planning a trip to HHI from NY

[lichevyguy]

hi all im looking to find out if anyone has driven to HHI from NY, im figuring interstate 95 south but from there ? if anyoe knows a good route id like to hear from you thanks

 

[5forDiz]

many times over past couple of years. I95 really is the way to do it and that takes us 14 hours with two drivers switching every 4 - 6 hours ( note 14 hrs if all is going perfectly - weather, traffic, relatively quick gas, food/rest stops ). From where we live it takes us all of 10 minutes to cross into central NJ & pick us I95. Typically if we leave 4:30 a.m. we make HHI by 6:30 p.m.

Have to be honest - - it is a stretch even with two drivers. Well over 800 miles - alot to cover continuosly. Don't know if you're travelling with kids ( ours are older so they handle it well ) but it probably is too much road time in one day for them if they are little ones.

If you have some extra time to spare it really makes more sense to stop overnight on road like Washington DC ( we use Priceline to bid a room at 4 star or higher level you can get a great deal) where you can get see some sites if you arrive early enough. Also can stop in Richmond, VA (we like Chester just south of city-Holiday Inn Express or Marriott) or Rocky Mount NC ( we like Rocky Mount exit where hospital is located less than 5 minutes from I95 - it has nice hotels Hampton Inn, Marriott Residence Inn & Courtyard ) Also, Rocky Mount has a more town/residential feel to it and good places to dine ( Outback Steakhouse, Highway 64 Diner among others nearby ) & even some nice places to shop/browse close by.

Let me mention some family members have taken Garden State Parkway to last exit in Cape May, then Cape May Ferry to Lewes Deleware, then south ( believe it is route 113 but check a map ) through Delewar/Maryland/Virginia penninsula to Chesepeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel into Virginia Beach area and then have reconnected with I95 at some point in that area ( believe you'd take I64) or have travelled a local type route ( sorry number escapes me ) going south into Emporia Virginia or into Rocky Mount NC to reconnect with I95.
Their opinion on doing this was it is great if you really want to take your time getting to Hilton Head and want to avoid I95 as much as possible BUT the stressed this route really isn't do-able in a day because it takes A LONG TIME !

Last suggestion would be ( never done this but considering it because of gas prices !! ) to take Amtrak from NYC into Savannah, Georgia which is virtually Hilton Head Island's next door neighbor ( there are early morning trains that reach Savannah by 9 pm same day ) You can get a rental car then or If you are only travelling to and staying at Hilton Head Island perhaps your resort would even arrange to pick you up at Savannah Amtrak station or suggest a taxi service to call.

Good luck & if we can answer any more questions please let us know.

 

[VMS]

It is not a bad drive at all. It is a very doable drive with two drivers. We have done it the last six years from CT. Last year I even did the driving alone (w/ DD 10 and DS 14) because of a conflict my eldest DS had with his swim season. He and my husband flew down after we got there. I did that trip drive to my sister's in Baltimore, and left really early in the AM, and was down to HH by the late afternoon. We do 95 the whole way, and then take the exit that takes you over to HH. It is not a big deal.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

NYC to HHI

I drive to HHI from NJ Exit 14A 8 miles from Newark airport. I drive at night we hit the road at 10:00 p.m. we take I95 all the way to exit 8 in SC. this will bring you to HHI. I have done this 3 times and the longet it took was 16 hr. that was driving in the day time. Never drive doring the day. when I drive at night I have made the trip in 12 1/2 hr total. This is with 3 kids and me doing all the driving. Kids sleep all night this = less food stops and potty breaks. The drive is good.
If you are going to be checking in on Sunday you might want to try what we did last time. Whent down on Fri and got a room at Days inn this is in the same Parking lot as Disney room was $100. Then whent over to Disney sun morning at 6:30 am and got a room at that time. Or just drive down to get there early and most of the resort is empty Fri & Sat night do to the points double & Tripple.

 

[JCLNJ]

We drove down in March. We left at 6:30 am and was there by 6:30 pm. We have older kids so they watch movies and when we stop for gas we get something to eat to go. Coming home it took a little longer as we hit traffic in DC and this was the weekend everyone was coming home from spring break.

 

[stacy6552]

Here was my best learned tip for heading down I95.

usastar.com

It takes you exit by exit. Dining, gas, hotels....It was fantastic. I made a list of all the places we would eat at, so along the way I was able to say, "ok we either stop up here at BK, or we wait another 30 minutes before we hit subway..."

 

[lichevyguy]

thanks all for giving me some insight

 

[njmeisje]

We're going in August from NJ. We plan to leave the night before, drive past DC and stay overnight in Va. There are Hampton Inns there we like very much. Then we'll get to HHI the next day, early enough to do some shopping and settling in.

Have fun!!
Diane