Driving from NJ

[lovemy3girls]

We are driving down the 1st week of Oct. from south Jersey. Leaving on Fri the 29th of Sept, planning on stopping overnight somewhere (maybe southern SC?), then finishing the drive Saturday, hoping to get there early enough to go to MK for a couple of hours. As far as returning home, we leave Fri. Oct. 7th, and we'd like to spend most of our last day at MK, and leave after a 5:30 dinner. We'd like to drive a good 3 hours that night, then stop somewhere to sleep (maybe Jacksonville?). Then we would drive maybe to NC, stop again overnight, and make it home Sunday. Does anyone know of any nice stops off of 95, where there are decent hotels, for all of these stops we are going to be making? Any info is greatly appreciated. We are also worried about DC traffic! Any alternate routes around the I 95 congestion? Is there still construction going on in that area? We are driving with our 3 DD's ages 3, 5, and 7 and we are trying to make this long drive as easy as possible! Thanks so much!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I'm not too sure about from Cherry Hill but when my father drives to florida from Northwest (sussex county) NJ he always takes Rt. 81 to 83? to get around the DC traffic. 95 and the NJ turnpike are usually a nightmare from up here. As far as where to stay, anywhere but South of the Border - that place is gross.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Last time we drove from Jersey, we stopped at Santee, SC for the night at a Holiday Inn that was newly renovated! I would recommend it!...it was cheap & very clean! Returning, I would stop at Savannah, GA instead of Jacksonville! Try www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm for other lodging!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We leave that very same day--at 3:30 AM, just to be certain to get around DC before 5:30 AM.
Construction still going on, and it's still an absolute mess.
We always stop in Brunswick Ga (we're there NLT than 5:00PM) and stay at Hampton Inn. Next day, we leave at 6:00AM and are checking in usually before 11:00.
Can't help with the return trip, as we always leave on a Saturday and drive to Va. before we stop.

 

[angelkisses]

In southern SC you have Disney's own place at Hilton Head Island of course if its a sleep only stop you may not want to venture to this place but its not far from I-95. Just depends if you are looking for something touristy. If you are, you might also check out Charleston SC and St. Augustine FL.

 

[Disney Planner Mama]

We used to live in Jacksonville, FL and have relatives in NYC and northern NJ so used to do this drive a lot. Lumberton NC which is just before you crossover into SC) has a lot of hotels (the Country Inn and Suites is very nice there) and is pretty much halfway between NY and FL. (For us the drive was about 19 hours, and we made frequent stops as we had our dog with us as well -- you can add another 2-3 hours from Jacksonville to Orlando). The stretch from NJ to DC can be very nasty traffic wise (we live outside DC now), but if you time it to avoid rush hours you should be okay. Remember DC has staggered working hours so rush hour pretty much goes from 6-9 AM and 3-7 PM. If you stop at the visitor's centers at state lines they usually have books of coupons for hotels along 95, and you can get some good deals. I highly recommend the Cracker Barrel in Smithfield, NC. Very good food, very nice people, and next door to some factory outlets if you need a driving break. There are Cracker Barrel restaurants all along I95, most of them pretty good, and always reliable, but for some reason the Smithfield one stands out. Cracker Barrels also have sticker books and little toys that may help keep the girls amused (it worked with ours).

 

[Aliki]

Hey!! We're driving from south Jersey (close to Atlantic City) to Orlando the third week of October.

Post a full trip report when you get back!!! (Especially regarding the driving, best places to stop, rest, etc! )

 

[JimFitz]

Hey!! We're driving from south Jersey (close to Atlantic City) to Orlando the third week of October.

Post a full trip report when you get back!!! (Especially regarding the driving, best places to stop, rest, etc! )

We are driving at the same time as you. Look for a 2005 blue Honda Ody

Going to MNSSHP?

 

[Aliki]

We are driving at the same time as you. Look for a 2005 blue Honda Ody

Going to MNSSHP?

And you-- a 1996 black Pontiac.

Are you staying on-site or off-site? Do you plan to stop-over mid-way or drive straight through?

Probably not going to MNSSHP-- no kids, and don't really feel like taking a kid's spot along the parade line.

 

[JimFitz]

And you-- a 1996 black Pontiac.

Are you staying on-site or off-site? Do you plan to stop-over mid-way or drive straight through?

Probably not going to MNSSHP-- no kids, and don't really feel like taking a kid's spot along the parade line.

Driving straight thru on the way down and taking our time on the way back.

 

[maxaroni]

OP...howdy neighbor I'm very close to C.H.

We just drove down and stayed in a Hampton Inn in Richmond Hill, VA. Very nice place...clean and fairly new. On the way back, we stayed in a Hampton Inn in Florence, SC (Lucas Blvd/Rd?)...don't stay there. It is old, worn and run down. We had bugs in the room and generally an 'ick' feeling. We did get our nights stay refunded and the only reason we stayed (as opposed to looking elsewhere) is that we didn't leave Disney till noon or so and it was 7:30 pm, dh was hungry and tired. We ate, he showered and he went to sleep. DS and I refused to take a shower there.

 

[joksten2000]

When I drive we leave at 3am to miss the dc traffic and the kids sleep through most of it. Good Luck

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

We are also worried about DC traffic! Any alternate routes around the I 95 congestion? Is there still construction going on in that area? We are driving with our 3 DD's ages 3, 5, and 7 and we are trying to make this long drive as easy as possible! Thanks so much!

AFAIK, road work continues on the Beltway from the Wilson Bridge (the southern crossing from MD to VA) through the Springfield Interchange (where I-95 intersects with the Beltway in VA). Many on here have taken I-81 south into western VA, then I-77 south through Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC, down to I-95.

Another alternative is to take I-97 south from Baltimore to Route 3 to US 301 into VA and catch I-95 north of Richmond. I took this route to Baltimore and back to Richmond yesterday for a job interview. Decent 4-lane (at least) highway, no road work, quite a few traffic lights but the traffic moves at a steady rate, and also quite a few dining options if you're passing through at lunch or dinner time.