Driving From MD to FL i95

[mayrubgar]

I am traveling with 2 young kids 5 and 2 its gonna be a long drive. I wanted to know any good quick stops along the way? I already know South of The Border. I want good eating spots right off of i95. The best rest stops and a suggested time to leave. We plan on leaving Thursday our cruise is on Saturday 1-17-14.

[5326jan]

My daughter has 2 and 5 year and they do it all the time. They drive from Lynchburg (VA) to Ormond Beach. It takes them about 12 hours. They don't have set places to stop, just when they need gas or a restroom. The boys don't usually watch TV, but on the long road trip they get to watch movies, with headphones, so that Mom and Dad don't have to listen. They like the old Disney hits like Jungle Book. :D

[sparks1093]

If you like a particular chain restaurant you can go to their website and it should show you where they are in relation to I95. We are partial to Cracker Barrel when we have the time and their restaurants are well advertised before each exit.

[EmJakeBubbie]

we only ever stop at McD's - food in/food out/and off of I-95, it's easy on/off the exits and mostly there is a gas station. Nobody gets sick, eating at McD's - familiar for kids, and quick. Pay attention to the road signs. Exit 93 comes to mind, but can't share more than that??? if I can't see it from the road, I don't get off the highway.

I doNOT like South of Border - stopped once for the curiosity factor and won't ever do that again.

 

it's not a bad ride, once you get past that DC traffic, as long as you have drivers, taking turns.

 

Bon Voyage.

 

Make sure you use your GPS - you can pre-program exits for McD's stops and look at everything before you leave home. and, you can do Google Earth to see what you can see - that really helps.

[cb at sea]

There is a book about I-95 stops....I don't know if it's in a library...got mine at a bookstore. Has maps that show what is at each exit, and where radar traps are! Pretty accurate! The guide stops at the Fl. border, but is quite useful from Md. to the border!

 

Check in the guidebook section!

 

In NC, look for Smithfields Chicken and BBQ....soooooo good!!! Fast as a "fast food" place, but so much better!

[reedl]

...snip...

In NC, look for Smithfields Chicken and BBQ....soooooo good!!! Fast as a "fast food" place, but so much better!

I concur on Smithfield's Chicken and BBQ. Even though I am from Mass, I have made three trips in three years simply to eat Eastern NC BBQ. Smithfield's is one of my go to places. It may be a fast food chain, but it still is 10 times better than any place here in Mass for NC BBQ!

[dkjretired]

I travel that route from PA to Florida three or four times a week, just did it two weeks ago.

 

I would never again stop at South of the Border, nothing but a big tourist trap and quite frankly not the cleanest place in the world.

 

I would highly recommend when in Va that you take the Richmond Bypass off I-95. It is interstate I 295 and is around exit 85 or so in Va. The road is about two miles longer than going on 95 but you miss all the Richmond Traffic, Speed limit is 70 all the way and it is a much nicer ride. It actually saves you time because there is must less traffic, also, last time I was through Richmond there was construction on the Highway.

 

Any of the major chain restaurants are good and are clearly marked on the highway with signs. If I am getting gas I avoid any exit with only one gas station as prices seem to be higher. S. Carolina right now has lowest gas prices in the country.

 

A real good spot to stop is Wawa's which have gas stations and also have excellent sandwiches. I like their Philly cheese steaks. No drive in but then I don't rush it like you apparently are going to be doing.

 

Remember as you enter a state, each state has a rest area with tourist info. The one in Florida is nice because they give you free Orange juice, kids might get a kick out of that.

 

When I drive, I put the cruise control on and stay to the right as much as possible. As far as the Police, I don't worry so much about the state troopers as I do about the local county Police. Last 30 or so miles in Virginia seems they are all over the place.

 

The only advice I would give you is that if you havent' done this with the kids, don't rush, stop and get out of the car. There are lots of good restaurants where you can sit and relax and be out of there quick.

[aj3u]

dkjretired has some excellent tips. I don't know if I can post a link in the forum so google "i95 exit guide" and you will find a website dedicated to the subject with information about all of the exits.

 

Just as SC has cheap gas, NC seems to be extremely expensive. Fuel up in VA just before entering NC so you can drive all the way through to SC.

 

Another handy thing to know is mile markers start at zero at the southern border of each state. When you are traveling south, the mile markers will count down and when you hit zero you will be at the border of the next state. This might be a fun thing for the kids as you get down to the last 5 miles or so they can have a game of counting down and then see the "Welcome To" sign.

[michelle1836]

Wawas are good but sometimes they are not immediately off the exit. (we just drove to SC and took us some time to find the Wawa off one exit--look for the signs!) but thinking most exits on 95 have gas, food and lodging just incase you need a quick pit stop

[Sherlock43031]

I am traveling with 2 young kids 5 and 2 its gonna be a long drive. I wanted to know any good quick stops along the way? I already know South of The Border. I want good eating spots right off of i95. The best rest stops and a suggested time to leave. We plan on leaving Thursday our cruise is on Saturday 1-17-14.

