Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hi, we are planning a trip to Florida this summer and will most likely be driving. The total time of the trip is about 18 hrs. I'd like to stay overnight somewhere, and would like to get more then half of the drive in the first day. That being said, SC seems like the spot to stop for the night. I'm looking for a safe town to stay in overnight, not to far off from I-95 of course that people can recommend based on recent previous experience.
Driving home to MA from FL last summer I stayed at a motel 6 in SC. What a total dump! Stay away from motel 6 no matter what. Days inn are pretty good, so is econolodge.
I use a garmin nuvi GPS and when I need to rest it tells me how far and names of motels on my route. Restaurants too. Garmins are very helpful on long trips.
You will most likely want to drive until dinner, at least! Where in Florida are you going? It's a LOOONG state! We live in Va., and it's 12 hours to Jacksonville, Fl.....that's a great stopping point, because there's a lot to do in the evening there!
I would figure out how far you want to go...then check "Hotels.com"..that will give you a good comparison of all the hotels where you're thinking you'll stop.
When you pick one, call the hotel directly to book....do NOT use a 3rd party! Just call the hotel...and find out what the cancellation policy is...you want to be able to cancel without penalty that same day, in case you want to stop sooner, or drive farther!
I suggest the site I-95 Hotels, Motels and Motor Inns | Find The Perfect Place to Stay | The I-95 Exit Guide.
That's the lodging page but the site gives much useful information.
Which motels are at which stops, gas stations, restaurants, rest areas, and the local phone numbers.
Most 95 motels understand long distance trips and allow cancellations by 6 PM.
Any major exit around suppertime will have hotels and restaurants in abundance,just pick a quality hotel and you shouldnt have a problem, avoid the super cheap $25 a night hotels or anything under the Knights Inn banner...If you leave early Brunswick GA is a good exit to stop at.Savannah also has a sizable exit if you feel like stopping earlier.
Getting a copy of a publication called "The Next Exit" will tell you what businesses are at each exit,very handy.= http://www.thenextexit.com/index.html
Also the site posted by old cold is an excellent resource, and even comes with a forum//
OP needs to define 'where' in FL: it's a large, long state and getting to Orlando is not the same as rolling all the way to Naples or Miami.
I agree with other posters to do a longer drive on day one, then slide into FL on the second day with not as long a drive, and you get to your destination in daylight.
Picking a specific town or mileage area is impossible as none of know the start/end of your trip, car comfort, kids?, driving vigor, etc.
old_cold's I-95 link is a good one. When the OP gets to a general point where they want to stop, use a smart phone, check out a couple motel chain sites, book & cop a room via the phone. Easy stuff and saves pulling in and paying retail, or finding that the place is sold out.
GL, mD
OP needs to define 'where' in FL: it's a large, long state and getting to Orlando is not the same as rolling all the way to Naples or Miami.
I agree with other posters to do a longer drive on day one, then slide into FL on the second day with not as long a drive, and you get to your destination in daylight.
Picking a specific town or mileage area is impossible as none of know the start/end of your trip, car comfort, kids?, driving vigor, etc.
old_cold's I-95 link is a good one. When the OP gets to a general point where they want to stop, use a smart phone, check out a couple motel chain sites, book & cop a room via the phone. Easy stuff and saves pulling in and paying retail, or finding that the place is sold out.
GL, mD
NY is also large .... We would do it as kids with my parents .... Out of the house at like 3am and would typically really push it through dinner .... We would usually make it from near Corning to southern GA or sometimes northern FL in day 1 ..... We would be stop excited to be "close" and then deflated when we would spend most of day 2 simply driving through FL to the keys
We typically would stay in smaller cities as it seemed the budget hotel was the norm and not a discount option in a discount part of town ..... Many years ago, but typically econo lodge
If you have a smart phone let it be your guide .... Gas buddy, yelp and trip advisor do my family well
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
