Road Trip from NJ TO SC
 

Hell,

Well, summertime is almost here, and for me that means...road trip! We are planning a road-trip for 6-7 days starting from NJ to Charleston/Savannah and visit the near-by areas in mid-June. Does anyone know a route that they’d recommend or places to visit on the way?

Also, we have elderly parents and small kids in our group so we were thinking of making a base and then do day-trips from there. Which area would you all recommend?

A couple of ideas come to mind. If you want to wander a bit go to Appomattox -
http://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm

If you want a neat place to stay in the mountains - especially if you liked Andy Griffith's show and Mayberry - stop at "Mayberry" -
http://www.visitmayberry.com/category/attractions/
Mt Airy, NC

Rent a beach house on the SC coast near Charleston or on Tybee Island near Savannah.

Get to Charleston and Savannah (it will be hot and humid!) by taking the GSP to Cape May and taking the Lewes ferry. From there, drive down the DelMarVa peninsula to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Then follow US 17 to New Bern and Wilmington, NC, and Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Georgetown, SC before arriving in Charleston. 17 goes on to Savannah via Beaurfort, SC.

You could come back by Starr's inland route, though Mt Airy is about as mountainous as Watchung, NJ. But it is a cute place, Appomatox is good and Monticello is better.

Now, this is a road trip. It avoids the horror of I 95. But I don't know if you really want a road trip or if you want to drive hell for leather to Charleston, base yourself at the beach, and go into the city or to visit a plantation or garden.

It is physically possible to do Savannah as a day trip from Charleston, but it would be a long, long day.

Do not underestimate th effect of heat and humidity.

Charleston and Savannah are wonderful but they are 2 days drive to and from NJ.
I'm not clear on how long this trip is in its entirety.
There are lovely beaches and lots to do on the NC coast--Wrightsville, Kure Beach, Ocean Isle if a beach time is what is wanted.
If this is a road trip from NJ to Charleston, I would make it just Charleston as the destination.
Head down I95 to I40. Take that to Wilmington for a visit. Their historic downtown river district is lovely.
Head on down Route 17 to Georgetown (Revolutionary War era town and worth a look around. If the kids are not teens, there is a 3 masted schooner in the harbor that they do pirate cruises that are very cute and fun.
Head on to Charleston and spend your vacation there. head back for a 2 day drive.

We will finally be going on this trip in Dec around Christmas. Can you please recommend a stop over town from NJ to Charleston?

If it's the week between Xmas and New Year's, and you're on I-95, you are in for one miserable drive.

It's about a 12 to 13 hour drive from NJ to Charleston. Rocky Mount, NC is approximately halfway and a good stopping point for a night's rest.

Hint, use Google Maps to plot out your route then select a stopping point that that fits your needs. There are hotels/motels at almost every exit along the various interstates you'll probably be taking.

I'd stop in Richmond.....Richmond is 6 hours from Charleston.

There is a WHOLE lot of difference between the June road trip you first asked about and a Christmas week trip.

How large is your group? Unless you just want chains along the interstate, you'll probably need to book accommodations ASAP. And watch the weather forecasts closely.

I would head westward toward I81, then I77 through Charlotte and on to Charleston, since everyone says 95 will be awful. It is still about a 15 hour total trip.
You could stop in Wytheville VA the first night on I77. OR if you want to drive to Charlotte it is about an 11 hour trip. Then only 3.5 to Charleston.
Gee Janis, chains and all already!!