thinking about a 3 day trip or so to someplace within a day's drive on the east coast.The dates are Sept 20th - ? We are from northern NJ.
NC accomadations along the coast was our first choice, but with hurricane a possibility, don't know if it is a good choice.
Any recommendations from all you travelers?
Thanks!

The NY Finger Lakes area is very nice in the early fall, many nice restaurants and shops, many wine tasting tours. Make Watkins Glen your base point.If hurricane threats somehow cease, try Montauk, at the East End of Long Island. Season there is winding down and should be less crowded, rates coming down. Also Wildwood NJ is very nice.

How about taking Rte. 78 west across PA and then south to Gettysburg. After a half day there you could head further south to the Shenandoah National Park. That is close to leaf season but start calling now for vacancies on Skyline drive.You could rest on day 2, then make a day trip to Charlottesville & Monticello on day 3. Check Mapquest for a direct route home thru DC.

Beautiful time of year to go to Newport, RI.

It sounds like you were thinking of someplace warmer but what about Bucks County? Pretty that time of year. Monticello also sounds like a nice idea. Really depends on your interests.

Would second several of the suggestions. Really depends on what you're looking to do. Newport, Gettysburg, and Upstate NY would all be good options.

The Hamptons suggestion is also a good one. I'd advocate a trip out to enjoy not just the beaches, but also the wineries. You can easily spend an afternoon doing a little wine tasting at the numerous vinyards that run from Riverhead out to about Greenport on the North Fork. (There are also a few on the Southfork.)

How about taking the ferry from Cape May to Lewes Delaware and driving down the beach to the eastern shore of Maryland, with a day or two in Snow Hill or Berlin. Not as much driving as a trip to OBX but still get some beach time and some little town time...