Planning road trip to NC

[asiancivicmaniac]

My sister will be moving to Winston-Salem mid-May to start Americorps. My mom and I will be accompanying her up there and we will be flying back. Being the planner in the family, I'm looking at the route and it looks like a straight forward drive on I-75 and I-95. Since it's an almost 13 hour drive I was thinking of doing 8 and staying overnight in Savannah, GA and finishing the drive the next day. Neither my sister or I am used to driving long distances so I'm apprehensive about doing it all in one day.

How does this sound? Are there any alternative routes that Google Maps isn't showing me that would be better?

And although we will have little time, I want to fit at least one city in for site seeing. And it looks like it's between Charlotte and Savannah since we don't have to go out of our way. Which would you choose?

 

[Deltona_Dave]

Savannah gets my vote. Lots of history in that town.

Dave

 

[QuietPortage]

You could make it in one shot if you wanted to, but Savannah is a beautiful, historic city. Stop there and enjoy a morning walk through town.

 

[Al]

Looks like you are taking 26W, 77N and then 40 into Winsten-Salem. That's probably the best way. Don't hit Charlotte during rush hour. Keep your eyes open as you are North of the bypass around Charlotte. You can get screwed up. Just keep watching the 77N signs.

 

[rjundi]

Savannah is a wonderful place to stay/spend time if you have energy after an 8 hr drive.

That depends on the car and traffic how exhausted you are.

 

[eagle23]

+1 on Savannah. Charleston is not on the direct path.

The Savannah historic district is a square mile, filled with lots of small parks with old historic houses and live oaks (like you have in Florida).

I go there on business several times a year and always make it a point to arrive in time for a walk through some of the parks.

The hotels by I-75 are usually less expensive than the ones downtown, but the city isn't large so you can easily drive from there to downtown.

If you like old (circa 1825 for the building itself) hotels, the River Street Inn is great, though a bit spendy.

Enjoy!!

 

[JHZR2]

I've personally enjoyed going up the west side of FL, along the gulf to around PC, then up across AL, then out the 85.

A bit longer but an enjoyable trip.

 

[01rangerxl]

Charlotte isn't much of a sightseeing city. A lot of what could have been considered historical was leveled between the 1950s and 1970s, and traffic can be a big problem during certain times of day. It has probably been 10 years since I've been to Savannah, but it's a beautiful city. It's actually a nice place to stop for lunch and take a walk.

77 N will probably be a parking lot anywhere between 4-6 PM at least.

 

[bigmike]

Savannah is a nice place. Plenty of things to do and see. It would take several days to see it all, so pick and choose before you go.

I'm a bit biased. One rainy night, I proposed to my wife on Savannah's boardwalk.

 

[Taildragger]

Be careful going through Waldo and Starke, speed trap capitol of the world! It really is an all day drive from Punta Gorda Florida, I have made that trip a few times myself. If it is just an overnight stop without sightseeing, might want one of the cheapie motels off of 95 around Hardeeville SC. If not, plane a day to explore Savannah.
Good tip on the I-77 stuff around Charlotte.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Thanks everyone

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

One more question. Mom and I are flying out of Raleigh, and it's a 1.5 hour drive to get there from Winston-Salem. There seems to be a few people who are familiar with the traffic.

Anyone know what traffic is like on I-40 east? Will need to catch a 7:15 PM flight, so planning to arrive at the airport around 5:45–6:00. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[01rangerxl]

I don't travel that section of I-40 nearly as much as I used to, but expect traffic around populated areas. You probably will not be around Greensboro during rush hour, but Chapel Hill and Durham could get congested. RDU is directly between Raleigh and Durham, so you will probably hit some traffic no matter what. It isn't Charlotte type traffic though. The drivers are not as aggressive and the road system isn't as overloaded, so just plan some extra time and you will be fine.