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Gibson3798 · 04-25-2021, 07:48 PM

Would appreciate any advice about going into the Northeast corridor, with the intention to avoid DC, Boston on NYC, eventually ending up in Maine.

We'd like to avoid those big metropolitan areas and travel around them. Being unfamiliar with driving in that area of the country, advice from the well traveled AS'ers is always a welcome treat.

majorairhead · 04-26-2021, 05:42 PM

I'm in South Central PA. I always did 81 to 84 through Hartford, then 90 to 495 to 95 in to Maine. You could pick up 81 in TN.

You could run 91 north out of Hartford, and cut across 2 to 95. That'd be a much longer trip.

Much depends on how long a person wants to take to get to where they're going

oldenavy · 04-26-2021, 05:56 PM

X2. Have lived in Maine, VA, MD & have family in Knoxville. Always took the inland route to avoid the mega-cities traffic.

Or, as they say in Maine, “you can’t get thea from heah.”

OTRA15 · 04-26-2021, 06:34 PM

Yup . . . I-81 north to I-84 east. When you get close to Boston, loop around to the NE.

LNBright · 04-26-2021, 07:00 PM

How timely…. We’re not far from Knoxville, and are planning a trip to Acadia for June…

OTRA15 · 04-26-2021, 07:15 PM

You familiar with Lucy's Escape to Maine?

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42...ed-152034.html

One of moosetags' amazingly well documented journeys.

GetawA-S · 04-26-2021, 09:12 PM

Along with you, the residents of DC, Baltimore, Philly, Newark, NYC, Boston... will also be seeking to avoid urban areas. I recommend reservations.

Piddleplace · 04-27-2021, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNBright

How timely…. We’re not far from Knoxville, and are planning a trip to Acadia for June…

And I will be right behind y’all! Make sure to check out wooden boat school in Brooklyn Maine I parked my airstream there and took a course Great fun
And the restaurant Jordan Pond in Acadia National park takes reservations! Fabulous lobster stew and popovers
I am taking the Blue Ridge parkway and highway 81

Piddleplace · 04-27-2021, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNBright

How timely…. We’re not far from Knoxville, and are planning a trip to Acadia for June…

And I will be right behind y’all! Make sure to check out wooden boat school in Brooklyn Maine I parked my airstream there and took a course Great fun
And the restaurant Jordan Pond in Acadia National park takes reservations! Fabulous lobster stew and popovers
I am taking the Blue Ridge parkway and highway 81

Gibson3798 · 04-27-2021, 05:56 AM

What month would you guys suggest for traveling there in the Fall? Late Summer or as late as mid Sept.?

OTRA15 · 04-27-2021, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piddleplace

. . .
Make sure to check out wooden boat school in Brooklyn Maine I parked my airstream there and took a course Great fun
. . .

Did the same in the 90’s. Are you sure they are having classes this year? “Brooklin” by the way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

What month would you guys suggest for traveling there in the Fall? Late Summer or as late as mid Sept.?

After Labor Day for less crowded conditions. If you have not reserved campsites yet, you may have missed the boat IMO.

GetawA-S · 04-27-2021, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piddleplace

And I will be right behind y’all! Make sure to check out wooden boat school in Brooklyn Maine I parked my airstream there and took a course Great fun
And the restaurant Jordan Pond in Acadia National park takes reservations! Fabulous lobster stew and popovers
I am taking the Blue Ridge parkway and highway 81

Piddleplace, it sounds like you have hit the ground running since your entry into the Airstream experience last year. We are based just west of your Highlands location and are coming out of isolation. Are there campgrounds in the Smokies area you particularly enjoyed? Thanks.

jimfa440 · 04-27-2021, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

Would appreciate any advice about going into the Northeast corridor, with the intention to avoid DC, Boston on NYC, eventually ending up in Maine.

We'd like to avoid those big metropolitan areas and travel around them. Being unfamiliar with driving in that area of the country, advice from the well traveled AS'ers is always a welcome treat.

Hi, we’re almost neighbors, Greeneville. You are wise to avoid metro areas. I’ve seen some good advice to your question. My only two pointers that I have are HAVE FUN and don’t go too late. They kinda shut the state down in October.

jimfa440 · 04-28-2021, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

Would appreciate any advice about going into the Northeast corridor, with the intention to avoid DC, Boston on NYC, eventually ending up in Maine.

We'd like to avoid those big metropolitan areas and travel around them. Being unfamiliar with driving in that area of the country, advice from the well traveled AS'ers is always a welcome treat.

One thing I failed to mention, current regulations call for a negative covid test within 72 hours of entering Maine or you must quarantine for 14 days. This could change in May, not sure.

LNBright · 04-28-2021, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimfa440

One thing I failed to mention, current regulations call for a negative covid test within 72 hours of entering Maine or you must quarantine for 14 days. This could change in May, not sure.

From https://www.maine.gov/covid19/keepmainehealthy/faqs:
"Generally, visitors to or from other states must get a recent negative COVID-19 test or maintain compliance with a 10-day quarantine (PDF) upon arrival in Maine. As of March 5, 2021, exemptions from testing or quarantine are available for:

Residents of New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island or Massachusetts
Individuals that have had COVID-19 in the previous 90 days, or are fully vaccinated against COVID-19."

And also:
https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills...ngs-2021-04-27

OTRA15 · 04-28-2021, 08:41 AM

Great clarification Leslie . . . especially as applies to folks who are "fully vaccinated," a category which is growing daily.

Happy Trails all!

Gibson3798 · 04-28-2021, 08:45 PM

We just finalized our Maine trip coming up in September. Thanks to all who offered such great advice. It was very helpful.
We decided to take a circuitous route from East TN, into OH and a stop at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Niagra Falls, across NY, into ME, spending time in Bar Harbor and down into coastal southern Maine.
Home by way of Gettysburg PA and Natural Bridge VA.
Almost 4 weeks of travel cut up into shorter drives and more days than our CO trip last year. Live and learn, and one great way to learn is asking you seasoned RV'ers.
Thanks so much for everything!

OTRA15 · 04-29-2021, 01:48 AM

Thanks for the update . . . sounds like a great trip you have planned! The loop, including the R&R HOF, is well done for a rewarding personalized trip IMO.

On the way east after Niagara Falls, a view of the "Grand Canyon of the East" may be worth a small adjustment of your route IMO:

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/79/details.aspx

You can actually drive through the park and see most of the wonder right from your tow vehicle, as I recall.

"Letchworth State Park" mentions here on AF:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Letc...=airforums.com

YouTube videos available here, [hot link in blue]

Have fun!

OTRA15 · 04-29-2021, 02:05 AM

PS -- Photo updates required in the Fall!

mdlemieux · 05-02-2021, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

Would appreciate any advice about going into the Northeast corridor, with the intention to avoid DC, Boston on NYC, eventually ending up in Maine.

We'd like to avoid those big metropolitan areas and travel around them. Being unfamiliar with driving in that area of the country, advice from the well traveled AS'ers is always a welcome treat.

We live in NH and we usually go through VT and over to Albany, NY to pick up I-88 to I-81 Through VA and into TN. So, depending on where you are coming from, than goes around all of the above.