We're a retired couple visiting from England in Sept/Oct 2009, hoping to drive down the coast from DC to Charleston NC & back. Any tips?

Sorry: It should read "East coast" and "any tips"! Careless typing!

Charleston is in SC, btw, so the trip may be a bit farther than you think. For freeway & some chunks that are uneventful, you'll want to use I-95 (as bad as it can be), however Rt. 17 is the route I would take, if I had plenty of time to meander. The options are numerous.

I fear you may be imagining that you can find roads that will follow the coast, and there really aren't unless you are willing to take weeks shun-piking.

Your first leg, out of DC, will depend a great deal on day of week and time of day. Even more so on the return coming back into DC. The congestion between DC and Petersburg (half way to Richmond) can be unbearable, especially on weekends. Come back here when you have a firmer idea of timing and ask for more specific advice. Many of us avoid I-95 until we get toward Richmond.

From DC to Charleston SC is about 8 1/2 hrs. travel so you COULD do it in one day on the interstate - but borrrrrring. Otherwise, I can think of MANY side trips or ways to see something more interesting than the Interstate, but without knowing how much time you're willing to spend on the trip, it's hard to be specific.

PS There IS a Charleston NC - a tiny town east of I-95 and south of the Virginia/NC border. Not, presumably, your destination?

HKP; Yes, I meant South Carolina

I'm an advocate for avoiding I-95 in northern Va too.

But please do give us an idea of what you have in mind re: travel time and what you'd like to see on the way.

You are choosing the very best time of year to visit the Coast in the Carolinas (barring any hurricanes of course).

OK - assuming you're willing to take all the time in the world:

One quite leisurely sidetrip would be to head due east out of DC and get out to the Delmarva Peninsula. Although as a whole it's an unremarkable, flat area of odd farms until you get out to the ocean, there are a few towns and islands on the Chesapeake you might enjoy. Or you can head over to the beaches at Rehoboth, etc. Once you're down toward Chincoteague Island there are some nice beaches and, if you go to the right place, the "ponies" of Chincoteague. Further south you will eventually take the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge-Tunnel to the Hampton Rds. area and you can work your way back to I-95 OR wiggle your way down to the Outer Banks and wander all the way down to Charleston on Rt. 17. Anyone want to calculate the total time of such a trip, including some necessary overnights?

Go to Charlottesville, VA and into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Charlottesville is about 70 miles west of Richmond, home to the University of Virginia (founded by Thomas Jefferson), close to Monticello (Jefferson's home) and at the time of year you're going, the leaves should be starting to turn so the scenery will be great.

I would certainly encourage you to consider all the suggestions you have received, they are great options. If you would like to add two more to the mix, let me suggest Beaufort, NC and Wilmington, NC. These are lovely towns, Wilmington is fairly large and Beaufort is quite small. If these destinations appeal to you, let us know and we can suggest restaurants and lodging.
Enjoy your visit to the USA.

If you are interested in gardens, may I suggest you read "Mrs Whaley's Charleston Gardens" before your visit. It is about a good deal more than gardens and will give you some insight into Charleston society in the last century.

A big “Thank you” to everyone who has responded to my very vague request! It’s the first time I have used this website and I’m impressed. We will be in the States for three weeks and my plan is to meander slowly down to Charleston, spend three or four days exploring that city and then bomb back to Dulles International in a couple of long hops.
This will be our 8th visit to the USA and we have always enjoyed the trips.
BigRus – we drove the Parkway from Front Royal to Ashville and the places of interest either side, some of which you mention, in 2004. Fabulous! I have been using my State maps from that trip to plot the places suggested for our east coast visit.
SanParis2: US 17 looks like a good backbone for the journey, breaking off at Elizabeth City to get onto NC 12 and [thanks HKP] down the Outer Banks. [Chesapeake Bay will have to wait for another time]. Obviously there are budgetary considerations and when on main routes we usually overnight in chain motels. B & Bs will probably be our only option on the Outer Banks – any recommendations?
Cmcfong: Beaufort and Wilmington would be on that route when we ferry back to the mainland onto Highway 70. Thanks for those, and for the reading suggestion.

Incidentally, we try to avoid Interstates. We like to pull over and stop when we spot somewhere interesting. People in the small towns “off the beaten track” often have fascinating stories to tell. That has certainly been our experience.

Please keep the ideas coming!

There are a few chain hotels/motels in the northern part of the Outer Banks but we recently stayed at the Sanderling Inn in Duck, NC and were very pleased. They are more like an independent small hotel than a B&B, with a good number of rooms and a spa.
Another Select Registry B&B is the White Doe Inn in Manteo; I haven't stayed there personally but have heard good reports from others.

Southport, NC should also be added to your list.