Labor Day road trip: Families pack I-95 rest stop in North Carolina’s Cumberland County for a quick pit stop

CUMBERLAND, N.C. (WTVD) — Thousands of travelers hit the road Monday, capping off the long Labor Day weekend with trips along one of the nation’s busiest corridors, Interstate 95.

For many, that means a much-needed pit stop in Cumberland County, North Carolina, where families take a break from traffic and make memories along the way.

I-95, which runs through 15 states and connects major cities on the East Coast, is a popular route for tourists. Despite the early departure, many families said they still faced heavy traffic.

“This is probably the first time in years that we’ve come over Labor Day weekend, and we just wanted to get away that weekend,” said Derrick Vick, who was driving from South Carolina with his three sons.

The Vicks left South Carolina at 10:30 a.m., hoping an early start would allow them to avoid heavy traffic.

Vic said Myrtle Beach is the perfect place for his family. “We just wanted to get away, go down to the beach. Place your toes on the sand and relax a bit. The school is back in operation,” he said.

U.S. gasoline prices hit a record high by Labor Day this year, averaging $4.14 per gallon, nearly a dollar more than this time last year, according to AAA.

The state average for North Carolina is $3.84, and drivers in Cumberland County pay an average of $3.77 per gallon.

For Timothy Smith, who traveled from South Carolina with his family, travel is about making memories.

“My son will remember this and be able to do this with his family, with his children. And my daughter, you know, when she has a husband and kids, she’ll be able to say, “Hey, my dad took me to the beach for Labor Day.”

Traffic and accidents were a common refrain among travelers.

“The road was something special. There was traffic. There had been a lot of accidents recently. And it was very busy,” said Lane Brooks, 17, who was returning to Virginia after his first week of school.

Brooks said her family took a trip to the beach to spend time before the school year started.

“It’s only my first week of school and a lot of time has already passed. And they suggested that I go to the beach before I go for a year. And I thought, “Why not?”

Her family left Virginia around 9:30 a.m. in hopes of avoiding traffic, but ended up taking a break after hours on the road.

“Those hours of travel back and forth, we just need a stop to stretch our legs. This is perfect for us.”

Smith, who is traveling with his children and fiancee from Myrtle Beach, confirmed the need for a break.

“We were stuck in traffic for a while. My fiancé had to go to the bathroom, so we stopped to use the restroom.”

For Vick, gas prices haven’t been a major issue, at least not yet. “Gas prices were good. I filled up at home and haven’t had to fill up the truck yet, so we’ll see. I’m probably pretty close to needing a refuel.”

With families like the Vicks hitting the highways, many say trips like this don’t happen often, making this holiday weekend especially meaningful.

“This is probably the first time in years that we’ve traveled over Labor Day weekend, and we just wanted to go somewhere this weekend,” Vick said.