I'm just finishing up our travel plans for the summer, and would like some first hand knowledge on some of the smaller state routes in VT, NH, and ME.We will be staying in Irasburg, VT and heading to Bar Harbor. My plan is to take Rt 2 near Lyndon, VT and using it to cross over NH and onto Bangor, ME. What type of road is Rt 2? Lots of stop and go, small towns? Scenic countryside? Tight and windy? Comfortable, casual drive? Keep in mind I'll be driving a 34' MH with a toad.Doug

Rt 2 is a good road, wide 2 lane, yes to most of the above, small towns, scenic countryside, not all that twisting & winding, casual drive, we did it in a 30' with toad & dolly. Before we went that way, I asked the same questions, after we went that way I found there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

If you will be in Bangor area, check our Pumpkin Patch C.G.It used to be a Passport America park, not sure if it still is, but we enjoyed staying there.Also we found Rte. 2 to be an interesting route to travel - not boring like an interstate. You should have no trouble with your M.H. & toad.

As the others have said, it's a perfectly decent two-lane road (well, as perfectly decent as New England roads get; parts can be rough from time to time). In general, any US highway is fine for most any RV or truck, and most but not all state highways are also okay.

Just don't try to drive up Mt. Washington. In ANYTHING! Take the train! It looks good at the top, and at the bottom. But the inbetweens!!! Especially with the buses on it!

OK, I'm a wimp. I don't do interstate flyovers in cities either.

Rt 2 thru Vermont, NH, and Maine? | Good Sam Community

DrewE
Explorer II
May 12, 2016
TheCabin wrote:
Has anyone traveled the entire East to West RT 2? We are thinking of taking a long trip.

I have not myself, nor do I personally know anyone who has, but I also think it would be great fun to do sometime. It's rather unusual in that there is a discontinuity in route 2 between the upper peninsula of Michigan and northeast New York where you are expected to travel through Canada (mainly on route 17).
TheCabin
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Has anyone traveled the entire East to West RT 2? We are thinking of taking a long trip.
ryegatevt
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2016
Both the Mt Washington Cog Railway (off Route 302) and the Auto Road (off Route 16) are easily accessed from Route 2. No need to fight the North Conway traffic!
quoyfab
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
AlmostBoatless wrote:

Avoid Anywhere Near Conway/No Conway/Bartlett/Glen on a weekend. Do not travel on Rte 16 on Sat/Sun. It is bumper to bumper going north on Fri and south on Sunday. And in fact, all the major towns are traffic heavy on weekends. Try to plan it so you travel Tues/Thurs.
Good luck!

If travelling Rt 2 across VT and NH you'll be well North of the N. Conway congestion. Palmyra and Pumpkin Patch are both honor Passport America, but both have restrictions. Palmyra, if you golf is a great value, has a pool and is kid friendly. P.Patch has no pool and is geared toward adults and gets a considerable number of caravans. Both are very well kept, orderly and CLEAN. We have family in Hampden (Bangor) and stay at both places almost every year. Though different as explained above, both are VERY good CG's
ddndoug
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
AlmostBoatless wrote:
Avoid Anywhere Near Conway/No Conway/Bartlett/Glen on a weekend. Do not travel on Rte 16 on Sat/Sun. It is bumper to bumper going north on Fri and south on Sunday. And in fact, all the major towns are traffic heavy on weekends. Try to plan it so you travel Tues/Thurs.
Good luck!

Good to know. That happened to us going into Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago. It took us an hour and a half to drive less than 20 miles. If I recall correctly we will be traveling that stretch in the middle of the week.

Doug
ddndoug
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
kohldad wrote:

One thing I learned from travels is to stock up on everything just before leaving NH because of the no sales tax savings. Not to mention plastic tax in Maine.

Thanks for the advice.
kohldad
Explorer III
Apr 29, 2016
Agree Rt 2 is a wonderful road. Drove a lot of it last fall and really enjoyed it.

One thing I learned from travels is to stock up on everything just before leaving NH because of the no sales tax savings. Not to mention plastic tax in Maine.
AlmostBoatless
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
Avoid Anywhere Near Conway/No Conway/Bartlett/Glen on a weekend. Do not travel on Rte 16 on Sat/Sun. It is bumper to bumper going north on Fri and south on Sunday. And in fact, all the major towns are traffic heavy on weekends. Try to plan it so you travel Tues/Thurs.
Good luck!
mkc
Explorer
Apr 27, 2016
Tripalot wrote:
If you will be in Bangor area, check our Pumpkin Patch C.G.
It used to be a Passport America park, not sure if it still is, but we enjoyed staying there.

Also along Route 2 between Skowhegan and Bangor is Palmyra Golf and RV. It's easy to get to, Passport America, and RVers get a discount on golf.

Michelle
bukhrn
Explorer III
Apr 27, 2016
Johno02 wrote:
Just don't try to drive up Mt. Washington. In ANYTHING! Take the train! It looks good at the top, and at the bottom. But the inbetweens!!! Especially with the buses on it!
Why not? That's what the Auto Road is for, easy to do in a car, NOT for an RV, in fact IIRC, there is a size restriction, you do have to use some common sense, low gear Up & Down, to keep from over heating your brakes. There are numerous pull outs, to cool your brakes & to allow on coming vehicles to get by, a very scenic road.
We did the Cog Railway one day, then went around and up the Auto Road the next.