Please help! When should I go to the hospital?

I have been having contractions since 9pm last night. They started getting about 5 min. apart and stronger around 7 am. Since then, they'll be 5 min apart for about a half hour and then slow down to 10 or even 15 min apart for 3 or 4 sets of contractions. of course the nurse hotline at the hospital says to come get checked out but, they are required to say that! I don't want to get stuck there for days on end... When should I go? Please help me.