OT: I-95 Mass. to FL: any playgrounds?

[flagdaytwins]

On Saturday, we'll be heading down I-95 towards Florida, from Massachusetts. I hate highway rest stops......so I'm seeking your help!

If anyone knows of playgrounds or nice places to stop within say 10 miles off of I-95 from Delaware to South Carolina, can you let me know how to get to them?

I know there is an IKEA in Virginia right after you leave DC area -- and I know IKEA"S have play areas for kids, so we'll be stopping there!

I grew up in a town that I-95 runs through in CT, so if I can reciprocate any info, I'd be happy to!

 

[skbasnett]

Not too sure of the playgrounds but we too are heading down from MA. We are off on Thursday! Have a safe trip!

 

[rxlowry]

Mcdonald's have a list of restaurants with playareas on the website..you can plug in your trip and it tells you how far from the highway.

Lisa

 

[Annette_VA]

I live off of exit 86 on I-95 in VA, just north of Richmond. Off my exit, there's a nice Chick-fil-a with a playground, a McDonald's w/ an outdoor playplace, and a mall w/ a huge indoor play area.

 

[Nini]

www.streetfinder.com? I think if you check the appropriate boxes, they will tell you which rest stops are where. Then maybe you can figure out if it includes McDonalds w/playscape.

 

[robsmom]

are you staying on i95 thru pa our are you switching over to 295 in jersey? i know some spots off 295

 

[joanchris]

If you don't mind going to Mcdonalds playscapes, go to the Mcd's website (mcdonalds<dot>com) click on USA, then restaurant locator, then click bottom of screen where it says in RED Mcdonald's trip planner.....you can put in your starting/ending location and it will show all Mcds on along the route, ( think you can specify how far from your route0) and it will note the ones with plagrounds. We found that it didn't get us on the right roads that we were using all the time, so we would pick a location where we thought we'd be around lunch time, then map that out, we would eat, let the kids play, get their food and let them eat in the car. Worked for us (going to Michigan from CT, and Outer banks from CT, both about 12 hr trips)
Good luck
Joan

 

[michvin]

You can almost see the state park entrance from i-95. Its called Bellevue State Park, its exit 9, the Marsh Road exit. Its, I think traveling south from PA, the 2nd exit in DE. The park is truly beautiful. Lived in DE for my first 29 years, and now living in PA will occasionally take the 45 minute commute to go there for the day with the kids. The have a pond, sandy area, new swings, easy but pretty walking trail, two playsets, picnic areas, etc. Its also about 10 minutes from a small mall on Route 202 called Concord Mall...tax free shopping. A Target is up the road from the mall.
I would recommend this as it is definitely better than the one rest stop on 95 in DE. Used to be part of the DuPont family estate.

http://www.destateparks.com/bvsp/bvspmap.htm

 

[Forevryoung]

Dont know bout the Ikea in Va but there IS one right off the exit ramp in College Park Md on I-95 (at the I-95/495 split).

ETA: It's right before DC

 

[dtsaos]

Are there any good ones after VA? I've heard a lot of people mention ones around the DC area but are there any further south?

 

[firemouse]

In the atlas it shows a number of state parks just off the interstate. NC has Medoc MT at the 154 exit. SC has Little Pee Dee @ the 193, Woods Bay @ the 136, Santee @ 98 and Colleton @ 68. Another great stop will be to stop by the National Historical site of Ft Pulaski, I went there as a young boy and still remember the city and the fort, very cool area. We try and put a historic/interesting place stop in our trips. Like when we go to Gatlinburg from Indy we either stop at the Cumberland Fall in Corbin KY or the Cumberland Gap and which ever we stop at first the second stop is the other. We have lunch and let the kids run till they are sacked out then they sleep and we drive, have a great and safe trip!!!! Hope this helps some.
Eric

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

I am in Pa. Right off an exit before you hit Philadelphia. Is that to far north for you? If you would like directions let me know. It is less then 5 min. off the exit.

 

[mel63]

Here is a site....

