Connecticut to Georgia - route suggestions, insider info, destinations and diversions?

A good friend is assisting his recently-graduated-from-West Point son relocate from the vicinity of Bristol CT to Fort Benning GA. They're planning on doing the trip on 7/22-23, and he sought my counsel. I live near DC and drove to Road Atlanta 20 years ago, and drive to VIR once or twice a year, so I'm essentially useless.

You all, however, have peoples who live below the Mason-Dixon line and/or drive from Up Norff to Down Souff and back to get another $500 inoperable car, at the proverbial drop of a hat.

There will be a truck, two cars, my excellent friend and his equally excellent son and new wife, and 1ea cat and dog. They like to eat and drink and enjoy any sort of roadside attraction. Giant ball of string, monolith made of dumpsters, hairball museum, that sort of thing. Better than average BBQ? Exceptional local brewery near the halfway point?

Joe, Nick and Allie would appreciate any and all advice and commentary from the GRMs.

I thank you all in advance.

(Pic is how I envision this going down, in a John Steinbeck sort of way)

Google suggests either I-81 --> I-77 --> I-85, or I-95 --> I-85. I'm assuming that "truck" means a box truck but really either way I think the first routing is going to be a better drive.

From eye-balling it, halfway appears to be somewhere around Winchester, VA - I'm sure you know it better than I do but SWMBO and I spent a weekend there once and quite enjoyed it. Lots of wineries down the 81 corridor in VA - it's been a while but I remember liking CrossKeys Vineyards right around Staunton. There's a JDM car importer called Duncan Imports in Christiansburg that was recently featured on Jalopnik and seems to have a really interesting collection, if they're into that sort of thing.

If they're into BMWs they'll pass right by the BMW US factory in Spartanburg, SC, which has a nice little visitors center and museum.

Slow going compared to the interstate, but Skyline Drive is worth a diversion for at least a little while going through VA. You can pick it up at the north end just past Winchester around Front Royal, VA. Winchester is worth a stop as well, very nice downtown with lots of nice shops and restaurants.

Gettysburg isn't far out of the way either and may be of interest given his career choice.

I did this trip last April. Providence>Tampa for a fly and drive. Overnight stops included Newport, Philly, and Charleston.

Worthy food stops are Frank Pepes Pizzeria in New Haven, Butcher and Bee in Charleston for a 1 am case of the munchies, Poogans Porch (also SC) for breakfast.

The hardest part will be getting from Ct. to I-81. Probably I-84.

I've made the trip more than 100 times.

I would NEVER choose I-95. Too congested.

I-81 is one of the easiest and most scenic drives possible, once you get out of PA. Pennsylvania roads sucks.

I-81 parallels the Blue Ridge Highway, which is really worth seeing. It roughly follows the Appalacian Trail. But it's a much slower road. You will stop at 5 or 10 scenic overlooks and realize the scenery doesn't change much, then want to get back on I-81, which is easy at almost any point.

I-84 to I-81 is the way to go. Beautiful drive. Lots of trucks, lots of cheap gas stations. We always stop at the exit for Virginia Tech. Its summertime and nobody is around, so rooms are cheap. There is also an all you can eat buffet place so you can fill your belly for $12. My kids favorite stop is a place called Virginia Safari Park. You get to drive thru and the animals come up to you looking for feed. Watch out for the camels. Those things are way too friendly. Had a water buffalo or something like that lick the headliner on the inside of the car and start to rip it. After you leave, you will be vacuuming up feed pellets from inside the car for months. The other place we like is the caverns. Nice to go underground into a 55 cavern when its 100 outside.

84 to 81 for sure, done that drive a million times and it beats the hell out of the alternatives (I78 to I81 or the I95 corridor shudder). Just try to time it such that you don't hit the Wilkes Barre/Scranton or Harrisburg areas during rush hour.

If you're near AMP, lmk. If I can make it out we can crack a beer at the Hong Garage and do some karting (in that order.)