HELP!! First road trip from CT to HHI

[Girlie1]

I have reviewed all the threads on traffic and best route but just want all of you experts to check out my research and give me some tips or enlighten me on any traffic horrors I might encounter.

Just a little more info for you to consider. We are leaving from our home in the new Haven area of CT on Saturday 6/26 at approx 9 am. This is not really negotiable due to work schedules and the fact that I have 2 children, DS10 and DS6 , and DS6 is autistic and if I get him up too early we will have a miserable trip down . We are scheduled to check in to DVC at HHI on Sunday, 6/27. Then we are departing on Friday, 7/2 and expecting to return to CT on 7/3. Not really sure at this point what time we will leave HHI on 7/2 but check out is 11 am so we will definitiely be on the road by then. I know that there will be a lot of traffic especially coming home so I am hoping to do the best I can to avoid traffic if possible.

So my research seems to suggest that the best route for us heading south (and reverse heading back I guess) would be to take 95-78-81-64-95. The other alternative would be to take 95-78-81-77-26-95. I suspect my least appealing alternative would be to take 95 straight down but I am terrified of all the horror stories of traffic around DC and northern VA.
What would you do?

Some considerations/questions I have is
1. For each route noted above are there rest areas or are you getting off exits to find a restroom.
2. Since we are planning to stop over night, any suggestions for areas to stop and possible hotels for heading down? heading home? I think that we would like to do the majority of driving the first day for each trip. Don't really require anything fancy, just clean.

I am really looking forward to our first trip to HHI but very concerned about the road trip part as this is the first time we are attempting a trip where the kids are spending more than 5 hours in the car. Thank you in advance. I appreciate any help.

 

[HeatherC]

Hi There! We are also going to HHI for the first time this summer!! But....we are from central Massachusetts and are leaving the weekend you come home!

We have done a lot of research on the routes and because we are traveling around July 4th weekend, we have decided to take the 78/81/77 route on the way down.

What we are doing is leaving at 2am from Sturbridge area. Taking Route 84 to 684 over the Tappan Zee to 287 to 78 to 81. This way we will avoid all NYC traffic.

If you decide to take that route, I'd suggest taking the Merritt over to the Tappan Zee and then just taking the NY Thruway to 287 to 78. This will also help you avoid NYC.

If you decide to stick with 95, you could also do this and then go over the Tappan Zee and take the Garden State Parkway to the Turnpike which will also avoid all NYC traffic.

We are possibly staying the first night at the Residence Inn Tyvola Ave on the south end of Charlotte, NC. This will leave us about 4 - 5 hours driving the next day.

If you decide to take 95, I think there will be traffic. There always is. But...we also have a tentative hotel reservation in Florence, SC at the Holiday Inn Express.

We can cancel both hotels up until 4pm that day.

Where are you staying in Hilton Head? Can't wait!!

Hope you guys have a great trip!

PS. You can plan your route with Google Maps. It lets you drag the cursor to change your route to see which way is the best and shortest drive time. Hope this helps!

 

[Girlie1]

Thank you for the response. I appreciate your suggestions. We are staying at the Disney Vacation Club Resort in Hilton Head.

I took your advice and went on Google Maps. I was not aware that you could play with the route by just dragging the little circle. Thanks for the tip

It looks like the AAA Triptik I got in the amil today wants me go go 95 and they indicate it will take about 15 hrs, 30 minutes (with no traffic of course). The alternate route 78-81-77-26-95 will take 16 hrs and 47 min according to Goole Maps. Appears that the mileage difference is about 88 miles but I agree that during the summer it would be wise to not gamble on 95 traffic.

I am not quite sure how far we will make it that first day but thanks for the suggestions for hotels. If we can't make it to Charlotte in the first day does anyone have any suggestions for towns/hotels in VA off I81 or another area north of Charlotte on I77?

 

[HeatherC]

Maybe check tripadvisor for reviews of hotels near Roanoake or Staunton, VA?


Have a great time!

 

[Girlie1]

Will do. Thanks for responding

 

[Robert P]

Thank you for the response. I appreciate your suggestions. We are staying at the Disney Vacation Club Resort in Hilton Head.

I took your advice and went on Google Maps. I was not aware that you could play with the route by just dragging the little circle. Thanks for the tip

It looks like the AAA Triptik I got in the amil today wants me go go 95 and they indicate it will take about 15 hrs, 30 minutes (with no traffic of course). The alternate route 78-81-77-26-95 will take 16 hrs and 47 min according to Goole Maps. Appears that the mileage difference is about 88 miles but I agree that during the summer it would be wise to not gamble on 95 traffic.

I am not quite sure how far we will make it that first day but thanks for the suggestions for hotels. If we can't make it to Charlotte in the first day does anyone have any suggestions for towns/hotels in VA off I81 or another area north of Charlotte on I77?

Alot of that extra time will be negated by not having to slow down or stop for toll booth areas along the way. The only toll you'll hit once you clear the Zee is the $1 toll entering PA on 78. You will have no tolls from there on down to SC.

Hotels: Unfortunately, there are slim pickings once you get past Roanoke, VA. You would have some hotel options in Elkin or Statesville, NC, but Statesville is only 38 miles North of Charlotte, so that may not be much help. Further North than that, Mt. Airy, NC and Wytheville, VA are both a detour off your route, and neither are exactly metropolises (or is it metropoli).