Update: Thanks everyone but we're taking the train! UPDATED: I'm back!

[beattyfamily]

edited....

Edited to say....

Just wanted to update you.

This trip has evolved over the past few weeks.

I usually fly but it's just too expensive from when I last flew in 2006.
We weren't even going to go to Disney due to expenses.
Then hubby found a great rental deal to drive from Providence to Florida, thus this thread with questions.

Then a nice DISer here in this thread suggested taking the train to Disney.
I had never thought of doing that before. So I looked into it.

The price was right and I no longer have to worry about driving or getting hotels.
We are now taking the train to Disney for $498 for me and my 2 daughters.

Renting a car there for a week at $241. Not sure if that's good or not but only Hertz is at the train station.

Thanks for all of your help, everyone!

 

[beattyfamily]

Anything in or around Turbeville, SC??

That seems to be almost half way to my hotel from Disney.

Near 95 though.

thanks!

 

[CruiserMom]

I live in SC, and I cannot think of any place worth sight seeing that is 30 minutes from I95. Lots of nice places, just not that close to the interstate.

I would suggest stopping in Savannah, GA. That would be an awesome place to to do some sightseeing.

 

[creativeamanda]

I would choose someplace near Santee. I would not stay near Turbeville or Florence. There's really nothing around there.

The historic part of Savannah is more than 30 minutes off of I95.

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for taking the time to reply!

But now my plans have changed!

We are going to stay (both ways) in Lumberton, NC, which for me will be an 8 hour drive from Disney and then an 8 hour drive to Philly.

So now I'll see what's about 4 hours in to my trip from Disney to NC and make a rest stop. Then what's about 4 hours north of NC for another rest.

Thanks anyway!

 

[java]

See we like staying right over the border GA/SC- At the savanah airport. There are TONS of new hotels right off 95 here and plenty of places to eat. The rooms are clean, new and inexpensive. All good! We stayed at Cambria Suites for $99 (6 of us so we needed a suites hotel)

That is about 4 hours- maybe a touch longer from disney.

Really I would push past Lumberton- the drive is more tolerable if you do most of it day 1. If there are kids in the car- they won't be as patient day 2. Good luck. We drive often and found making it to Georgia day one is key for us(we are in NJ)

 

[beattyfamily]

Thank you for your input.

But I think I'm going to stick to stopping NC both ways as our overnight hotel stop.

Going from Disney to MA that's about half way for us.

I can't go much more than 8 hours without my hubby to help out.

Hubby is meeting us in Philly to drive the rest of the way home.

Anyway, was just hoping for a suggestion of good place to stop and take a break at about 4 hours North of Disney and then 4 hours North of Lumberton, NC.

NO biggie though. I just thought I'd ask. I'm sure I'll figure something out.

 

[Angelhalo]

Have you been to Lumberton before? Its not a great area.

 

[beattyfamily]

Have you been to Lumberton before? Its not a great area.

Nope, I haven't but every website I've been to, even this one, everyone whose done the drive says it's the best place to stay between Disney and NY. It's the half way point.

I am just sleeping there. That's it. I hope it's good enough for that.

I'm soooooo sick of changing my plans so I hope that Lumberton is not that bad a place to sleep in!

 

[creativeamanda]

Have you been to Lumberton before? Its not a great area.

I live in Lumberton, and I get sick of people saying this. There are a couple of nice places to stay off of Exit 20 in Lumberton. I have never once had any problems going anywhere in town. I'd prefer to go somewhere in Lumberton than a couple of places I've been in Jacksonville.

OP--There is a new Comfort Inn off of Exit 20 (built in the last 3 years). That's where I would stay.

ETA: 4 hours south of Lumberton would be Savannah.

 

[beattyfamily]

I live in Lumberton, and I get sick of people saying this. There are a couple of nice places to stay off of Exit 20 in Lumberton. I have never once had any problems going anywhere in town. I'd prefer to go somewhere in Lumberton than a couple of places I've been in Jacksonville.

OP--There is a new Comfort Inn off of Exit 20 (built in the last 3 years). That's where I would stay.

ETA: 4 hours south of Lumberton would be Savannah.

Great! Thanks for making me feel better!

I wasn't about to change my location though. I have no problem staying in Lumberton.

I will look into the Comfort Inn....which one is it? I just checked and there are two in Lumberton. Wintergreen Dr and Dawn Dr. Thank you. Right now I'm booked at a Howard Johnson because of pretty good reviews and a resonable price.

