Ct to Hilton Head SC

[Brown Eyed]

We are leaving from the New Haven Connecticut area and we’re wondering if anyone has an alternate route from route 95 to Sea Pines in Hilton Head SC.

thank you
B&C

 

[EdSaid]

When we drive from MA to FL, we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge and cut across NJ and PA on Rts 78 to 81 to Front Royal Virginia, which is the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park. If you don't cut through the park you will add 2-3 hours and 100 miles to your trip, avoiding all the nonsense of I-95 through Virginia. I would take an extra couple of hours and drive through the park on Skyline Drive. It is one of the nicer rides on the east coast.

 

[Blakeon18]

I trust y'all are golfers...I figure Hilton Head is in the final 4 of USA golf destinations...enjoy yourselves.

 

[The deacon]

When we drive from MA to FL, we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge and cut across NJ and PA on Rts 78 to 81 to Front Royal Virginia, which is the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park. If you don't cut through the park you will add 2-3 hours and 100 miles to your trip, avoiding all the nonsense of I-95 through Virginia. I would take an extra couple of hours and drive through the park on Skyline Drive. It is one of the nicer rides on the east coast.

My brother, friends and I made trips often from CT to Hilton Head, but it was decades ago. Unless things are much better these days regarding I-95, I'd go with EdSaid's I-81 suggestion. It's mostly a beautiful ride. Since my days at Wake Forest in western NC, that's the route I'd take if I'm driving south.

BrownEyed, try that trip in mid-fall or early spring. If you're golfers, I hope you're going to play Harbour Town! Safe travels.

 

[Brown Eyed]

P

When we drive from MA to FL, we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge and cut across NJ and PA on Rts 78 to 81 to Front Royal Virginia, which is the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park. If you don't cut through the park you will add 2-3 hours and 100 miles to your trip, avoiding all the nonsense of I-95 through Virginia. I would take an extra couple of hours and drive through the park on Skyline Drive. It is one of the nicer rides on the east coast.

I trust y'all are golfers...I figure Hilton Head is in the final 4 of USA golf destinations...enjoy yourselves.

Beaches alcohol and relaxation no golf

My brother, friends and I made trips often from CT to Hilton Head, but it was decades ago. Unless things are much better these days regarding I-95, I'd go with EdSaid's I-81 suggestion. It's mostly a beautiful ride. Since my days at Wake Forest in western NC, that's the route I'd take if I'm driving south.

BrownEyed, try that trip in mid-fall or early spring. If you're golfers, I hope you're going to play Harbour Town! Safe travels.

Heading to Sea Pines

 

[Brown Eyed]

P


Beaches alcohol and relaxation no golf

Heading to Sea Pines

Thank you for the well wishes

 

[CajunHusky]

Several ways:

No way would I attempt to go the Philadelphia to Baltimore to DC to Richmond route

If going straight there I like the Tappan Zee to I-287 to I-78 to I-81, down I-81 to I-77 into Charlotte, I-26 to Columbia. After you turn on I-78 it is all low stress.

you could use I-81 as above but cut over to Richmond (I-64) and pick up I-95 (stop at Pepe's South of the Border in SC if you want) and then onto HH

or take the Tappan Zee to the Garden State Parkway all the way to Cape May and then the ferry and go South on Hwy113 to Hwy13 (Maryland's Eastern Shore) and the Cheseapeake Bay bridge then US58 over to I-95 in Emporia and go South.

if you rather not take the Cape May ferry, then turn south on the New Jersey turnpike from the Parkway and turn south on 13 after you cross into Delaware and then on to the Bay Bridge tunnel.

You could also use the Palisades Parkway to get to the Thruway but the turnoff from the Parkway and onto the turnpike is difficult. (First time I went that way I ended up on the GWB going in to NYC.

 

[uconn1999]

I only go one Waze

 

[HopJim]

We live near Hilton Head and suggest that you take 95 as far south as possible and use GPS to get to Hilton Head. Charleston is a nice city to visit but if you are going to Hilton Head it costs you an extra 15-30 minutes in drive time. Several options at end of trip that can help 5-15 minutes. Get on island early-afternoon traffic on the bridge can be nasty. Hilton Head busy so make restaurant reservations. Serg Kitchen has great take out food on island to eat back at condo or hotel.

