Labor Day Travel: Families pack the I-95 Cumberland County rest stop in NC for quick pit stop

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Thousands of travelers are hitting the road Monday, wrapping up the long Labor Day weekend with journeys that take them 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 are taking a break from bumper-to-bumper traffic and making memories along the way.

I-95, which passes through 15 states and links major cities along the East Coast, is a popular route for holiday travelers. Despite early departures, many families say they still encountered heavy traffic.

"This is probably the first time we've traveled for Labor Day weekend in years, and we just wanted to get away this weekend," said Derrick Vick, who was traveling from South Carolina with his three sons.

The Vicks left South Carolina at 10:30 a.m., hoping an early start would let them avoid the worst congestion.

Vick said Myrtle Beach was the perfect destination for his family. "We just wanted to get away, get down to the beach. Put our toes in the sand, take a little break. School's getting back into the flow," he said.

According to AAA, gas prices in the U.S. hit a record high for Labor Day this year, averaging $4.14 a gallon, nearly a dollar more than this time last year.

North Carolina's state average is $3.84, while drivers in Cumberland County are paying an average of $3.77 per gallon.

For Timothy Smith, who set out from South Carolina with his family, the journey is about making memories.

"My son he will remember this and be able to do this with his family, with his kids. And my daughter, you know, when she has a husband and she has her 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's been something. There's been traffic. There's been a lot of crashes recently. And it's just been really busy up there," said Lane Brooks, 17, who was traveling back to Virginia after a first week of school.

Brooks said her family made the beach trip for some quality time before the school year got fully underway.

"It's just my first week of school and it's already been a lot. And they suggested a beach trip before I go for the year. And I was like, Why not?"

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

"Those hours of travel back to back, we just need a stop to stretch our legs. It's perfect for us."

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

"We were in traffic for a little bit. And my fiancé had to use the restroom, so we stopped to use the restroom."

For Vick, the gas prices weren't a major concern, at least not yet. "Gas prices were not bad. I fueled up in home and I haven't had to refuel the truck yet, so we'll see. I'm probably getting pretty close to needing a refuel."

As families like the Vicks take to the highways, many say trips like these don't come often, making this holiday weekend especially meaningful.

"This is probably the first time we've traveled for Labor Day weekend in years, and we just wanted to get away this weekend," Vick said.