How safe is it stopping for gas overnight off of 95?

[mommy2paris]

We will be driving down from MD for the first time this coming January. We will be leaving around 7:00 pm and attempting to drive through the night. I know that we will need to stop atleast once during the wee hours of the night and I was wondering if the exits and gas stations seem pretty safe. It will by myself and dh and little ones, but you can never be too safe. Are there any particular areas we should avoid if possible?
We get approximately 450 miles to a full tank (not good w/a44 gal tank, lol), so I planned on stopping before midnight just to refill even though we wouldn't be too low yet, but I figured it wasn't the "middle" of the night yet... Next stop will be around 4 - 5 am...
Thanks!

 

[GranddadTom]

We done the drive through the night from Maryland several times. We're in Rockville so for us the drive through the night is about 12 1/2 hours. Because we want the traffic on Rt. 95 south of the Beltway to clear out before we leave, we generally don't get on the road until 8:00 pm or 8:30 pm. There are plenty of well lighted gas stations along the way and security has never been a problem for us. What is a slight problem is bathroom breaks so we always stop at the welcome center as we enter each new state. Also, since I do all the driving, I always go home around noon and sleep for around 6 hours before we leave because you must not drive if you are tired. If you do, you put your life, your family's lives, and others on the road in danger. We stop at a MacDonald's south of Jacksonville for breakfast as the sun is just coming up.

 

[mommy2paris]

Thanks for the info. We are coming from the Eastern Shore of MD near the beach. DH & I are both going to take turns driving, but plan on having someone take the kids for a few hrs the day we leave, so that we can rest for a little bit. Good advice!! We are totally prepared to stop if we need to and don't want to take any chances either. I'm glad to hear that it has been pretty smooth driving for you guys and stopping at the state rest stops is a good idea. Thanks again!!

 

[cranbiz]

I have never had an issue stopping for gas, most places are well lit.

If you are unsure, stop at a large truck stop.

 

[paras4ri]

We drive from RI so our first gas stop is in Elkton, MD - not exactly the Eastern Shore but a smilar distance from your starting point. We then stop again in Gaston, NC - exit 176 - right at the VA/NC border. There's a Shell station right at the exit and it's well lit and usually there's a sherrif parked there when we stop overnight.

Our next stop (and our first on our way home from Orlando) is in Hardeeville, SC - exit 5. Also a well lit Shell station right off the exit.

 

[MrsNick]

If you are unsure, stop at a large truck stop.

Not that the OP is in the risk group who would need to worry, but...

"FBI makes a connection between long-haul truckers, serial killings"
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/05/local/me-serialkillers5

I don't know that anyone would want to assume that truck stops are always 100% safe, either...

 

[djblu883]

So long as you use your head and go to well lit and very public places you will be as safe as a person can be in these crazy times. Welcome areas late at night are not always the best choice even with security there. It's usually just one person. Your better choice is a truck stop. Go to the bathroom with a partner even if that means waking children up! This info comes from my son who is a police officer!

 

[prncess674]

We get approximately 450 miles to a full tank (not good w/a44 gal tank, lol), so I planned on stopping before midnight just to refill even though we wouldn't be too low yet, but I figured it wasn't the "middle" of the night yet... Next stop will be around 4 - 5 am...
Thanks!

Midnight isn't that bad. I would just stop at a well populated exit. Look for a blue exit sign with plenty of other options. I tend to start reading the blue signs looking for exits with plenty of gas and food options which are generally "big" little towns. Somehow I feel stopping at an exit that has a McDonald's than just one lone gas station is safer.

I also agree that stopping at a state rest area is not the safest. There isn't usually alot of people around at that time of night and they aren't always the cleanest!

 

[mommy2paris]

THanks again everyone... I never thought about us going to the restroom together, good point... I can't image waking the kids though... that is part of the reason for traveling at night... I'll have to figure that one out!