Driving to HHI (for East Coasters north) Good hotel for overnight stop?

[TenThousandVolts]

Hi- we are driving to HHI from Baltimore (expecting about 10 hour trip not including stops/breaks). I would like to get at least 3/4 to hhi on our 1st driving day- Can anyone suggest a good town/hotel to stop the night before check-in?

TIA!

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

We stayed a few exits into SC last June. Can't remember the town - sorry. There were several hotels, resturants, and a target. It was about three hours from HHI. We stocked up at Target on beach stuff for the kids, non perishable food, etc. We are planning a trip in summer 09 and will probably stop there again.

 

[Connears]

we drive from Boston all the time(an extra 7 hours from you). We usually stop in Mid-SC. There are major chains along the way. I recommend going to www.i95exitguide.com and you can see which hotels are at each exit. We are Hilton rewards folks so we always stay at Hampton Inn or other Hilton for the rewards points.

Connears

 

[DisDaydreamer]

3/4 of the way would put you in Florence SC. Florence is a busy rail town. More industrial leaning. Lots of history too. That said, they have a Wingate Inn there and as far as hotels go (yuck) the Wyngates are all relatively new structures and seem to be pretty consistent with maintenance and cleaning. Since this is just a place to bed down for the night and maybe get a quick self-serve breakfast in the morning I would feel comfortable in giving it a try.

Fayettville is a nice place, but cuts your trip well short of your goal. If you go beyond Florence you might as well finish the trip (IMHO).

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Thanks everyone- That 195 website is awesome! I have lots of options now

 

[Connears]

Glad you are finding the I95 website useful. I love it for planning along with Mapquest and AAA, its a great asset to driving distances.
Connears

 

[Judique]

Hi- we are driving to HHI from Baltimore (expecting about 10 hour trip not including stops/breaks). I would like to get at least 3/4 to hhi on our 1st driving day- Can anyone suggest a good town/hotel to stop the night before check-in?

TIA!

Florence, SC at Exit 160 (where 95 intersects I-20) has a new Hilton and a new Holiday Inn Express right off I-95, roughly 35 miles into SC. There is also a new Olive Garden, Chili's, and another chain restaurant I can't remember (maybe Western Sizzling)in walking distance, plus an eatery that I'm not familiar with, as well as a movie theater - in less then a 1/4 mile area. Crossing I-20 to it's north side at this same exit is an Outback Steakhouse and a Chick Filet as well as a small mall - Magnolia Mall with a small food court area, plus the earlier mentioned Target. We stayed at the HI Express twice in Dec, going to Disney and coming back. Fresh cookies are available at checkin, room was clean and comfortable with flatscreen tv and free internet, and the continental breakfast was adequate. I'm going to try the Hilton soon. This is a newer area and it's very convenient.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Florence, SC at Exit 160 (where 95 intersects I-20) has a new Hilton and a new Holiday Inn Express right off I-95, roughly 35 miles into SC. There is also a new Olive Garden, Chili's, and another chain restaurant I can't remember (maybe Western Sizzling)in walking distance, plus an eatery that I'm not familiar with, as well as a movie theater - in less then a 1/4 mile area. Crossing I-20 to it's north side at this same exit is an Outback Steakhouse and a Chick Filet as well as a small mall - Magnolia Mall with a small food court area, plus the earlier mentioned Target. We stayed at the HI Express twice in Dec, going to Disney and coming back. Fresh cookies are available at checkin, room was clean and comfortable with flatscreen tv and free internet, and the continental breakfast was adequate. I'm going to try the Hilton soon. This is a newer area and it's very convenient.

Now we're talking... Sounds preferrable to me. And, I'm hungry.

 

[pb4ugo]

Thanks everyone- That 195 website is awesome! I have lots of options now

If ya like that site, go here http://www.travelcoupons.com/ and check out the discounts that are available for the hotels along the I-95 exits. I don't suggest staying at the swamp fox or the travelodge at exit 157 - but I do like the ramada and the days inn - we might stay at the holiday inn express when we go down in a few weeks. the ramada has its own restaurant on site which we found to be good - but that was a few years ago. we often drive down the street a few miles to go to the Ryan's buffet restaurant - good food and low prices.

