Trip Advice 9 -- coastal road trip, NJ to FL

Subject: going from nj to fl and need some help
To: roadtripusa@hotmail.com

hey jamie, I am taking a 5 day trip in late august from atlantic city, new jersey to tampa, florida. Im going to take the atlantic coast route i found on the website, but im not sure where i want to stop. I want to see some beach towns and some historic towns as well, so i was thinking i would stop in ocean city maryland, virginia beach, the outer banks nc, myrtle beach, charleston, savannah, and daytona beach. where do you think i should stop? what places should i avoid? what and where are cheap places to stay? what should i be sure to bring on a trip like this. i have never been to any of thesse places or in a car for this long before. im 19. i would appriciate any suggestions/advice. thanks -mike

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Hi Mike --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA -- and sorry it took me so long to reply. Your trip sounds fun -- hope there's still time for me to help you have a good time.

you asked: >>"i was thinking i would stop in ocean city maryland, virginia beach, the outer banks nc, myrtle beach, charleston, savannah, and daytona beach. where do you think i should stop? what places should i avoid? what and where are cheap places to stay?"

Much depends on what you like -- for tacky seaside fun, Ocean City MD is hard to be, but for amazing wild scenery (and waves, and lighthouses...), there's no place on the East Coast better than Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks.

The other places you mention, Charleston and Savannah in particular, are wonderful -- not so much for summer fun, but they are rich in architecture and history (and food!)

I also really like the Georgia coast -- it feels calmer than SC or FL, but it really special -- and the offshore islands (Sapelo, Cumberland...) are as close to "unique" and unspoilt as you're gonna find. Bring bug spray if you go, though.

One place you didn't mention that I really like is St Augustine, in north Florida -- it has nice beaches, fascinating history, and enough tacky tourism (the "real" Fountain of Youth, Alligator Farm, etc) to satisfy any road tripper.

In terms of places to avoid, I personally find Myrtle Beach to be way too busy and over-developed (and they tore down its one really redeeming feature, the neat old Pavillion amusement park, recently replaced by a shopping mall...). Daytona is also pretty tacky and grungy, but that's what people go there for...

Finally, almost anywhere along the coast, in the peak of summer, "cheap" places to sleep are as rare (if not extinct.) There are some campgrounds here and there, if you have a tent and sleeping bag, but otherwise accommodations will likely be your biggest expense -- esp in the prime beach resorts (I've had trouble finding motel rooms in Ocean City MD for under $125 a night...painful. If you go in November, on the other hand, no problem!)

The one and only reliable "cheap" place to sleep indoors is in Virginia Beach -- it's an HI youth hostel, sometimes known as Angie's, at 302 24th St (757-491 1830) email:
AngiesGuestCottage@hiusa.org

Let me know what you get up to -- and hope this helps point you toward some fun. Drive safe, and in future I hope you enjoy my website, and especially my book.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA ** new edition out May 2009 **