 

[Bills Fan]

Not driving directions, but make sure you go to the upstairs outside lounge at the Sea Pines Beach Club, (as you are walking toward he ocean it will be on your far left side of the Beach Club and on the top floor) . Best Sea Pines ocean view and drinks on SP!.

Don't pass up great dinners at Red Fish (just off SP), Santa Fe (mid-island. The Filet Mignon Fajitas are the best you will ever eat,even though they are pricey, but in this case you will get what you paid for) and for great Italian the best on the island is Il Carpccio on the north side on Business 278

I 95 from DC to Richmond is an absolute disaster-avoid at all cost !

 

[triaddukefan]

If your goal is to avoid 95 in VA, you could drive to DC... take the 495 Loop going west and get off on Interstate 66 west.... drive to Gainesville, and take 29 South to Greensboro (NC). From Greensboro you can have the option of continuing south on Interstate 85 to Charlotte... take Interstate 77 south to Columbia and then take Interstate 26 south.. and travel about an hour and turn south on 95. Or out of Greensboro you can take 73/220 South to Rockingham, and then take 74 East to its junction with 95.. and head south.

Between the 66/29 Junction and Greensboro, Highway 29 is a divided highway with a speed limit of 55-60. There are a few stoplights in Charlottesville, and a few in Gainesville. Other than that its a peaceful drive at highway speed with plenty of places to stop and get a bite to eat or get gas. A lot of people from the Triad take this route to get to DC as opposed to the 85/95 route.




Or you can do as EdSaid but.. once you get to Interstate 64 take it east to Charlottesville and get on 29 South instead of continuing on to Richmond

When we drive from MA to FL, we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge and cut across NJ and PA on Rts 78 to 81 to Front Royal Virginia, which is the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park. If you don't cut through the park you will add 2-3 hours and 100 miles to your trip, avoiding all the nonsense of I-95 through Virginia. I would take an extra couple of hours and drive through the park on Skyline Drive. It is one of the nicer rides on the east coast.

Or you could take 95 south to Delaware, then take 13 South all the way to Hampton Roads, and then take US 58 west to emporia and get on 95 there. Down the eastern shore of Delaware, MD, and VA... and then you get to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel into Norfolk.

 

[Bigboote]

The US13 route costs a lot less in miles than the I81 route. I haven’t done the Bridge-tunnel, but hope to one of these years.

If you want to avoid Hampton Roads, you can pick up US301 a few miles after getting onto 13. That crosses the Bay Bridge and a little two-lane suspension bridge over the Potomac. It hits I95 a little north of Richmond. Other than he Bay Bridge and Waldorf, MD, there aren’t usually any bad spots on 301, although there are lights.

 

[HopJim]

If your goal is to get to Hilton Head as quickly as possible, just check your CPS prior to traveling for slow traffic. Most of these non-95 suggestions offer great scenery but have equally high chances of accidents and will add 1+ hours to your trip.

 

[Brown Eyed]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and recommendations for travel and food
enjoy your day B&C

 

[ClifSpliffy]

If your goal is to get to Hilton Head as quickly as possible, just check your CPS prior to traveling for slow traffic. Most of these non-95 suggestions offer great scenery but have equally high chances of accidents and will add 1+ hours to your trip.

and then there's the part aboot no one is on the roads, regardless of that nonsense on the tv.
biked over to my pals yesterday. his folks just blew in friday, driving up from Carolina.
let's listen in:
me: one of your fastest trips?
him: well, yeah...
me: not much hold up on 95?
him: well, yeah...
me: not even in the usual places?
him: well, yeah..

the proof on that pudding will be when CT state popo reports holiday weekend enforcement actions. sure, the tv will report "seems like people aren't drinking and driving, are respecting the traffic laws, and they did ramp up trooper deployments, ...'
jibberjabber. see point one, above. 80 billion dollars a gallon for petro will do that to us. folks got other bills to pay, and cruising around ain't one of them.

outside of folks heading to the local super to load up on doritos and hotdogs, they're not roadtripping much. and the flying thing? a nightmare, and folks are reconsidering that move, too.
they ain't too motivated to hit the road. it's expensive.

