TravelNatty

My parents (early 60's) are driving from DC area to Hilton Head, SC along 95 and are looking for a place to stop along the way and maybe spend the night. Looks like NC is halfway. They like cute towns, my Mom likes window shopping and art, my Dad is into history, would have time for medium-small museums. Historic homes are also interesting to them. My Mom has an hurt knee, so they can't do a ton of walking. Any reccomendations on where to stop in NC? Thanks in advance.

RoamsAround

It's only about a 9 hour drive from DC to Hilton Head. Are you sure they want to take two days to make that trip? My spouse and I are in our late 60's and, if it were s, we'd get up early in the AM and make the trip in one day. Think about it, going half way means driving only about 4 to 5 hours than stopping for the remainder of the day and spending the night in some motel.

There's not much in the way of "cute towns" near I-95 mid-way between DC and Hilton Head. Fayetteville is mid-way and probably comes closest to offering "history and museums but it probably won't meet your definition of a "cute town".

Hint:

Plot your route out on Google Maps then research "things to do" for some of the towns near I-95 on that route. It may convince your parents to drive straight through to HH.

Ackislander

Well, google says 9 1/2, and that assumes you never need to eat, buy gas, or use the toilet. And don't get behind an accident.

This is usually a miserable trip with nothing along the highway itself.

Do they like golf? Pinehurst and Southern Pines, sort of the other side of Fayetteville, are upscale and attractive places and about 5 hours each (driving alone) from both DC and Hilton Head/

ronkala

Roams is right. It's a straight shot on I-95 to Florence, SC, then another twenty mile to Hilton Head. I made the trip through NC to VA a couple of weeks ago and there was nothing of interest along the way for me.

JanetKMR

95 in NC is a snoozefest.

Gretchen

I don't think 20 mile to Hilton Head from Florence will work at all. Not even sure what that would be.
The idea of Southern Pines on the other side of Fort Bragg could be a nice stop--it will add some time.
It is just an awful long boring road with nothing really "on" it.
I'd just suck it up and go home, personally.

suewoo

I agree. They'll have to get way foo the interstate for a cute town. Barh is nice but not convenient.

Littleman

Here's a few places to stop and rest. 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
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. Or get off at Exit 22 and go to Nelson’s for good BBQ. I think Nelson’s is the best.
Fuller's Old Fashion BBQ @ 3201 N Roberts Ave., Lumberton, NC. 910 - 738 - 8694.
http://www.fullersbbq.com/index.html
Nelson’s BBQ @ 4880 Kahn Drive Lumberton, NC 910 - 739 - 3350.
http://www.nelsonsbarbecue.com/
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/

Ackislander

It's 178 miles from Florence, SC, to Hilton Head, three hours of non-stop [boring every mile] driving.

I did think of recommending a BBQ tour as Littleman has so wonderfully done. Both Wilson and Goldsboro have excellent Eastern North Carolina BBQ, and I willl have to check out the Abingdon Manor, though mercifully we don't drive this route much any more -- only from Richmond to Boston.

Last week, we split that 10 hours into two days: 6 hours on day 1 to Kent Narrows, MD, where we stopped for the night and to eat seafood, then on to Richmond the next day. It is about 40 miles farther that way, but if you aren't in a hurry, the distance is trivial. I will always like two five hour days better than one ten hour day.

ronkala

Ackislander,

You're right about the 178 miles. I don't know where I came up withthe twenty miles.w

Gretchen

I'm sort of surprised it is that short a distance!! We were thinking about going to HH for a tennis tournament next week from Litchfield and it is a 4 hour drive!! I know about hypotenuses, etc., but I was really surprised.

TravelNatty

Thanks Littleman - the BBQ suggestions sound great! They'll love that. I'll pass along the info.

RE: driving straight though - a 9 hr drive does not appeal to everyone, I personally hate being in the car for that long.

Raleigh is along the way if they take 85. Which would be better place to stop - Fayetteville or Raleigh?

suewoo

Fayetteville is interesting if you like the 82nd Airborne. Ft Bragg, one of the nation's largest Army posts is there. There's a nice museum but little else that might be interesting.

Taking 85 into Raleigh is out of the way, but Raleigh is lovely. But it will be much longer than 9 hours total. There's lots of traffic in and out.

Not halfway but Fredricksburg or Richmond might work.

suewoo

Those 2 are in Virginia.

jent103

If they're okay with the added time, I'd absolutely rather stop in Raleigh (or Durham/Chapel Hill - all basically along I-85) rather than Fayetteville.

jent103

(sorry for the superfluous "rather" )

Gretchen

I had to look at a map to see how you would get to 85. Not sure it is worth it really. BUT in looking at the map, Smithfield is just north of Fayetteville, and it might be a good stop. There is a huge outlet mall there, and the White Swan BBQ (which I'm sure is on Littleman's list) is there. It's a "real" town.