East Coast Road Trip to Florida
 

We're planning to drive from Massachusetts to Florida, heading down I-95. My husband would like to travel as far as possible the first day. He'd like to get down into South Carolina, mid-way. For anyone who has taken this trip, where is a good I-95 motel stopping off point in South Carolina. Do you need to make reservations or can you just drive and stop along the way?

That's a very very very very long first day. It's 13-14 hrs. just to Raleigh, another 3-5 into S.C., depending on where you stay. If you insist on going all the way to SC, we've stayed in Florence, and also in Santee -- which pretty much caters to the north-south traffic. It does matter what time of year you are traveling whether you can &quot;just stop,&quot; and if you are going soon, know that it's Spring Break time. You also risk paying rack rate if you just stop, rather than having a reservation. What I've done is make a decent guess about how far I'm likely to get, booked on line (at the hotel chain's home website, not Orbitz or T'city) to get a decent rate, and then used the 800-number for the hotel chain (before the 6 pm check in time) if it turns out I want to get further that day, to get them to re-book me further down the line and something like the same price.<BR><BR>BTW do whatever it takes to avoid I-95 between WashDC and Richmond -- do a search on 'I-95' here and there are lots of suggestions, or ask and I'll give you our &quot;secret.&quot;

We've gone that far in one day. It's definitely pushing it, but if you leave very early, it's do-able. We usually have found it safe to stay at Hampton Inns. They're always clean, fairly reasonable, and you can do what the last response suggested. Make a reservation, then if you find you want to go to further, either call or stop at the next Hampton Inn and they'll call for you. They are also right off the highway. And soccr - what's your 'secret??'

What is your secret? I'm curious.

Try Lumberton, NC; it's just before you get into SC. I can't remember whether we stayed at a Hampton Inn or a Fairfield, but it was $46/night on their website and it was fairly new and very clean. This was last month. We selected it because the choices in Fayettville were about double the price.<BR><BR> There are the usual chain restaurants in Lumberton; we did fine at the Cracker Barrel right next store.

About Lumberton -- I wouldn't recommend staying there for reasons of safety and security -- I'm sure the vast majority of travellers who've stayed there have had no problem, but there have been some &quot;unpleasant&quot; happenings in that county along I-95. BTW: historical note is that the name does not refer to &quot;lumbering&quot; but to the Lumbee tribe who live there.<BR><BR>I &quot;Topped&quot; one of the threads that explains my not-so-&quot;secret&quot; alternative to I-95, but briefly: When you go through Baltimore, take the I895 route through the city and continue south on I 97. It intersects Md. 3, which becomes 3/US301. Stay on 301 all the way south through Waldorf and La Plata across the Potomac into Virginia. Eventually 301 runs into 207 which will take you back to I 95 south of Fredericksburg. HOWEVER, I have seen I 95 badly clogged all the way to Richmond on Fri. and Sun. afternoons (esp. in summer) and you can also stay on 301 (merges with Va 2) all the way to Richmond's beltway. I rarely have trouble doing directly through Richmond, but if you want to avoid that, you can even stay on the I 295 by-pass all the way to the Petersburg area to get back on I-95.<BR><BR>Note: While you are on US301 in Maryland, you will encounter some stretches with a lot of lights and shopping areas and you may be thinking I'm out of my mind, that this is a stupid detour and you shoulda stayed on I 95 and taken your chances, even at 30 MPH stop-and-go. Take it from me, I've done it both ways -- if I 95 is completely clear and you go the other way, you lose only about 1/2 hr. -- but if I-95 gets jammed, it gets SERIOUSLY jammed and you can be saving yourself as much as 3-4 hrs. by using the alternative. I will never spend 6 hrs. going from Springfield, VA to Richmond, VA at 20 MPH or less -- which should only be 1 1/2 hr. trip -- ever again!

(Just to make sure I haven't misled anyone -- the problems in Lumberton have to do with its position on a fairly unpopulated state border (if you don't count that fabulous South of the Border mess) on a major north-south drug route -- and have NOTHING to do with the Lumbee population living in that county.)

Soccr<BR><BR>You are sooo right!! But then we're Marylanders (Annapolis) and we know how bad traffic can get in Virginia near the Wilson Bridge, the Mixing Bowl in Springfield and going down the first part if I-95 there. It is truly a mess and I guess most of us try to avoid it. We generally stay on Rt 301 until it connects with Rt 295 (around Richmond) since I-95 is also real busy near Kings Dominion.<BR><BR>There is one problem with 301 south and that's Waldorf to LaPlata on a Friday night. Many of us use further back roads to get around this sloooow traffic.<BR><BR>Another tip - From Pennsylvania Rt 83 in York - you can take Rt 30 west to Route 15 and you can follow Rt 15 south and connect again with I-95 at Fredericksburg. You don't have to go near DC really.<BR><BR>Hope all this helps in getting down I-95.<BR><BR>I would like a little clarification on Lumberton though (primarily cause we stop there often on our way to sw Florida). What is the problem there?

I agree, depends on what time you come through Maryland. I myself have taken the drive from Baltimore to Tampa about 6 times in the past year. Im even going home again this weekend. First thing, you always want to take 295 around Richmond. (more lanes, no troopers, speed limit is 65, no downtown traffic, and its only 7 miles difference). The 301 route is very good depending on time of day you come through Maryland. Umm but i do agree that is a long haul from MA to SC in one day. It dont look that way on a map but it is! It generally takes me 12 hrs from DC - Jacksonville, FL area with only stops for gas. Im sure that from DC to Mass is another 7 hrs drive. BUT its always a plus if there is 2 drivers. So, leave late at night and by the next afternoon you could be stopping in historic Savannah for a nice break and night. Umm, I can only really give advice on police - beware of forests/trees in the center in SC -troopers like to hide out in those esp at night in packs. Also beware in FL, troopers erect construction sites and put on orange vests with rader guns, next thing you know, 2 miles later your being pulled over. But, if you stop anywhere along your route, check out motel 6 online and print out all the exits with hotels so u know the closest one when you get tired. good hotels and affordable - ive stopped at 1am before and got a hotel for 45 bucks when i had to so dont worry about reservations. but definitely have a list of hotels and locations along your route so you know whats coming up. have fun and watch your speed - 95 is crowed during the day and open at night no matter where u are in NC/SC/GA