Welcome to the largest and most complete road travel resource of it's kind on the Internet! Exit services, rest areas, attractions, road construction, travel weather, gas prices and more... for Interstate 95 from Maine to Florida! (cut & pasted from their site)
http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

It has info on rest stops, food, construction, what is located at each exit, etc. If you know what is at each exit, then you can figure out where to stop and let the kids play. Have a safe trip!

 

[flagdaytwins]

i love disboards -- i knew i'd get the help i requested!

I should have mentioned that I knew about the McDonald's website. I'm looking more for town playgrounds or state parks or as someone mentioned a mall with a play area.

We are hoping to make it through NJ and PA before stopping as we are actually leaving from southern CT on first leg. but any info you guys give me will be put to good use - so if there are good places in PA, please share them with me!

Whoever posted about IKEA, you are right about the location, I was wrong! Do y'all know that they have a play area inside -- one for kids who are 38" or taller (I'm not sure on exact height) and another with more infant/toddler things, usually in the middle of the cafeteria.

When we get back from our trip, I'll post any good info I find.

I know that we will be heading back along the coast in MD, taking the Cape Lewes ferry to Cape MAy NJ, to avoid the Baltimore tunnel.

Keep the good info coming! Thanks!!

 

[Pixiedust34]

There is also an Ikea in White Marsh, MD. It is less than 5 minutes from I-95. This is slightly north of Baltimore. I would avoid this area during rush hour, if possible.

 

[Amy R.]

I know this thread was posted ages ago but in case anyone is still looking for playgrounds along I 95, check out this awesome article that has 26 playgrounds all along I 95 from PA down to FL: http://playacrossamerica.com/must-read/i-95-playgrounds/

 

[myrtleturtle]

I know you said you weren't looking for McDonald's, but I wanted to chime in that once you get south of DC, I much prefer Chick Fil A to McDs. The play places in my experience are cleaner and more accessible for the littler ones. My almost 3 year olds had a hard time climbing at McDs on our recent road trip.

 

[HopperFan]

i love disboards -- i knew i'd get the help i requested!

I should have mentioned that I knew about the McDonald's website. I'm looking more for town playgrounds or state parks or as someone mentioned a mall with a play area.

We are hoping to make it through NJ and PA before stopping as we are actually leaving from southern CT on first leg. but any info you guys give me will be put to good use - so if there are good places in PA, please share them with me!

Whoever posted about IKEA, you are right about the location, I was wrong! Do y'all know that they have a play area inside -- one for kids who are 38" or taller (I'm not sure on exact height) and another with more infant/toddler things, usually in the middle of the cafeteria.

When we get back from our trip, I'll post any good info I find.

I know that we will be heading back along the coast in MD, taking the Cape Lewes ferry to Cape MAy NJ, to avoid the Baltimore tunnel.

Keep the good info coming! Thanks!!

Been in multiple IKEA including one here in my town and they have a play area where you check in your child and leave them. I have never seen a play area for infant/toddlers and never seen anything in a cafeteria. You might want to check closer into the one you are visiting so you don't waste a trip.

This is the general IKEA website info -
"Places for play time
Småland is our free supervised play area near the entrance. You can enjoy your shopping experience knowing your children are having a fun time. Children must be potty trained and be 37'' to 54'' tall. Please see your local store for more details."

Like this is the description for the one in White Marsh mentioned above ...
Småland hours
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 7:00pm
*all children must be 37"to 54" tall, and potty trained

 

[aleh021]

On Saturday, we'll be heading down I-95 towards Florida, from Massachusetts. I hate highway rest stops......so I'm seeking your help!

If anyone knows of playgrounds or nice places to stop within say 10 miles off of I-95 from Delaware to South Carolina, can you let me know how to get to them?

I know there is an IKEA in Virginia right after you leave DC area -- and I know IKEA"S have play areas for kids, so we'll be stopping there!

I grew up in a town that I-95 runs through in CT, so if I can reciprocate any info, I'd be happy to!

OMG From Massachusetts! Im from massachusetts as well & we were thinking of doing the same for our last trip but I get aggravated on highways after 2 hours so that didn't work out to well haha. Although it would make a nice sight seeing road trip! I hope the drive was good! I'd honestly really like to hear about it. Maybe I can build the courage to do drive it...one day