Southeast road trip
 

I'm planning a road trip from southern NY to Florida leaving March 7th, arriving in Orlando area on the 11th. Would like to drive about 10 hours the first day, stopping in North Carolina the first night.
Other than that, I have no set plans. I'm looking for suggestions on cities in the Carolinas and Georgia to spend the nights and maybe do some sightseeing along the way. Any help will be greatly appreciated. :)

Are you going the I-81 and I-26 route or the I-95 route around the Washington Beltway?
When I lived in central PA, I found that I liked the trip on I-81 down through the Shenendoah Valley better. First night would be near Natural Bridge Virginia and the second night in or near Charlotte NC or Columbia SC.

Thanks tomfoolery. I'm planning to go the fastest route (I-95?) to North Carolina then take my time the rest of the way, Perhaps two or three more days days.

Sorry, tomfuller. Got autocorrected.

You'll see signs for this place for over a hundred miles along I-95. http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/
I hope you get past Washington before any kind of traffic jam.
One accident can tie up traffic for over an hour near Washington DC.

Savannah, GA would be one place to consider as it's close to I-95. It's only 4-5 hours to Orlando from Savannah, so your final day of driving could be a relatively short one.

Yes, you need to plan your trip to be past Washington, DC by 3:00 PM or to use the EZ Pass only " high speed " lanes between Alexandria and Quantico. In my experience, rush hour traffic in the Washington area is much worse than commuter traffic in NYC.

Savannah is a nice idea for a stopover. You have a couple of days if you stop in NC the first night. Sadly, there isn't anything with much charm along I-95. Richmond is horrible along the interstate but great in town. It is too early for you to stop, however.

Depending on the weather, I-78 to I-81 to I-77 to I-95 has better scenery and a number of more interesting stops -- Staunton or Lexington, VA, Statesville or Davidson, NC, Greenville, SC.

i take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and stop the first night out of NYC in Edenton, NC. Much better than taking 95.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...d-and-more.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...n-va-nc-sc.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ea-islands.cfm

Thanks for all the input, folks. Perhaps we'll alter the I-95 plan.
And maybe I should be more specific...I'm open to traveling along the coast or zigzagging around once we get into our second day of travel. I haven't traveled the south since I was a child and have no idea where we might like to stop. Looking for less-touristy areas, places with a small-town feel where we can find a few good meals, take walks, nothing fancy.
Might Wilmington NC be a nice place for a day?

Edenton NC is on the coastal route and is a wonderful small town. I think it's one of the most beautiful places on the east coast. It's right on the Albemarle Sound and has a small center of historic homes. Check Google Images and I believe you will be smitten!

This April 17-18 they have their biennial house tour.

When we stay there we go for lunch and dinner to Cap'n Bob's on the bypass in Hertford NC. Fish is good; so's their BBQ.

Wilmington NC is nice, though it's a busy city. There are beautiful residential neighborhoods in the old center, and there's a really nice park

I think you would enjoy a stopover in Wilmington, NC. My bro lives there and we have visited several times. Lots to see but it is very busy with lots of traffic. You could make the drive in a day as it's about 9 hrs. depending upon your origination point.

It would probably not be beach weather but there is a lovely beach to visit:

http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com
When weather is nice we have brought sandwiches and sat on the beach and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Lots of lovely homes in that area.
http://www.thesandpeddler.com
Good reviews and prices for your dates.

http://www.thegermancafe.com/home
http://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com
http://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/wilmington/
We took the horse and buggy ride around the city.

The Cotton Exchange is an old building w/ nice shopping. German Cafe is located there.

Another stopping point for us has been to Jekyll Island. It's nice there and relaxing too. Lots of Northerners make that their stopping point on way to FL. We would definitely go back there. There is a great restaurant there that we loved that is part of the Villas by the Sea. Maybe a bit further than you want to travel, about 13 hrs.

http://www.villasbythesearesort.com/...he-villas.html

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/149/9318...-Jekyll-Island

Good luck. Enjoy your vacation.

I think Wilmington is a good idea for your first night. Then drive down Route 17 along the coast. South of Myrtle Beach is Brookgreen Gardens which would be nice for a 2 hour tour. At Pawley's go across the causeway to Pawley's Island beach and its historic district dating from Revolutionary War--and where the Charleston rice planters spent summers to escape the malarial mosquitoes of their plantations.
Then there is Georgetown--drive around that Revolutionary War era town.
On down 17 to Charleston for your second night?
Savannah is another 2 hours.
Then maybe just hit it for Orlando. LOTS to see, do and enjoy on that small part of the coast.
AND lots of great restaurants.
Around Brookgreen if it gets to be lunch time go south a few miles and eat at the Island Deli and Café on 17 at Pawley's Island--in the shops on the west side of the highway. OR have a GREAT lunch at the Chive Blossom which is at the turn for the causeway to the beach at Pawley's Island--just to the left after you turn.