Hi We were just down there a month ago, I feel the same as your dad, on the way home it is okay to drive thru.
We took 20 hours to drive to orlando, kissimmie from hamilton. We also had the trip tik, went thru new york, penn etc, I -77,79 and 95. Coming home we drove over to ormond beach for a night to walk the ocean, we did drive straight home, we had planned to stop when tired, but made such good time kept on going, took l9 hrs to hamilton, left at 4.50 a.m. (that was the key, leaving early, would have left earlier but kids took awhile getting ready at that time)
On the way down we drove 12 hours (got a late start) left at ll.00a.m. and arrived ll.p.m. in rock hill, s.c. stayed in country inn and suites I think 59.00 (I booked on the internet) we then had 8 more hours to go.
But if it were a perfect world, we would have left at 4.00 a.m. and driven til 8 or 9 at night. about l6 hours. Then the next day would be alot shorter.
Try to stop on the south side of a big city, so you can just get going on the hwy, and not have to go thru a city, stop at a place that has the cont breakfast, hampton inns, country inns and suites, fairfield, comfort inns for a quick start the next morning.
Sorry I cannot tell you where to stay, but look at your maps and you know rock hill is l2 hrs from hamilton, maybe that will help you, as I said we would have gone a bit further if we could have gotten away at 4 in the morning, that is usually when we go, and do the biggest push on the first day.
Wendy's are great for canadians for savings with their 99Cent menus, chili, salad, baked potatoe etc. for a quick bathroom stop and pick up a snack while travelling. Drink lots and eat light when travelling. We also took a case of bottled water for the drive down.
The hwy's are really nice in the united states, two lanes going each way, with a very wide mediun of grass, poppies in some cases, and trees, so you do not have other car lights in your eyes.
Oh it is soooo beautiful thru virginia, and west virginia, it is breathtaking, also obey the speed limit in Summersville, w. virginia, we saw police all over, even pacing people as they drove thru the town.
Have a great trip.
Deb.