End of June we are driving on i95 from Delray Fl to our 1st stop Savannah Ga (The Pink House for dinner+Planters Inn) overnight. Our final destination is NYC
We would like to drive 350 to 450 miles each day, stopping overnight not far off i95 for hotel and good food. We are thinking of Rocky Mount,NC or Wilson,NC-then onto Philadelphia. I'd appreciate recommendations on HOTELS and YUMMY food.

That is only about 5 hours. If you want a destination restaurant on your way to NYC you might choose
Kinston NC and eat at the Chef and the Farmer, Vivian Howard's destination restaurant. Reservations are a must.
In the same area is a BBQ mecca in Goldsboro NC--Wilber's or Scott's BBq.

Your recommendations are fantastic, but it takes us too far off i95. We are still looking for something somewhat between Wilson and Rocky Mount.
Thank you for your kind efforts

I drive between Delray area and NYC twice every year and always veer off 95 in NC to take the bridge tunnel and avoid 95 around DC. (Except twice we took 81 to stop at Staunton, VA) Never would I go through the DC area on 95.

Your stop after Savannah could be near Willimston, or Edenton, NC that way, or at least that is what we do.

Food is my main interest on the drive. I can give you some good ideas if you are willing to go to non-fancy places.

Gretchen is the expert and surely Chef annd Farmer would be great.

Near Wilson try Parkers; they were on the cover of Saveur a while ago.

Day of the week is important to know as many of the best local regional places open only a few days a week.

In terms of routing and possible places to eat; you can also go up Rte 301 in Virginia and Maryland to avoid the Beltway

We have stopped at Rocky Mount several times, and the last time we went to an excellent bbq restaurant called Prime Smokehouse -

http://www.primesmokehouse.com/

We also bought some bbq sauce in one of the local Piggly Wiggly's to take home and the gentleman in the store that helped us suggested that Wilson generally has better bbq restaurants than Rocky Mount.

But Prime Smokehouse was excellent nevertheless, very nice restaurant, perhaps not exactly old school.

Look, there are tons of good places to eat. If you want fantastic places, we can probably help, as Gretchen already has. Are you willing to use the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel instead of I-95 north of NC as I mentioned? I can offer some further eating tips once you know your route.

Even though it is south of your NC area, I will put in a good word for Shulers in Latta, Sc, as a lunch stop coming from Savannah. But not open daily; as I said up above, the day of the week is important to know before you plan where to eat if you want the select regional places, some of which are not open daily and some of which are open only a few days per week.

Do you want dinner recs, too?

Hey, EK. Did you happen to see the Brovo TV show about Shuler's!!? The Profit show. He invested in it and made it newer and "better" at least for the owners. It was really interesting--I'll have to give it a go on a beach run!!

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-northeast.cfm



Besides the few I've touched on, if you take the Delaware routing, you can try great NC BBQ, great crabs, the time-warp Exmore Diner, and on and on. It is such a shame that so many people ust fill up their car and themselves at the highway exits and not venture a few miles further on..


https://www.shulersbbq.com/pages/menu

WE very much appreciate your kind and informative responses. We are now considering leaving i95,, and taking the bridge and tunnel route.

We have decided to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel traveling Route 58 at Emporia VA to Route 13 to Dover, to NewJersey turnpike. We are planning to stay overnight in Philly. Would love a recommendation on hotel and restaurant( I know there are many) difficult choices for the 1 night stay.
Would it be better to stay in Emporia vs Rocky Mount NC for an overnight stay?

We had a horrible time getting through D.C. last trip and it was 11:30 pm. Baltimore was even worst, think there might have been a baseball game. Anyhow, on the way back from Trenton area we took the Cape May Lewes ferry. Make a reservation. Stress free travel.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Cape...3!2d40.7127837

http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/

thanks so much

Gretchen I had never heard of that show until I got to Shulers! But I'd like to see it; will see if I can get it online.

It is a really interesting show I think and I was surprised to see that one!! Another of that ilk of restaurant rescue did one at the beach that we pass all the time--not sure that one "took"!! LOL

Another vote for the Chef and Farmer.
The Hampton Inn there is fine.

I also suggest for hampton Inn.

Peter why are you bringing up a thread when the trip in question has long past?

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