After an exhausting day or a long night of driving, there’s nothing more taxing than pulling off the interstate and spending hours hunting for a hotel room. Cutting through the center of North Carolina for approximately 100 miles, Interstate 77 travels north-south from Ohio to South Carolina. Although I-77 traverses through drastically different landscapes, including sparsely populated wooded regions, big metropolises and across massive bodies of water, such as Lake Norman, you’ll find an array of hotels set right along the interstate.
Stay at the north end of I-77 in North Carolina, just 10 minutes from the Virginia border. Relax during your time at Best Western Bryson Inn in Mount Airy, where you can enjoy a dip in the outdoor pool or pay a visit to the game room outfitted with video games. As the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, Mount Airy pays homage to his fictional TV town by hosting an annual Mayberry Days festival, complete with a parade, food and games. Explore the surrounding region in Dobson during your stay at Hampton Inn and Suites as you rent bicycles from the hotel staff. Book a spacious suite for luxurious amenities, such as a whirlpool tub, or take a wine tasting tour at Shelton Vineyards, also in Dobson and less than 10 minutes from the hotel.
Comfort Inn in the town of Jonesville is just 15 minutes south of Dobson and adjacent to I-77. Set out on foot each morning as the hotel is less than five minutes from a fast food restaurant and sit-down breakfast cafe. In the same amount of time, you can walk to the Antique Mall of the Foothills, where more than 100 vendors sell antique jewelry, clothing and furnishings. Furry friends are allowed at the hotel as the staff permits pets pending a small per-pet, per-night fee. Days Inn Jonesville allow pets as well under similar conditions and children 17 and under stay free of charge when with an adult. Enjoy Southern cuisine at a restaurant less than five minutes away on foot and peruse the attached general store for souvenirs and snacks. Jonesville is less than 20 minutes from Stone Mountain State Park, a more than 13,700-acre green space with 16 miles of hiking trails and a 600-foot granite dome open to rock climbers.
Just 30 minutes south of Jonesville, in the central part of North Carolina’s I-77 span, is the small town of Statesville. Red Roof Plus in Statesville is surrounded by a series of outdoor shopping centers, many of which include drug stores, grocery stores and chain fast food restaurants. For a quick snack, enjoy the complimentary treats left in your guest room. As an added budget-friendly bonus, kids under the age of 17 and pets stay completely free of charge. Cook up your own meals at Courtyard Statesville Mooresville/Lake Norman via the communal barbecue grills or grab breakfast, dinner and cocktails at the on-site restaurant. Relax at the end of a long day in lavish accommodations, including guest rooms with jetted soaking tubs. Both hotels are less than 10 minutes from Fort Dobbs, a historic mid-18th century site that saw action during the French and Indian War.
The North Carolina portion of Interstate 77 nears its southern end in Charlotte, the state’s largest city. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Charlotte is in the Uptown region, where warm chocolate chip cookies are served as a treat at check-in. Enjoy a soak in the outdoor saltwater pool or make your way to Ray’s Splash Planet, an indoor water park just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Residence Inn by Marriott Charlotte Uptown is sandwiched directly between Bank of America Stadium and BB&T Ballpark, home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and minor league baseball’s Charlotte Knights, respectively. Drop your shopping list off at reception in the morning and the front desk staff will purchase and deliver your groceries right to your room. Explore the Uptown region via the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service. Return to the lobby for a complimentary manager’s reception, held three nights a week, to partake in light snacks and alcoholic beverages.
