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ssthrd's avatar
ssthrd
Explorer
May 26, 2016

Easiest route from Bangor, Maine to south of NYC.

Hello all. We are planning a cross Canada trip from BC to Newfoundland, and then south to Florida before sliding west along the Gulf Coast and back home thru Las Vegas and the Oregon Trail before going home to Vancouver Island.

I have never driven the American East Coast before, and towing our travel trailer through Boston, New York, Philadelphia, etc is not all that appealing. Never the less, we want to stick to the coast as much as possible with a must stop in Mystic, Connecticut.

If anyone has any recommendations on a route that does not involve a freeway (much), and avoids the large population centres as much as possible, I would love to know what they are. After we get south of Philadelphia, we don't care much how we get to Florida.

Thanks for your help.

4 Replies

  • Thanks everyone.

    Just a country boy at heart, and not much on the big city kaffuffel. I'll have a look at your suggestions on Google Earth and go from there.

    Any special attractions on the way south?
  • SSthrd

    You had best be ready.
    There is really just one big city. The Megapolis (as I now call it) stretches from Rockport MA to Richmond VA and at 50 to 100 miles inland along the coast. The thing to remember from the start is to avoid New York City. Use I-87 to the Tappen Zee Bridge.

    If you want to got to Mystic Seaport, (once home) there is limited RV parking. Call first. I am told there is good RV parking at the casinos, but I have never as I still have friends. Plan at least a whole day.

    Matt - The refugee from Megapolis
  • 495 around Boston, when you leave Mystic take 9 up to 91 south to 691 west to 84
    There are some nice mansions in Newport RI if you have time.
  • From Bangor take I95 South to I495 then I90(Mass Pike) to I84 then to I87 just after the Hudson river to I287 west side of NYC. Mystic Ct. just a side trip off 90 or 84. I do not like traffic or I95 and would take the scenic inland route all the way on I84 to I81 to I77/26 then I95 to Florida. Safe travels.