Fellow I 95 Travelers Please Advise

[FtW Mike]

This years trek to The Fort is going to be different from years past. As I am the driver I find that traveling 350 to 400 miles each day which roughly translates to 6 to 8 hr on the road. This year we will be making some previously unscheduled stops starting on day 1. Going to Camp Wilderness for Holiday Lights cuts my normal trip in half. Day 2 has her wanting to stop at JR for some shopping. So again, major chunk of travel day shot. we looked at some places in SC for night 2 but she is afraid it will be too far ie arrive after dark. and in 1 instance at a place we both agree NEVER AGAIN. Solution CAMP PEDRO at South of the Border. f anyone g there and how great it was. Jump ahead to now and some really good friends recollections not so much. But have been advised by a couple of others that while Tourist trap areas most likely our cup of tea Campground as an overnight stop ideal spot.
If anyone has any experience we would greatly appreciate it. Our needs simple Level or near so spot , 50 Amp service ( Heat pump ( 30 amp okay but 50 better)Refridge-freezer running (Monday Night Football).
Dog friendly as Girls need to get a good walk after day in the coach. We may check place out if we get there early enough but not really concerned if we don't

 

[Eyeeore]

We camped at I-95 exit 8 at the Camp Lake Jasper. A fairly new campground just off I-95. Call ahead for reservations or go online (Google is your friend). We spent one night there before parking our rig for a month in storage. It comes back out to head for home on Wednesday.

The campground had 50amp service with full hookups. Our site needed a little help on level (1" under the wheels) but other than that, it was good.

Have a good trip down.

 

[daemom]

We've stayed at South of the Border's campground. It's a perfect on/off of the interstate. It was clean (when we were there two years ago), all of the sites are level, pets are allowed. While we wouldn't want to stay there for a period of time, we thought it was great for a one night stopover.

 

[FtW Mike]

We camped at I-95 exit 8 at the Camp Lake Jasper. A fairly new campground just off I-95. Call ahead for reservations or go online (Google is your friend). We spent one night there before parking our rig for a month in storage. It comes back out to head for home on Wednesday.

The campground had 50amp service with full hookups. Our site needed a little help on level (1" under the wheels) but other than that, it was good.

Have a good trip down.

Eyeeore Thanks . Allready looked at Camp Lake Jasper DW says too far on the way down but after looking over the website and reviews on Good Sam we have decided this is a good spot for night one of return trip. Somehow we can't get out of the Fort before 10 am no matter what we do. So CLJ looks perfect for our needs.

 

[daemom]

New Green Acres in Walterboro is also a nice place to stop over--if you just want a place to sleep and walk the pets.

 

[FtW Mike]

We've stayed at South of the Border's campground. It's a perfect on/off of the interstate. It was clean (when we were there two years ago), all of the sites are level, pets are allowed. While we wouldn't want to stay there for a period of time, we thought it was great for a one night stopover.

Appreciate this as it affirms what we thought and what our friend has to say about it just would prefer to hear from more than just one person.

New Green Acres in Walterboro is also a nice place to stop over--if you just want a place to sleep and walk the pets.

Glad to hear another good review on this place as well Looks like it is either under new mgt. or somebody looked around and didn't care for what they saw

 

[PaHunter]

We have stayed in walterboro the last two years, quick on and off 95 and is good for an overnight stay.

 

[Maligator]

We're going to try Camp Pedro on our way down this July. Can't beat the rate for full a full hookup pull through when you consider it's just for overnight. Plus, it'll give me an excuse to hit the shops there.

 

[FtW Mike]

We have stayed in walterboro the last two years, quick on and off 95 and is good for an overnight stay.

Again thanks for heads up on this place Chris it is on the short list for going home but thinking more like net year when we in tend to tour more with a shorter stay at The Fort

We're going to try Camp Pedro on our way down this July. Can't beat the rate for full a full hookup pull through when you consider it's just for overnight. Plus, it'll give me an excuse to hit the shops there.

