Some friends and us are planning a trip in late August to the area of the White Mountains in NH, staying at the Saco River Camping Area in Conway, NH. We will be traveling from North Central, PA. Google Maps is indicating that the shortest and fastest way to go is up I-88 from Binghamton, NY area to the Albany/Troy, NY then across Vermont Route 7 and NH Route 9 to I-93. Routes 7 and 9 are definitely not interstate style highways and it has been years since I have traveled them. (I did a couple of times 20+ years ago in a car.) As I recall they are fairly crooked, mountainous roads, and I am a little concerned about traveling them pulling my 38 feet Fifth Wheel. Problem is if I map the trip via interstate highways only, it adds more than an hour and more than 100 miles to the trip.There's just no easy way to get there from here! Has anybody out there made this trip in more recent years? Should I go that fastest shortest way on the secondary roads or should I avoid them and stick to the interstates? Further does anybody have any recent experience at Saco River Camping Area other than what I can find online?We surely would appreciate any help or suggestions anyone with experience with this route or area might have.

I have been to Saco River Campground several times. Quit going when they started forcing you to stay at least week. I would rate it about a 7 on a scale of 1-10. Try to get a river site. Campground is right in town. try rt. 84 East to the to rt 495 N then Rt 95 to rt 16. rt 16 goes right by the place, its on the left as you come into North Conway NH. Here in New England there are no real good roads that go East-West.

Unfortunately, I can't help with the route, but I can give you some advice about the Saco River Camp. We stayed there 3 years ago and when I reserved I thought it would be nice to have a site right beside the Saco River. WRONG! It was nice until it rained, and then it was a sea of mud! There are some lovely sites a bit back from the river - grassy, shady, and manageable during inclement weather. There's lots of traffic and wall to wall commercialism above the campground, but once in the campground it's relatively quiet and very nice. Mt. Washington is about an hour's drive away - a must if you are in the area, but take the train - driving up and down is terrifying unless you have a very small car. Travel safely.

jujcm wrote:Some friends and us are planning a trip in late August to the area of the White Mountains in NH, staying at the Saco River Camping Area in Conway, NH. We will be traveling from North Central, PA. Google Maps is indicating that the shortest and fastest way to go is up I-88 from Binghamton, NY area to the Albany/Troy, NY then across Vermont Route 7 and NH Route 9 to I-93. Routes 7 and 9 are definitely not interstate style highways and it has been years since I have traveled them. (I did a couple of times 20+ years ago in a car.) As I recall they are fairly crooked, mountainous roads, and I am a little concerned about traveling them pulling my 38 feet Fifth Wheel. Problem is if I map the trip via interstate highways only, it adds more than an hour and more than 100 miles to the trip.There's just no easy way to get there from here! Has anybody out there made this trip in more recent years? Should I go that fastest shortest way on the secondary roads or should I avoid them and stick to the interstates? Further does anybody have any recent experience at Saco River Camping Area other than what I can find online?We surely would appreciate any help or suggestions anyone with experience with this route or area might have.As stated on here go 84 to 90 into Mass, then 495 to near Lowell,Mass and take rt 3 north into NH..stay on 3,which is a good 4 lane divided toll road,rt 3 will put you on 293 to 93 north ...past Concord..stay on 93 north to you hit rt 112..near North Woodstock/Lincoln..take rt112 ...the Kancamagus Hwy to rt 16 north...we came over the Kancamagus last year..with our 43ft and SIL's 33 ft with no problem..it is a beautiful ride..about an hour I would say and the only road that is not an interstate in these directions....up rt 16 is maybe at best 20 minutes and you are thereChuck

From Albany/Troy, NY area rte 7 to 9 across VT is fine. Yes some hills, but unless you are seriously undersized as a TV then no issues! I think the climbs coming across MA on I 90 are worse than rte 9... That said...when I go to PA that is not my route of choice. I'm in the center part of NH near Laconia - my route to PA is I93 south to I495 south (west?) to Rte I290 west thru Worcester, MA to I90 west (SHORT distance), then south on I84 into CT onto I684 south, crossing the Tappan Zee bridge on I87/287, south on I287 usually I78 west...Obviously you'd need to reverse this route - I just couldn't write it "backwards"!!! You didn't say what part of PA you were coming up from, so this was pretty general. In NH, look for I93 north to Exit 23 in New Hampton, this is rte 104 - head east to Meredith where it becomes rte 25 - stay east to Rte 16, follow that north to North Conway.Hope this helps! ST

I drug a 53' semi trl over those routes more times then I can remember with no problems. Yes it's a windy hilly road but not anything hard to run.

New Hampshire White Mountains - Saco River Camping Area

Vet_Man
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
I have been to Saco River Campground several times. Quit going when they started forcing you to stay at least week. I would rate it about a 7 on a scale of 1-10. Try to get a river site. Campground is right in town.
try rt. 84 East to the to rt 495 N then Rt 95 to rt 16. rt 16 goes right by the place, its on the left as you come into North Conway NH. Here in New England there are no real good roads that go East-West.
Aadkins101
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
Unfortunately, I can't help with the route, but I can give you some advice about the Saco River Camp. We stayed there 3 years ago and when I reserved I thought it would be nice to have a site right beside the Saco River. WRONG! It was nice until it rained, and then it was a sea of mud! There are some lovely sites a bit back from the river - grassy, shady, and manageable during inclement weather. There's lots of traffic and wall to wall commercialism above the campground, but once in the campground it's relatively quiet and very nice. Mt. Washington is about an hour's drive away - a must if you are in the area, but take the train - driving up and down is terrifying unless you have a very small car. Travel safely.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
jujcm wrote:
Some friends and us are planning a trip in late August to the area of the White Mountains in NH, staying at the Saco River Camping Area in Conway, NH. We will be traveling from North Central, PA. Google Maps is indicating that the shortest and fastest way to go is up I-88 from Binghamton, NY area to the Albany/Troy, NY then across Vermont Route 7 and NH Route 9 to I-93. Routes 7 and 9 are definitely not interstate style highways and it has been years since I have traveled them. (I did a couple of times 20+ years ago in a car.) As I recall they are fairly crooked, mountainous roads, and I am a little concerned about traveling them pulling my 38 feet Fifth Wheel. Problem is if I map the trip via interstate highways only, it adds more than an hour and more than 100 miles to the trip.
There's just no easy way to get there from here! Has anybody out there made this trip in more recent years? Should I go that fastest shortest way on the secondary roads or should I avoid them and stick to the interstates? Further does anybody have any recent experience at Saco River Camping Area other than what I can find online?

