holiday inn express and Laquita both clean and have a large hot breakfast selection included. We are platinum members and if the hotel is not up to standards they comp the entire stay .

Good site for pet info
 

I’ll 2nd the tip for iEXIT….. very useful app! Since you’re traveling with a pet, you may also get lots of good help/info from an app called “Bring Fido”. You can look for everything from lodging to Vets to Dog Parks and even local events for pet owners. And the hotel listings tell you up front what if any fees there are. Great search filters so you can zero in on just what you’re looking for. Good luck!!

Oh, and take advantage of online check-in, digital keys, etc, if offered. You can often skip the pet fees by just doing a “contactless” arrival and walk right to the room you selected online!! 👍

WE have been in TV and done the NY - FL and vice versa for 18 years. Have learned to despise traveling I 95 and I 81. Our trip is 1350 miles the shortest route. That requires a minimum of one overnight and that is still exhausting on us. Over the years one night stop went to two nights. Where to stay on the interstates was a nightmare. Most hotels are badly in need of upgrades and we seemed to catch the mid night "louds" in the next room often.

We now take 3-5 night stay in Airbnbs (use the self check in and super host features) and stay off the interstates most of the way. We have seen some amazing places when you slow down and do the back roads. No more eating in the car or fast food joints. Keep the daily drive to around 300-350 miles. Usually we pick one spot that is new to us and stay there two nights. First night is arrival. Second day to explore that area. This year our surprise was Providence Canyon in Georgia - amazing scenery. The trip now feels more like a vacation than a dreaded chore. To name just a few must sees - Savannah, Charleston, Beaufort SC, Asheville, Lancaster PA, Greenville SC, PInehurst NC, Federick MD. Also visiting major university campus taking in their architecture is very rewarding.

Fredericksburg is great and visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps right off exit 150 /Quantico. (15 miles North of fredericksburg)

Plus many hotels are up charging if you even arrive a bit early.

Brp
 

Saw Staunton and Asheville mentioned earlier - connected via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Used to drive it every chance I got.

Excellent choices. A few more came to mind - Helen GA, Aiken GA, Harper's Ferry, and Cape May.

Memories
 

More travel memories. Tornado damage was still showing during our pass through Helen. Aiken might actually be just across the river from GA. :-) Shouldn't tell some of my Augusta stories. :-) Took the ferry from Cape May rather than *ever* drive between D.C. and Philly on 95 again. Grrrr. Never saw the first bit of cricket get played at those three grass court clubs in Philly for the National 50's. :-) Folks didn't look all that "German" in Germantown, either. . .

Thanks for the feedback, if there any more, please let me know. We’re looking for a location, probably Virginia or North Carolina the first day that has nice upscale lodging with good dining in the area. The next day, maybe Charleston or Savannah, then to TV. Again, it doesn’t need to be near 95.

Hyatt Place in downtown Florence, SC. The downtown is slowly being re-vitalized and there are several nice eateries with 1-2 blocks of the hotel.

Just checked it out, looks nice. Unfortunately, after seeing price at over $200 with pet fee and taxes to pull in around 7:30 PM, crash, and leave at 6:30 AM is on the pricy side. Would definitely try the place without the $75 pet up charge fee.

Wilmington, N.C. 90 minutes off
I-95 waaay better than Raleigh, but it depends on what you like.

It's a Beach town, but not funky, A rather mid-sized College town and a very Quaint downtown and riverfront. It's a Historic City and has fine architecture in Downtown.

Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beaches UNCW, and Fort Fisher. All fine beaches. Take a beach chair and breathe in the Surf.
Jack Mackerels in Kure.
Flaming Amy's whose motto is Fast, Cheap and Easy on Oleander - the place locals love, love and love- Just Do it, it's low key and unpretentious.

If you travel with a pet, check out bringfido.com. Just make sure that you read the reviews. I will agree that a lot of hotels have really gone down hill over the past few years

This is an interesting topic. We've been driving to the Boston area for a couple of weeks every summer. About 1400 miles via interstates but a little less stressful route.

We haven't been able to figure out how to do some sightseeing along the way and still have productive travels days, say 400 miles of progress. It seems like it's either get the miles in or stop and sight see and find yourself about 100 miles down the road at the end of the day.

Part of it is that we try to do the driving and the visiting in Massachusetts in about 2-1/2 to 3 weeks and 1 week is taken up with travel.

Looking at possibly one night in Fredericksburg and another in Charleston. Any nice hotel recommendations, not looking to do the cheap?