Toddler-friendly stopping points along I-95 (south of DC)

[Anonymous]

We are taking I-95 south to visit family in North Carolina at Christmas time this year. It's too long of a drive to make in one shot with a toddler now, so I'm hoping to find a stopping point where we can spend the night to break up the trip. Ideally it would be some place sort of cute/interesting, where our little one can run around, we could get a halfway decent meal, and we can all decompress a little before hitting the road again the next morning. Are there such places?

[Anonymous]

Where in NC are you going? It's only 5 hours to the SC line, so I can't imagine you are breaking up that trip?

[Anonymous]

Greensboro. We've never made it in less than 7, and that was before kids...

[Anonymous]

ok, so you need 1-85 then, right?

[Anonymous]

We travel back and forth between DC and Greensboro several times a year (with kids that age). Have you ever tried takng 29 South through Charlottesville and Danville instead of 95 to 85? To us, it's a much nicer drive. There are better places to stop for a bite or run around, and even though it's technically further than 95, it always seems to take us less time to get there. (I hate I-95, so I am probably biased, though.) Charlottesville and Lynchburg are decent stopping places--Lynchburg would have you much closer to Greensboro, of course. I've spent less time in Lynchburg, but there's a historic downtown area and a children's museum. Have a nice trip!

[Anonymous]

You can stop in Petersburg for Chick fil a, Panera, Starbucks, etc. There are a set of those at the mall exit, and also some at an exit right around there. We try our best to make it that far. After that, there isn't much if you are doing 95 to 85 until you get fairly close to GBO. There is a chick fil a with a play place in Henderson NC. That is the cleanest place to stop after you get through Petersburg. They have a play place at all the CFAs and they are very clean.

[Anonymous]

Oh goodness, I just saw you want to spend the night- I'm the PP above. I think that is so much more trouble than it is worth, but if you must, the PP above me might be right about taking the alternate route through Charlottesville. You really can make it there, even with 2 stops, one quick and one for lunch in 7 hours. I go very close to GBO. This means, though, that you aren't traveling during a peak crazy time. Use the Waze app to help as well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! We haven't tried 29 south but definitely will look into it. 81 is also an option but we were afraid there's greater chance of inclement weather in dec. Good to know about the CFAs too!

[Anonymous]

I am another NoVan who travels regularly to Greensboro. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Route 29 over I-95. It is so peaceful and beautiful and you can stop most anywhere along the route. There's no stress, few trucks, little traffic, etc. The distance is actually shorter but it takes longer because it's 55 MPH versus 65 on I-95.

From Fairfax it regularly takes us 5 1/2 hours. You should not need to stop. I've taken my kids on that route ever since they were infants - dozens and dozens of times. There are great stopping points - Charlottesville, Lynchburg, lots of places you can just pull over especially if you stay on the business route over the bypass. There's a Nelson County Rest area with grass and picnic benches. And gas is cheap at the Sheetz in Lynchburg. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Start driving at your kid's bedtime and get there just after midnight. So much easer than spending the night.

[Anonymous]

You can always get a portable DVD player and hang in on the passenger seat for the kids to watch a movie. That should use up some time.

I also run the kids ragged at the local playground before we leave for long trips. Running as in tag, chase, races, etc.
It helps get their energy out and are more calm in the car.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who mentioned 29-South, and I also wanted to mention that Greensboro has some great activities for kids. There's a very nice children's museum downtown and my kids also love the Greensboro Science Center on Lawndale Drive. It has a small zoo out back, which might be sort of quiet during the winter, but there are neat exhibits inside, plus a large space with a water table, play grocery store w/carts, puppets, play veterinarian and garden, and indoor climbing area/castle thing. (Our toddlers went nuts over this--it was AWESOME after a day in the car.) I'm guessing you or your family probably already know about this, but I figured I'd bring it up just in case. Travel safe!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for the 29 route. We usually end up leaving in the evening and sleeping near Charlottesville. We get an early start the next morning. Our destination is Asheville.

[Anonymous]

Why do you feel the need to spend the night somewhere? Seriously? I go to my parents quite a few times, 7 hour trip, we do it in a day. Have since both kids were infants. I wouldnt waste time or money staying somewhere on the road for just a 7 hour trip.

[Anonymous]

Spending the night is much more trouble than it's worth. DH and I thought we'd split up an 8 hour beach trip when DC was one. We left at night and drove for 4 hours (midnight). Then we stopped at a hotel, where DC was awake for the next two straight hours. It was hell.

Since then, we have made that trip multiple times with even more kids and it's really not that bad. We stop in the middle at a rest stop and let the kids run around for awhile.

Anyway, that's not helpful for your specific question about route but just my two cents.