I just realized myself that Savannah is a good half way point. I even plugged in Paula Deen's "Lady and Son's" restaurant and it's exactly 4 hours. So I think I'll stop in Savannah and look around and take a pic of the restaurant. Anyone have any other suggestions on what do to/see in Savannah for about an hour or two max? A restaurant, shopping, a famous building??

On a side note, does the Lady and Sons have a shop where I could pick up a souvenir? I don't want to eat there, just look!

now I just need to figure out a good 4 hour stop after Lumberton and before Philly. The research continues.

 

[beattyfamily]

I wonder if Washington DC is a good rest point between NC and Philly?

I don't know if it's too difficult traffic wise to take a break in DC on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon?

Or should I stear clear of DC??

or maybe Richmond VA is a better stop?

Can you tell I've never driven to Disney before??

 

[creativeamanda]

Richmond is a better stop than DC. DC gets wild getting on and off the interstate.

You want to do the one on Dawn Drive. It'll be on your right off of the interstate. That's the one that was just built.

 

[beattyfamily]

Richmond is a better stop than DC. DC gets wild getting on and off the interstate.

You want to do the one on Dawn Drive. It'll be on your right off of the interstate. That's the one that was just built.

Thanks for all of your help.

Now I'll go and see what's worth looking at in Richmond, VA.

 

[katybugsmom]

I live in Latta, SC about 25-30 miles from Lumberton. We can get to Brunswick, GA in about 4 hours. This is only an hour from Jacksonville!
I'm very familiar with Lumberton-you will be fine! There are some great places to eat-just ask for directions:
Pier 41-great seafood
Fullers-southern buffet at it's best!
Texas Steakhouse-good steaks!
Village Station-good variety of food-similiar to an Applebee's

Hope you guys have a safe trip!

 

[beattyfamily]

I live in Latta, SC about 25-30 miles from Lumberton. We can get to Brunswick, GA in about 4 hours. This is only an hour from Jacksonville!
I'm very familiar with Lumberton-you will be fine! There are some great places to eat-just ask for directions:
Pier 41-great seafood
Fullers-southern buffet at it's best!
Texas Steakhouse-good steaks!
Village Station-good variety of food-similiar to an Applebee's

Hope you guys have a safe trip!

Thank you!

It's all coming together. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm just a big planner and this is my first time driving and unfortunately, hubby isn't coming so it's just me and my girls. Thanks for the well wishes!

 

[creativeamanda]

I live in Latta, SC about 25-30 miles from Lumberton. We can get to Brunswick, GA in about 4 hours. This is only an hour from Jacksonville!
I'm very familiar with Lumberton-you will be fine! There are some great places to eat-just ask for directions:
Pier 41-great seafood
Fullers-southern buffet at it's best!
Texas Steakhouse-good steaks!
Village Station-good variety of food-similiar to an Applebee's

Hope you guys have a safe trip!

You're in Latta? DH teaches in Lake View and I teach in Mullins.

OP--I would personally reccommend the Village Station. It's across from KMart about 2 minutes from where you will be staying.

 

[katybugsmom]

We may know each other or at least, heard of each other! PM me!

 

[katybugsmom]

Thank you!

It's all coming together. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm just a big planner and this is my first time driving and unfortunately, hubby isn't coming so it's just me and my girls. Thanks for the well wishes!

I know it's probably too late, but have you ever considered taking Amtrak? We are doing this for the first time in December! We usually drive too, but we have to stop halfway for us(hence Brunswick, GA) because I can't ride that far in one day-back issues!

Roundtrip for the 4 of us on the train is $302.00!
It's only a 9 1/2 hour trip so we will ride coach and not a two rooms-these get very expensive! Just a thought since you are driving by yourself!

 

[MJMouse]

I live around the DC area... honestly I'd get as far north as I could as early in the day as I could on a Saturday -- though going North is usually better than south Northern Va is crazy on the weekend. Traffic is best before noon and after 6. There are lots of places to stop outside of DC that are right off 95.

It might be good to have a couple of places to stop as an option for when you are ready for a break rather than taking a planned break too early. Some other options...

• Fredericksburg (historic, great walking area through old town... battlefield to get out and stretch your legs),
• Potomac Mills (outlet mall),
• Occoquan (great town along the river... nice shops, good restaurants, park across the river to let kids run),
• Alexandria (Beautiful Old Town area... great restaurants, lots of parks, beautiful area),
• National Harbor (parking is expensive, but it's a neat area... the atrium of the Gaylord National is not to be missed... most restaurants are on the expensive side, but Elevation Burger isn't too bad),
• lots of other options in the area.

Have a great trip! Let me know if I can help.