 

[Desnik]

Florence, SC at Exit 160 (where 95 intersects I-20) has a new Hilton and a new Holiday Inn Express right off I-95, roughly 35 miles into SC. There is also a new Olive Garden, Chili's, and another chain restaurant I can't remember (maybe Western Sizzling)in walking distance, plus an eatery that I'm not familiar with, as well as a movie theater - in less then a 1/4 mile area. Crossing I-20 to it's north side at this same exit is an Outback Steakhouse and a Chick Filet as well as a small mall - Magnolia Mall with a small food court area, plus the earlier mentioned Target. We stayed at the HI Express twice in Dec, going to Disney and coming back. Fresh cookies are available at checkin, room was clean and comfortable with flatscreen tv and free internet, and the continental breakfast was adequate. I'm going to try the Hilton soon. This is a newer area and it's very convenient.

How far is this from HHI? We are also driving down to HHI, but we are from NY. I'm also trying to figure out a good place to stop for the night.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

How far is this from HHI? We are also driving down to HHI, but we are from NY. I'm also trying to figure out a good place to stop for the night.

A little under 200 miles or 3 hours.

You might also consider Fayettville, NC., which is about 4 hours away and has tons of hotels.

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for such a quick response!!

I also love that I95 website and use to use it often when we use to drive to WDW. Now we fly & I'm actually dreading the 13 hour drive to HHI!LOL I'm not able to find info on the new hotels off exit 160 on that site.

 

[pb4ugo]

Thanks for such a quick response!!

I also love that I95 website and use to use it often when we use to drive to WDW. Now we fly & I'm actually dreading the 13 hour drive to HHI!LOL I'm not able to find info on the new hotels off exit 160 on that site.

I went to the I95 guide and S.C. lodging and clicked on Florence Area
accommodations link between the lodging listed for exits 160/157 and found the following with a little bit of work [hope it helps]:

fairfield inn
http://www.res99.com/hotel/10003430-10201208M.html?ses=d53cbad7666aec4f07f843a1b6bf5234ps

red roof inn
http://www.res99.com/hotel/10003430-10042498M.html?ses=d53cbad7666aec4f07f843a1b6bf5234ps

holiday inn express
http://www.res99.com/hotel/10003430-11340629M.html?ses=d53cbad7666aec4f07f843a1b6bf5234ps

other motels tha might be in area:
http://www.res99.com/nexres/search/...ed_type=&num_beds=&smoking_pref=&currency_id=

 

[buzz5985]

I drive from Boston to Fayettesville. We have stayed at the Best Western - twice - we were traveling with our Dog - so they are pet friendly. There is a Super Walmart next parking lot over, we order a pizza in, rent a movie, relax, get up early the next day and usually arrive at HH around 10 am.

We went as far as Dillon one year - but would not recommend it. Not so much the distance as the accomodations. But things may have changed.

Janis

 

[ekball]

Has anyone stopped in Rocky Mount before??? Is it safe?

We're looking for a stopping point for our trip to HHI from CT - it's looking like either Rocky Mount or Fayetteville (if we can make it that far...travelling with 2 toddlers That's the "I'm having mixed feelings about this" smiley)

TIA!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Has anyone stopped in Rocky Mount before??? Is it safe?

We're looking for a stopping point for our trip to HHI from CT - it's looking like either Rocky Mount or Fayetteville (if we can make it that far...travelling with 2 toddlers That's the "I'm having mixed feelings about this" smiley)

TIA!

Always see the sign, but have never visited there. We bought a home in the Garner area that DS & DDIL live in so we have travelled much of that region. I certainly would expect it to be safe. It is a very nice region.

Definitely, keeping toddlers happy for 9 hours is going to be a challenge.

Good Luck.

 

[kahluacream]

Maybe it weas just our bad luck, but our family had a TERRIBLE experience in Fayetteville, NC about 6 years ago at the Holiday Inn... We felt very unsafe, and would never go back to that town again!!! Last year, we stopped to eat in Lumberton (good!) and stayed at the Hampton Inn in Santee, SC (also good!)

I asked a similar question on these boards when planning for Spring Break at HHI last year. A lot of folks recommended Fairfield in Lumberton. A couple recommended Santee, and since we wanted a short drive on arrival day, that's what we went with.

Have a great trip!