Driving route from NJ to NC (Charlotte, Harrisburg: living, shopping mall, garden)

[berryjuice4life]

It sure beats taken 95...let me tell ya it took us 11 hours going that way, it is dreadful, everytime we have gone and taken 81 to 77 we had no problems...it also depends what time of the day your driving, we usually left like 5am and then once we moved down we left at 7:30 in the evening and it took us about 10 hours with stopping...

[engineman529]

If you are going to the Charlotte area it is good to take route 78 off the NJTP follow it to Harrisburg PA, then pick up route 81. you will be on 81 for a long time in VA till you hit route 77 and take it south to charlotte. from Long island new york it took us 12 hours including a 1 hour meal stop. going this way you will avoid DC and the high traffic areas to the south of DC along 95. It is also a scenic way to go, a bit more boring though :-)


Hope this helps.

[leggo]

I agree with the 81 to 77 route, but on a weekday it is bumper to bumper tractor trailers and bonehead drivers. I did it Thursday before last, and there were so many trucks and boneheads in the passing lane going 66 mph passing people going 65 mph. Then the boneheads wouldn't pull back into the travel lane to let us speedier drivers go by !!!!
It was WAY FRUSTRATING. The police need to start ticketing people who camp out in the passing lane.
It was much better going back on a weekend, not as much traffic.
Next time I go down - I think I am going to pull an all nighter on I95 - and see what that is like.
good luck.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by leggo

Next time I go down - I think I am going to pull an all nighter on I95 - and see what that is like.
good luck.

I've done the all nighter on I-95. I left on a Thursday night in February, pulled out of my complex in Concord at 9:30. Had two gas breaks and got to my folks' place in Toms River, NJ (about five minutes from Seaside Heights) at 6:30 am on the dot. The only problem is the 3-4 am hours. You're in the dead of night, you've already done 6 or so hours worth of driving and things tend to get a little hazy around that time.

It worked for me though. I had some CD's, my XM and Sirius radios, a cooler and a few snacks, the cruise control...it's doable.

[charlottehelper]

Hi there:
We travel regulary to NY from Charlotte and usually take 78 into 81 into 77. Real pretty ride and usually much less traffic than 95

[bundydad]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

Good luck taking 81 to 77, very very very boring drive! I used to drive from northern NY to Charlotte all the way down 81 til I hit 77, you are only on 77 for an hour and you will hit Charlotte.

Rt 81 in Virginia is a very pretty drive, alot of mountains. For those coming to and from NY or NJ AVOID the PENN TURNPIKE! CONSTRUCTION DELAYS

[lilybell]

I am moving down to Charlotte in late August. Thanks for all the infomation conerning the drive down. My family and I are driving down from Long Island, New York. We will be leaving about 5am on a Saturday morning. We will be taking my grandchildren so will be be stopping along the way. I think taking 81 sounds much better. This will be our first drive down (we would always fly) so this is going to be an adventure for all of us. Thanks again!

[joannhoran]

We (husband,mother,4 year old and myself) will be going to NC in early November to see some homes in NC from Clifton, NJ. The cost is about the same, but do I go with the train and make the trip over 3 hours longer? Or do I enjoy the comfort of knowing I can rest and not have to drive. The only time frame for travel is leaving 7am and arriving past 10pm....or do I go by rental a comfortable vehicle??? I am confused...which way do I go???

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by joannhoran

We (husband,mother,4 year old and myself) will be going to NC in early November to see some homes in NC from Clifton, NJ. The cost is about the same, but do I go with the train and make the trip over 3 hours longer? Or do I enjoy the comfort of knowing I can rest and not have to drive. The only time frame for travel is leaving 7am and arriving past 10pm....or do I go by rental a comfortable vehicle??? I am confused...which way do I go???

I've done the train from NJ to NC...ugh, don't do it. Trust me.

I've done the drive from NJ to NC a million times (I95 and the I81-I77 routes).

81-77 is prettier esp in VA. Watch out for all the construction by Cabela's along 78 in PA. Its a crapshoot IMO...sometimes we flew by, others we got stuck for 2 hrs or so.

Also, if you take 95, your gonna pay like $10 in tolls along the way. Just food for thought. DC-Richmond can have the worst traffic of anywhere possible.

I'd take the 81-77 route like the majority of people say....gl...p.s. I did it in 9 hours from Parsippany NJ to Charlotte w/only one pee break and a drive thru at mickey d's....I was doing 80-85 the whole way. If you have kids w/you, look at around anywhere from 10 1/2 - 12 hours one way approx..gl

[Girl]

Originally Posted by joannhoran

We (husband,mother,4 year old and myself) will be going to NC in early November to see some homes in NC from Clifton, NJ. The cost is about the same, but do I go with the train and make the trip over 3 hours longer? Or do I enjoy the comfort of knowing I can rest and not have to drive. The only time frame for travel is leaving 7am and arriving past 10pm....or do I go by rental a comfortable vehicle??? I am confused...which way do I go???

Hey! I used to live in Bloomfield! Relocated last year to Fort Mill, SC in the Charlotte area.

I recommend driving since you have a little one. A child is gonna get bored QUICK on a train, and drive other folks nuts in the effort to entertain him/her. I know this - I have two young kids (4 yr old and 3 yr old) myself! It's much easier to contain them in a car when they are strapped in their carseats. Mine pretty much fall asleep the minute we leave the driveway, but a train? Oh my - they'd be wired and practically humming with excitement during the first hour, then quickly delve into shenanigans once the thrill wore off. *lol*

The 81/77 is a nice drive. Yes, there can be a lot of tractor trailers, but it's still a pleasant drive. And in November it should be LOVELY.