<p>Hi, parents. I was wondering if any of you are familiar with traveling from NJ (coastal Monmouth County, sort of middle of state) to Wake Forest. My son will be attending this fall, and we are looking for an alternate route to avoid the nightmare of 95 South. Looking at a map, it seems to be the only way. Does anyone know something we don't? Please help if you can! Thanks.</p>
<p>Try 78 West to 81 South. Beautiful drive. Might be a few miles more than the Baltimore-Washington route, but it's faster and much prettier. It takes about 10 hours from central NJ. I did the run myself a couple of times when my kids were doing a summer program at North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. Found it a much better route than the other. To get the exact route into Winston-Salem, do Mapquest from Harrisburg, Pa. It will show you how to get from 81 to Winston.</p>
<p>Agree--95 is horrible and you will get stuck somewhere between Philly and DC in a massive backup.</p>
<p>I second the 81 recommendation; 81 can get a fair amount of truck traffic but it is far pleasanter than 95. I am not sure how you would best get from Monmouth County to 81, but certainly once you manage that part, it is easy (though long) to take 81 to 77 South to whichever interstate it is that goes east from 77 to Winston-Salem. There are a lot of interstates in NC and although I don't have a map in front of me I seem to recall seeing signs to Winston-Salem off 77 fairly soon after you cross the border in NC from Virginia. (There is an amazing view when you come out of the mountains.)</p>
<p>Lots of trucks on 81 South through our state of Virginia, but the scenery is really lovely in all seasons with the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains changing colors along the way. You will pass the apple orchards and head into quieter country. My favorite totally retro lunch stop is in New Market, Va. Get off, ignore the chain fast food joints and take a right on Main Street and see a real Virginia small town with plenty of antique shops a huge used book store. Drive about three blocks and pull into the Southern Restaurant on your left. They serve the menu of the 1960s including the paper placemats with Virginia tourist spots highlighted. Old fashioned lunch counter, booths and milkshakes and fried chicken. The book store across the street is worth an hour or two as he has every magazine and lithograph known to man in boxes in there as well as mountains of books.</p>
<p>Thanks, all. I will check out Route 81! :)</p>
<p>I am from NC, the 81 route is a nice drive. I haven't been on it, but does someone know what 52 would be like to cut down to Winston from 77. If you go all the way to I40 before turning east, you are further south than u need to be. 52 comes right into Winston and Wake is north of Bus. 40.</p>
<p>Another unique Va eating/stopping place along 81 is in Staunton--Mrs. Rowe's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>No more to add, but I grew up in coastal Monmouth Co!</p>
<p>Rowe's has the best biscuits and sausage gravy anywhere! Perfect acclimation to the South. (Sticky buns are pretty darn good, too!)</p>
<p>Alternatively, you could take I-95 to the DC Beltway (I-495) to I-66 West, then to US Rt 29 South, which will take you all the way to Greensboro, about a half an hour east of Wake. Rt. 29 is a limited access (except for one place) divided, 4-lane highway that also goes through some beautiful VA countryside.</p>
<p>The only problem with I-81 is that it is a major truck route. LOTS of 18-wheelers. Can be aggravating/intimidating at times. Still much superior to I-95.</p>
<p>vadad - we will be driving from UVA to Davidson on our spring break college visit trip. I sent for a Triptik from AAA and they routed us down 81 and 77. But I'd much prefer taking 29, then 40 west to 77. I'm not crazy about driving with all those trucks and I know I'd enjoy the scenery on 29. Would there be very much difference in driving time?</p>
<p>Once you get out of C-Ville, 29 has only a few lights and not much traffic. There used to be a little congestion near Lynchburg but I think the new bypass is open. It's nice and quiet but watch your speed.</p>
<p>New Brunswick to Winston-Salem via 78 West to 81 South to 77 South to 52 South is a little over 9 hours, no meal stops, but several brief stops.</p>
<p>Thanks again, parents! I really appreciate your imput. My husband says you can't beat I-95 at 3:30 am! That takes us about 8 hours. I was hoping to avoid the a.m. part! Thanks.</p>
<p>Patsmom-
We normally take the Interstate route, I do think it saves about an hour. But barrons is right about 29, and there is a Lynchburg bypass now. Greensboro might be a little bit of a bottleneck depending on the time of day. Otherwise, it should be a good route. And if you have the time, Wake Forest is easy to get to off of I-40 if you want to see that. Have a great trip. I think you'll love Davidson.</p>
<p>81 to 77 is indeed faster...save time getting there and then get around bit more around each campus with the saved time.</p>
<p>vadad- we do plan to visit Wake. We have the trip set up to go from W&L to UVA to Davidson to Wake to Elon, then back up into VA for W&M and URichmond.</p>
<p>If the interstate will save us an hour, I think it's a better bet. We'll need all the extra time we can get with this ambitious schedule! Thanks to all of you VA residents who chimed in. :)</p>
<p>It's definitely a good idea to go I-81 to avoid I-95 south of Baltimore. But it's out of your way to go all the way up to I-78 from Monmouth County. Instead, head west on I-195, then south on I-295 (avoiding the NJ Turnpike traffic and tolls) over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, where you pick up I-95 south again. Head to Baltimore, through the Fort McHenry Tunnel, then take I-695 north about 5 miles to I-70 west. When you get to Frederick MD take U.S. 340 South through Harpers Ferry WV to Berryville VA (about 40 miles), where you'll pick up Route 7 west toward Winchester (about 10 miles), where you'll get on I-81 South. Nice route, very direct, though not all interstate -- the U.S. 340/Route 7 part is about an hour on country roads, some 2-lane.</p>
<p>Alternatively (to avoid I-95 completely and/or if you don't like country roads) you could take the NJ Turnpike south to Exit 6, where you'll pick up the PA Turnpike/ I-76. Just west of Harrisburg you can pick up I-81 South.</p>