road trip from NJ to Charleston, SC
 

We will be driving from southern NJ to Charleston, SC. Looking for recommendations of places to see on the way. Any help will be welcome. We are hoping to leave tomorrow (fingers crossed). Thanks for any help/suggestions.

What do you like to do?

Do you have a place to stay in Charleston? It's crowded right now. You might want to go to kayak.com and see what you can find.

It's crowded? Any more than usual? If so, why?

Popular time of year plus Charleston Food and Wine.

We like walking trails, hiking, browsing unique shops, galleries, that sort of activity. I was just wondering if there are any stops we should make along the way to Charleston.

In the Pawley's/Litchfield area there is Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park. And lots of cute shops at the Hammock Shops. Good food.
How long do you want to spend to get to Charleston, where you will have ALL you list, in spades.

Thanks for the suggestions, Gretchen. Due to health issues, I am not sure how long we will be staying. Since this is a last minute trip, I will take your suggestion, Suewoo.

You could stop in Richmond where the Virginia Historical Society and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are less than a mile from I 95 at the Boulevard exit. Both are free. Buz and Ned's BBQ isn't free but it is between the interstate and the museums so good for lunch.

Getting off I 95 in North Carolina is a good idea because the coastal route -- which takes you through Litchfield and the Pawleys Island area -- is much more scenic.

Staying in Mt Pleasant or Sullivan's Island is very relaxing, and it is a quick trip into Charleston if you don't want to spend your evenings walking around the city.

Try very hard to schedule your trip so you are not in the Washington DC area between 3 and 7 PM. Traffic is a nightmare from the junction of I 95 and I 495 all the way to Fredericksburg and heavy even after that. Get an early start from NJ, and you will be fine.

I didn't really ask how long IN Charleston. I asked how long you wanted to spend on the road to get to Charleston. ;o)
Ack is correct about getting off I95 --I usually recommend taking I40 to Wilmington and then driving down Route 17. It is a good road, not crowded except at Myrtle Beach and really doesn't add to the length of time to drive.

Thanks to all of you for your help.