 

[cohenzone]

When we drive from MA to FL, we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge and cut across NJ and PA on Rts 78 to 81 to Front Royal Virginia, which is the north entrance to Shenandoah National Park. If you don't cut through the park you will add 2-3 hours and 100 miles to your trip, avoiding all the nonsense of I-95 through Virginia. I would take an extra couple of hours and drive through the park on Skyline Drive. It is one of the nicer rides on the east coast.

Very nice ride so long as you don’t mind going a pretty long distance at 25-35 mph. Of course there are spots where you can exit Skyline.

 

[Longtime fan]

We are leaving from the New Haven Connecticut area and we’re wondering if anyone has an alternate route from route 95 to Sea Pines in Hilton Head SC.

thank you
B&C

It is best to take a private plane and have a limo meet you at the Hilton Head airport for rich UCONN fans.

 

[boontonbomber]

rather than 78 in Jersey to 81, take 84 out of Danbury all the way to Scranton, and then pick up 81. less traffic on 84.

 

[CajunHusky]

rather than 78 in Jersey to 81, take 84 out of Danbury all the way to Scranton, and then pick up 81. less traffic on 84.

I thought of that ... a good route - except for those speed traps the Pa Ste Police love to set - but since they is leaving from New Haven I suspect I 95 or the Merritt to the Tappan Zee is a given.

 

[Brown Eyed]

Hi everyone. We just saw that there is an airline called Avelo that flies from New Haven to Hilton head. Has anyone used this airline? Flown this route? Maybe we could Uber over to the island! This seems like a better alternative than driving 16 hours each way.
B&C

 

[ClifSpliffy]

'and then there's the part aboot no one is on the roads, regardless of that nonsense on the tv.
the proof on that pudding will be when CT state popo reports holiday weekend enforcement actions.'

'
CONNECTICUT — State police responded to nearly 300 crashes over the July 4 weekend, including two fatal incidents. There were 37 crashes with at least one injury.
Troopers responded to more crashes, injuries and deaths during the 2021 July 4 weekend. There were 381 crashes, including 52 with injury and three fatalities.' patch ct.

roads are empty. period. and, on good authority, it's like that mostly everywhere, tho less so in urban Texas and south Florida. 'nuff said.

 

[Bigboote]

'and then there's the part aboot no one is on the roads, regardless of that nonsense on the tv.
the proof on that pudding will be when CT state popo reports holiday weekend enforcement actions.'

'
CONNECTICUT — State police responded to nearly 300 crashes over the July 4 weekend, including two fatal incidents. There were 37 crashes with at least one injury.
Troopers responded to more crashes, injuries and deaths during the 2021 July 4 weekend. There were 381 crashes, including 52 with injury and three fatalities.' patch ct.

roads are empty. period. and, on good authority, it's like that mostly everywhere, tho less so in urban Texas and south Florida. 'nuff said.

Maybe in Connecticut, but not in DC. I absolutely agree about Connecticut -- I drove from DC up to Maine and back over the last few weeks, and it's the first time I can think of that I've had almost no trouble in CT. Maybe an hours' delay on the way up, none back.

I live around DC, and I'd avoid 95 and the Beltway. I'm north of DC and take 301 if I'm going to southern Virginia.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Another alternative to 81, 77, 26 and 95 is to take the Tappan Zee to the Garden State Parkway all the way to Cape May and then the ferry to Lewes, Delaware to go south through DelMarVa and the Tidewater area to 95. When I drive home to Jersey, I alternate the 3 ways (3rd being 75/85/95). The GSP and Ferry option sounds absurd, but it's actually a nice change of pace. Beware of 95 south of 26 - there is almost always a bottleneck.