Driving to Hilton Head from NE PA with a stop?

[DisneyHumbug]

DD has a 4yo and a 1 1/2yo and doesn't think they will make it to HH straight through so plan to stop along the way. We usually fly....any ideas of good overnight stops along the way? I haven't driven I95 since 1998!! Yikes!

 

[mac_tlc]

Done the I-95 drive from CT to FL two dozen times, as recently as last month. We always stop once and have been staying at Holiday Inn Express hotels the past dozen years or so. We find them affordable, comfortable and consistent. We have stayed at HI Express in Emporia VA, Roanoke Rapids NC, Wilson NC, Florence SC and other spots.

Not sure where halfway is for your trip, but Emporia VA, at Exit 11 on I-95, is a good spot.

Lots of options if you prefer Hilton or Marriott properties. They are at almost every exit between Richmond VA and Hilton Head.

mac_tlc

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Thank you -that’s a good start!

 

[Erica Ladd]

I recommend trying to get more than halfway, maybe 2/3 or 3/4 so that second day is short and sweet!! There are tons of places along 95 so it could always be a play it by ear kind of thing where you don’t reserve anything in advance

 

[LPnerd]

Done the I-95 drive from CT to FL two dozen times, as recently as last month. We always stop once and have been staying at Holiday Inn Express hotels the past dozen years or so. We find them affordable, comfortable and consistent. We have stayed at HI Express in Emporia VA, Roanoke Rapids NC, Wilson NC, Florence SC and other spots.

Not sure where halfway is for your trip, but Emporia VA, at Exit 11 on I-95, is a good spot.

Lots of options if you prefer Hilton or Marriott properties. They are at almost every exit between Richmond VA and Hilton Head.

mac_tlc

emporia has a papermill and if the wind is blowing the wrong way, the stick is horrible! wilson NC is a great stop!

 

[dclpluto]

You might want to make sure that you stop somewhere that indoor dining is open for fast food. If they want fast food. Also goes with just stopping to eat. Many fast food restaurants at least by me are not open for inside dining even thou they can.

 

[Stargazer65]

I would wing it. Drive until you don't feel like it, then stay for the night. In the best scenario, you get there really early and have more time. That's what we do often. See if you can make Santee, SC. We've done that easily from Hanover, PA twice. Lots of places to eat and sleep there. Then you're only 2 hours away from HHI the next day. If you can't make it, no biggie, lots of other options on the way.

 

[LPnerd]

You might want to make sure that you stop somewhere that indoor dining is open for fast food. If they want fast food. Also goes with just stopping to eat. Many fast food restaurants at least by me are not open for inside dining even thou they can.

and this is the number one reason why wining it right now, could be a pain in the ham hocks. Wilson, I think, has a number of restaurant options that will have pick up, and you can take right back to room, walking distance. I think it was a Holiday Inn express, or a Hampton Inn. right next to a open air mall with shops and lots of food choices. plus a big open area for kids to run off a little energy.

 

[mac_tlc]

emporia has a papermill and if the wind is blowing the wrong way, the stick is horrible! wilson NC is a great stop!

We must have travelled with a favorable wind. Have stated at the HI Express in Emporia over a dozen times and never experienced the paper mill effects. Driving through Georgia is another issue, though.

mac_tlc

 

[LPnerd]

We must have travelled with a favorable wind. Have stated at the HI Express in Emporia over a dozen times and never experienced the paper mill effects. Driving through Georgia is another issue, though.

mac_tlc

we drove that emporia stinkville so many times as our son was stationed at NAS Oceana. OMG! and yes, GA from the SC border to the fl border is awful the entire way. the pollution goes unchecked in GA.

 

[Stargazer65]

The downside of scripting a strict itinerary is that things can happen. Traffic jams, flat tire, etc...
I usually wing it but have extra travel time. If i get there a day early like last time, so much the better. It's I-95...you can't go 15 minutes without running into a fast food joint and hotel. Eat in the car or hotel room if the dining room isn't open. Take it a day at a time, don't fret if you can't get to an expected way point.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

We drove from Philly to Orlando in January and I-95 was a breeze. So much easier than I was expecting, it’s just a straight shot and pretty scenery most of the way. I had my 3 kids in the car and we drove in 4 hour stretches. We let the kids use iPads and eat snacks we don’t buy at home, they were happy campers!

