NJ to HHI - Need stopover suggestions

[stratusnj75]

I am looking to see if anyone has any suggestions as where to stop while driving from NJ to HHI next week. My TS stay in HHI doesn't start until Sunday but I am out of working early on Friday. I would prefer to drive at least 6-8 hours of the 14 hour trip on Friday so that I could spend a whole day somewhere exploring on Saturday and then have only a few hours driving Sunday to get to HHI.

thanks,
Devin

[pgnewarkboy]

Where are you leaving from in N.J.? You are going to hit heavy traffic between DC and Richmond almost any time of day but Friday rush hour, between 3pm to 7pm will be particularly bad. I can't think of any scenario where you can spend anywhere close to a days worth of exploring anywhere worthwhile and then having a short drive HHI on Sunday.

You might consider stopping in Baltimore or DC on Friday evening. Both have interesting things to see and do. You could easily spend a day in either location. If you left Balt or DC early Sunday morning (no later then on the road by 5 am) you would probably make it to your resort by check in. It would still be a long drive - but not as bad as dealing with rush hour traffic between DC and Virginia.

[Ann-Marie]

We just did the drive from HHI to Long Island. It will not take you 14 hours. It took us 13 hours in the car. From HHI to Richmond, the northern most part right at Ashland (I think that is the town) took us 6 3/4 hours. We spent a night in a HO JO for $50.00. Not a bad motel. Do not drive 95 through Richmond. Take 295 around Richmond. Much better even though it looks longer on a map, it is the better route. Depending on where you are in NJ, I would think it would be 6 hours to Richmond. I'm sure you could also stop south of Richmond in some small town to just spend the night. BTW, gas is the cheapest in Virginia, N. Carolina and then slightly higher in S.C.

[JoeMid]

Originally Posted by Ann-Marie

Do not drive 95 through Richmond. Take 295 around Richmond. Much better even though it looks longer on a map, it is the better route.

BTW, gas is the cheapest in Virginia, N. Carolina and then slightly higher in S.C.

The pictorial signs on the road make it look like the 295 route is much longer but its not, only a little longer and the speed limit is higher. I drive through Richmond on I-95 and it's not a problem.

Gas is cheapest in VA, I like exit 104.
Gas is much higher in NC.
Then lower in SC.

[Cindala]

We drove straight through to HH from Bergen County NJ when we went this July . It took us about 14 hours with several stops for food and gas/bathroom visits.
Friends of ours also drove from the same area in NJ and chose to stop over in Williamsburg, Va. They left late (like midnight) on a Friday night (to avoid traffic) and got into Williamsburg the next morning. They spent the day there and stayed over Saturday night. From there it is about a 6-7 hour ride to HH, so it really was the half way mark from our area in Jersey. If you do it that way, when you get out of work early on Friday, go home and take a nap until you leave so you are rested and haven't been up for 24+ hours.

[luv2vacation]

We also stay on I95 through Richmond and have never run into a problem. Probably is more traffic on the weekdays because it's a city but we always are traveling on the weekend.

Emporia, VA is a good spot to stop south of Richmond if you're looking to break up the trip. Or go a little further to Rocky Mount, NC - it's just over the VA border. Lots of (easy on/easy off) restaurants and hotels at both spots.

BTW, it takes us about 12 hrs. from South Jersey, with minimal short stops for lunch/gas/bathroom, hitting normal northern VA traffic. Takes about an hour longer if we leave later and decide to stop at Cracker Barrel for dinner rather than wait until we get to HH (for dinner).

[Ann-Marie]

When I say 13 hours, I mean 13 hours sitting in the car driving. It took us 1 1/2 days to actually drive home from HHI with stop overs, walks to stretch and lunch. Everyone is different in how long they stop, so it makes it hard to calculate it that way.

[Davey54321]

And are planning on staying over in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (at the Residence Inn there - using Marriott Rewards points). We've mapped it out and it will take us ~9 hours to get to Rocky Mount from Stamford. We're hoping to leave by 6AM to avoid as much beach/vacation traffic as possible.

The next day, it should take 5.5 hours to get to HHI from Rocky Mount.

We're not sure if we'll stop in Rocky Mount on the way home or try to get a bit further along on that first day's drive back.

We'll be following this thread to see others suggestions/plans.

[Big Matt]

I'd suggest stopping somewhere between Nags Head and Charleston along the coast. It will be a little off the path of 95 south, but there will be a lot to see and do.

[vlapinta]

We just drove last Friday to HHI from Toms River. It took us 14 hours with stops. We left at 5 AM and we took 95 straight down. We didn't hit any traffic. You can stop in Emporia, or RockyMount to split up the driving. We stopped last year but this year decided we didn't want to waste 2 days so we drove straight through. It sounds worse that it really was. My husband did most of the driving. I drove @ 3 hours and my son drove @ 1 hour to give my husband a break.

Vicki

[luv2vacation]

Originally Posted by Davey54321

And are planning on staying over in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (at the Residence Inn there - using Marriott Rewards points). We've mapped it out and it will take us ~9 hours to get to Rocky Mount from Stamford. We're hoping to leave by 6AM to avoid as much beach/vacation traffic as possible.

Instead of Rocky Mount, check out the Fairfield Inn in Wilson, NC. It is only about 20-30 min. further than Rocky Mount and MUCH nicer (and only 2 years old). Also, we stayed on points and because we were MR elite, they upgraded us for free to a suite.

[erm]

Last winter when I drove to Florida I found this site helpful: www.wdwinfo.com/transportation

There is a link that gives all kinds of information about traveling I-95 to Florida (but I know you're only going as far as South Carolina). Lodging, gas, restaurants and retail stores are listed for each exit along the way. The information is grouped by state and I think it's the most complete listing of information you'll find. I think it's fabulous. Give a look.
Elaine

[stratusnj75]

Thanks for all of the helpful info. We ended up deciding to drive to Charlotte, which is about 10 hours from us, stay with some family and then drive the 4+hours to HHI from there.

Devin

[lprstn]

We stop there frequently on the way up. The amusement park Kings Dominion has a hotel (best western) right on property and you can call the hotel for a deal on room/park combos. It also has restaurants in the area and the price for the park is about $40 but its a waterpark and amusement park with awesome rides and lots to do for everyone.

[carl2591]

go to gasbuddy.com use the gas price temp map on left side lower portion of page and follow the route you are traveling.. you will see places and prices of gas along the way.. (depending on how well it updated) I know going from Raleigh to Fl. we stop at exit 160 (check billboards) in SC the gas in usually lowest in the state.. a good fillup there should take you down to HH and have a bunch for messing around..

unless you are driving a SUV... then maybe not...

have a safe trip.