Driving from Ohio down I-77/95 need advice

[KnightFarms]

Calling all Buckeyes or anyone else along the way...

I have heard that 77 has less places to stop than 75, but we're going to chance it because it seems more direct and I'm not worried about the weather. I do have some questions though.

Are there any fun places to eat that aren't too far off the highway? Or where did you stop on your trip?

Where are good places to stop vs. no mans land?

Anyone taken the trip recently that noticed a big difference in gas prices?

We're taking our first drive down since I was a kid, so I'm clueless and having little luck finding stuff on the internet.

 

[Pembo]

We always take 77 down and find lots of places to stop. We live near Cleveland and our first stop is always the W Va Visitors Center. It's beautiful.

We like to stop at the Welcome Centers to get the Roomsavers guide which really helps on hotel prices on the road. We stayed at a beautiful, new hotel for only $49 (rack was over $100).

 

[KristiMc]

We are in Twinsburg and have done both routes and prefer 77/95 by far.

We did the 75 route on the way down this past February because there was a storm coming for NC & WV and we didn't want to get stuck. The route was ok, but I don't think there was that much difference in the places to stop - to make the 2 hour longer trip worth it.

 

[KnightFarms]

Do you drive straight through?

If you stop, how far do you try to get before stopping?

Has anyone ever found a diamond in the rough place diner or something that they remember where it was located?

 

[KristiMc]

We do drive straight through. My DH takes the day off and naps from about 1:00 pm till 8:30 or so and then we leave around 9:00. We get to Daytona about 1:00 pm the next day. We spend the night there and get up in the morning and drive the remaining hour.

The kids sleep for most of it and it makes the drive go much quicker. DH likes to drive at night so it does not bother him. I take over around 4-5 am and he gets to nap a bit.