I am very COVID-cautious so we packed meals in a cooler and picnicked at different battlefields along the way. They were mostly deserted and we got to see some interesting history, like preserved earthworks in VA. I packed things like cold leftover pizza, soft pretzels, and tons of fruits and veggies. We also had chips, popcorn and candy- typical road trip snacks! By the end of our drive I was craving protein but it got the job done.

I would agree with a PP who said not to plan things out too much but see how it goes. I had a list of potential rest stops (battlefields, parks with playgrounds and bathrooms, rest stops that had outdoor picnic areas) and we just sort of kept an eye on everyone’s mood to determine when and where to stop. At one point we finally made it to a rest stop but everyone had fallen asleep so I just kept going till the next one on the list. Overall it went much better than we expected, our kids are 7, 4 and 1 and they all did very well!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

emporia has a papermill and if the wind is blowing the wrong way, the stick is horrible! wilson NC is a great stop!

I agree! Wilson is a great stopover, but I'm a little biased.

I'd drive it straight thru to be honest. Just FYI, we drive this stretch several times a year from Wilson to Orlando and the 2-lane in SC is by far and away the worst part of the drive. It's every bit of 2.5-3 hours from the top of SC to the bottom where you're going. It's about 4 hours from here should you choose to stop over and visit with us for the night.

Don't forget to check out our Whirligig Park if you do. https://www.wilsonwhirligigpark.org/

 

[heynowirv]

We drove from Philly to Orlando in January and I-95 was a breeze. So much easier than I was expecting, it’s just a straight shot and pretty scenery most of the way. I had my 3 kids in the car and we drove in 4 hour stretches. We let the kids use iPads and eat snacks we don’t buy at home, they were happy campers!

I am very COVID-cautious so we packed meals in a cooler and picnicked at different battlefields along the way. They were mostly deserted and we got to see some interesting history, like preserved earthworks in VA. I packed things like cold leftover pizza, soft pretzels, and tons of fruits and veggies. We also had chips, popcorn and candy- typical road trip snacks! By the end of our drive I was craving protein but it got the job done.

I would agree with a PP who said not to plan things out too much but see how it goes. I had a list of potential rest stops (battlefields, parks with playgrounds and bathrooms, rest stops that had outdoor picnic areas) and we just sort of kept an eye on everyone’s mood to determine when and where to stop. At one point we finally made it to a rest stop but everyone had fallen asleep so I just kept going till the next one on the list. Overall it went much better than we expected, our kids are 7, 4 and 1 and they all did very well!

Hi Lady,
We're in Cheltenham and have done this trip at least 5 times in the last 8 years, generally play it by ears and have never stopped overnight .WE'll be doing it again in October and will stop this time for sure.Where in Philly are you?

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

Hi Lady,
We're in Cheltenham and have done this trip at least 5 times in the last 8 years, generally play it by ears and have never stopped overnight .WE'll be doing it again in October and will stop this time for sure.Where in Philly are you?

We are Philly suburbs (Delco) Hi neighbor!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Ok so we may stop overnight in Richmond, VA - are we better off downtown or outskirts - we’d like to stay right off I95....you have all been so helpful!

 

[heynowirv]

We are Philly suburbs (Delco) Hi neighbor!

Howdy

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Sorry. I just realized how far north you actually are. Wilson is going to be almost exactly 2/3 way. That's a long day's drive to go the distance. Good luck with your decision. BTW, best BBQ in the world in Wilson at Parker's BBQ. Best years of my HS and college life.

 

[eandt]

The downside of scripting a strict itinerary is that things can happen. Traffic jams, flat tire, etc...
I usually wing it but have extra travel time. If i get there a day early like last time, so much the better. It's I-95...you can't go 15 minutes without running into a fast food joint and hotel. Eat in the car or hotel room if the dining room isn't open. Take it a day at a time, don't fret if you can't get to an expected way point.

This is us. We drive from PA everywhere we go and never plan our stops. 25+ times to WDW, at least that many trips to Myrtle Beach. Nashville, Finger Lakes etc We have found apps such as iExit have been helpful in locating gas, food and lodging when we are ready for a stop.

 

[emilymad]

Ok so we may stop overnight in Richmond, VA - are we better off downtown or outskirts - we’d like to stay right off I95....you have all been so helpful!

We normally stop in Richmond. Downtown Richmond can have parking fees at their hotels. We usually switch between the Hilton Short Pump and the Westin. They are slightly off of 95 but not by much and Richmond has no real traffic.