maribethp

driving from pa to florida next week. any suggestions for interesting stops along the way? just to break up the ride? we are taking 2 days to drive down. no hurry. have seen savannah.

Gretchen

Two days is not a long time for that drive. Charleston?

emalloy

If you are interested in Civil War history, Fredricksburg, Richmond and Petersburg VA all have battle sites and visitor's centers, as do many other places along the route.

Washington DC

Williamsburg

If you are going from central or western PA, take I-81 and hop off for a while to go down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

maribethp

Going from Eastern pa

suewoo

Then you're going 95?

Orcas

St. Augustine. Great history. But, 2 days, not sure about that! Charleston is also great.

maribethp

yes, most of the way, but have time to make a few stops

PaulRabe

I've driven from eastern PA to Florida in two days, and I can assure you that you will NOT have time to make any major stops -- a few hours each day at the most. If you are interested in US history, you can stop at a few sites of the Revolution, the Civil War, or pre-colonial settlement. For scenery and wildlife, it's not a very interesting route, at least if you plan to make it a two-day trip.

k9korps

The problem is that most of the "interesting" stops -- such as Charleston or Hilton Head -- require you to veer quite a ways from I-95, unless you consider Cracker Barrel interesting. That means you're looking at an overnight stay to make it worthwhile. And that means adding another day to the trip.

suewoo

Savannah is closer to 95 than Charleston. But it's a long drive from PA to GA.

starrs

I'm a bit strange and like to stop at unusual places. I glanced at the route and here's some fairly quick stops that I enjoyed.

Near Charlottesville, VA -
www.waltonmuseum.org
I love the TV show, The Waltons, as well as Spencer's Mountain and The Homecoming so when I was in the area I made a detour to Schuyler, VA. The museum (link above) wasn't there at the time but I enjoyed driving around and finding the Hamner house and just finding locales mentioned on the show for years.

It would be a bit of a detour, but Mayberry is fun.
http://www.visitmayberry.com/
I've wandered around the town before (on a drive from "home" to NYC via PA) and it was a fun stop. Next time I hope to meet up with cmcfong for a stop at Snappy Lunch
http://www.visitmayberry.com/Snappy_Lunch_.aspx
You can even take a squad car tour.

Don't know where you are headed to in Florida but I took a detour one time to visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings home at Cross Creek
http://www.floridastateparks.org/mar...innanrawlings/
It wasn't a state park when I stopped so I don't know what changes they've made (if any). But it's like stepping back in time and gives a glimpse into what cracker living in the scrubland of Florida really was like. More like pioneer living than what we think of when we think "Florida living" now. Just loved it.

But, then again I'm weird. One day I'm buying an RV and traveling around to the locations of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homes.

maribethp

You are not weird, just quirky. Thanks for the ideas. I hope to avoid South of the Border.

Gretchen

Did you see the several of us who said "it's a long way and you don't have time to stop". Where are you going?

Graziella5b

Both Savannah and Georgetown are delightful places to visit. Time is essential. You need time
to visit either one.

maribethp

We could take 3 days to travel. Going from Lancaster area to Sarasota. We have been to Savannah.

Gretchen

You might consider not taking I95 down the coast, but instead take whatever the interstate in PA is going west to I81 to I77 to I26 into Charleston. It is about a 10 hour drive to Charlotte (on i77), and then another 3.5 to Charleston. Just to give you an idea. You will miss all the traffic on I95 along that corridor.
Georgetown is a charming town, but Charleston is much more worth a stop and look.

