DC to Cape Cod -- good places to stop?

[Anonymous]

We're driving from DC to Cape Cod next weekend with our six year old daughter, planning to stop for meals/breaks as well as spend the night about halfway up. Planning to take I-95 straight up for the shortest trip. Does anyone have any suggestions for short breaks along the way -- ideally something engaging/interesting for a six year old, not too far from I-95. Also -- does anyone happen to have any thoughts about a place to spend the night that's not too pricey but also would be fun for our daughter (ideally, fun for all three of us!) Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

We drove to Cape Cod when our kids were 6 and 2, and spent the night in Mystic, CT on the way. It has a cute little downtown, a seaport, and a drawbridge, which our kids were fascinated by. Yes, we ate at Mystic Pizza, too! It's only a couple of hours from the Cape, so it wouldn't be good as far as a halfway stopping point, but it was a fun place to visit.

[Anonymous]

If you have time and go up the Henry Hudson Pkwy (if you want to go Merritt Pkway towards Milford CT and avoid a lousy part of 95), Wave Hill in Riverdale (NYC), just off the HHP, is a spectacular garden (www.wavehill.org).

Prior to Mystic, after New Haven, Lenny's Fish Tale (Westbrook, CT is the one we go to) has fantastic food -amazing lobster roll, great fried clams & chowder). About 5 mins. off 95, we call ahead to order, we've been doing it so long ;-o

No great idea where to stop, we either stay at a relative's in NJ or a hotel in northern NJ near the Suffern, NY border (Ramsey/ Mahwah, NJ).

[Anonymous]

No recommendations, only chiming in to share that I think there is construction on the GW bridge right now so you'll probably want to take the Tappan Zee.

[Anonymous]

We've almost always driven straight there but we did stay overnight in Old Lyme, CT once. It's about 6 hours.

[Anonymous]

Westport, CT

[Anonymous]

OK -- I will do anything to avoid driving 95 -- we have actually gone up to the Cape by way of the Berkshires, but if you must go 95, I can say that some of the spots mentioned in this article from today's Times are a nice way to break up the drive.
Have a great trip!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/travel/on-connecticuts-quiet-coast.html?ref=travel

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the ideas everyone. I also just had one...we might find an Ikea along the way --i think there are several along 95 -- for our daughter to burn off some energy in the ball room while we grab a bit in their cafe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the ideas everyone. I also just had one...we might find an Ikea along the way --i think there are several along 95 -- for our daughter to burn off some energy in the ball room while we grab a bit in their cafe

there is or used to be one in NJ right at/near the exit for the NJ Tpk to the Lincoln Tunnel/Secaucus, Rt-3 ... You'd get off the TPk onto 3 (check directions &c. for more detail).

[Anonymous]

Can you drive in the middle of the night? We made the trek earlier this year, leaving DC at 7 pm. Then we left the Cape at 4 for the drive back, both times driving just past NYC to stay the night. We tried to book a hotel with a pool to burn energy before leaving out in the am.

[Anonymous]

You'll drive right by an Ikea in New Haven, CT - its just off 95. I'm from the Mystic area and thats a great place to stop - the Aquarium there is awesome. There is also a cute little Childrens Museum in Niantic (about 20 minutes before you hit Mystic). The Mystic area is probably about 2 1/2 hours from the Cape - depending on where exactly you are headed.

Definitely take the Tappan Zee. And make sure you have Ez-Pass if you don't already bc it can save you a TON of time. Also, consider taking the Merritt Parkway in CT if 95 is backed up. And these days, no matter what time of day, it is. The Merritt is almost always better unless you are hitting it right at rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Mystic is a great suggestion. Use Priceline to snag a cheap place in NYC. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Can you leave very early? We spend our summers on the Cape and my husband comes every other weekend for 3 days. He usually leaves DC around 4 AM Sat and gets here by noon. Yes! You need to avoid the CT beach traffic, so that is why it is impt to leave early.
If you do come 95 and need to stop, I agree that Mystic is a good place to stay the night with kids.
If you want to avoid the CT and GW bridge, you can take Tappan Zee bridge, go thru Hartford, up to Mass Pike, and then down 495 to Bourne Bridge.
The traffic all depends on how you time the trip. We routinely do it in less than 9 hours!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you leave very early? We spend our summers on the Cape and my husband comes every other weekend for 3 days. He usually leaves DC around 4 AM Sat and gets here by noon. Yes! You need to avoid the CT beach traffic, so that is why it is impt to leave early.
If you do come 95 and need to stop, I agree that Mystic is a good place to stay the night with kids.
If you want to avoid the CT and GW bridge, you can take Tappan Zee bridge, go thru Hartford, up to Mass Pike, and then down 495 to Bourne Bridge.
The traffic all depends on how you time the trip. We routinely do it in less than 9 hours!

PP have you looked into flying this summer? We've been flying on jet blue for $85 each way. Given gas and tolls its probably not much more than one person driving. I don't mind the drive but am relieved to only be doing it once this summer.