 

there will be the usual assortment of food at most interchanges and most will be posted on signs before the exits. time your fuel stops so you won't be fueling after dark. always pay at the pump and skip the gasoline station restrooms. McD's and most chain fast food are well lighter and safer imo. the 'welcome to' rest areas are usually a safe bet the others we skip.

 

if you are the only driver don't make a death march out of the drive.. I agree about South of the Border it may have been cool back in the 50's but I would skip it now.

[jp30338]

Zaxbys!!!

 

Its like Chick-fil-A but better :p

 

they have them once you get into NC and then the rest of the South.

[lakelorain]

There are Cracker Barrels every few miles in VA, NC and SC. Very kid friendly restaurant. If you want a good pizza, stop in Stony Creek, VA. Stony Creek is south of Richmond and north of Emporia, VA. Little Italy is off 95. Go right at exit and make a quick left. Go about a mile and the restaurant is on right. Small but excellent Italian food.

[5326jan]

There are Cracker Barrels every few miles in VA, NC and SC. Very kid friendly restaurant. If you want a good pizza, stop in Stony Creek, VA. Stony Creek is south of Richmond and north of Emporia, VA. Little Italy is off 95. Go right at exit and make a quick left. Go about a mile and the restaurant is on right. Small but excellent Italian food.

 

I've lived in VA all my life and I've never heard of Little Italy or Stoney Creek! It's not on my usual route of rt460, I64 or rt58. I may have to check it out one day! Thanks for the tip! I'll travel far for good pizza. :D

[nat9511]

As dkjretired said please watch your speed in Emporia, Va. There are state troopers everywhere. I counted 10 within a 5 mile stretch last time I drove north.

 

Going north from SC the rest areas in NC are the Welcome Center - Lumberton, exit 49 - Fayetteville, exit 100 - Selma and exit 142 - Gold Rock. I don't know if they are the same coming southbound but might give you an idea where they might be.

[lakelorain]

I've lived in VA all my life and I've never heard of Little Italy or Stoney Creek! It's not on my usual route of rt460, I64 or rt58. I may have to check it out one day! Thanks for the tip! I'll travel far for good pizza. :D

 

Don't feel bad. We used to live in Richmond and never heard of Stony Creek. It's a real small town. 2 hotels, 2 gas stations and just a few restaurants. Someone told us about it or we would never have found it.

[lisap71]

I drove from CT to FL and I would also recommend not to stop at south of the border. It's really run down n dirty n shady. I also agree about zaxbys. Really decent.

 

This will give u lots of tips for stops

 

http://i95exitguide.com

 

Safe travels!!!

[MDSue]

I'd say stop anywhere but South of the Border, not much there and nowhere I'd want to eat.

There are hundreds of well-marked restaurants and Rest Areas along the way. I agree with the others who suggested Cracker Barrel if you want a sit-down meal.

When we used to travel with our young kids,, we always looked for Shoneys because it was very kid-friendly and had a buffet dinner that was good for young and older.

[MiamiSpartan]

We drove back home from Boston after 911, and there are tons of decent family friendly dining choices on I 95 throughout the entire way...

[TruckerDave]

"South of the border" was not bad when the casino was there. After SC banned gambling it went down hill fast.

 

Depending on where in MD you are starting I81 to I77 then (depending on which port in FL you are leaving from) I85 to I75 or I26 to I95 might be a better option. Speaking as somebody who does it for a living, I95 can be a MAJOR pain in the arse. I avoid it as much a possible especially on holidays and summers. The inland route can save you time and stress.

Edited January 10, 2014 by TruckerDave

[JustCruiseMe]

I live near exit 41 on I95 (North Carolina). I hate south of the border but there are Cracker Barrel on exit 49 and a few other restaurants. If you go down to Lumberton approximately exit 25 you will see lots and lots of restaurants and it's more of a "travel" restaurant area. If you go PAST Lumberton, NC there isn't any place to stop to eat for many miles. I mean that I would feel safe as female with kids.

 

Perhaps this will help with rest areas.

http://www.i95exitguide.com/restareas/northcarolina.php

 

All i95 NC rest areas are pretty good.

[mayrubgar]

Thank you for the info skip South of the Border got it. I am not gonna buy fireworks bcs I live in Md but if I wanted to window shop any hidden gems off of i95?

[Sherlock43031]

Thank you for the info skip South of the Border got it. I am not gonna buy fireworks bcs I live in Md but if I wanted to window shop any hidden gems off of i95?

 

if you have never been a quick stop so you can say you did.. probably ok.

kind of like the Mitchell Corn Palace & Wall Drug.. you know better but can't help stopping every time.

[Angela61280]

Which port in Florida are you headed to? I live in St. Augustine (if you're headed to Jacksonville, disregard this lol). At exit 318 is a Cracker Barrel (make a right). There's also outlets on both sides of i95. With kids, there's a Disney store outlet in the indoor outlets (make a left coming off i95) - pretty good prices and great for any last minute cruise wear purchases (there's a New York and Co in the indoor outlet too) and a small food court (sabaro/chinese/etc).