Done that but I drove directly from NYC to MIAMI, it took me about 2 days (22hr drive if you do it straight), It's great cause you get to see places on the way, you got gr8 motels on the way but it's one time only for me... Won't do it again

But hey! a roadtrip is the best way to know the country...

Have fun!
Roy.

I do not quite understand why you are going over to Dover and then driving to Virginia Beach. Is this to specifically see some parts of the Md/Del Eastern Shore or the DelMarva Peninsula or the beaches?

Otherwise you could take I-95 to I-295 to I-64 from Washington to get to Virginia Beach and then 17 south, etc.

I also wonder why you are coming from the coast inland to Charlotte and Atlanta. I live in Charlotte and love it,but from Elizabeth City is a LONNNNNGGG drive, and then you go on to Atlanta and then back to the coast--basically just driving and driving.
You have a LONG time in NYC.
Cut out Jacksonville. Stay a day longer in Charleston.
You have a long time in Miami.
You really need to pare down some places and increase others.
Why are you going to some of these places specifically?

I think the DelMarva peninsula is absolutely worth it. Even driving thru, the landscape is unique on the east coast, and there are interesting small towns on the actual shore in many places.

I would agree with Dukey that going back to Dover, however, is a roundabout way to get there. From Washington, go to Annapolis (worth a stop for the town and Naval Academy) and cross the bridge to Maryland there. The towns of Easton and St Michaels are both worth visiting.

I wold rearrange to add in Colonial Williamsburg - which is fascinating and shows a lot about early life in the US using may original buildings.

Also DC has a ton of things to see/do (even if you can;t do the White House) and I think deserves more time.

I don't get Atlanta - just a boring business city with little personality IMHO - and esp in summer is hellisly hot.

And you do need to be prepared for the heat - expect it to be hot and humid everywhere - but more so the further south you go - FL is typically in the high 90s and it's difficult to do much during the center of the day. (Where I live people go to FL in the winter - and we have family who live in FL who come back to NY in the summer to avoid the worst of the heat.)

My advice would be to take a morning Northeast corridor Amtrak train on July 7 to Philadelphia from New York Penn station.
Take an early afternoon train from Philadelphia to Washington on July 8. Rent the car in Washington DC on July 10 for the trip over to Dover and down the coast.
Skip Atlanta unless there is a good reason to go there in July.
They call it "Hotlanta" for a reason.

Hi Gretchen

We have looking for two choices, coast or inland (National Park). Do you have any suggestions for each of the options? Cities along the coast and inland cities. Is it Possible to combine both some coastal cities and some inland cities. And the road we should drive. New York, Philadelphia, DC, Orlando and Miami are settled. We want to see: normal american life, place we dont see on the TV. Old American history, some beaches, small Towns, national parks.

I think if you want to have a combination of coastal and inland experiences you could consider NYC and Miami your coastal cities. The beach resorts on the Eastern Coast of the US are very crowded and very touristy in July. If you want to see small town American life drive West from Washington DC or Williamsburg Virgina (an excellent suggestion IMO)and then south, there are beautiful State and National Parks throughout the Southeast. (I have a fondness for the Blue Ridge Parkway).http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm Accommodations inland should be far more reasonable as well.

Hi Ackislander

DelMarva peninsula, how is the landscape? is it different here then other places along the east coast? We gonna drop Dover, can you recommend places in the area?

I don't know why you are stopping in Elizabeth City. If you're going to be coming that way, Edenton and Bath, NC are both better options. Bath is the oldest town in the state, and Edenton is the orginal state capitol and was listed in Forbes magazine as one of the prettiest small towns in the US.
I'd also suggest perhaps heading to Wilmington, NC on the way to Charleston and skipping Charlotte and Atlanta. Wilmington has a fairly appealing downtown and historic district, maybe hit one of the beaches near there for a day while you're at it.

As far as National Parks, The Francis Beidler Forest isn't a NP but an Audubon Society preserve about one hour NW of Charleston. Google (or whatever) it and see if you're interested. There will be insects and oppressive heat and humidity there, though, so be prepared, but I think you'll find it well worth it.