I recently went on a road trip from Florida to New York. This was a great experience and I want to share my journey: the route, places to stay, things to do, and a few eclectic restaurants to try.
Please note that this was meant to be a leisurely trip so I kept my daily driving time to approximately 4 hours. Furthermore, I saved time by staying in hotels which were walking distance from restaurants and other attractions. I used either Expedia or HotelTonight to find great last minute deals and booked either the previous day or the day of arriving at that day’s destination! I also have an electric vehicle so I kept 30-40 minutes per day for charging. Hope you find this post useful and can tailor it to your circumstances.
Day 1: St. Augustine, FL
St. Augustine is a beautiful coastal city known for its Spanish colonial architecture. The drive up from Fort Lauderdale was only 4 hours. Best Western Bayfront on Avenida Menendez, which is right next to the famous Castillo de San Marcos (oldest masonry fort in the continental United States), was a great choice. There were several restaurants within walking distance with great views of the Atlantic ocean. Don’t miss out on walking through the small streets in the historic district with street performers and eclectic shops. And if you have more time, check out the trolley for a great tour.
Day 2: Savannah, GA
Savannah was one of my favorite spots on the route. The drive up from St Augustine was only 2 hours 40 minutes so while planning I was considering either skipping Savannah or driving the entire 6.30 hours from Fort Lauderdale to Savannah (and skipping St Augustine). In hindsight, I am glad I kept both these unique destinations, esp. Savannah. Hyatt Regency Savannah was a great choice and was right along the Savannah river. There were so many things to do, and restaurants to try, that I definitely intend to come back here with my partner. Walking tours, trolley tours, river tours, and ghost tours. In terms of food, definitely try the fried green tomatoes and don’t miss out on a burger or breakfast sandwich at Treylor Park.
Day 3: Myrtle Beach, SC (via Charleston, SC)
The drive up from Savannah to Myrtle Beach was beautiful along Route 17 and via Charleston and took 4 hours (not counting the brief snack stop in Charleston. French Quarter or Battery district are great to walk around and take in the views). Myrtle beach itself was a bit busy as it was the weekend and lots of local tourists flock to this beach town for a weekend getaway. The stay at South Bay Inn & Suites was awesome with magnificent views of the ocean from the hotel balcony and a limited but good selection of restaurants within walking distance. Don’t miss the Boardwalk and Promenade!
Day 4: Raleigh, NC
Raleigh might seem like an odd choice to some however I added it to the itinerary to sample a quiet college town to harken back to the days when I was in grad school. The drive up from Myrtle Beach was only 3.30 hours. If you have time, you can consider the Airborne Museum in Fayetteville along the way. There were several hotels to choose from in the North Carolina State Capitol area and Sheraton Raleigh Hotel was a great choice in the end as it was clean, convenient and had self parking in the garage. There are several great hidden restaurants in this area. Try Whiskey Kitchen if you are into southern cocktails or American whiskeys!
Day 5: Washington DC
The drive up to Washington DC was 4.30 hours and was a beautiful drive with more greenery along the way. DC doesn’t need any introduction. The stay at Courtyard in Foggy Bottom was a great choice as it was walking distance to all the main attractions such as the White House, Washington Monument, State Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Of course due to Covid these were closed for public but the walk along this area itself is inspiring and a reminder of our great nation and its history). Checkout Founding Farmers restaurant for a great farm-to-table meal and drinks.
Day 6: Manhattan, NY
And, finally after a short 4 hour drive up via Maryland and Pennsylvania, the final destination! If you are new to Manhattan like me, and considering staying longer term, then you can stay in a few neighborhoods to sample the lifestyle. I stayed for a few days in the Financial District and Hell’s Kitchen. More on this in an upcoming blog post.
Hope you found this post useful! This itinerary can be followed in the reverse direction also.
Namaste,
Abhi Khune
Abhiram Ganesh Khune
Musings by Abhi Khune 