Forum Discussion

pompomgirl's avatar
pompomgirl
Explorer
Jul 10, 2016

Fall Road Trip Up the East Coast

We are two adults and two small dogs, planning a motorhome trip up the east coast in October from Atlanta to Cape Cod and back. We have people to visit in North Carolina, West Virginia, the D.C. area, Philadelphia, Westchester County NY, and Cape Cod and want to work in interesting stops on different routes up and back. We will be towing a Honda Fit, so we can park the motorhome and take the Fit to out-of-the-way places. When necessary, the dogs can stay in the motorhome during the day. We have both seen most of the standard tourist stops and are looking for unusual things we are likely not to have seen. We would love to find a printed reference for worthwhile overlooked gems. Slide shows on the web don't really help a lot.
Roads and Routes
  • vermilye's avatar
    vermilye
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2016
    One of my favorite Fall hikes is along the 22 waterfalls and hundreds of cascades in Ricketts Glen State Park in northeastern Pennsylvania. If you visit, come in from the North. Entering from the South requires climbing a 4 mile, 18% grade between Red Rock & the park.

    There are two campgrounds in the park, although only one is usually open in October. No hookups, but bathrooms with hot showers.

    More photos from a couple of my visits.
    A cascade along the waterfall trail.
  • Crowe's avatar
    Crowe
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2016
    Please keep in mind that many of the campgrounds in this area shut down by Columbus Day weekend, which is 10/8-10/10 this year.
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Jul 11, 2016
    If you've seen most of the DC attractions you may want to make a stop at the USMC Museum just off I-95 at Triangle Quantico Exit 150. It is free and you can easily spend a whole day there.
  • jplante4's avatar
    jplante4
    Explorer II
    Jul 10, 2016
    Mystic Seaport in New London CT.
    The Newport (RI) mansions. You can park at Horseneck Beach for a day and night (no hookups) and you're within a half hour of Newport.
    While on the Cape, take a side trip to Plymouth, America's Home Town and the location of the most disappointing tourist attraction (The Rock).
    Also while on the Cape, don't miss Provincetown. October is the perfect time of the year to go there.
    Your best chance of seeing foliage would be in southern CT.
  • pompomgirl's avatar
    pompomgirl
    Explorer
    Jul 10, 2016
    Wow, the "Hidden New Jersey" is phenomenal, just what I was looking for. I'll look for something similar for the other states. About the foliage, would we do better to start earlier? We could start a little earlier if need be - we just have commitments through the third week of September and would like to take a little break.
  • OutdoorPhotogra's avatar
    OutdoorPhotogra
    Explorer
    Jul 10, 2016
    I suggest making best time to Cape Cod and then slow back down. That will be your best bet for foliage.

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