Pennsylvania I-81 hotel suggestions?
Sep 16th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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Pennsylvania I-81 hotel suggestions?
we're driving to North Carolina from New England - looking to stop the first night maybe around Harrisburg or slightly beyond. Any suggestions? Don't want to stray too far from the highway, but concerned about evening traffic too. Any help or advice would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Sep 16th, 2006, 12:17 PM
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I live in the Harrisburg area. If you want a hotel right off of I-81, The Holiday Inn in Grantville is a good pick. I went to a business conference there recently and the meeting rooms were nice. I did not stay in the hotel though because I live close by. We all ate there for lunch and there food was very good. it is right above where the traffic gets congested at rush hour.
You shouldn't get into the after work rush hour traffic. The worst of the traffic drops off before you get out there. The hotel is about 15 minutes (on I-81) before you get into downtown Harrisburg. If you leave earlier than 7 AM or later than 9:30 AM in the morning you'll miss rush hour traffic. The rush hour traffic here is not near as bad as in Boston per my husband who has visited there.
Will you be touring the lovely metropolis of Harrisburg during your trip? We have an wonderful capitol building downtown that was modeled after the St Peter's in the Vatican. We are close to Hershey which has Chocolate world. I think Hersheypark is closed during the week now. We have a Civil war Museum. There is an area in downtown Harrisburg on 2nd Street which is called restaurant row that has many different quality places to eat but it is about 30 minutes from the hotel. If you have any questions about the area, I'd be happy to try to answer them.
You shouldn't get into the after work rush hour traffic. The worst of the traffic drops off before you get out there. The hotel is about 15 minutes (on I-81) before you get into downtown Harrisburg. If you leave earlier than 7 AM or later than 9:30 AM in the morning you'll miss rush hour traffic. The rush hour traffic here is not near as bad as in Boston per my husband who has visited there.
Will you be touring the lovely metropolis of Harrisburg during your trip? We have an wonderful capitol building downtown that was modeled after the St Peter's in the Vatican. We are close to Hershey which has Chocolate world. I think Hersheypark is closed during the week now. We have a Civil war Museum. There is an area in downtown Harrisburg on 2nd Street which is called restaurant row that has many different quality places to eat but it is about 30 minutes from the hotel. If you have any questions about the area, I'd be happy to try to answer them.
Sep 16th, 2006, 01:51 PM
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While I don't doubt "travelenthusiast" is correct about the hotel in Grantville, be advised that location is rural, and really just an intersection of I-81 with several chain hotels, but little in the way of restaurants nearby.
If you want to have a choice of restaurants and other conveniences nearby, you'd be better off traveling the extra 15 miles to the immediate Harrisburg area. I live in Harrisburg, too, and so don't stay in the area hotels, but they are mostly the national chains, so if you find one you're familiar with you know what to expect.
There are a few hotels at the I-81 exits, starting with the exit just east of the I-83 intersection. From that location there are restaurants, theaters and shopping within 2 miles along US 22, which parallels I-81.
If you exit 81 and go south on I-83 just 3 miles to the Union Deposit exit, there are at least 4 hotels (Sheraton, Comfort, Hampton and another), plus 6 or 8 national chain restaurants, and its just another 3 miles down I-83 to another collection of restaurants, hotels and a good size shopping mall where I-83 meets US 322 and I-283.
If you do venture down I-83, don't worry, you can either back track to I-81 where you got off, or continue on i-83 south to PA581 West to reconnect with I-81 south of Harrisburg.
If you stay on 81 and pass the I-83 interchange, there is but one hotel at the next exit (Progress Avenue), none at the next exit (Cameron St / US 22/322 West), just a couple of discount hotels (Days Inn & Super 8)at the next (Front St, along the east side of the river) and one at the next exit (US 15 on the west side of the river.) After that, you're going on to Carlisle.
If you want luxury, however, in this area it's found at the Hotel Hershey (a 4 star resort overlooking the town and countryside) and the Harrisburg Hilton (downtown). Best of luck
If you want to have a choice of restaurants and other conveniences nearby, you'd be better off traveling the extra 15 miles to the immediate Harrisburg area. I live in Harrisburg, too, and so don't stay in the area hotels, but they are mostly the national chains, so if you find one you're familiar with you know what to expect.
