I-95 question

[Andrea T]

We have always flown to HH, but this year we're driving. In previous posts many of you have a planned stop already lined up. If we choose to just drive until we're tired, would it be tough to find hotel vacancies off I-95 on a Saturday night in August? Also, somebody once posted a I-95 web site. Does anyone have that link? Thank you.

 

[mirlow]

I-95

 

[Andrea T]

Thank you

 

[Uncleromulus]

Andrea:
While we usually book ahead, we've winged it a few times. Always found SOME place to stay, but not always at our first or second stop.
I realize of course that the tough part about booking ahead is just where you'll be when you get tired. You don't want to have to stop too soon and miss some valuable driving time. On the other hand, you don't want have to stop too late when you're bone tired.

 

[Selket]

I wouldn't risk not making a reservation. It can be a double edged sword perhaps - if you get stuck in traffic and don't make it to your overnight hotel until much later than you think.

I'll relate our story of when that happened and why I ALWAYS make a reservation now. We got stuck in terrible traffic once on the VA/NC border and spent about 3 hours going 10 miles. We kept our guaranteed reservations (could have stopped at a payphone and cancelled) and just drove on down to where we planned to stop and got there about midnight. We saw many folks - many families with kids - going in the hotel while I was checking in and asking for rooms and being told EVERYTHING in that city was booked up. Even though we got there late we had a room. If we hadn't had that ressie we would have been forced to keep driving.

I'd say reserve a room for where you think you want to stop and make the call before 6 pm based on where you are as to whether you should be able to make it at an acceptable hour. I try to carry the phone numbers of some other hotels on our route in case I think I need to change the reservation. So far I haven't needed it.

Good luck!

 

[Andrea T]

Hm....makes me a bit nervous. I think I'll make a reservation to play it safe. There are 9 of us (5 kids) traveling in a large van. We will need 3 rooms! I better not take a chance. Thank you for your advice!

 

[mickeymousefan]

Just one thought..... on our last trip we walked into an Amerisuites in Raleigh at midnight (detoured to western NC from I-95 to visit husbands grandma) and were given a super cheap rate. $59.00 w/tax included and free breakfast and huge room. I dont know if it is always that cheap.... but I assume not. Maybe make a ressie to ensure you have a room, but call the hotel beforehand and ask for the walk in rate. It might be cheaper!!

 

[karemore]

We learned the hard way the end of April when we drove down from NY.

We had to try many motels before we found one with a vacancy and it was a bit creepy.

Next year we will make a reservation, and stop whether we feel we could push further or not. It's not worth it to try to find a room when you are exhausted and hungry.

Never again.

Karen