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Topic: General Information

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Main Topic Post: General Information

Posted By: Guest

Subject: Traveling by car with kids

We are driving to Corolla from Ohio with a 2 year old and we were wondering if anyone would recommend driving it in one trip or if we should stay overnight somewhere in VA. We've never made the drive to NC, especially with a toddler, so we would appreciate any feedback. My son likes his carseat, but I am not sure if he can make it without having a meltdown.

Also, I am reading about all the traffic in the DC area and was wondering if it's even possible to make it there in 11 hours. We were planning to take I-70 to I-270 to 495 to I-295 to I-64 to SR-168 to I-158. Thanks.

Message Replies:

4933: RE: Traveling by car with kids

5/31/2006 8:54:29 PM

Posted By: Guest

fly

4934: RE: Traveling by car with kids

5/31/2006 9:19:01 PM

Posted By: Guest

We travel by car from NY and we always break it up and stay for one night (at least) in Williamsburg. It will be better for all of you if you find someplace along the way to stay overnight, and then get a fresh start in the morning to head to the OBX!!

4936: RE: Traveling by car with kids

5/31/2006 9:46:50 PM

Posted By: Guest

Considering the closest airport is Norfolk, which is almost 100 miles away from Corolla, and we are bringing an SUV full of stuff...flying isn't an option.

4938: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 12:10:58 AM

Posted By: Guest

Oh my goodness! DO NOT DRIVE IT IN ONE DAY! I am from Columbus Ohio area with 2 young children and take my advice stop over on the way down! DO NOT GO DC WAY EITHER! You will be S-O-R-R-Y! Take I-77 South thru WVA and Virginia down into N.C. Stop in Cary, North Carolina (Cary is a very nice area)at the Hampton Inn & Suites. It is Wonderful! Very clean and beautiful inside! It is a very easy drive, much MUCH better than going the DC route. Way more relaxing! From Cary get on U.S. 64 which is a very nice road. You can take this straight over onto the Outer Banks. U.S. 64 turns into 158 which will take you right to NC 12 which is the main HWY of the Outer Banks. It is about a 5 hour drive from the hotel. I would tell you to plan leaving so you can get over the bridge at least by 10:00am if you can. Traffic is not bad crossing over the bridge there.
The drive from the Columbus area to Cary is supposedly 8 hours but always takes us longer because of stopping for bathroom breaks for the kids and we usually stop to eat also. So usually 10-11 hours for us to get there. We are EXHAUSTED by the time we get to the hotel. Have a wonderful trip!

4939: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 12:19:18 AM

Posted By: Guest

OOPs sorry it is 1:00am and I got my directions wrong. U.S. 64 turns into 264 I believe and that takes you over thru Manteo on Roanoke then over the Sound to HWY 12. We always get a trip tik from AAA to keep up with any construction and such. If you can get a trip tik I would reccomend it.

4940: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 9:11:47 AM

Posted By: long

to expand on 4939's advice...

I live in the Raleigh / Cary area. I travel to the Outer Banks quite frequently. I agree with taking 64 east to the coast, DO NOT take the 264 east split when you have the option, although this will get you there, it is the scenic route and will add time to the trip. There has been a tremendous amount of construction that has taken place over the last several years and 64 is 4 lane open 70 MPH highway for a majority of the trip from Raleigh. There are plenty of places to stop along the way for bathroom / gas / food type things. It takes me 3 hours to be at the water from Raleigh, driving normal, nothing in excess of 5 over the limit.

Just trying to help.

4947: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 1:29:56 PM

Posted By: the wild bunch

We are leaving on Friday (5-2) from the Pittsburgh area...we have stopped overnight for the past few years in Fredricksburg, VA nright before we hop onto I-95. There are LOTS of hotels (Holiday Inn is a favorite). This makes a HUGE difference for us... we have a 7 year old and 5 year old twins!!!

4950: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 2:45:13 PM

Posted By: Matt

I am on OBX right now (weather is great!). I travelled down from the Norfolk area (SR-168 & SR-158) last weekend. After the Memorial Day traffic headed north on 5/29/06, there was no more traffic out of OBX. You may experiene delays getting into OBX on late fridays and early saturdays. Otherwise, you should be good to go.
My two year old handled the 2 hour trip with no problem.

4960: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 6:54:59 PM

Posted By: Guest

Thanks for all your suggestions. I appreciate your help. Regarding the route to Cary, then OBX...it really doesn't make sense for us to travel 9 1/2 hours to Cary (that's how long it would take from where we are in Ohio), stop overnight there, then travel another 5 hours to OBX when all the maps tell us that we can make it to Corolla from our house in about 11 hours if we go the DC route (depending on traffic).

We don't need to be at our rental home til 4 PM on Sunday, so we were debating on whether we should leave on Saturday and stay overnight somewhere then go to OBX on Sunday or just leave early on Sunday morning (4 AM) from our house and try to drive all the way through. I didn't think there would be as much traffic on Sunday in DC...am I completely off thinking this?

