Stallion

I will be driving with family to Myrtle Beach (Kingston Plantation) from southwest Pennsylvania (Mt. Plesant, Westmoreland County)and could use advice on the best directions. Mapquest suggests I-95S but cuts through some big cities and I wounder if I-77S might be quicker. Thanks.

andy

Call AAA if you have it..

I am in VA ( south of DC) and take I 95 and just below Florence, we cut over to some small 2 lane roads...it is a piece of cake....

But from PA, I- 77 may be better but you will go thru Charlotte NC and make sure you don't hit it on rush hour as the traffic will be a madhouse.

Also try Yahoo Maps-sometimes their maps are differnt from Mapquest.

There is also a TON of construction on I-95 S thru DC--it is a total slow down on weekends.. and 2 weeks ago it took 8 hours to go from DC to Richmond...TV was telling you to avoid I95 and take 301 N if you were driving N towards Baltimore...This is just a heads up..

beach_dweller

Stallion,

once you get to NC/SC, I can help a little. Andy is right about Charlotte traffic on I-77 (just time your drive to avoid it between about 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. if you go this way). If you choose 77, one option is to use as much interstate as possible (as opposed to lots of back roads connecting Charlotte to MB), so take 77 to Columbia SC, then take 20 East (a great, fast highway) to Florence. I-20 terminates onto I-95, head North (yes, North) for perhaps 10 -20 miles; take the Myrtle Beach exit (to your right) that says 327 to MB; that will connect you with Highways 76 (signs might read 576) and 501, which run together, simply turn left at the light where 327 terminates. Then bear right when 76 goes off to the left--you're staying on 501 until you see signs for HWY 22. You'll exit right onto 22, and that will take you almost all the way to Kingston Plantation. As you cross the intercoastal waterway on 22 (big arching bridge, can't miss it), stay in the center lane (don't go right); bear right after crossing the waterway onto Kings Road. Then take a right at the bottom of the exit ramp. Go through the stop light and KP will be approx. 1 to 1.5 miles on your left.

If you choose I-95, then you'll either take Highway 301/501 (they run together, so I'm not sure what the signage will read) right at the NC/SC border, heading south/east. (Alternatively, stay on 95 a little longer and take the HWY 9 east exit--9 will connect you to 301 (south or east), allowing you to stay on 95 longer. Take 501 south/east just after Latta SC (301 veers inland at that point), and then see the instructions above about HWY 22, etc.

There are a about a dozen other ways to go, but these are probably the simplest.

ncgrrl

Another option on I-95 south is to exit at I-40 in Benson, NC. Take I-40 until highway 17 in Wilmington and drive 17 south until Myrtle Beach.

Not sure how that works with Kingston Plantation though. Common discussion around here is which route to MB do you take. About a 50-50 split on I-95 and over vs. I-40 and south. I think many people take the I-40 route is to avoid all the billboards for places kids will want to stop at (and the risque cafe) and will bother parents until (a) the parents stop or (b) the kids are killed by the parents.

IF you take I-77 do not go to Charlotte. Exit for highway 52 or 421 and connect over to I-40 and then follow one of the routes from above.

cmcfong

Would you be interested in a great stop for lunch on your way? Shelton Winery just off I-77 at the DOBSON exit has a very nice quiet lunch restaurant which also offers deli selections if you would prefer picnic to sit down (always an issue if you are bringing a pup with you).

I frequently travel I-77 through CLT and only find it a real problem during rush hour. Otherwise it is just fine. Once you are past CLT it is usually quite pleasant. Oh, there is another favorite place for lunch just over the line into SC. THE NEW PEACH STAND, about the third exit,as I recall it is marked Fort Mill/ Tega Cay. It will also be marked with a sign for the NEW PEACH STAND. Great milkshakes, burgers, sandwiches, etc. You can also pick up wonderful fruit there. We never go past it without stopping for a shake. They are yummy.

Gretchen

I have been reading on the AOL South Carolina boards that I95 around DC is just AWFUL--5 hour waits in traffic. So if that is on your route, don't do it.
And PLEASE do not take I77 all the way to Columbia and go across the state there--that will add 2 or more hours to your trip.
If you take I77 to Charlotte do this.
I77 to I485East in Charlotte.
Take I485 to Route 74 East (485 is the belt road around Charlotte)
Take Route 74 to Monroe (about 25 miles and this is congested I will admit)
On the east side of Monroe take Route 601. Do not exceed the speed limit on this road.
Take Route 151 bypass in Pageland. Take all bypasses on 151.
On the outskirts of Darlington take Route 52 to I95.
Take I95NORTH for 3 exits to Route 327 (about 8 miles)
Take Route 327 to the intersection with Route 76/376. Turn LEFT.
Continue straight on this road. It will turn into Route 501 taking you straight into MB.
I know this sounds complicated but the roads are all 4 lane roads with the exception of about 15 miles on 601. It is about 3 1/2 hours to MB from Charlotte. We do this at least 4 times a year going to Litchfield.
NCgirl's recommendation is good also. Route 17 from Wilmington is a nice drive.