Ah excuses to stop. Price is a,big draw as is proximetry to I 95 Like I said in our long ago youth all our friends that went south had the bumper sticker in the garage and loved it. My old work partner remembers trip she , mom, and Grandpa and she had nothing good to say. But will keep an eye out for your impression

 

[Maligator]

It's going to be interesting because my two boys (9&10) and the DW hate anything to do with South of the Border for some reason after our last stop there. They liken it to a greasy old carnival or something. Last night when I broke the news to them that we would stay with Pedro, the older one said he'd rather boondock on "an old dirt road".

I like it because of the nostalgia of it being the place to stop on the road south for so long and the convenient location. On last years trip we took the 81/78 route instead of 95 but this year we are staying in DC for a few days before continuing south so that the kids can visit all the cool stuff in DC and so we will be heading down 95 again and straight past Pedro.

 

[parrothead64]

Just to let you know, JR's isn't like it used to be, it's all tobacco products now, all the other stuff is gone.

 

[FtW Mike]

It's going to be interesting because my two boys (9&10) and the DW hate anything to do with South of the Border for some reason after our last stop there. They liken it to a greasy old carnival or something. Last night when I broke the news to them that we would stay with Pedro, the older one said he'd rather boondock on "an old dirt road".

I like it because of the nostalgia of it being the place to stop on the road south for so long and the convenient location. On last years trip we took the 81/78 route instead of 95 but this year we are staying in DC for a few days before continuing south so that the kids can visit all the cool stuff in DC and so we will be heading down 95 again and straight past Pedro.

Love your family description of SOB. In line with what others have told us but like YOU the nostalgia factor is there. So many friends in our youth had been but not us which is big part of considering.

Just to let you know, JR's isn't like it used to be, it's all tobacco products now, all the other stuff is gone.

Parrothead thank you so much for this info. Both of us stopped smoking 3 years ago and if that is what they have gone to definetly have to reconsider this as a stop and just do two or three hour stop at SOB and push on to Walterboro. New thing DW to investigate

 

[parrothead64]

Here is a link from Yelp and Tripadvisor, so she doesn't have to do too much digging.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jr-cigar-selma-selma?osq=JR'S+CIGARS
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...J_R_Discount_Outlet-Selma_North_Carolina.html

 

[jbrostek]

Don't bother stopping at JR Cigar. We stopped there on the way south in Feb and the building was empty minus the cigar walk in humidor and cigarettes. Talking with employees they are planning a large humidor and cigar lounge area being built closest to the RV parking of the building. Another company is coming into the remaining space to fill in the lack of items for sale. Most stuff will be back not sure how the prices will be. But it was a shock since that is usually where I pick up inexpensive stuff for the RV.

 

[FtW Mike]

Here is a link from Yelp and Tripadvisor, so she doesn't have to do too much digging.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jr-cigar-selma-selma?osq=JR'S+CIGARS
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...J_R_Discount_Outlet-Selma_North_Carolina.html

Thanks so much for the links makes us rethink that stop

Don't bother stopping at JR Cigar. We stopped there on the way south in Feb and the building was empty minus the cigar walk in humidor and cigarettes. Talking with employees they are planning a large humidor and cigar lounge area being built closest to the RV parking of the building. Another company is coming into the remaining space to fill in the lack of items for sale. Most stuff will be back not sure how the prices will be. But it was a shock since that is usually where I pick up inexpensive stuff for the RV.

Appreciate 1st hand report W definitely will consider that when we finalize trip down

 

[KristinU]

We stayed at Pedro's for an overnight and had a fine time. We didn't stay long, but it was good enough for us. We loved loved loved the ginger ale you can get there in the camp office. I'd stop again just for that!

Depending on how you hit with timing, another good overnight spot on 95 is the RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads (North of Pedro's by a couple of hours in NC). They have an overnight rate where you just pay in an envelope and hook up. Nice little dog park there and nice bathroom facilities (nearly as nice as the Fort!) as well if you don't feel like firing up your water heater for a shower.

