Maryland To Maine

[Docbutch]

Our second year with an Airstream and we are planning a trip from Maryland's Eastern Shore to Maine, specifically the Pumpkin Patch Rv Resort in Hermon, Maine. We'd like to skirt the I95 corridor completely and would welcome suggestions to go "the route less traveled". We are thinking Pennsylvania, northern New York and over to Maine through Vermont and New Hampshire. Any suggestions on daily length of trip, neat places to spend overnight or a couple days or more would be greatly appreciated.

[Hans627]

Sounds like a great trip. A few questions:

Are you willing to take other interstate highways other than I95?
Or do you want to avoid all interstate highways?
How long for the entire trip?

Answering these question may help in giving some input.

[OTRA15]

Echoing Hans627's request for more details about your trip, especially the overall time frame you are thinking of. Are you comfortable towing the AS on smaller 2-lane state highways for instance? What would be the longest day of driving?

Here on eastern Long Island NY, we are pretty much in the center of a circle which could include your home base and the Maine destination. A large radius swung from here could include Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and so forth. We have traveled extensively in the Northeast [including all the above], so please point us all in the right direction. One month for your round trip or 3 months? Etc.

Any interest in history? Nature?

Happy trails,

Peter

[Too tall]

Originally Posted by Docbutch

Our second year with an Airstream and we are planning a trip from Maryland's Eastern Shore to Maine, specifically the Pumpkin Patch Rv Resort in Hermon, Maine. We'd like to skirt the I95 corridor completely and would welcome suggestions to go "the route less traveled". We are thinking Pennsylvania, northern New York and over to Maine through Vermont and New Hampshire. Any suggestions on daily length of trip, neat places to spend overnight or a couple days or more would be greatly appreciated.

I've wandered most of that route. Broad strokes:


1. Suck it up and take Rt 50 to 495 to 270N (tword Fredrick, MD)
2. Take 81N to 88N (you certainly can take 2 lanes if you hate 88N)
3. 88 will get you square into Mowhawk Valley and all roads are gorgeous.
4. After wandering in Mowhawk valley you really can't miss. Endless rural roads and beautiful scenic 2 lanes.


Stop by our house and drop off some softshells

[Docbutch]

Additional information. About two weeks up, want to use interstates other than 95 for the most part but two lane roads would be OK too. Looking for scenic rather than history. Quick trip back to Maryland.

[Hans627]

I agree with Too Tall in that I would take I81 using whatever is the best way to connect to it. I would then pick up I84 in Scranton heading to Newburgh, NY. Then head north along the Hudson River valley. We love this area. There are beautiful views of the Hudson River and you can visit places like Hyde Park and the Vanderbilt Mansion. We stayed at a KOA in the Newburgh area.

The Hudson River School of art (not a typical school but a methodology) is very interesting. The Thomas Cole home and studio was an enjoyable visit.

Then continue north toward Albany, visit the Lake Placid area. Beautiful and historic with the history of the Olympics. And visit the Ausable Chasm if you have time. The Lake Champlain area is beautiful. Then cross over into Vermont and then NH and then into Maine. You could spend as much time in the VT and NH areas as your schedule allows.

I hope that give you a few ideas.

[AgBullet]

Hudson River Valley is the best on the way to Maine! Don't miss it!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Docbutch

Additional information. About two weeks up, want to use interstates other than 95 for the most part but two lane roads would be OK too. Looking for scenic rather than history. Quick trip back to Maryland.

Thanks for the additional info. Thinking cap on here . . . when do you want to leave plus or minus? [think weather/holidays] Assuming Niagara Falls is too far west? If you had to pick one specific scenic area to include, what would it be, maybe the Adirondacks or northern VT/NH? Once you commit to going north of Albany NY, the options to continue north, and then go east on non-Interstate roads, will consume more time and effort.

Ah so many options. . . !

More later.

Peter

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Hans627

I agree with Too Tall in that I would take I81 using whatever is the best way to connect to it. I would then pick up I84 in Scranton heading to Newburgh, NY. Then head north along the Hudson River valley.

We live in this area and when we head north (which is a fair amount) we take 84 to Mass Pike(90) to 290, 495 and then on 95. This stretch of 95 is very different than 95 below and through New York. It's still an interstate, but not as crazy.

