OBX travel tips

[uscgpsu]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

 

[AvgUser]

Get to the Wright Patterson bridge before 11:00 am (on the inbound).

 

[LB99]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

Leave Friday. Use the Richmond friend on the way down. Get up early Saturday in Richmond and get on the OBX before lunch time as AvgUser said. I’ll be doing the same trip in a few weeks. We have done it several times. Leaving from SEPA we have made it there anywhere from 7-12 hrs. The worst (12 hrs) was July 4th weekend several years ago. Hit horrendous traffic and it took us almost 6 hrs from the VA-NC border to our house in Corolla. I had major anger issues that day. Not my finest hr. It’s great once you get there. Have fun.

 

[BW Lion]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

Hershey to Ocean Isle is only 8:15.

Are you incapable of waking the family at 5:00 am, hitting the road by 6:00 am and getting to your destination by 5:00 pm?

 

[TiogaLion]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

Ocean Isle is not the Outer Banks. You are asking for/getting advise on travel to a completely different area.

 

[Ghost of OM]

Tioga is correct. Ocean Isle is 4ish hours south of the Nags Head/Outer Banks area. I am in Southport and regularly make the trip back to central PA. The worst part of your trip will be the DC to Richmond I95 section. I usually try to avoid that by taking the more western route that Waze etc will give you. Once you’re past DC, the trip into our area should not be too bad. It’s still a more isolated area that the OBX section so not as bad in my experience. Takes me just about 10 hours to State College with a couple gas/bathroom stops. As others have said, leave early, stop when the kids need a break and have a great time in our wonderful area.

 

[PSU1969A]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

Hell, especially with a 2 year old. From Hershey (Harrisburg), I follow the following.

I81 south to I66.
I66 to Fredericksburg, VA
I95 South

I would stay away from I95 around Washington DC at all cost during the day.

 

[rudedude]

Ocean Isle is not the Outer Banks. You are asking for/getting advise on travel to a completely different area.

I was going to make the same comment, however there is an Ocean Isle complex in Avon, which is in OBX, so it’s not clear if the trip is to Ocean Isle, NC or to the resort in Avon

 

[nittanyfan333]

Ocean Isle is not the Outer Banks. You are asking for/getting advise on travel to a completely different area.

Tioga is correct. Ocean Isle is 4ish hours south of the Nags Head/Outer Banks area. I am in Southport and regularly make the trip back to central PA. The worst part of your trip will be the DC to Richmond I95 section. I usually try to avoid that by taking the more western route that Waze etc will give you. Once you’re past DC, the trip into our area should not be too bad. It’s still a more isolated area that the OBX section so not as bad in my experience. Takes me just about 10 hours to State College with a couple gas/bathroom stops. As others have said, leave early, stop when the kids need a break and have a great time in our wonderful area.

this. we have a place just outside of Oak Island and live in the fayetteville area, so we go down quite often. We also do Fayetteville NC to York quite often as my family is up there (with a currently 5, 3, and 1 year old). @uscgpsu you're in a bit of a predicament. If you're going to head S on a Friday, the best time to do it to clear Baltimore/DC is leave around 0500 or wait till 0800, then again after 1700. either hit that spaghetti bowl before or just after morning/evening traffic. I find that if I time my trip around that madness, it's usually pretty smooth. Your OP says that you're going straight shot on your way there, then stopping in Richmond on your way back. Is that accurate? if so, timing on the way back will be easier. As to driving overnight, i've found that if you have a kid 18 months or less, overnight is the best. let them sleep. but we have an entertainment system in the van now and last year when we went up there, the kids were 4/2 and 6 months. threw DVDs on for the 4 and 2 year olds, and mama sat in the back with the 6 month old (he slept most of the way, but she was able to slap the boob in his mouth when he got fussy).

BL: If it were me, i'd leave around 0800 to miss the morning rush, plan on a 3-5 minute "slowdown" around fredericksburg, stop at the VA/NC line rest stop and do a picnic lunch with the kids, then continue till you hit 40. then 40 to Wilmington to 140 to 17. 0800 departure with a stop or 2 would put you in OIB around 1700 or so.

If you haven't been down here before, man, enjoy the beach! Southern NC beaches (on the islands) are some of the best i've ever been to. super family frienly, quiet and relaxing.

 

[TheBigUglies]

Hell, especially with a 2 year old. From Hershey (Harrisburg), I follow the following.

I81 south to I66.
I66 to Fredericksburg, VA
I95 South

I would stay away from I95 around Washington DC at all cost during the day.

I would avoid I95 between Washington and Richmond at any time of day. We left from Central PA at 1:00 AM and hit a traffic jam on I95 south of DC at 4:00 AM. Also, coming home we got stuck in traffic on I95 north as soon as we got past Richmond. I now take I-81 South to I-64 toward Richmond and then before Richmond hop on 288 to go south of Richmond and hop on I-95 South from there.

 

[TiogaLion]

I'm in the outer banks right now. We left New Cumberland area about 5:30 AM. Took US-15 S to US-40 to I-270 to I-495 S to I-95 S to I-295 S around Richmond to 64E to I-664 to US-168 S to US-158 E. Took about 7 hours total to reach the US-158/US-12 split with several stops along the way.

