Food is good, but it is just food and it can be recreated anywhere. If you have to go down the coast (not advised) be sure to stop a Mystic Seaport Museum for at least an entire day. There is camping available at one of the casinos. (I lived there once so I use a friend's driveway.)
But if you can get back to Albany, don't use the NYT ($$). Take the Southern Tier - I-81 & 86 and be sure to stop in Corning at the Glass Museum and see the failed Hale (Mt Palomar) mirror.
You will hit I-90 just short of Erie. The maritime museum there is worth a stop. Not big, but neat.
Stay with I-90 into Cleveland. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is there, but I have never been there. There is also a museum ship that is a retired laker. Never been there either.
Out of Cleveland, look for I-90/US-2. I-80-90 across IN & OH is toll road. It won't zing you too bad, but we would avoid it. We would stay with Rt 2 until I-280. Then you need to make a choice.
If you decide to go north, buy fuel at the Alexis Road stations. Fuel is expensive in MI because of taxes and graft.
But, if you take I-94 (no tolls) across MI, you will be in striking range of the Henry Ford and Greenfield Museum complex (yes, that is worth two days $$). Near Battle Creek is the Gilmore Automobile Collection (read about that too) dry camping on the grounds used to be cheap. And the Kalamazoo Air Zoo (read about it first), is very changeable as the WWII aircraft are privately owned and come and go a lot.
If you are looking for Free ONP, the Cabela's in Hammond is one of our favorite stops. (I am still hoping to stop there when there is not a sale that DW likes.) It is far enough outside of Chicago to be quiet and the lot is (used to be) patrolled.
Matt