Stallion

Thanks for all the good suggestions. My sense is that from Pennsylvania I-77S would be superior to I-95S in terms of avoiding traffic jams. I've tried Gretchen's route when stopping in Charolette to visit family, and that route has worked beautifully. This time I am driving straight through and would not need to go through Charolette, so would get off at Mt. Airy. Any suggestions on best route from Mt. Airy to Kingston Plantation? Are there any tricks for the Winston-Salem traffic? Thanks.

JoyinVirginia

We actually came home from Massachusetts 2 weeks ago and drove I95 south around DC despite the warnings, and zipped right through. Traffic was very light because so many had heeded warnings. Just before your trip you can check the VA Dept of Transportation website traffic info site at www.virginiadot.org/comtravel/ct-alerts-main.asp
Also number is on there to call VA Highway Helpline for conditions :1-800-367-ROAD

beach_dweller

See what I mean? I wasn't kidding when I said there are probably a dozen ways to go once you get into NC/SC.

We actually use a route similar to the one Gretchen mentioned from Charlotte to MB, and I have made that in just under 3 hours from south Charlotte to MB. However, for KP, if you come in on 501, make sure you take HWY 22--there can be no argument on that one.

I do think Gretchen was exaggerating a bit about the extra time it takes to go 77 to Columbia then 20 to Florence. I admit that will probably take you 4 to 4.5 hours (but that's only an hour extra for mostly highway cruising).

Now, as it seems you have made up your mind about exiting I-77 in the Mount Airy, W/S area, your route is going to change. We used to live in W/S and had a condo in NMB, so we drove this a lot. The simplest way is to take 52 south past W/S and then take 64 east (at Lexington) to connect with 220 south (at Asheboro)(this avoids I-40 to Greensboro, which seems always to be under construction). Then head east on HWY 74. Now, there are several ways to connect to MB from 74 (I won't even mention my all-time favorite, HWY 904--but I liked that because I am a speed demon and love nearly abandoned 2 lane country roads). Perhaps the easiest way for you is to take 701 south and connect to HWY 9 east. At that point, HWY 9 is great: 60MPH, 4 lanes, divided highway, no traffic lights (until you get closer to the beach). From 9, exit onto HWY 31 south (Carolina Bays Parkway); that will take you to HWY 22 (and you know the way from there). If you go through North Myrtle Beach on 17, it will take a lot longer.

Stallion

Thanks to all of you for your helpful suggestions. I'm beginning to put a plan together. Chuck, I was unclear what you meant by taking 74E to 701 and was wondering if you could expand upon that idea. Did you mean to take 74E all the way to the end then pick up 701S.W. at Whiteville? Also I was considering taking from Rockingham either route 1 or 38 to Bennettsville, then 38 to 501 to 22. It looks like a straight shot on a map. Do you have any experience with these roads? Thanks again for your input.

Stephanie

Stall:

Take I-77, its what AAA recommends. In 1995, we drove down to Myrtle Beach that way and driving through WV & NC and it was a treat it was so beautiful and scenic.

rkkwan

Don't forget to take US19 between I-79 and I-77 in WV.

beach_dweller

Stallion,

yes, I meant take 74E to just before Whiteville, where you pick up 701.

However, your suggestion of picking up either 1 or 38 to Bennetsville, and then 38 to 501 to 22 is absolutely do-able too. I think 74 will be the more free-flowing highway, whereas 38 is a more rural route, but with the opening of the Rockingham/74 by-pass, that makes 38 (as opposed to 74, and as opposed to 1) pretty attractive. I've driven 1 from Rockingham, but not 38 because the by-pass wasn't open yet (and traffic through Rockingham & Hamlet on the original 74 was awful).

All in all, I'd say 38-501-22 is as good as 74-701-9-31-22 (cetainly less exits to miss); just watch the signs carefully in all the small towns you'll go through on 38.

Stallion

Thanks again everyone for your responses. My tentative travel plan from western Pennsylvania is: 119 to 48 to Morgantown WV; 68 to 79 to 19 to 77S to Mt. Airt NC; 74 to 52 to Lexington; 64 to 220 to Rockingham; 74 to 38 to 501 to 22 to Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach. I'll get back with you on this thread later and let you know how it worked. I chose 77 over 95 based on ease of access and traffic potential. I chose to avoid Charlotte, Columbia and Greensboro based on traffic potential and extra miles and time with those triangulations. I'll consider the rest stops suggested but will attempt as few stops as possible.