I'll be traveling in early August from Durham, NC to Charleston, SC (corrected) (via California to Indiana).
This area is all new to me and several thousand miles out of my normal area.
Google has me taking I-95 and I kind of want to see the East coast as much as possible. So, I was thinking about dropping into Wilmington and then taking the 17 to Charleston. But looking more closely the 17 looks like residential streets with lights and traffic and such. Not my idea of fun.
Can someone from there give me their opinion on my route choices? I’m traveling with my family and pulling a car so I want to stay away from city traffic as much as possible.
Thanks for the help.
* This post was
edited 06/22/12 02:50pm by Z71 4x4 *
Getting off the beaten path is what this is all about. We do the same with every trip. We do not like the freeway, unless we absolutely have too. The only problem I had was the fear of forgetting about low overpasses, tight turns, access to gas stations, etc. The normal stuff. I do not know your setup, but if you have a low clearance POI option on your GPS that is great! I did not. Found this website and downloaded over 5000 low clearances across the US. Good luck with the trip. Really enjoy it.
Z71 4x4 wrote: I'll be traveling in early August from Durham, NC to Charleston, NC (via California to Indiana).....
Charleston, NC is way over by the TN border. Google uses I40 past Ashville.
US17 does stay along the coast and go to Charleston, SC. As the closest US# highway to the shore it should be a reasonable route for poking along, and detour off to get closer. Looks like the SC part is mostly divide boulevard highway.
Not to get in school fight , but we are checking out three Medical Schools for my daughter. She will be applying next year. Thought we would make a fun trip out of it. I'm just glad she still wants to go camping with us!
Durham, NC
Duke University
Charleston, SC
Medical University of South Carolina
Of you have the time, I would at least take I40 to Wilmington and then 17 down the coast...now you will miss South Of The Border, the east coast's, possibly America's cheesiest tourist trap!
If you have lots of time and haven't been to NC's Outer Banks, you could angle NE to Manteo/Nags Head, drive down the Outer Banks, and catch a ferry back from Ocracoke back to the mainland north of Wilmington!
Todd
PS - noticed the med schools. Wake Forest is on your way to Durham and 20 minutes from me!
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
That looks like fun but a lot further North than our route takes us.
Thanks for suggestion!
Anyone with actual experience on I-95 vs. I-40 and the 17?
Motorhome with a toad. So are we talking 1 or 2 extra hours... or more?
A lot of the SC portion of 17 looks like "divided boulevard highway".
Is that true?
I'd guess 2 more hours more driving time...Mapquest only shows 26 more miles. You could stop overnight at Wilmington and/or Myrtle Beach to see the sights.
17 isn't bad and would be fine with your rig. If you didn't want to deal with crazy traffic around Myrtle Beach, there is a new bypass, but you do miss the local fare. 95 to 26 is deadly boring. If there is an alternate route from Charleston to Savannah, I'd take it to. We've made the run from NC to FL many times. So much of 95 is so boring and in such bad shape.
If I reading this right, you want to sight see but avoid city traffic. I would take I-40 toward Wilmington, just before Wilmington, take I-140 west. This will dump you off on US 421, south for about 10 miles will put you on US 17 South. Minor traffic issues just west of Wilmington in Leland. (Approx. 5-7 traffic lights.) (Major traffic problems around 5:00 to 6:00 pm) US 17 is divided all the way to Myrtle Beach, only a few traffic lights.If you are near the NC/SC line around dinner time..... make the short drive into Calabash, NC (Seafood Capital of the World). Worth the drive and wait... only about 2 - 3 miles off US 17. At Little River, SC., turn on Highway 9 for a mile or so, then south on Highway 31. This will miss the crazy traffic of North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach. HW 31 is maybe 35-40 miles long. It will dump you off on SC 544. Head East for a few miles, then take US 17 South to Charleston. Divide highway 99% of the way. Georgetown, SC will provide small amount of road and traffic problems. (City Traffic). Charleston to Savannah, US 17. Enjoy the trip.. and I have to plug UNC-CH, great med. school also.
Offline
, but we are checking out three Medical Schools for my daughter. She will be applying next year. Thought we would make a fun trip out of it. I'm just glad she still wants to go camping with us!
