I simply look up cheap motels/hotels in the travel book. Anything over two diamonds (AAA rating system) will be clean & safe. Anything UNDER two diamonds, and you're simply paying for mold.

What's great about having the travel book is that I didn't need to make plans in advance, and be locked in by a reservation. I simply stopped in a town when tired, that had a number of good listings in my price range, so I had a choice. If the hotel was full, I simply moved on to the next.

Having the book also narrowed out which hotels would definitely be out of my range. Or if I favored a particular hotel chain, which town or freeway exit they would be at.