I have blog posts on both in our blog linked in my signature. I'm at work and blocked from blogs, otherwise I'd post direct links!

 

[FtW Mike]

We stayed at Pedro's for an overnight and had a fine time. We didn't stay long, but it was good enough for us. We loved loved loved the ginger ale you can get there in the camp office. I'd stop again just for that!

Depending on how you hit with timing, another good overnight spot on 95 is the RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads (North of Pedro's by a couple of hours in NC). They have an overnight rate where you just pay in an envelope and hook up. Nice little dog park there and nice bathroom facilities (nearly as nice as the Fort!) as well if you don't feel like firing up your water heater for a shower.

I have blog posts on both in our blog linked in my signature. I'm at work and blocked from blogs, otherwise I'd post direct links!

Kristin thank you for recommendation. For us this would be like you an overnight stop just to eat sleep and shower give THE GIRLS a good walking and maybe just maybe explore a bit. Funny you would mention Carolina Crossroads I first became aware of that resort when my job had me transporting a woman from her residence here in Delaware to her son's in Myrtle Beach SC

Saw the resort from Hgwy and began investigating it once I got home. Might work better for us as a last night stop on way home due to distance to home. Camp Wilderness is just north of Richmond and less than 200 miles from home and my DW wants to check out Holiday Light display nearby at Kings Dominion "THE MEADOWS" so only going another 200 miles for day 2 not something I relish.

We also found a place on outskirts of Jacksonville "Flamingo Lake" we stayed at 2 years ago and enjoyed a lot. Nice thing there is a Super Wallyworld very nearby so we can take a quickie side trip over to them for some last minute perishables and DW wants to spend extra night or 2 there as they were so nice to us

 

[jbrostek]

I have not stayed there in a few years, southbound it is too far north and northbound it is just too far North for me driving time. We pushed one night and made it there. What I liked about the campground was it was level, secure, easy to get in and out of, away from all the noise (relatively) and inexpensive. But we left WDW at 10am, and did not make it there till 8pm with only 1 fuel stop and a bathroom break. You really had to push to make it there before they closed. If I could afford a slower pace (I don't push the tow and we take it easy, we just don't site see in between.)

 

[FtW Mike]

I have not stayed there in a few years, southbound it is too far north and northbound it is just too far North for me driving time. We pushed one night and made it there. What I liked about the campground was it was level, secure, easy to get in and out of, away from all the noise (relatively) and inexpensive. But we left WDW at 10am, and did not make it there till 8pm with only 1 fuel stop and a bathroom break. You really had to push to make it there before they closed. If I could afford a slower pace (I don't push the tow and we take it easy, we just don't site see in between.)

So totally agree about not pushing it. My guide is 350 miles or 8 hrs a day behind the wheel. Any more than that and I feel it the next day. As for going south we have in the past found that either Fayetteville RV Park or Royal Oaks Resort work really well as there is a GREAT Cracker Barrel at exit 49 less than hour from each with a nice parking area and dog walking spot that we LOVE. Fill up with a big breakfast and I am good for the day with a nice snack when we stop for the dogs until dinnertime
Like you we just can't seem to no matter how hard we try to leave the Fort before 10 am DW no into travel or set up after dark so we try to plan to stop by like 4pm. Even when it just her and I in the car on the return trip SOB was well after Dark.

 

[jbrostek]

Being further south has its advantages. If I hit the road between 8-9am in N. VA, I can make it to Point South KOA by about 7-8pm depending on stops. I run around 65-68 on the highway which the truck seems to love. With Point South being an overnight stop there is little to connect and they are level enough I do not need to disconnect the trailer.

Caren and I have discussed the trip in August, given the daylight hours of trying to push a little further south on the way down. We are also leaving during a work day instead of a Saturday. So the choice is either leave before rush hour or leave after. We don't want to wait till 9-10am to hit the road, so we are planning on a 5-5:30am departure. That will take us south of rush hour by the time it picks up. If we make good time from that point we could make it to Savannah South KOA in the first day. It's pushing it a bit, but not too badly.