Driving - I-95 - Question about stops

[jgeorge15]

Out trip leaving home around 1 pm (fri march 30) and driving from Central Virginia to Orlando. I am assuming my kids will take a nap and we will stop around 3 pm somewhere to strech/coffee/snack/restroom etc. And then drive again until 6.30 for dinner. Stay in a motel some where in South carolina and drive rest of the way next day morning

Is there any parks/play area on the way for kids to play for little while - north carolina /south carolina /Georgia - that can be easily accessed from I-95

Which would be couple of good places to stop in South Carolina for the night stay? cities where there are many hotels/motels so that we can walkin without reservation

Any other tips for driving on I -95/places to stop?

This will be out first trip to Florida with kids and by car.

thanks for any suggestions

Jessy

 

[punky'smom]

Savanah,GA is nice. I think the Comfort Inn has a courtyard indoor pool which my DGC loved. We had a 2 room suite. 2 dbl or queen beds/pull out couch in other

 

[jgeorge15]

I do not think we will make up to savanah. South Carolina might be the best bet.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

It's been years since we've driven, but we leave from the DC Metro area pre-AM rush hour. We usually stopped in Savannah if we were being pokey or Brunswick, GA if we were jamming.

We have only one kid, but we found that it was best for our family to minimize stopping. He'd get all wound up when we stopped and it would be hard to get him back into travel mode. Pack lots of snacks and stop only when someone has to use the bathroom.

 

[Captain_Hook]

I don't know if you will have the time for this...

My parents used to live in FL (APopka) and would drive to see us a few times a year (north of Baltimore). They found that the best way for them was to stop at the first rest station of each state (whether they needed gas or not) simply to get out and stretch their legs and go to the bathroom if necessary. I think they found that they were less tired driving straight through doing it that way.

 

[stacy6552]

Go to usastar.com. Its has all the exit info you could possibly need!

 

[java]

Go to the transportation board here on the dis- there is a sticky at the top that lists exit by exit hotels. South Carolina has tons of hotels(north has more because it is more of the Halfway point between ny and fl) But the Big exits are- Rocky Mount, Wilson, Fayetteville, lumberton and florence(going from north to south...) I've heard iffy things about the bigger 2 Fayettville and Rocky mount- but check out the link to be sure. I have stayed at Florence and it was fine.
Now my BIG ADVICE!!!!MAKE A RESERVATION! Pick a place and make one as a just in case place- check their cancelation policy most of the I95 ones let you cancel up until 6 pm on arrival day- so if you make one and think you can get further- cancel and keep going. But the week you are going is spring break week all over the east coast- the hotels can get crowded! Better to be safe and have a place vs. taking a chance. I speak from experience- one year we drove for HOURS trying to find an open hotel. Wasted time never again. So Please Make a reservation. We have had good luck at the Fairfield Inns along the way. You also can check on their website newer is better on the 95 hotels.
The transportation board can be very helpful. There is also a book called Drive I95 that lists things exit by exit- the off the beaten path things - like playgrounds ect. We are marathon drivers- we have 4 children(12-2) and we drive from NJ to GA day one and then GA to FL day 2 From GA it is at least 4 hours- so I would suggest getting to Florence for your night stay.

 

[surfergrl31]

I actually have family that lives in florence SC and we stop there on our trips. I'm not sure which exit it is but right on 95 there have been several new hotels built that are very nice and the plus is that there are tons of resturants, mall, target and other stores for last minute items you may have forgotten. All of these places are mostly within walking distance to just a few blocks away. Depending on what time of year you go you can usually walk in without a reservation, but I would check to make sure no big beach weekends are coming up because many people stop there on their way to the coast.

 

[diz8297]

We drive from RI every year and stop in Florence, SC on the way down. We stay at the Courtyard by Marriot. It's exit 160A. There is a shopping mall near by and several restaurants around: Outback, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays. And....an IHOP for breakfast!
We're counting down even as we speak!!

 

[kribit]

We swear by www.tripadvisor.com

 

[MALE*RN*777]

I actually have family that lives in florence SC and we stop there on our trips. I'm not sure which exit it is but right on 95 there have been several new hotels built that are very nice and the plus is that there are tons of resturants, mall, target and other stores for last minute items you may have forgotten. All of these places are mostly within walking distance to just a few blocks away. Depending on what time of year you go you can usually walk in without a reservation, but I would check to make sure no big beach weekends are coming up because many people stop there on their way to the coast.

We also use to live in Florence SC. Nice town with great Waffle Houses next to hotels. Don't stop at South of the Border. Gas is high and food is bad.

 

[java]

We also use to live in Florence SC. Nice town with great Waffle Houses next to hotels. Don't stop at South of the Border. Gas is high and food is bad.

