I-95 Christmas Eve/Day-What's there to eat?
Nov 9th, 2011, 08:03 AM
#1
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I-95 Christmas Eve/Day-What's there to eat?
Especially in the way of food. We can only bring one day's worth from home (will be on the road 24th & 25th-fixed dates, not flexible, traveling Philly to West Palm Beach). We usually (this is an annual trip) stop at Subways and Burger Kings and Pizza Huts-anyone know if those will be open? (Similar places like Chipotle, Olive Garden, etc. good to know too. We don't eat meat, so if Outback's open, it doesn't help.)
Nov 9th, 2011, 08:14 AM
#4
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If you know exactly where you'll be, this has some ideas of restaurant possibilities: http://www.i95exitguide.com/
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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Nov 9th, 2011, 08:47 AM
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That's tough.
See if Cracker Barrel at Smithfield NC or Florence SC is open on Christmas Eve. There are lots of restaurants at the intersection of 52 and 95 in Florence. OrlandoVic's link is a good one.
See if Cracker Barrel at Smithfield NC or Florence SC is open on Christmas Eve. There are lots of restaurants at the intersection of 52 and 95 in Florence. OrlandoVic's link is a good one.
Nov 9th, 2011, 08:59 AM
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If nothing else, you can get sandwiches at your gas station. I wouldn't count on a lot of fast food places being open actually. Maybe on the interstate, but they are closed in our town.
Sue is right about the 52/I95 exit.
Put some bread and cold cuts in a cooler. Fruit. Drinks.
Sue is right about the 52/I95 exit.
Put some bread and cold cuts in a cooler. Fruit. Drinks.
Nov 9th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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I assume that when you say that this is an annual trip you mean that the exception is the dates.
Christmas Eve should not be a problem up until about 8 PM. You will find something open in the larger towns, and most supermarket salad bars and delis will be open.
On Christmas Day I would be pretty pessimistic about anything other than truck stops, esp away from the major road junctions. This applies to fuel as well as food. Most of the gas stations and convenience stores at on and off ramps are likely to be closed on Christmas or open very limited hours. Rest areas and visitor information centers may well be closed, too, so bathrooms could be a problem.
I am pessimistic because we had a terrible time finding any place open on a Thanksgiving Day between Richmond and the Outer Banks, at least any place right off I-64.
If you can only take food for one day, why not eat where you can on Christmas Eve and eat your own food on Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve should not be a problem up until about 8 PM. You will find something open in the larger towns, and most supermarket salad bars and delis will be open.
On Christmas Day I would be pretty pessimistic about anything other than truck stops, esp away from the major road junctions. This applies to fuel as well as food. Most of the gas stations and convenience stores at on and off ramps are likely to be closed on Christmas or open very limited hours. Rest areas and visitor information centers may well be closed, too, so bathrooms could be a problem.
I am pessimistic because we had a terrible time finding any place open on a Thanksgiving Day between Richmond and the Outer Banks, at least any place right off I-64.
If you can only take food for one day, why not eat where you can on Christmas Eve and eat your own food on Christmas Day?
Nov 9th, 2011, 10:35 AM
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I wish we could keep food for the 25th-but would be unlikely to keep well (fruit & veggies, bagels, etc).
I hear truck stops will be open-in the past we've sometimes eaten at a Pilot/Subway place. Would that be open?
We will be on 95 the whole way (er...95% of it).
And no bathrooms? Uh...that's...new to me.
I hear truck stops will be open-in the past we've sometimes eaten at a Pilot/Subway place. Would that be open?
We will be on 95 the whole way (er...95% of it).
And no bathrooms? Uh...that's...new to me.
Nov 9th, 2011, 11:36 AM
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Where are you planning to stop for the night? A hotel chain with a decent courtesy breakfast will solve some of your problem. Even more if it has it's own restaurant. There is a Holiday Inn in Lumberton with it's own Denny's attached (I know, not gourmet, but they have food and it's not that difficult for an ovo-lacto vegetarian), but it may be too far north to be useful.
Nov 9th, 2011, 12:11 PM
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Gretchen,
"If nothing else, you can get sandwiches at your gas station.
Put some bread and cold cuts in a cooler."
Did you read any of the comments or the OP? Most sandwiches at a gas station contain meat and unless your cold cuts are tofu, then I just don't get it.
Gabs,
You are going to need to call specific locations. Finding a spot to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas day is tough. Finding one without meat, super tough. I recall my dad having a kidney stone about noon on a Christmas Eve and spending 3 or 4 days in the hospital. We had a tough time finding anything to eat. And that was in a decent size city. Everything was closed. Even the C-store across the street from the hospital didn't open until noon.
"If nothing else, you can get sandwiches at your gas station.
Put some bread and cold cuts in a cooler."
Did you read any of the comments or the OP? Most sandwiches at a gas station contain meat and unless your cold cuts are tofu, then I just don't get it.
Gabs,
You are going to need to call specific locations. Finding a spot to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas day is tough. Finding one without meat, super tough. I recall my dad having a kidney stone about noon on a Christmas Eve and spending 3 or 4 days in the hospital. We had a tough time finding anything to eat. And that was in a decent size city. Everything was closed. Even the C-store across the street from the hospital didn't open until noon.
Nov 9th, 2011, 06:57 PM
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It sounds like very few places are open.
We will probably spend the night at the Residence Inn in Florence, SC (breakfast is included).
And again, does anyone know about the Subways attached to the Pilot gas stations specifically?
We've tried coolers. They don't really work well for us. No idea why.
No meat/fish doesn't mean vegan. I love eggs and pizza (no pepperoni).
Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, Waffle House, and IHOP. Never had a meal at the first three...and the last might tempt me off my diet (chocolate chip pancakes, yum!).
Denny's is still open?
We will probably spend the night at the Residence Inn in Florence, SC (breakfast is included).
And again, does anyone know about the Subways attached to the Pilot gas stations specifically?
We've tried coolers. They don't really work well for us. No idea why.
No meat/fish doesn't mean vegan. I love eggs and pizza (no pepperoni).
Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, Waffle House, and IHOP. Never had a meal at the first three...and the last might tempt me off my diet (chocolate chip pancakes, yum!).
Denny's is still open?
Nov 9th, 2011, 09:16 PM
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Call Clarks in Santee, SC. It's an inn so the restaurant may be open.
http://www.clarksinnandrestaurant.com/
http://www.clarksinnandrestaurant.com/
Nov 9th, 2011, 09:26 PM
#19
Stop by Trader Joe's before you leave and load up on stuff to eat. Heck, they have enough options to go cross-country with. Get their hummus and white bean dip. Buy some of their pre-made (non-meat) sandwiches or pitas. Grab a few tubs of pre-cut fruit. Add in some cheese, crackers, cookies. Their wine crackers are amazing. Pretend you are traveling in days of yore and take your own food along.
And/or do what suewoo suggests.
And/or do what suewoo suggests.
Nov 10th, 2011, 12:56 AM
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TJ's is a great suggestion. Bags of nuts and trail mixes. For dinner, dried miso soup, thai and indian stuff in a pouch. You can almost always find hot water or a microwave. Vegetable crisps and rice crackers. Bags of dried green beans, berries, granolas. Some avocadoes, apples, bananas, oranges. None of these require refrigeration.