Littleman

Here's a few joints to stop and rest along the way from VA to FL. I'm afraid you will not have enough time to visit historic sites. Get off I 95 at Exit 161 at Woodbridge, VA on U. S. 1 toward Woodbridge, VA. Go 1.8 miles and take a right on Occoquan Road to Dixie Bones BBQ.
Dixie Bones @ 13440 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703 - 492 - 7885.
http://www.dixiebones.com/index.html
Get off I 95 at Exit 130 B at Fredericksburg, VA and go E on Highway 3 to Jefferson Davis Highway # 1. Take a left and go N to Allman's BBQ in front of Park and Shop shopping center. You will find good BBQ since 1954.
Allman's BBQ @ 1299 Jeff Davis Highway, Fredericksburg, VA‎ 540 - 373 - 9881.
http://allmansbarbeque.com/
A few miles N of Richmond, VA get of I 95 at Exit 92 and go E on E Patrick Henry Road or Highway 54. Go 1.4 miles to N Center Street and turn right. Go .1 mile to Henry Clay Road and turn left. Then Immediately turn left on N Railroad Ave and go .1 mile to Henry Clay Inn for the night. They have fourteen rooms that run $95.00/$195.00 per night. You can walk S on Railroad to the next block for outstanding lunch or dinner at Iron Horse Restaurant.
Henry Clay Inn @ 114 North Railroad Avenue, Ashland, Virginia 804 - 798 - 3100.
http://www.henryclayinn.com/
Iron Horse Restaurant @ 100 S Railroad Avenue, Ashland, Virginia 804 - 752 - 6410.
http://www.ironhorserestaurant.com
Before you get to NC on I 95 at Exit 31 try Stony Creek Tastee Hut for good fried chicken or BBQ.

Stony Creek Tastee Hut @ 12420 Blue Star Hwy., Stony Creek, VA. 434 - 246 - 2328.
Take Exit 138 off I 95 at Rocky Mt., NC and go E on I 64 for 1 1/2 miles to Exit 466 and go S on N Winstead Ave. to Sunset Ave. Take a right and go to Gardner's BBQ. Gardner's has 3 locations in Rocky Mt., NC but this one on Sunset is the most convenient to I 95. You will pass a Hampton Inn on your right when you exit I 64 if you are planning to spend the night in Rocky Mt., NC.
Hampton Inn @ 530 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 252 - 937 - 6333.
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hote...tyhocn=RWINCHX
Gardner's Barbecue @ 3651 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 252 - 443 - 3996. I64/EXIT468A.
http://www.gardnerfoods.com/Home.html
Take Exit # 138 going S on I 95 at Nashville, NC and go W on # 64 about 6 miles to Exit # 458. Turn back E on Western Ave. less than a mile for some outstanding BBQ at Doug Saul's.
Doug Saul's BBQ @ 813 Western Ave., Nashville, NC 252 - 459 - 4247.
Get off I 95 at Exit 90 just S of Smithfield, NC to your right and turn back N on Highway 301 and go to White Swan BBQ for good road food.
White Swan BBQ @ 3198 South Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield, NC 919 - 934 - 8913.
http://www.whiteswanbarbeque.com/
For outstanding BBQ and country fried chicken get off I 95 at Exit 79 at Benson, NC and go W on E Main Street to N Fayetteville Street which is the first street to your right. Take a right and go N to E Church Street. Take a right and go to N Honeycutt Street. White Swan will be on your left.
White Swan BBQ and Fried Chicken @ 105 N Honeycutt St, Benson, NC 919 - 894 - 4446.
http://www.whiteswanbarbeque.com/
At Exit 73 in Dunn, NC get off I 95 going W on Cumberland go about a mile take a right on General Lee and next left on Broad for some fine fried chicken at Kim's. Don't let the name bother you. They sell a BBQ sandwich but 99% country food.

Kim's BBQ House @ 900 W. Broad St., Dunn, NC. 910 - 892 - 7750.
Heading S on I 95 at Exit 56 try Fuller's Old Fashioned BBQ at Fayetteville, NC. They sell a good burger and also a buffet lunch with fried chicken.

