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South of the Border is an I-95 attraction you can skip entirely

By Brian Miller

DILLION, SC - JULY 21: Large amounts of neon proclaim arrival at South of the Border on July 21, 2006 in Dillon, South Carolina. Nearly unrivaled as a tourist trap, Interstate Highway 95's South of the Border is a Mexican-themed amusement park, hotel, gift shop, adult toy store, and neon-heavy rest stop on the North Carolina, South Carolina border, July 21, 2006. Claiming over 112 million visitors from 1950 until present day, South of the Border advertises itself on hundreds of billboards up and down the I-95. (Photo by Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images)
DILLION, SC - JULY 21: Large amounts of neon proclaim arrival at South of the Border on July 21, 2006 in Dillon, South Carolina. Nearly unrivaled as a tourist trap, Interstate Highway 95's South of the Border is a Mexican-themed amusement park, hotel, gift shop, adult toy store, and neon-heavy rest stop on the North Carolina, South Carolina border, July 21, 2006. Claiming over 112 million visitors from 1950 until present day, South of the Border advertises itself on hundreds of billboards up and down the I-95. (Photo by Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images) /
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On I-95 you can’t help but be tempted by the allure of South of the Border.

South of the Border is a staple along the North Carolina and South Carolina border on I-95 but is it really worth the stop?

Located on the borders of NC and SC, literally, SOTB is a massive tourist trap that has you debating whether you want to stop or keep going regardless of the direction you are traveling on I-95. The bombarding of billboards that begin on both the northern Virginia and NC border and the border of Georgia and SC in the South will tempt you with whitty sayings promoting everything from “cheap fireworks” to “cheap hotel stays”.

There is a giant sombrero that stands tall against the skyline, there is a putt-putt course, and depending on the season, there is a rollercoaster, albeit small. They boast live alligators and so much more. And for the most part, none of it is worth the stop. There are better things to look at along the corridor from Virginia to Florida.

So is SOTB cheap like they say? Well, the gas prices are the lowest you will see through NC so if you are heading north, then yes if you forget to stop in SC then make it a quick one to fill up. If you are heading south, you will find cheaper.

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My kids like the BIG SOMBRERO and for a small price you can take an elevator to the top but once you are up there, there isn’t much to look at. You can view the SOTB as a whole and the highway. The rest is trees. Worth it? Not really.

Inside the shops you will find cheap prices and cheaper products. If you ran out of milk for the baby bottle, or need a quick shot of coffee and don’t care where it comes from, then make the stop but otherwise, you don’t have too far to go before you reach other options.

If there is one good thing about SOTB, each billboard tells you how many more miles you have to go until you get there and since they are on the border, you know how many more you have to go before you cross state lines.

As for the hotel, the RV parking, and the alligators, well, I haven’t looked or stayed. Again, better options down the road in both directions.

South of the Border is far more fun as a landmark that you pass and the kids know they are crossing into a new state. Aside from that, there isn’t much to offer, at all.

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