FINALLY! I am always the only one saying bad things about South of the Border. People actually tell people to stay here on the drive down! I don't get it the place is a dump and an overpriced dump at that. Although I am tempted to try that rollercoaster.

 

[kribit]

EWWWWWWW....South of the Border was gross. We stopped long enough to take a few photos to say we were there and were on our way. We'll pass right by on our next trip.

 

[SunKat]

We also use to live in Florence SC. Nice town with great Waffle Houses next to hotels. Don't stop at South of the Border. Gas is high and food is bad.

Wow, South of the Border is still there?! I remember that from our drives down to Florida when I was a kid, a loooong time ago. I'll never forgot the billboards for miles and miles beforehand. My parents always refused to stop there and I felt so deprived!!

 

[mexico_ride]

Getting ready to do the drive down 95 myself this Friday!

Keep an eye out for plenty of Billboards that indicate fast food restaurants that have playgrounds and playlands. Of course there are plenty of McDonald's but there's actually alot of other chains that provide play areas as well.

Some of the rest stops/welcome stops have plenty of place to run around and let off some steam.

 

[dizchick]

I'll agree w/ you...South of the Border is not worth a stop. The billboards are entertaining on the way down, but that's about it. I used to live in Richmond and we drove down one time. I believe we stopped at a Hampton Inn right along the SC/GA border. There are a ton of hotels along the way, but I would take the above poster's advice and maybe make a reservation just in case. It's getting close to (or already is) spring break time, so you may have a lot of company on the road on the way to Disney! I know there are a ton our tour buses up here in DC, so I think lots of people may be on break.

 

[MinMouse]

We drive once or twice a year from Wilmington, Delaware (just south of Philadelphia). We find that it has worked best for us to do the bulk of the driving the first day and just a short drive the second. We usually leave between 2-4 a.m. to get through DC before the rush. But Day 1 we drive all day leaving a very short distance (sometimes as little as 30 miles) the second day! We have only stopped once in S. Carolina (on the return trip) and it wasn't memorable. . . ok with us . . . we just needed a bed that night. I agree with others here though that Savannah, Georgia is a very nice stop if you can make it that far. It's really just over the line from S. Carolina into Georgia. We stayed at a Fairfield Inn (Exit 94) there a few years ago . . . it had a pool and a free continental breakfast in the a.m. There were also a few restaurants that were close enough to walk over to. I also agree that making a reservation is a wise idea. Just check the cancellation policy in case all's well and you can go further when you are nearing that hotel. We also find it helpful to print out the exit info from the transportation section of this board. I don't think anyone has mentioned yet that there are no gas stations on I-95. You have to exit for those. So we find the exit info very helpful to get gas too. Have a great trip!

 

[jgeorge15]

Wow - you all are great - that is a lot of info.
I do not know where is the south of border - I will do a search

Thanks for all the information. I will check the transportation board

Jessy

 

[KristiKelly]

EWWWWWWW....South of the Border was gross. We stopped long enough to take a few photos to say we were there and were on our way. We'll pass right by on our next trip.

But Pedro loves you . For more info. www.pedroland.com

We live in NC, a few years ago we were driving down to WDW. We pulled into S.O.B, opened the back of the van and said, "Okay kids, grab your suitcase, we're here.". DS was only 6 at the time and he said, "you're kidding, right?" It is the cheesiest dump.

Anyway, We've never stopped in SC, we always go as far as Brunswick, Ga. We stay somewhere with a cont. breakfast, eat and try to hit the road by 9:00 a.m., we are usually at WDW by 12:00-12:30, depending on traffic.

 

[Princess Nancy]

We drive from RI every year and stop in Florence, SC on the way down. We stay at the Courtyard by Marriot. It's exit 160A. There is a shopping mall near by and several restaurants around: Outback, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays. And....an IHOP for breakfast!
We're counting down even as we speak!!

I live in Florence. THis is the perfect exit to stop and that is why the hotels are located here! We get tons of travelers all year long!

We have 2 new chains right at the highway, Olive Garden and Longhorn.
Be sure to stay at this exit by the mall and not the others. This will feel safest and most convenient.

Let me suggest 2 local GREAT restaurants, especially with kids ( Ihave 3).

IF you stay on 20 and head into town you will come to Florence Mall. There is a local restaurant called Red Bone. Everything there is good, the atmosphere is really quaint, but here is the best part. THey hav alittle play area for the kids and a good humor truck parked inside. After their meal, the kids go into the truck and pick out their ice cream treat.

Across the street is Starfire. It is greek. But generally speaking you can get anything, the menu is HUGE! THe food is good, I would liken the atosphere to TGI Fridays. Ask anyone at the hotel for directions. THey are less than 2 miles form the exit and worth the little extra drive for a change of pace.

DH and I are not into trying off the beaten path places ingeneral. We are choose chains in general. You won't be disappointed!