4967: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 8:34:16 PM

Posted By: Guest

i would do the trip in 2 days..you could stay up around Richmond area it is 3 hours or so to the outer banks....try and get to the outer banks either early on your arrival day or after 7 at night the traffic can be awful on Sat and Sunday

4973: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/1/2006 8:49:46 PM

Posted By: Guest

Left from Stafford VA once for the Outer Banks which is south of D.C. What should have been a 5 hour drive turned into 9 hours (we left early!) What happens is that you run into all the beach traffic around Virginia Beach on all those bridges!

4991: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 2:09:23 PM

Posted By: Guest

Hello from Ohio!
Not sure where in OH you are driving from, but I'm in Cbus and it took us 10.5 to get to S. Nags Head in April. My parents drove from Cinci and it took them about 12-13 with extra stops.
For both of us, Mapquest, Rand McNally AND yahoo maps were all off! It took us longer than they predicted.
I agree with staying away from D.C. It took us much longer to get home-- stuck in traffic around Quantico, VA for hours!!!)

4995: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 3:27:05 PM

Posted By: Guest

You said you were going to have "an SUV full of stuff". Just to let you know... If you are renting a beach house most of them have beach chairs and/or pool items if you rented a house with a pool. A lot of people leave items like that behind at the house because they do not want to pack it up and take it home if they brought it or bought it there. Most of the houses have pots and pans also so I would not drag that stuff along.

4998: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 4:38:14 PM

Posted By: Guest

Hello - I'm from Columbus area and have been going to OBX for 15 years and I have tried it several ways. This is the first year to travel with our new 2yr old granddaughter. We have planned to stop overnight and make many stops to avoid meltdowns. With older kids I have driven straight thru and also stayed overnight. It depends on how exhausted you want to be. Stay overnight and enjoy the break off the road and you'll be refreshed when you finally get to the OBX and your house. Have a great time - we leave next Friday!

4999: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 4:39:55 PM

Posted By: Guest

Just remember that no matter how crazy it gets in the car - its all worth it when you get there!!!

5000: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 4:58:09 PM

Posted By: lance

we are in cleveland, and made it in 10 3/4 hours on the way down to Avon,(30 minutes total off the highway) and went through dc both times and had no problems.. on the way back we like to stop in hagerstown and chill for the night....

we left at 4:30 and arrived at 3:15 and have done that 3 times, so it can be done...

5001: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 4:58:46 PM

Posted By: Guest

before we take a long trip, we go and visit the Dollar tree store. You can buy toys for a dollar each(something new to entertain the kids). Then when we stop to take a break, the kids get another treat if they have been good. Works for us!

5005: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 5:40:47 PM

Posted By: Guest

you dont need to take alot of stuff. eveything there is the same price you pay here. plus as one said all houses have toys, chairs and all nesseities. i would fly to norfolk and rent a car from there. i even saw a couple houses offering free jeep rental for a week!!You couldnt pay me to be in a car with little toddlers. keep in mind gas prices.........

5008: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/2/2006 9:37:32 PM

Posted By: Guest

Thanks for all the great tips, I didn't post the original question, but definitely some useful ideas here. Great Replies!

5017: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/3/2006 2:26:39 PM

Posted By: Guest

Thanks for the advice everyone. I really appreciate it. Again, flying is not an option since we leave in about a week and yes, we are renting a house, so I am aware it comes with items, but ours isn't baby proof and doesn't come with beach chairs, toys, etc. so we need to bring baby gates, stroller, beach toys, and chairs. Thanks again!

5025: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/3/2006 10:09:39 PM

Posted By: Guest

thats great you are going in a week. You never mentioned if you have vacationed there before or not, but i think you may be surprised to find a lot of your itmes there. i have rented severalhouses and always have found toys, chairs, AND babygates. Have a good time.

5091: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/5/2006 3:47:21 PM

Posted By: Guest

Yes a lot of the houses all ready have what you are planning on packing but not all. I would suggest calling the rental agency and specifically asking for baby gates, etc. Easier to bring some with you than to rent or buy ($$)

5448: RE: Traveling by car with kids

6/13/2006 11:59:46 PM

Posted By: Guest

We traveled to Duck from Pittsburgh last week. This was our 4th year there and the trip is LONG, even for adults! (About 9.5 hrs) So we broke it up leaving a day earlier than check-in at Duck and stayed at HoJo's on Jefferson Davis Highway, in Fredericksburg. It was beautiful, very clean, and only cost us about $65.00! From there it was a short 4 hr drive on Sunday morning to OBX, and we didn't hit any of the bumper to bumper traffic past Norfolk because we left early. We took scenic Rt. 17 most of the way which was very relaxing, avoiding the craziness of the 4 lane highways. Once there, we were ready to enjoy our vacation refreshed............ no naps needed and headed for the beach! We decided to do it this way every year now. I couldn't even imagine a one day trip like that with the kiddos! Good luck with whatever you decide. Be safe!!!

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