Best route from Harrisburg, Pa to Bar Harbor

Izzy211 wrote:
Original OP here. Thanks for all of the suggestions, they really helped. Now another question, the DW wants to stop in Kennebunkport first, I believe some if the same routes would also apply to this as well. Let me know? Thanks in advance!

Kennebunkport is just off I-95 in Maine. The same routes apply.

Say HI to George H W 41 for me.

Original OP here. Thanks for all of the suggestions, they really helped. Now another question, the DW wants to stop in Kennebunkport first, I believe some if the same routes would also apply to this as well. Let me know? Thanks in advance!

ACZL wrote:

loggenrock wrote:
Like DrewE - 81 to Binghampton, NY, then 88 to Albany. We take Rte 7 to Rte 9 across VT to Keene, NH - I now avoid Rte 84 west of Hartford, CT as much as I avoid NYC! 87 south of Albany is a pricey toll road IMHO. Running north towards Burlington, VT is much nicer ride - look at Rte 2 east across VT, NH, and ME as an alternative if you are not pressed for time.

That's a nice route if not pulling anything, but IMO, your gonna be on/off the gas/brake a lot towing a 5er. Diesel (if that's what you have) isn't commonly avail along here last I recall until at least 91 or near Keene. Not saying this is a bad road as we took it 4 years ago to go to Milton NH. Wasn't towing anything, but pretty drive and nice scenic overlook. Kept saying to DW tho, "Would hate to be towing anything along here".

That's a great route if you're not in a big hurry, great road and little traffic. It only adds 2 to 3 hours as opposed to the highways. For an even better route go further north and run the secondarys such as VT30, 100 etc. Lots of really nice state and ACOE campgrounds for an overnight or longer stop, albeit not many FHUs but that works for us, we hate FHUs.

The hills in New England are really nothing unless your inherently scared of such things. A lot of that is personal perception. Just to get to our local state park 25 miles away we have to cross two of the Allegheny ridges that will test your combo as much or more than anything driving secondarys crossing VT/NH.

loggenrock wrote:
Like DrewE - 81 to Binghampton, NY, then 88 to Albany. We take Rte 7 to Rte 9 across VT to Keene, NH - I now avoid Rte 84 west of Hartford, CT as much as I avoid NYC! 87 south of Albany is a pricey toll road IMHO. Running north towards Burlington, VT is much nicer ride - look at Rte 2 east across VT, NH, and ME as an alternative if you are not pressed for time.

That's a nice route if not pulling anything, but IMO, your gonna be on/off the gas/brake a lot towing a 5er. Diesel (if that's what you have) isn't commonly avail along here last I recall until at least 91 or near Keene. Not saying this is a bad road as we took it 4 years ago to go to Milton NH. Wasn't towing anything, but pretty drive and nice scenic overlook. Kept saying to DW tho, "Would hate to be towing anything along here".

Like DrewE - 81 to Binghampton, NY, then 88 to Albany. We take Rte 7 to Rte 9 across VT to Keene, NH - I now avoid Rte 84 west of Hartford, CT as much as I avoid NYC! 87 south of Albany is a pricey toll road IMHO. Running north towards Burlington, VT is much nicer ride - look at Rte 2 east across VT, NH, and ME as an alternative if you are not pressed for time.

FWIW IMO, take 81 north to 380 to 84 like gbopp said. Then p/u 90 to 495 to 95 like Crowe said. We went last year from CNY and took 90 to 495/95. If I recall right, there is a large truckstop on 84 or just before getting onto 90 in Mass.. Another truckstop on 95 in NH just before Maine line. I noticed tho that fuel was cheaper at rest stops than at the NH truckstop. Should you stay on 95 to Bangor before heading south, Dysarts truckstop for diesel. We topped off there and had plenty of fuel (50 gallon tank) for week while at/in Bar Harbor.

Misses all the doo-doo on I-84

Doo doo. Love it! And absolutely correct. May take a little longer but often a little less white-knuckle.

Another option is to take I-81 to I-88 to I-87 (via a tiny bit of I-90) and then go across Vermont and New Hampshire. I'd probably do that part taking NY 149 from Lake George to US4, north on VT 22A to US7, I-189 to I-89 to US2 at Montpelier (exit 8), and then probably Alt US 1 to Bar Harbor. This would definitely take longer (and I think be a longer distance as well), but is a more scenic route.

I-88 used to be pretty rough, but the majority of that has been fixed over the past few years.

Crowe's route, except stay on I-87 north to the Mass Pike. Misses all the doo-doo on I-84 through Waterbury and Hartford.

I-81 from Harrisburg to Scranton is miserable.

When we go to Bangor ME we take I-81 N to the Scranton area then pick up I-84 east into New England. Then follow the above directions.
I stay away from NYC.