I sometimes take US-301 to either Richmond or to US-17 to Norfolk and pickup I-664. I pickup 301 south of Baltimore via I-97 to US-3 which becomes US-301. There is a 10 mile section with lots of lights but if you hit them right you'll fly right through.

 

[ApexLion]

My family (wife, 2 year old, and 7 year old) are going to Ocean Isle, NC in August. The last time I went to the OBX was when I was stationed in Virginia Beach when I was in the Coast Guard 20 years ago. Traveling as a bachelor was much easier. Our reservation is Saturday-Saturday and we are leaving from Hershey son what would you do if you were driving and in my shoes? I have friends in Richmond that might be an option for a stop too.

My preliminary idea was to drive overnight Friday and into Saturday going down and then use my Richmond friend as a stopping point on the way back to make it a two day trip. If it weren't for a two year old we'd drive straight through both ways.

What kind of nightmarish traffic am I driving into?

Ocean Isle Beach is near the SC border. OBX (our Yankee containment zone now) is much closer to the VA border. Two different drives.

 

[Fortheglory612]

If you are going to the Ocean Isle in Avon (outer banks), I would highly suggest ordering enough groceries to at least get you through the weekend from Harris Teeter. Going there on a Saturday or Sunday after arriving could be a two hour experience due to the lines and I am not exaggerating. It’s not as bad later in the week. Wish I thought of that when we went to Corolla last summer but I did meet a few Penn staters while waiting in line! Obviously this doesn’t apply if you are going to Ocean Isle Beach further south in NC.

 

[troutrus]

I like the idea that was mentioned of staying on a westernmost route, so as to bypass the congestion related to the Balt/Washington area. Regardless as to the route you choose, Hwy 12 will likely require patience. Accept that there will be traffic, relax, and enjoy the time with your family.
With that said,
Over the last 45 years, I’ve visited a great many of the beaches in NC.
Just my opinion:
What used to be nice and peaceful is no longer, especially in summer months. Best bet for Outer Banks is Oct-April.
If I was you, I’d forget about Avon and head to Avalon in Jersey. Save yourself about 5 hours in each direction and no need to stay overnight. Though the water temps are cooler in Jersey, the beach will be larger, cleaner, and safer for the kiddies.
If you are locked in, I hope you and the family have a wonderful time, and you create pleasant memories to last a lifetime.
Most importantly, be safe, and keep a close watch on those precious children.

 

[UncleRoyBiggins]

I would avoid I95 between Washington and Richmond at any time of day. We left from Central PA at 1:00 AM and hit a traffic jam on I95 south of DC at 4:00 AM. Also, coming home we got stuck in traffic on I95 north as soon as we got past Richmond. I now take I-81 South to I-64 toward Richmond and then before Richmond hop on 288 to go south of Richmond and hop on I-95 South from there.

That's how we go to Myrtle Beach from central PA.

 

[PSUAVLNC]

I would avoid I95 between Washington and Richmond at any time of day. We left from Central PA at 1:00 AM and hit a traffic jam on I95 south of DC at 4:00 AM. Also, coming home we got stuck in traffic on I95 north as soon as we got past Richmond. I now take I-81 South to I-64 toward Richmond and then before Richmond hop on 288 to go south of Richmond and hop on I-95 South from there.

I do the same, I-81 all the way down to I64 East. I’ve tried the Fredericksburg way and have sat for 45 minutes at those two traffic lights trying to merge onto I95S.

 

[Ghost of OM]

All this has me thinking, is there an app that lets you plot your own route and then gives you the travel time etc? Seems like it would be easy enough to create but I’ve never found one. I usually use Waze for the mostly accurate “police ahead” warnings but they only give a couple route options. I’d like to build my own and save it. Get busy you computer geeks!

 

[nittanyfan333]

All this has me thinking, is there an app that lets you plot your own route and then gives you the travel time etc? Seems like it would be easy enough to create but I’ve never found one. I usually use Waze for the mostly accurate “police ahead” warnings but they only give a couple route options. I’d like to build my own and save it. Get busy you computer geeks!

i've always done it manually. go to google maps and done initial directions, then you can drag the blue line and adjust it for the route you want to take. could also "add destination" and drag the box between your start pint and destination. but it's all manually. i'd love to find another option that's a little more user friendly

 

[PSU87]

All this has me thinking, is there an app that lets you plot your own route and then gives you the travel time etc? Seems like it would be easy enough to create but I’ve never found one. I usually use Waze for the mostly accurate “police ahead” warnings but they only give a couple route options. I’d like to build my own and save it. Get busy you computer geeks!

You serious Clark?

 

[Jrl5019]

Have done the SEPA to OBX trip 20+ times in my life. This includes both as a 5 year old and as an adult. Leave around 3:30am and drive until 8:30ish then stop for breakfast. This will allow the children to sleep the majority of the way. After breakfast finish the drive and still get there before noon. Most houses check in isn’t until 3/4 but you can still use the community pool or find an activity to do until house is ready.