New Jersey to Outer Banks NC

Glc/Foy,

Just to confirm then, after the Delaware memorial bridge I should look for signs for 95 south (I guess this is different from the route that goes towards Baltimore and DC right). Then I should take exit 4A for DE-1 South. Then after 42 miles I should take US-13 south (is this exit 97?). After that can I follow the google directions?

Also are there rest areas in this route, with the baby we may have to make unexpected stops if she gets fussy.

Also I will definitely by an atlas as per your recommendation.

Thanks again.

95 south *IS* the route that takes you to Baltimore and DC, but you will only be on it for a few miles.

Exit 97 is not US-13 per se, it's the connector TO US-13. Once you are on US-13, you STAY on it to the CBBT.

I do not know if there are "rest areas" on the highway itself, but once you are on US-13 you are off the limited access highway and there will be plenty of places where you can stop. US-13 does bypass several towns, but there will be the "old road" (usually marked Business 13) that will take you through town. Worst case, there should be services at or near exits on DE-1.

JahanNJ,

I'm rather more familiar with the portion of US 13 between the MD-VA line than with more northerly sections, and I am familiar with the entire section from the southern end of the CBBT all the way to Duck.

From the MD/VA state line near Chincoteague, US 13 is 4-lanes but with a stoplight or two or three where towns are encountered. Plenty of roadside stores, fuel plazas, and fast food restaurants. The last EASY stop entering the heavily urbanized area south of the CBBT is on the CBBT itself, where the southernmost of the 4 artificial islands is a rest area with a diner, gift shop, fishing pier, and restrooms, and with ample parking.

It's about 4 miles from the landward south end of the CBBT to I-64. Signage directs you east, towards Chesapeake (the city of Chesapeake) andSuffolk, and I believe Elizabeth City, NC is signed eastward, too (although you do not want to go down US 17 to Elizabeth City). You don't want to go WEST on I-64 towards Norfolk, Hampton, Williamsburg, or Richmond. This 4 mile segment of US 13 (locally named Northampton Blvd) has a few stopping places, but I wouldn't favor stopping at night along US 13 between the CBBT and I-64, particularly the closer you get to I-64.

Perhaps 8 miles down I-64 east is the well-signed exit for VA 168 and the Outer Banks of NC. The NC town of Moyock is noted on the signs, I believe. Part of VA 168 is a toll road. Once you start down VA and NC 168, you're away from the worrisome areas and might consider most any stopping place to be OK.

There are NC DOT rest areas just south of Coinjock along US 158 and at the intersection of US 158 and NC 12 where you turn north up to Duck after crossing the Wright Brothers Mem Bridge.

Foy

Gle and Foy,

Thanks again for all your help. So again just to confirm the route,

I - NJ Turnpike to Delaware bridge to 95 South to exit 4a (DE 1 south)
2 - DE south to exit 97 which should put me on US-13 south
3 - Then I cross the CBBT
4 - Then I take the exit for I-64 east towards Chesapeake/Suffolk
5- Then I take the exit for Virgina 168 south which becomes N Carolina 168 south
6 -168 south should take me to the Wright Memorial Bridge
7- After the bridge I make a left on N Croatan Hwy which should take me to Duck.

Does this look right at a high level? Also where is the halfway point where you recommend breaking for lunch?

Thanks.

JahalNJ,

Add a "6a" to your list: NC 168 ends and there runs in to US 158. US 158 runs south/east to the Wright Brothers Mem Bridge and crosses Currituck Sound.

About 1 mile on the OBX side of the Wright Brothers bridge is a large intersection with the NCDOT Rest Area on the right and NC 12 to Duck turns off to the left.

I don't have a solid feel for a halfway point, but it would seem to be somewhere in the vicinity of the MD/VA line. From there it should take a little < 2 hours to the south end of the CBBT and another roughly 2 hours, depending on Va Beach/Chesapeake traffic, to the Wright Bros Bridge, then just a few minutes north to Duck.

Foy

My software places the halfway point around Pocomoke City MD. There should be a good selection of services there, both fast food and sit-down restaurants. US-13 bypasses downtown, but there should be plenty to pick from out on the bypass. I show a Walmart with a Subway just off the bypass so there should be others nearby.

Foy and glc,

Thanks again for all your help.

Glc/Foy,

I hope you remember me. I am actually less than a week again from this trip you helped me to plan. I just wanted to swing by you again becuz some people I talked with have encouraged me to talk the 95 route rather than the US 13 route. Here are the points they raised against US 13 route..

Lots of lights and traffic
Low Speed limit that is strictly enforced
Confusing and easy to get lost (especially when you come out of the CCBT)

Do you have any responses to these contentions, I am still in the middle of which way to go?

Thanks again for all your help.

My mapping software says that US-13 actually saves you 30 minutes over I-95, and it's almost 100 miles shorter.

Even if you take I-95, you still have to get through the Norfolk metro area. This is no easier than taking the CBBT.

The Baltimore and DC metros can be a bear!

The roughest parts of US-13 have been bypassed - DE-1 to south of Dover, Bridgeville, Salisbury, Princess Anne, and Pocomoke City.

.........I'd trade any/all of the bad points about US 13 for the 100 miles saved and for not having to go through the Balto-DC corridor.

And, just trust me--you want no part of I-64 from Williamsburg, VA on through Chesapeake, VA, across either the HRBT on I-64 or across the MMBT on I-664, unless your encounter with Tidewater, VA traffic would be late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. Any crossing between, say, 5am and 9pm is liable to include heavy traffic, stop and roll, lane closures, or all of the above. By contrast, from the south end of the CBBT to I-64 is < 4 miles and there are 5 stoplights. Mid-day or rush hour traffic may be heavy, but you'll be on I-64 headed east towards VA 168 within a few minutes, and unless it's rush hour, you'll be to the VA 168 exit within 15 minutes of getting on I-64.

Without trying to be rude about it, if a person can't navigate from the south end of the CBBT to I-64 and from I-64 to VA-168, that person shouldn't be traveling to begin with. If you've followed the advice offered in this thread and have familiarized yourself with the route as depicted on maps, and if you have a GPS on board, it will be fairly difficult to so much as miss a turn.

Foy