Nice sightseeing place to stop overnight in SC near 95?

[thisismyusername]

Hey all,

This will be our second driving trip--not looking forward to it at all--but hoping to get myself more excited by finding a neat place to stop in SC and spend the night. Last time we did this, we stopped in Savannah at a hotel right off of 95. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I didn't realize that so many good restaurants downtown would be closed, so we didn't do any sightseeing stuff at all. We ate at a Cracker Barrel right by the hotel, slept, woke up, and drove the rest of the way to WDW in the morning.

This time, I think I'd like to stop in Charleston. But I'm open for suggestions. We'll be spending the night on a Saturday, so hopefully more businesses will be open. We're traveling during the summer, so any destinations by the beach would be really fun, too--I just don't want to get too far off of 95 since I don't want to turn our 1,000+ mile one-way trek into something much greater.

I'm not looking to do much in the town. Maybe enjoy a good restaurant and either see a neat town or a neat beach. Walk around a little in the morning before we continue with the rest of our journey.

Any good hotel recommendations also appreciated (a place that would sleep 2 adults and 3 kids). TIA!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Here's the problem. I-95 doesn't come close to the ocean in SC. Charleston is probably close to an hour east of I-95. It's mostly all interstate (I-26 from I-95 to Charleston). But it's still a significant distance.

You won't come close to the beach on I-95 until you get close to Savannah.

 

[WDWLover75]

If you have never been to Charleston, it might be worth the extra time to go there, if you have it. it's one of our favorites from our travels back and forth to Florida.

 

[thisismyusername]

If you have never been to Charleston, it might be worth the extra time to go there, if you have it. it's one of our favorites from our travels back and forth to Florida.

Thanks! I think we've decided to make it our overnight stop on the way home since we are afraid we might be too eager to get back on the road to Orlando to enjoy it. Can you enjoy the town just as much if you're not downtown? I've seen a $200/night rate difference between downtown vs a few miles away. I'm willing to spend it if its worth it.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm glad I didn't scare you away from Charleston. It's a nice city, just as you know it's not on I-95.

We've vacationed at Kiawah Island, SC which is about a half hour away from Charleston. We went into the city a number of times. I wouldn't spend mucho bucks just to stay downtown.

 

[thisismyusername]

I'm glad I didn't scare you away from Charleston. It's a nice city, just as you know it's not on I-95.

We've vacationed at Kiawah Island, SC which is about a half hour away from Charleston. We went into the city a number of times. I wouldn't spend mucho bucks just to stay downtown.

Thanks! Yes, I knew it was probably about an hour from 95. We stopped at hotel on the beach in Hilton Head the last time we drove, and even that took quite a bit of time to get to off of 95.