We surely would appreciate any help or suggestions anyone with experience with this route or area might have.

As stated on here go 84 to 90 into Mass, then 495 to near Lowell,Mass and take rt 3 north into NH..stay on 3,which is a good 4 lane divided toll road,rt 3 will put you on 293 to 93 north ...past Concord..stay on 93 north to you hit rt 112..near North Woodstock/Lincoln..take rt112 ...the Kancamagus Hwy to rt 16 north...we came over the Kancamagus last year..with our 43ft and SIL's 33 ft with no problem..it is a beautiful ride..about an hour I would say and the only road that is not an interstate in these directions....up rt 16 is maybe at best 20 minutes and you are there
Chuck
loggenrock
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
From Albany/Troy, NY area rte 7 to 9 across VT is fine. Yes some hills, but unless you are seriously undersized as a TV then no issues! I think the climbs coming across MA on I 90 are worse than rte 9... That said...when I go to PA that is not my route of choice. I'm in the center part of NH near Laconia - my route to PA is I93 south to I495 south (west?) to Rte I290 west thru Worcester, MA to I90 west (SHORT distance), then south on I84 into CT onto I684 south, crossing the Tappan Zee bridge on I87/287, south on I287 usually I78 west...

Obviously you'd need to reverse this route - I just couldn't write it "backwards"!!! You didn't say what part of PA you were coming up from, so this was pretty general. In NH, look for I93 north to Exit 23 in New Hampton, this is rte 104 - head east to Meredith where it becomes rte 25 - stay east to Rte 16, follow that north to North Conway.

Hope this helps! ST
We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
I drug a 53' semi trl over those routes more times then I can remember with no problems. Yes it's a windy hilly road but not anything hard to run.
Vet_Man
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
Check your map, other routes suggested will make you cross the mountains. Yes its a pretty ride, I would take my rt. will keep you off the mountains, you can go visit them after trailer is dropped off. I have never seen a rig like yours on the Kancamagus, been there many times. No its not impossible to make it, would not want to do that to my rig.
mbopp
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
I'm sitting in The Bluffs campground south of Conway. We came across routes 7 & 9 from Albany, NY to get here. Two lanes, but not a bad road. I'll be going back the same way. OK, granted I have a small TT and EB F150 but I didn't have any issues.

How does Good Sam take you?

If you want to canoe the Saco it was low on Monday this week but it rained quite a bit yesterday, so the water level should improve.

Yes, the drive up Mt Washington is a white knuckle ride. A very narrow road, steep dropoffs, and no guardrails. It reminded DW of the season of Ice Road Truckers when they were in South America on the mountain roads. Add that to drivers who don't know where the edge of their vehicle is and want their half out of the middle. DW swears next time she's taking the Cog Railroad trip.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
Vet Man wrote:
Check your map, other routes suggested will make you cross the mountains. Yes its a pretty ride, I would take my rt. will keep you off the mountains, you can go visit them after trailer is dropped off. I have never seen a rig like yours on the Kancamagus, been there many times. No its not impossible to make it, would not want to do that to my rig.

Vet Man.....
you must have gone over with your eyes shut tight.....went over with this 43 ft last year,,,never ever even broke a sweat....the Kancamagus is a beautiful ride..not the least bit bad.....Chuck
Vet_Man
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
ct1964ups wrote:
Vet Man wrote:
Check your map, other routes suggested will make you cross the mountains. Yes its a pretty ride, I would take my rt. will keep you off the mountains, you can go visit them after trailer is dropped off. I have never seen a rig like yours on the Kancamagus, been there many times. No its not impossible to make it, would not want to do that to my rig.

Vet Man.....
you must have gone over with your eyes shut tight.....went over with this 43 ft last year,,,never ever even broke a sweat....the Kancamagus is a beautiful ride..not the least bit bad.....Chuck

You love to Flame. You need to read to rules.
ct1964ups
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
ct1964ups wrote:
Vet Man wrote:
Check your map, other routes suggested will make you cross the mountains. Yes its a pretty ride, I would take my rt. will keep you off the mountains, you can go visit them after trailer is dropped off. I have never seen a rig like yours on the Kancamagus, been there many times. No its not impossible to make it, would not want to do that to my rig.

Vet Man.....
you must have gone over with your eyes shut tight.....went over with this 43 ft last year,,,never ever even broke a sweat....the Kancamagus is a beautiful ride..not the least bit bad.....Chuck

Vet Man,
Didn't mean to flame anyone....but I also wouldn't want to put fear in anyone about the road being too mountainous and never seeing a rig like that on that road....when tractor trailers and 5th wheels bigger than I , come over daily....just was kidding you maybe a little timid in the "hills"
sorry you took it so badly...Chuck

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New Hampshire White Mountains - Saco River Camping Area

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