[OTRA15]

PS to Post #8 -- Here is a broad brush overview, Docbutch, of a possible route going as far west [Binghamton NY] and north [Burlington VT] as might work for 2 weeks going up IMO -- a total of almost 1000 miles, compared to about 700 for a direct route up I-95 etc.:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ocea...2d44.81007!3e0

Any thoughts or guidance?

Thanks,

Peter

PS -- Attached map is (C) 2020 Google, as a Fair Comment on copyrighted material.

[Docbutch]

Loved the route. Joined Roadtrippers online to plan the trip just as you suggested.

[OTRA15]

Sounds good. I picked Binghamton because we have been to Corning Museum of Glass there, and it is fascinating, if you like that kind of thing. Hopefully they will be open sometime soon.

https://www.cmog.org/

The Adirondacks are amazing on their own, but, again, not sure what will be open when you get there. If you can get a campground near Lake Placid, all kinds of day trips into the mountains are good from there. Mt. Marcy to the east is where VP Teddy Roosevelt was camping in 1901. He had to be rushed back, on horseback and stage coach, during the "Midnight Ride," to be sworn in as President in Buffalo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt-Marcy_Trail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Marcy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tear_of_the_Clouds
_____________________________________
"On September 14, 1901, then-US Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was at Lake Tear of the Clouds after returning from a hike to the Mount Marcy summit when he received a message informing him that President William McKinley, who had been shot two weeks earlier but was expected to survive, had taken a turn for the worse. Roosevelt hiked down the mountain back to the Upper Tahawus Club, Tahawus, New York, where he had been staying. He then took a 40-mile (64 km) midnight stage coach ride through the Adirondacks to the Adirondack Railway station at North Creek, New York, where he discovered that McKinley had died. Roosevelt took the train to Buffalo, New York, where he was officially sworn in as President.[5] The route is now designated the Roosevelt-Marcy Trail.[6] "
____________________________________

I think this sign is still there along a side road:

https://www.adirondack.net/history/midnight-ride/

Sorry if this is TMI on the history angle. When you are standing at the tiny Hudson River looking up at Mt. Marcy, TR's "Midnight Ride" -- in the dark -- becomes very meaningful IMO! At one point, you can actually step across the Hudson River which starts near Mt. Marcy.

A great route for a two-week trip IMO.

Have fun!

Peter

PS -- Do your due diligence to research black fly and mosquito season in Maine. It can be brutal in the Spring and early Summer!

[OTRA15]

PS2 -- Photo taken in 2009 . . . not sure if this plaque is still there, or where it was for that matter.

Note time stamp of 2:15 AM!

Happy trails,

Peter

[OTRA15]

One last thought . . . as you cross over into New Hampshire on I-93, you might want to dip south to camp in the Franconia Notch and Mount Washington areas:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia_Notch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_...(New_Hampshire)

Have fun!

Peter

[farafield]

Route 2 across VT , while scenic, is very bumpy east of Montpelier. Route 105 across the top of VT is really nice, highly recommend that if you're up that far. This map shows pavement conditions in VT. http://vtrans.maps.arcgis.com/apps/w...53f48c3daf0275

[OTRA15]

Kim's recent post and good advice caught my attention.

Doc, is this the same trip anticipated by the following thread last fall?

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42...ml#post2312388

Originally Posted by Docbutch

We live on Maryland's Eastern Shore and are planning a trip to Maine in September. Any recommendations on trip planning? We'd like to stay away from NYC and environs.

Hopefully travel will be opening up for camping this summer and fall.

Peter

[Two Can]

Not to be a wet blanket, but Maine currently (May 13) has a two-week quarantine in place for anyone coming into the state. No grocery shopping, tourist attractions, etc. You might inquire with your destination regarding what that will mean specifically for your time here.

[OldFolksRoam]

In addition to the 2-week quarantine, we heard today that RV parks (and probably state parks) will only accept Maine residents in June. They are considering accepting out-of-staters in July but that's still being debated. They also warned that they may close down again Sept-Oct. We really wanted to go to Maine for the fall but now are reconsidering.