Forum Discussion

nanaray's avatar
nanaray
Explorer
Oct 03, 2016

summer in north east

We are a retired couple, 66 & 56, going to summer (July-September) this year in the northeast. We have traveled most of the south and northwest for extended periods in our travel trailer but we've never traveled the northeast. We're thinking of starting in Maine, traveling east to Vermont, Toronto and northern NY, and then on through New England. Our thought is to use RV parks for our base, staying in each for a week or so and explore the surrounding area, at times tent camping. We're in the beginning stages of planning and would appreciate any suggestions, must see/do, cautions, etc you can offer. Specific questions are. Do RV parks allow one to be absent from trailer for 2 or so days? We are retired military. We are looking at military campgrounds but there do not seem to be many with RV spaces. Are there parks that offer discounts? Should we make advance reservations at each stop in order to ensure space for our trailer or can we wing it a bit? What would you recommend as a basic itinerary?

Ray and Nanette
Texas
  • nanaray wrote:
    We're thinking of starting in Maine, traveling east to Vermont, Toronto and northern NY, and then on through New England.


    If you're starting in Maine and traveling east to Vermont, you may want to check your map and recalibrate your GPS before you leave. :B
  • The popular places fill up on the Big 3 weekends (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day), but you should have no issues getting a spot during the summer in most areas. Campgrounds on the ocean with water views would require reservations, the earlier you get on these the better. We do a lot of trips in the NE during the summer and we figure out where we're going a couple of weeks out and start calling around. Haven't been shut out yet.

    If you're doing Cape Cod, Atlantic Oaks in Eastham and Sweetwater Forest in Brewster are nice. Normandy Farms in Foxboro is close to both Boston and the Cape, as well as Plymouth.

    In Vermont, be sure to spend a few nights on Lake Champlain. Check the area on RV Park Reviews. We stayed at Champlain Adult Campground on Grand Isle. Beautiful spot.

    We haven't been to the seacoast of Maine, but Acadia NP and the Bar Harbor area are very popular. We go to Sebago Lake in Maine. There are a couple of CGs on the lake.

    Your route seems to be taking you through Niagara Falls. Nice area, most of the stuff to do is on the Canadian side. We stayed at Branches of Niagara. While in New York, be sure to hit the wine country in and around Watkins Glen or Ithaca. The Glen has 3 camping areas; Klute Park, a state park and a KOA south of town. We've done Klute and the KOA. Klute is in Watkins Glen proper on the lake and next to a Walmart. The KOA is south of the Glen. If you do the KOA, get a spot in the back, it's much quieter. You can hike the glen.

    Rip Van Winkle CG near Woodstock gets good reviews. Just be careful of following the GPS to get there. There are some very steep grades in the Catskills, and you'd be better off staying on the bigger roads even if it adds distance. We also like Arrowhead RV Park and Marina right in the Mohawk River/Erie Canal in Schenectady.

    If you want to see Boston, either Normandy Farms or Boston Minuteman park in Littleton are convenient to mass transit. Don't drive into Boston.

    Feel free to PM me with specific questions.
  • Lake George, NY is a beautiful place to visit. Lots to see and do. Would definitely need reservations for a site. Recommend Lake George RV Park or Moose Hillock RV Park.
  • We like nature, hiking (easy to moderate), eating great food, junk stores, cool weather, great scenery.
  • nanaray wrote:
    We are a retired couple, 66 & 56, going to summer (July-September) this year in the northeast.

    Ray and Nanette
    Texas


    You might be a little late for this summer :)

    In the Northeast, you probably should have reservations for the weekends. You might not have problems finding spots during the week, but the weekends are usually busy.

    -Michael

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