Fuller's Old Fashioned BBQ @ 113 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville, NC. 910 - 484 - 5109.
http://www.fullersbbq.com/index.html
If you don't mind driving 30 miles out of the way for the best burger's in NC get off I 95 going S at Exit 31 at St. Paul's, NC and go E. 10 miles on # 20 which is Broad St. Turn right on # 87 and go 15 miles to # 41 and turn left. Melvin's is on the right 4 miles up the road which is Broad St. also. If you would rather have a nice southern lunch or dinner stop before Melvin's at Front Porch Cafe for a real southern treat. Help yourself to the fried chicken at the buffet and some great desert then head W on Broad St. which is # 41 and go 25 miles to Lumberton, NC. Going S to FL don't go back to St. Paul's or the way you came in as that's out of the way. Lumberton, NC has some fine road food so be on the look out for something on your return trip.
Melvin's Hamburger's @ 133 West Broad Street, Elizabethtown, NC 910 - 862 - 2763.
Front Porch Restaurant @ 1100 West Broad St., Elizabethtown, NC 910 - 862 - 3330.
http://frontporchrestaurant.com/Home_Page.html
Get off I 95 at Exit 20 in Lumberton, NC to the right then turn NW on Highway 201 which is N Roberts Ave. and go about half a mile to Fuller's BBQ for good road food.
Fuller's Old Fashion BBQ @ 3201 N Roberts Ave., Lumberton, NC. 910 - 738 - 8694.
http://www.fullersbbq.com/index.html
For some fine country road food get off I 95 at Exit 2 at Rowland, NC and go W on # 130 which is Main St. to S Railroad. Take a left and go 2 blocks to The Pink Restaurant on Church St.
Pink Restaurant @ 104 West Church St., Rowland, NC 910 - 422 - 0020.
Get off I 95 at Exit 181B near Latta, SC and go one mile to Highway 917. Take a left and go about 3 miles to Abingdon Manor Inn and Restaurant at Latta, SC. Spend the night in a soft bed in a grand old inn and have a fantastic dinner.
Abingdon Manor Inn and Restaurant @ 307 Church Street, Latta, SC 843 - 752 - 5090.
http://www.abingdonmanor.com/
In SC get off I 95 at Exit 160 A going S and go E on # 20 less than a mile to Red Bone Alley in Florence Mall Shopping Center on Palmetto St. for a RBA Black and Bleu Burger or a Bubba Burger. The food is fresh and innovative South Carolina regional cuisine. Closely tied to the land, sea and rivers that abound in the region, South Carolina's cuisine is influenced by hundred of years of French, Mediterranean, African, English and West Indian cooking. There's a fine Hilton Garden Inn at Exit 160 A.

Redbone Alley @ 1903 West Palmetto St., Florence, SC 843 - 673 - 0035.
http://www.redbonealley.com/
Hilton Garden Inn @ 2671 Hospitality Boulevard, Florence, SC 843 - 432 - 3001.
http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en...tyhocn=FLOFGGI
Get off I 95 at Exit 119 at Manning, SC and go E on Highway 261 to N Brooks Street. Take a left and go to McCabe's for good BBQ.
McCabe's Bar B Que @ 480 N. Brooks St., Manning, SC. 803 - 435 - 2833.
Get off I 95 in Summerton, SC at Exit # 108 and go N less than a mile to Church St. and good country cooking at Summerton Diner.
Summerton Diner @ 32 Church St., Summerton, SC 803 - 485 - 6835.
Get off I 95 at Exit 98 at Santee, SC and go W on Highway 6 to the 1st street on your left which is Britain. Turn left and go to Maurice's for good BBQ. Get off I 95 at Exit 98 and go W on Highway 6. Take a right on State Park Road and go to Lonestar BBQ for good southern food. Clark's Inn and Restaurant is also a fine place to spend the night and have breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Maurice's Gourmet BBQ @ 263 Britain St, Santee, SC 803 - 854 - 3889.
http://www.mauricesbbq.com/
Lonestar BBQ @ 2212 State Park Rd., Santee, SC. 803 - 854 - 2000
http://www.lonestarbbq.net/
Clark's Inn and Restaurant @ 114 Bradford Boulevard, Santee, SC 803 - 854 - 2101.
http://www.clarksinnandrestaurant.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 57 for good BBQ @ Duke's.
Duke's BBQ @ 949 Robertson Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 1446.
Get off I 95 at Exit 38 at Yemassee, SC and go SE on Highway 68 to Castle Hall Road to Ray's Rib King for good BBQ.
Ray's Rib King @ 4 Castle Hall Road, Yemassee, SC 843 - 589 - 2919.
Get off I 95 at Exit 33 to the right at Yemassee, SC on Highway 17 and go E one mile then turn left on Highway 17 Alternate or Highway 21 for 4 miles. Look for Harold's Country Club on the left for outstanding burgers on Wednesday, potluck on Thursday and steaks on Saturday. Be sure and call ahead to place your order for good road food.