There are a few hotels at the I-81 exits, starting with the exit just east of the I-83 intersection. From that location there are restaurants, theaters and shopping within 2 miles along US 22, which parallels I-81.
If you exit 81 and go south on I-83 just 3 miles to the Union Deposit exit, there are at least 4 hotels (Sheraton, Comfort, Hampton and another), plus 6 or 8 national chain restaurants, and its just another 3 miles down I-83 to another collection of restaurants, hotels and a good size shopping mall where I-83 meets US 322 and I-283.
If you do venture down I-83, don't worry, you can either back track to I-81 where you got off, or continue on i-83 south to PA581 West to reconnect with I-81 south of Harrisburg.
If you stay on 81 and pass the I-83 interchange, there is but one hotel at the next exit (Progress Avenue), none at the next exit (Cameron St / US 22/322 West), just a couple of discount hotels (Days Inn & Super 8)at the next (Front St, along the east side of the river) and one at the next exit (US 15 on the west side of the river.) After that, you're going on to Carlisle.
If you want luxury, however, in this area it's found at the Hotel Hershey (a 4 star resort overlooking the town and countryside) and the Harrisburg Hilton (downtown). Best of luck
Sep 16th, 2006, 02:09 PM
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Coincidentally, I just booked the Wyndham Garden in Harrisburg on Priceline for $40; TripAdvisor reviews make it sound fairly awful, but hey, it's just one night (she tells herself hopefully...)so you may/may not want to consider the Priceline option!
I was just wondering how far out this hotel is from the Capitol/restaurant row; I'm visiting the Capitol and State Museum, then staying overnight and going to Philadelphia on Amtrak the next morning.
I was just wondering how far out this hotel is from the Capitol/restaurant row; I'm visiting the Capitol and State Museum, then staying overnight and going to Philadelphia on Amtrak the next morning.
Sep 16th, 2006, 02:41 PM
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Amy - It takes about 15 minutes to go downtown from the Wyndham Garden. That hotel is near two of our favorite restaurants in the area, both of which are not on restaurant row. Leeds is a great restaurant that has the best brushetta appetizer that I've had since being in St Martin. The other restaurant in that area that I recommend is Pesce which has fabulous fish dishes. Both are on the expensive side - about $20 for a dinner entree.
I agree with the advice that "pal440fcv" writes. The original poster states that they were worried about traffic and it sounded to me like they were just driving through. I tried to suggest a hotel from which it would be very easy to get on and off of I-81 and that was not going to place them in the middle of rush hour traffic. I mentioned the nice things about our area because I wanted to give them some ideas for tourism in case they might be interested.
I agree with the advice that "pal440fcv" writes. The original poster states that they were worried about traffic and it sounded to me like they were just driving through. I tried to suggest a hotel from which it would be very easy to get on and off of I-81 and that was not going to place them in the middle of rush hour traffic. I mentioned the nice things about our area because I wanted to give them some ideas for tourism in case they might be interested.
Sep 16th, 2006, 03:18 PM
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If I'm not traveling on a peak period ... like 3 day weekends or while school is out for Christmas or mid-winter holiday, then I just use the coupon books one finds at rest stops and business close to the interstate exits. At www.roomsaver.com (roomsavers??) you can find most of the same coupons ... a few places will take a "day of arrival" reservation.
That $40 Windym sounds unbeatable tho.
That $40 Windym sounds unbeatable tho.
Sep 16th, 2006, 04:54 PM
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Thanks, travelenthusiast! (And sorry for the semi-hijack, nonnimouse 
)
While I've got friends in Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg, I've never really "toured" Harrisburg yet, so I'm looking forward to it!
)While I've got friends in Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg, I've never really "toured" Harrisburg yet, so I'm looking forward to it!
Sep 17th, 2006, 12:28 PM
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well, slight change in plans - looks like we will end up in Carlisle on the first night. We have a hotel room, any restaurant suggestions? And does anyone know roughly what time evening rush hour begins going through Harrisburg?
Sep 17th, 2006, 02:51 PM
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Ah, well, Carlisle is it?
