Driving to Hilton Head from NE PA with a stop?

[Judique]

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!

I drive from Maryland to Hilton Head all the time.

I like to leave late and stay in Florence, SC so as to get to the resort very early afternoon. But I'm probably 3 hours south of you. With a 4 year old and a 1 and 1/2 year old, you may want to plan your stop in advance and book somewhere. You need to be able to get the room with the right amount of beds and possibly a crib or pack and play for the 1 and 1/2 year old.

I would drive further south than Richmond. Maybe Emporia, Va or Roanoke Rapids, NC.

Both have some decent options, but I didn't care for the Country Inn and Suites in Emporia last year.

The Holiday Inn Express in both areas look decent as does the Hampton and Hilton in RR.

We travel with my grand daughters who are now 4 and 5 year olds. They need breaks from the car seats. And, when we arrive at HH, we check in and if the room is not ready, we go to the beach and the beach house for lunch.

 

[Judique]

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

I have to agree with this. A paper mill can have a sulpher stench. And I know, having grown up where one was close by. That said, I've never encountered the smell in Emporia, but in Georgia on 95 south from Brunswick on, yes, and it does smell bad through there on some trips.

I guess it mostly depends on the wind.

 

[keishashadow]

We’ve done emporia (no issue with smell when there), Smithfield, Fayetteville & Lumberton over the years.

Smithfield has outlet malls if that’s a consideration

Fayetteville can be a big hit or miss if on a weekend, it’s near a few miitary bases and things can get a big loud with parties in the rooms.

Giving into my kids (which they still talk about btw), did stay overnight at South of the Border once lol. Was surprisingly clean & we felt safe but, not for the faint of heart as to the atmosphere.