Driving on I-95 With A Bus Load of People

[scanne]

I'm taking my choir to WDW to perform in the MK and we're taking a bus. Are there any rest stops on I-95 that have fast food places built in to them? Like in Maryland, there's a big rest stop with a few different places to eat. I just don't want to have to pull way off the road and find a McDonalds (yuck) or something and have 50 people in line to eat. I checked out the I-95 website and all of the rest stops they list are just bathroom and information facilities.

Can anyone help? We're leaving this Tuesday! Thanks!

 

[travel with kids]

How much fun!! I bus full of GOOD (if not awesome) singers. Beats our little van with 4 off key singers!!

I, too am a fast food critic. Try this web sight. http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

It has a lot of good information.

There is also a book that a couple wrote that is very detailed on all the rest stops and what is available from MA to the border of GA/FL. I do not have the name. I gave it to my parents for Christmas. Maybe someone here knows of the book.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

 

[JudithM]

I cannot think of any rest stop on I95 (from Richmond, VA to the FL border) that has fast food places with the rest area. several rest areas have vending machines, but I suspect that is not what you are looking for.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Starting in SC, These have multiple restaurants: Exit 193, 164, 119,98, 77, 53, 21 and 5.

As the previous poster said, the rest stops are not generally a place that offers food such as a travel plaza on the Florida Turnpike.

South of DC, you could stop at the Potomac Mills shopping area, which is at Exit 156 at Dale City, Virginia. The only problem will be getting the group back on the bus in a reasonable time.

Other exits in VA which I would recommend are:92, 61, and 11. In NC I would recommend: 173, 95, and 49.

 

[jel0511]

I see you're from NJ, so you like me are used to rest stops having fast food, as well as restrooms in one compact location, yet can handle tons of people at once. Unforunately, once you get out of Maryland, basically you're looking at stopping at individual restaurants to get food. There are no reststops like you'll find on the NJ Turnpike or NJ Parkway anywhere on I95 until Florida, even then they're scarce. There are signs EVERYWHERE on I95 announcing when the next McDonald's or Burger King is, so don't worry having to get off to look around, it will be announced far in advance. Unforunately, the scene you're trying to avoid is most likely going to happen. Just try to find the biggest place you can and settle there.

 

[myboysmom]

Lots of times when I have been traveling with a large group you can phone the place ahead of time and warn them you will be there. With an ETA the fast food place can be ready for the large group and will not be surprised and will be ready with the most common requests- fries, burgers and such.

Usually the places are overwhelmed when a bus shows up and they are not expecting a rush. If you are using a charter company they can set it up for you, if not, bring a cel phone and the phone numbers of the places you are planning on stopping at (you can often get them off directory websites or corporate sites). Even at the large Oasis type stops in the Chicago area, they can get overwhelmed by buses.

Have fun.