Op, we do this drive frequently and agree with the straight through method. Time it so that you are ready to stop for a BBQ lunch at exit 107 in Kenley, NC, at Stormin Norman's! (Note: they are not open on M/T).

Agree with the driver straight through crowd. Leave early, really early, and stop for breakfast after a few hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive straight through. It's not that far.

+1

+1. Be sure to leave by 6am though, especially summer weekends and holidays. I-95 is miserable until you get to the NC state line.

drive straight through, but it's long as F--K. Once we stopped around lumberton, NC and spent the night and it was great to be in Charleston by noon/early afternoon.

We recently drove to Charleston with our 1.5 yr old. We stopped overnight on the way down, and each leg we made a stop halfway for lunch/ to get energy out. We stopped in Rocky Mount for the overnight. On our way back home we drove straight through with a stop for lunch and a couple rest stop breaks. I was nervous bc we had never driven that far with her and I didn't think she would do well. It was definitely better driving straight through and it was so much better to just get it all done with.

Straight through. We do it every year.
Leave DC area by 5:30-6:00, stop for breakfast along the way.
You will be in Charleston by early afternoon/happy hour.

we left our house around 7 pm and drove to a holiday inn express about 10 miles this side of "south of the border" sorry I don't remember the name. Then got up in morning and drove and was at the Charleston acquarium by lunchtime. sweet!

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Charleston native who lives in DC. I recommend driving straight through. 95 through NC is kinda meh and getting to Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham (a possible stopping point) would take extra time. If you leave early or late enough (overnight drive), you should be ok.

Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham?
Why in the hell would you go that far off 95 when going to Charleston.

Go straight through. Just get south of Richmond as quickly as possible.

Thanks!

We have four kids, and driving long distances with them isn't very pleasant.

We won't drive overnight. We know a family that was involved in a serious accident when driving overnight from Florida (one child died, and everyone else was hospitalized). That, coupled with the fact that neither DH or I have the stamina to stay up all night, nixes the overnight drive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive straight through. It's not that far.

+1

+1. Be sure to leave by 6am though, especially summer weekends and holidays. I-95 is miserable until you get to the NC state line.

Anonymous wrote:Drive straight through. It's not that far.

+1

Straight through

Drive straight through. It's not that far.

I've done both and prefer leaving early and driving straight through. There is nowhere good to stop.

I'm a Charleston native who lives in DC. I recommend driving straight through. 95 through NC is kinda meh and getting to Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham (a possible stopping point) would take extra time. If you leave early or late enough (overnight drive), you should be ok.

Is there anyplace interesting worth a stop or overnight between DC and Charleston, SC?