Harold's Country Club @ 97 U.S. 17 Yemassee, SC 843 - 589 - 4360.
http://www.savannahoffthe...m/Food/harold's_cc.htm
Low Country BBQ @ 635 South Jefferies Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 8355.
Get off I 95 at Exit 21 and have great pulled or chopped port at BBQ Grill. They also have BBQ ribs and chicken. I think it's better than Dukes.
BBQ Grill @ 8084 East Main St., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 645 - 4414.
Duke's BBQ @ 690 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 726 - 6244.
Get off I 95 at Exit 5 at Hardeville, SC and go S on Highway 17 which is Speedway Boulevard. Go 5.5 miles and take a left on Highway 170A which is S 27 34 and go 3.5 miles to Oakatie Highway. Take a right and go to The Pink Pig.
The Pink Pig @ 3508 South Okatie Highway, Hardeeville, SC 843 - 784 - 3635.
http://www.the-pink-pig.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 102 at Pooler. GA and go W on Highway 80 4/5 blocks to Don's Famous BBQ.

Don's Famous BBQ @ 217 US Highway 80 E., Pooler, GA 912 - 748 - 8400.
Get off I 95 at Exit 87 at Richmond Hill, GA and go W on Highway 17 half a mile to Smoking Pig BBQ next to the BP Station on N side of Highway 17. The ribs and chicken are excellent. This is probably your best stop for BBQ in GA.

Smoking Pig BBQ @ 3986 U.S. 17, Richmond Hill, GA. 912 - 756 - 7850.
Get off I 95 at Exit 76 at Midway, GA and go E on Highway 38 to Sunbury Rd. Take a left and go to Brigantine Dunmore Rd. Take a left and go to Sunbury Crab Co. which is open for dinner serving outstanding fresh seafood. This might be the best place you stop for the seafood is outstanding.

Sunbury Crab Co. @ 539 Brigantine Dunmore Road Midway, GA 912 - 884 - 8640.
http://sunburycrabco.wp.net/
Get off I 95 at Exit 67 at Townsend, GA to the right and go S on Highway 17 for 1.2 miles then take a left going E onto Harris Neck Road just past a small church. Go 5.7 miles E to the Jessie Grant Road and look for the purple OSD sign on your left. Turn to the right at the sign for about 100 feet to Old School Diner for the best fresh seafood around. OSD is open for dinner Wednesday/Saturday and Noon to 10 PM on Sunday. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday. This might be the best road food you will have on your trip.

Old School Diner @ 1080 Jesse Grant Road, Townsend, GA 912 - 832 - 2136.
http://oldschooldiner.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 58 at Townsend, GA to the right on Highway 99 and go less than a mile to Highway 17. Turn left and go N about 2 miles to Pine Harbor Rd. Take a right and go E about 2 miles to Sepelo Station Crossing and fantastic fresh local seafood and hand cut steaks.

Sapelo Station Crossing @ 1172 Pine Harbor Marina Road, Townsend, GA 912 - 832 - 3555.

Get off I 95 at Exit 49 to the right at Darien, GA and go NW on Highway 251 less than a mile to Smokey Joe's BBQ. It is between two hotels on the left and has excellent pulled pork.

If you want the best fresh seafood on your trip get off I 95 at Exit 49 in Darien, GA to the right and go E on Highway 251 to Highway 17. Take a right on Highway 17 and go S for 1.2 miles. Turn right on Broad St. just before crossing the bridge. Go one block and take your first left on Screven St. and have some outstanding fresh seafood at Skipper's Fish Camp. [size=3 font="times new roman"].

Smokey Joe's BBQ @ State Hwy. 251, Darien, GA. 912 - 437 - 2555.
Skipper's Fish Camp @ 85 Screven St., Darien, GA 912 - 437 - 3474.
http://www.skippersfishcamp.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 29 at Brunswick, GA and go W on Highway 82 about a mile to Gary Lee's Market for good road food.

Gary Lee's Market @ 3636 U. S. Hwy. 82, Brunswick, GA. 912 - 265 - 1925.
Just across the GA/FL State Line get off I 95 at Exit 373 and go W to Callahan's BBQ for good road food.
Callahan's BBQ @ 45007 State Rd 200, Callahan, FL 904 - 879 - 4675.