There happen to be several nice, local restaurants in downtown Carlisle. One of our favorites (we will drive 25 miles to go to dinner there) is called Salamandra on North Hanover Street (US Route 11). It specializes in wood-fired pizza. Dressy casual atmosphere (plan on $15 to $25pp). Another good choice is the California Cafe, 38 W. Pomfret Street -- cross-street is South Hanover (french and fusion cuisine) www.calcaf.com(Figure $20 and up). Out on the highway where most of the accomodations are (there is a nice hotel downtown -- I think it's a Comfort Suites), the restaurants are mostly of the budget chain type. If you're into interesting burgers, however, try the new Red Robin ("gourmet burgers", they advertise) at the East High Street exit of I-81. If you've not encountered Red Robin before,it's a national chain, but has excellent burgers (and other grill items and salads as well)($15 and up). The same exit has a new Cracker Barrel, if that's more your style.
Another truly local place to try, although it's several miles off the highway, is the Boiling Springs Tavern in Boiling Springs south of Carlisle. Ask your hotel for directions. Good "american" food in an historic tavern with nice atmosphere. ($15-25). www.boilingspringstavern.net
Happy travels!
There happen to be several nice, local restaurants in downtown Carlisle. One of our favorites (we will drive 25 miles to go to dinner there) is called Salamandra on North Hanover Street (US Route 11). It specializes in wood-fired pizza. Dressy casual atmosphere (plan on $15 to $25pp). Another good choice is the California Cafe, 38 W. Pomfret Street -- cross-street is South Hanover (french and fusion cuisine) www.calcaf.com(Figure $20 and up). Out on the highway where most of the accomodations are (there is a nice hotel downtown -- I think it's a Comfort Suites), the restaurants are mostly of the budget chain type. If you're into interesting burgers, however, try the new Red Robin ("gourmet burgers", they advertise) at the East High Street exit of I-81. If you've not encountered Red Robin before,it's a national chain, but has excellent burgers (and other grill items and salads as well)($15 and up). The same exit has a new Cracker Barrel, if that's more your style.
Another truly local place to try, although it's several miles off the highway, is the Boiling Springs Tavern in Boiling Springs south of Carlisle. Ask your hotel for directions. Good "american" food in an historic tavern with nice atmosphere. ($15-25). www.boilingspringstavern.net
Happy travels!
Sep 17th, 2006, 06:22 PM
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thank you so much - this is just what I needed! And it is the Comfort Suites where we have a reservation. Glad to hear it doesn't have a bad reputation. I really appreciate your advice, and will check our recommendations.
Sep 18th, 2006, 01:17 AM
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For anyone still interested, traffic patters in the Harrisburg area can be a bit bizarre. The Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg starts letting out around 3. This primarily impacts Carlisle Pike (Rte 11,) I-81 and I-83 (which is also impacted by the Army Depot at New Cumberland.) Harrisburg itself (mostly state workers) runs a bit later, more toward 4-5 PM.
A quick hint for anyone in Harrisburg: There's a snack bar atop the Harrisburg Hospital called the 7 Bridges Cafe. It's 1-2 blocks S of downtown. It's standard snack bar food: All three meals M-F; weekend is lunch and supper only. And they're not open much past 6:30 or so. It's on the 11th floor, and faces the river--it's arguably the most spectacular public view in the city!
A quick hint for anyone in Harrisburg: There's a snack bar atop the Harrisburg Hospital called the 7 Bridges Cafe. It's 1-2 blocks S of downtown. It's standard snack bar food: All three meals M-F; weekend is lunch and supper only. And they're not open much past 6:30 or so. It's on the 11th floor, and faces the river--it's arguably the most spectacular public view in the city!
Sep 18th, 2006, 03:44 PM
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You will likely to get to Harrisburg pretty late that night, so I won't worry about evening traffic. Rather, you want to get past Harrisburg so you won't have trouble with traffic the next morning.
I suggest the Hampton Inn in Grantville, PA, right off exit 80 on I-81. There are also a Econolodge and a Comfort Suites at same exit.
I suggest the Hampton Inn in Grantville, PA, right off exit 80 on I-81. There are also a Econolodge and a Comfort Suites at same exit.
