Need Help With Driving to Hilton Head

[Windjammer]

We will be driving to Hilton Head for a DVC presentation in early January and would appreciate suggestions for a hotel halfway between southern NJ and Hilton Head. By my reckoning the halfway point would be near Northern North Carolina.

There will be 6 of us, me, DW and 4 small kids. All suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

 

[celestina]

Back in May we drove down from Milwaukee, WI. One the way down we stopped halfway or in Ashville, which was a big hassel. On the way back everyone voted to stay one extra day at Disney and we drove home in one day, without stopping for anything but food and a bathroom. We left at 8:00 am and we got back at 11:15 pm. It was a long day, but we were home and everyone was fine with it. We traveled with a 5 and 2 year old and a 2 mos old and they did great. We had TV with VCR for the older two and they loved it. My advise - drive down without stopping.

 

[DownNeckBoy]

My suggestion to you is that you forget about making it a two day trip. HH is really an easy ride from NJ, even with small children. I went down with three boys (8,7 & 3) in late August. We left at midnight from Bergen County and were in our rooms unpacking by 2 pm. This was accomplished even though there were six stops in the final three hours! Enjoy the trip. HH is truly a great resort!!!

 

[Mom-to-3]

The Holiday Inn website has a "Trip Planner" that will tell you all of their hotels within a mile of the highway. Pick the northernmost and southernmost cities you are considering stopping at and put these in the Trip Planner.

I prefer Holiday Inn Express because the free lobby breakfast is great! You can take it back to your room and let the kids munch in their jammies. There's a little muffin and coffee cup icon on the website next to the hotel listings that tells you a particular hotel has it.

Also, be sure to join the Priority Club. It's the Holiday Inn group of hotel's frequent stay club. For one quick night, the perks won't be any help, but the points add up quickly and I think they are less likely to bump you (although that's not going to be problem anywhere this fall. )

 

[Windjammer]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[KathyK]

Hmmmm...

When we drove to Hilton Head, we stayed overnight in Gold Rock, NC at a Best Western. It was OK, but not spectacular. Plus, we still had a full day of driving ahead of us (~7 more hours to the resort).

This past summer, we went to Myrtle Beach for a family reunion. We stayed in Fayetteville (much closer to the NC/SC border) at the Four Points Sheraton for a rate of $59 (via Expedia). The hotel was lovely, it has an indoor pool, and we felt it was worth it to go further on the first day.

DH and I remarked to each other that it owuld be a perfect spot to stop if we were heading to Hilton Head or even to WDW by car (in the past, we have flown to MCO, but with the new baby on the way, DH wanted to drive for future trips).

HTH

 

[Cap]

We drove to HH from Ann Arbor, Michigan last Fall in two days. On the way back we decided to do it in one longer day. It was really much better just doing it in one day and being able to completely unload the car, get into our "home" beds, etc..

I'd suggest you consider doing it in one day, unless your kids just can't let you pass a gas station restroom or a restaurant

 

[DisneyPoly]

We're from Bucks County, PA and have driven to Disney (laying over in Hilton Head) many times. We have family in HH so we make this our stop over. We travel for with children (3-12) and it is not a bad trip. I agree that one day would do it. We usually leave about 5:00 a.m. and take our time. It's a 12 hour drive from Philly. With a stop for lunch and 1-2 bathroom stops, you can easily do it in one day. You save yourself the money of an additional hotel and having to unpack twice.

Have a great time!!

 

[BWVDenise]

Windjammer,
I was wondering how you would fit 6 people in 2 double beds, or if you have found a motel that accomodates larger families. I, too am trying to find a room for a night along I95, but with 3 kids, there don't seem to be many options (I haven't found any) as many places have MAX occupancy of 4.
I've checked several websites, AAA's website, etc., and families of more than 4 seem to be "up the creek" so to speak!

 

[Dumbo]

Denise,

My wife and I have 3 daughters. On the way back from Hilton Head this past summer we stayed at a Hampton Inn. For an extra $5 they put a roll-away bed in our room. My kids almost got in a fist fight with each other to sleep on it cause they thought it was "cool".


Dumbo

 

[BWVDenise]

It looks like the Hampton Inn in Fayetteville might work for us. Now all I'll need is a good set of earplugs!!! We have a 4 yo who snores, a 3 yo who YELLS in his sleep, and a 7 yo who is like a thousand legger (all over the place) when he sleeps. (now you know why we joined DVC ).
Thanks!