Hi,
Some friends and I are spending one night in Raleigh this summer, to break up the drive down to Savannah, GA.
None of us have ever been to Raleigh so I don't know what neighborhood/area to stay in. Can anyone recommend a decent, inexpensive hotel and maybe a couple of good nearby restaurants?
We'll basically just have time for dinner and breakfast in Raleigh - not really doing much sightseeing.

topping

What highway are you taking? Raleigh is very large and spread out and has everything from luxury hotels to Motel 6.

On I-40 at exits 282 or 284 (the airport) are several inexpensive hotels. You could also try Priceline for a place to stay.

Just up the road at exit 276 (Fayetteville Road, in Durham) is a mall with a lot of food options. Or you could head to Cary Towne Centre (not sure of the exit) another area with a lot of food options.

If you could list your route, I could have better options.

We will probably be travelling south on I-95, then taking 64W to Raleigh and then the next morning we'll take I-40 back to I-95 going south.

Raleigh is 1 hour+ (each way) out of your way. Since you don't plan to tour the town, stay closer to the highway.

Try staying in Rocky Mount (closer to the NC/VA border), a lot of motels there. Search for Rocky Mount for options.

I had no idea it was so out of my way. Thanks for the tip! I'll do some hotel research in the Rocky Mtn area.

OOOOHHHHH NC GRRRL ??..Come on !!!!!!!!!! EK, If you want to stay off the interstate, go ahead and stay in Rocky Mount. In fact, stay anywhere, it is all the same. But if you want to take a break and do something like go out, eat good food, see live music and maybe party a little, go to Raleigh off of I-95 as it is around 30 minutes drive. Take I-40 and it is only 30 minutes and an easy access. Stay at the Clarion downtown (the old Holiday inn?round Hotel near the capital) and a world of restaurants and bars are a short walk away. Glenwood South, the warehouse district, Moore Square and everything in-between are there. Come see what a Raleigh has to offer, even if for one night. Please don't take this as a slam, but I can't believe someone would guide someone to a mall. But of course, that is what is wrong with the Triangle and being so spread out, but there are places to go in Raleigh. EK, if you are interested, I can provide plenty of places to go. Just tell me what you want and info like age, food likes, etc.

I stand behind what I said Subway Scoundrel.

Ek said: We'll basically just have time for dinner and breakfast in Raleigh - not really doing much sightseeing.

Most attractions in Raleigh (museums, state government bldgs, etc) close at night and the malls are open. They are near some hotels and have restaurants. All that EK was looking for.

And then EK mention he/she was going down I-95. Raleigh isn't on I-95 and it's an hour or so to the I-40/I-95 interchange from the exits I mentioned.

Subway Scoundrel, click on my name and you will find I have made recommendations for Raleigh sites.

I agree with ncrgrrl. Unless I-95 has magically shifted west or Raleigh has magically shifted east or you're willing to drive 100+ mph on Highway 64, there's no way you get to Raleigh in 30 minutes from I-95.

ek- WHERE are you starting from?

I just drove from Va to FLA and I overnite in Savannah...

Raleigh is WAY out of the way off I 95 for you to stay there..stay instead in ROCKY MOUNT or even Florence SC....

There is a very nice Holiday Inn in Rocky Mount on Winstead Rd--just off Rt 64 E...( Rocky Mount is OFF I -95--you just need to take a 2 sec detour to 64 E and get off at the first extit on Winstead Rd..hotel is right there at the interstate...

Read the post. Yes, if you are on a hardcore roadtrip trying to get from one place to another, and drive until late, stay in a hotel, get up early to get back on the road, yes--stay on 95 and don't worry. BUT READ THE POST !!! "Never been to Raleigh !! "Stay in a cheap Hotel and maybe a couple of good resturants" That is what I answered. I check and it is around 34 miles from I-95 to Downtown Raleigh. This is not going to Durham, nor Chapel Hill, nor some buried neighborhood in Cary or North Raleigh. I-40 goes right into downtown. At 34 miles at 70 miles an hour (most people do 80 mph)--Do the math !!! I go to the beach all the time and come back and count the time. Again, we are talking downtown Raleigh from I-40. If it takes an hour, you are doing 35 miles an hour on the interstate. I lived downtown for 8 years. Again it would help if EK can tells us if he is "old or young minded" There is plenty to do in Raleigh downtown without sight seeing. Go to the antique coffee shop, walk over to 42 st and see a band for free, go to Gilians and watch a game/play pool. Go to Citysearch and see all the districts downtown. Again, stay on the highway, but if you got 30-35 minutes each way, read my post again.

Another comment--No need to take Hwy 64 if you don't have to. My comments are based on I-40. 8 lanes of glorious interstate into Downtown (almost, so close you can taste the Mello Mushroom Pizza). Again, if you do this, take I-40. Yes, Hwy 64 will take a very long time. Nothing to see except, well....Rocky Mount....

For the record. I drove to I-40 this weekend. If you take I-40 and not Hwy 64, Raleigh Downtown is 30 miles or 25-30 minutes from I-95. You can stay at the Clarion Hotel downtown. It looks like it is being remodeled. It is the old Holiday Inn. From there, you can walk to several locations. If you go to Glenwood South, for dinner go to 518 West, Sushi Blues, Hard Times Cafe or take an extra 2 blocks to Peace Street and go to Mello Mushroom. For bars, go to Rockford, Sullivans, Stool Pidgeons, Hibernia or Bogarts. Just walk around, there are others. Also, 42st OB and RiRa are right near the hotel. For late night food, go to Char-grill or Snoopys at Hillsbourgh and Glenwood. If you go to the warehouse district, go to Sushi Breeze, Humble Pie or Flying Saucer (bar food). For bars, go to FS, Gilians, or Berkley Cafe. Also, the Gay district is down that way. The resturant EST EST EST is 2 blocks east. For Moore Square, you can walk but about 3-4 blocks down and 5 blocks over, there is Greenshields, Tir-na-nog, Duck and Dumpling, Woodys, some Pizza place and my favorite, CAFE LUNA. My suggestion is to go to Glenwood South for dinner at 42 St or 518 West. Very near the hotel. Walk on down to Glenwood south. Depends on what night you are there on what is going on. The next morning, go to Finches or Big Eds for breakfast. (ask Hotel) Very southern places (although Finches is an old resturant run by a Chinese family). Head back and I-40 is right there.

While Subway Scoundrel is correct about the time it takes to get from the I-40/I-95 interchange to Raleigh, EK, heading south on I-95, would have to drive another 45 miles or so (distance between Rocky Mount and Benson) on I-95 before reaching that interchange.

So it's 1+ hour to Raleigh if you go via 64 from I-95/Rocky Mount, or it's 1+ hour if you drive the extra 45 miles south on I-95 and then take I-40 to Raleigh.

I've got nothing against Raleigh (lived in Raleigh/Cary for 15 years, and I've been to many of the restaurants Subway Scoundrel mentions), but it's up to EK whether the extra driving and time is worth it.