Southern Jersey Turnpike area: hotel
 

En route to upstate NY from VA in October. Need a night of sleep at equiv of Hampton 3-star between Wilmington DE and Philadelphia, hopefully near Turnpike. Have worn my nails out on the keyboard :-) Then I remembered how helpful Fodorites are!
I know a couple greats in Philly, but would like to avoid downtown traffic and keep near Turnpike.
Want nice & safe; could someone suggest a suburb? Trenton is too far north.Thanks in advance for your time!

Could you adjust your route westward? Take I-83 out of Baltimore through York PA to Harrisburg to pick up I-81.
Depending on how far "upstate" you are going, you can take I-84 east from Scranton or I-88 east from Binghamton.
There are a couple hotels off the Grantville exit near the Penn National horse track.

If you'll be taking I-95 north from VA you can find what hotels/motels are within 1/2 mile of every exit along that Interstate at the following website:

http://www.i95exitguide.com/lodging/new-jersey-lodging/

There are plenty of places that are either Hampton Inns or equivalent. Take your pick.

Thanks tomfuller, but need to take 287/87 route this time.
I like 83 and York!
And thanks RoamsAround,wanted to avoid 95 from Wilmington on....but looks like it's my best bet at least through Philadelphia.

Hampton Inn Bridgeport/Swedesboro

Hampton Inn at the NJTP Mt Holly exit is our usual stop on our frequent trips from Richmond to Boston.

As they say "EZ Off, EZ On."

There is a Cracker Barrel next door if you dare, a TGIFridays almost next door so you don't have to get back in the car, and the property is well-kept and has a responsive staff.

I usually have a reservation. Weekends seem to have wedding parties and family events, but I don't travel on weekends if I can help it.

Be sure to buy gas before you leave Jersey because it is substantially cheaper than in NY.

Marriott Courtyard Burlington/Mt Holly/Westhampton

There is a Hampton Inn, as well as a number of other lodgings, near Exit 4 of the New Jersey turnpike. Look at the listings for Mount Laurel NJ and assess the distance from exit 4. Plenty of choices and chain and independent restaurants, too.

Wow! Back on the project thanks to my fodorites' input!
What a great resource this site is when you hit a brick wall.
After hearing bad reviews about the Hampton Inn there, I was givin up (and quote was $170 at time? :-)but will try again.
Thanks so much to each of you!

Ackislander: your input was invaluable! Midlothian to Hudson River Valley here, wanting to avoid 95 as possible.
Thanks for getting it!
Will shortly do post re: "Richmond VA fodorites"
p.s. Hahah! With a teense of guilt, I love Cracker Barrel when on the road in tennis shoes etc!

As with all hotel reviews, you have to be skeptical.

The google ratings are pulled down by two awful reviews. The Booking.com reviews were good to excellent. I stay there roughly every other month and have never run into a problem. People appreciate the breakfasts and the staff. One of the complaints about staff on Google was racist.

I got it on Bookings this morning for <$107 including tax. Tuesdays are often good days to book travel. Midweek travel is usually a lot cheaper, too.

The Hilton Garden Inn across the street is slightly nicer, but the heating/cooling is uncontrollable in my experience, and you have to pay for breakfast. The heating and cooling may work for someone else, but after three stays spread between hot and cold weather, I gave up.

When driving north from the Baltimore area to NYC, not your destination I know, I stay in the right hand lane on the Delaware Bridge and take 295 toward Trenton. I stay on 295 until exit 56 Bordentown and turn right at the top of the ramp. Just before the T intersection and before Wendy's (where I usually stop for a break and gas at the adjoining Love gas station) follow signs for the turnpike. That will put you on the Turnpike at its exit 7 and take little if no time longer than if you had taken the turnpike the entire way. I 295 has motels at many of the exits.