Slow down and smell the roses directions

Navigate with a compass rather than GPS/Googlemaps or even paper maps. When you find yourself on a road big enough to have a stripe painted down the middle of it take the next turn off that heads in approximately the right direction. It's a route that will take you lots of great places!

US17 would be my pick also. I've wanted to do the NC ferry trip to the OBX.

Sounds like a great trip. When we vacation we always stay on state and US highways as much as possible and don't over plan. We never get campground reservations more than a few hours before we arrive if at all. Only got shut out once and had to get a motel room because we didn't want to go any further and almost stayed in the camper instead of the room just so we didn't have to haul stuff in. By not having reservations we are free to change routes, make extra stops, etc.

sdianel wrote:
We usually just stay on US highways. As long as you stay east of the mountains you should be ok. US301 Orangeburg SC. US601 thru Camden SC. Continue on US1. US1 merges with US501 in NC. Stay on US501 to bypass Raleigh. At Durham NC US501 merges with I-85. Stay on I-85 a bit to exit 202 to US15. You should be able to follow US15 from there. Sounds like a wonderful trip. You can use Google Maps to view the roads on the way and to see the streets in Mocanaqua. Please post a trip report when you return.

Thank you, I will post that trip.

We usually just stay on US highways. As long as you stay east of the mountains you should be ok. US301 Orangeburg SC. US601 thru Camden SC. Continue on US1. US1 merges with US501 in NC. Stay on US501 to bypass Raleigh. At Durham NC US501 merges with I-85. Stay on I-85 a bit to exit 202 to US15. You should be able to follow US15 from there. Sounds like a wonderful trip. You can use Google Maps to view the roads on the way and to see the streets in Mocanaqua. Please post a trip report when you return.

I would take a hard look at US17 for the majority of the trip. There are some interesting coastal areas all the way up into VA. The NC-VA line is the home of the Dismal Swamp and it's pretty cool.

When you reach Chesapeake, VA. take US 460 East to Petersburg and then US1 North to US60 East. In Powhatan, VA. pick up US522 North for a fun drive through central VA. Switch to US29 N and continue to Manassas. From there work your way up US15 all the way through Gettysburg, PA to Harrisburg.

It will be a bit tedious on US17 at times so keep an eye out for alternate routes more inland. Crossing the James River in VA on 17 instead of 460 leads one past one of the best museums in america, the Mariner's Museum in Newport News. This place is incredible and houses more maritime memorabilia than anywhere else in the world. Everything from tiny ship models (Google the "Crabtree Collection") to full size Viking ships (actual period restorations), this place is off the radar but really worth the time.

The entire Colonial National Historical Park triangle (Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg) is more than you can absorb in just 24 hours, so be sure to consider it. The Yorktown Battlefield tour is one of those quiet history lessons that one never forgets. If you have young kids along forget the history and stop at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg or the waterpark next door.

I hope you have a fun trip and enjoy the slower pace.

US 17 goes from FL to VA (almost PA) if you aren't in a hurry. It's all good road and much to see.

When you get into Pennsylvania, pick up US 15. It's west of I-83.
Follow US 15 to the Harrisburg area, then take US 11 north.

I'm north of Harrisburg but, south of Mocanaqua. As you may have guessed, it won't be the same town you remember. A lot (most) of the small coal towns in the regions have gone downhill in the last 40+ years.

While you're back in the Quaker State make sure you take the time to visit The Yuengling Brewery. America's oldest brewery.
Even if you're not into beer, it's a very interesting tour.

Enjoy your trip back in time. :)