N Falls, NY - Acadia Natl Park

[DHamm20]

I have been reading about the tolls on I95 and slow moving traffic on route 1. The unfortunate part is I am leaving N Falls on a Thursday afternoon leaving me in weekend traffic.

We are a family of four who loves our National Parks and history. At this point I am not sure if I should head north in Maine or down to Mass???? Any ideas?

[pasusan]

loggenrock wrote:
Let me offer an alternative, if time isn't an issue and you want a nice ride... From Albany area, take NY Thruway - 87 - north. You can either cross into VT at the south end or "over the top" of Lake Champlain. Basically, you are looking for Rte 2 - it is the east/west road across the tops of VT and NH, then across Maine. Good road - trucks use it all the time - so no issue with towing. Puts you back onto I-95 in ME around Newport, then north to Bangor and south on 1 towards Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. I hate travelling the Mass Pike (90) east/west - and Rte 9 across VT with a 35' rig might not be a lot of fun. Check a map - let me know if you have other questions! ST

This is what we have done. E on I-90, N on I-87, E on 4, N on I-91, E on 2. Then you can see VT and NH too.

[fwed]

I-95 versus I-295 in Maine: there's nothing wrong with I-295. I-95 goes through Portland, but it's four lanes (two each way) throughout, BUT, you can avoid that by staying on I-95 to Exit 52 which is a connector north of Portland over to I-295. I-295 is shorter and has no tolls. I-295 joins up with I-95 in Gardiner just south of Augusta.

Once you hit Augusta, you can continue on (toll-free) I-95 to Bangor, then take US 1A to Ellsworth, or take US Route 3 across country to Belfast where you'll pick up US Route 1 and follow that along. Time wise Route 3 may be a bit shorter, and it's a nicer ride.

Our preference on Mount Desert Island is Bar Harbor KoA Woodside. It's cheaper than the Oceanside, has cable, and you won't be spending that much time in camp anyway. Get a site out back as the wooded sites near the front tend to be buggy. Sites at Oceanside which abut the water are not full service, but some of the others are. You pay dearly for it though.

As far as hiking is concerned, you'll have more than enough opportunity throughout Acadia NP.

You didn't say what time of year you'll be coming, but bring jackets. Even summers in Maine can be chilly of an evening, especially on the water.

fred.

[Crowe]

If you take 95 in Maine instead of 295 you will miss L.L. Bean.

Yes, you will, indeed, miss Bean. Route dependent upon whether or not this is a must see for OP. Personally I find Bean to be overpriced for yuppie clothing. They've long since lost what they were originally about. Some of the outlets in Freeport do on occasion have good bargains. If you like to people watch and enjoy a lively hubub type of atmosphere it is a great place to go. We take our dogs and wander around aimlessly doing nothing but letting the dogs soak up the attention they get.

[dcason]

Take 90 east to the Mass.Turnpike, then take 495 to 95, then 295 to 95 noth to Bangor, take Rt. 3 to Ellsworth and then into Acadia NP.
Enjoy your trip to a beautiful, and my favorite NP.

We have done this and it works...
Donna
Try and plan your attack on boston area not at rush hour and you will be happy.

[loggenrock]

Let me offer an alternative, if time isn't an issue and you want a nice ride... From Albany area, take NY Thruway - 87 - north. You can either cross into VT at the south end or "over the top" of Lake Champlain. Basically, you are looking for Rte 2 - it is the east/west road across the tops of VT and NH, then across Maine. Good road - trucks use it all the time - so no issue with towing. Puts you back onto I-95 in ME around Newport, then north to Bangor and south on 1 towards Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. I hate travelling the Mass Pike (90) east/west - and Rte 9 across VT with a 35' rig might not be a lot of fun. Check a map - let me know if you have other questions! ST

[BillMFl]

demoon wrote:

DHamm20 wrote:
Thank you for your input. We are in the beginning stages of planning our summer trip. I was told to go 90 - into Albany which then takes you to rt 7 past Green Mountain National Forset into rt 202 into Portsmouth NH. Has anyone traveled these routes? I am pulling a 35' travel trailer.

If you had a lot of time, going through VT and NH is a beautiful, but slow ride. The route mentioned left out several things. Route 7 in VT is a north south road and you would have to take one of the several east west highways to get you to 202. These are pretty much two lane secondary roads with some fairly good grades.

Lived in VT 40+ years and it is beautiful. But if your goal is to spend time in Maine and around Boston, stay on the Pike to 495 north as suggested. You will pay for the tolls in saved gas and time.

The route from Albany is first 7, then 9 to Concord. Go south to Manchester and then 101 to 95 near Portsmouth. 7 in Vermont is hilly, especially Hogback Mtn. 9 in NH is easy. 101 to Portsmouth is smooth 4 lane and toll free. There are small tolls between Concord and Manchester. Then tolls again on I95 into Maine. I used this route twice last year.

[BillMFl]

We summer in Maine in Boothbay. US 1 is heavy traffic in Maine Friday northbound and Sunday southbound especially from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. I95 can be even worse. I usually use 1 to get to the Acadia area. It is a little slower but the scenery is better. In the summer the back ups at the toll booths on 95 can back up for miles. 1 moves pretty steady but slows going thru the small towns. Wiscasset area is probably the worst. Its all two lane from Bath on north.

[demoon]

DHamm20 wrote:
Thank you for your input. We are in the beginning stages of planning our summer trip. I was told to go 90 - into Albany which then takes you to rt 7 past Green Mountain National Forset into rt 202 into Portsmouth NH. Has anyone traveled these routes? I am pulling a 35' travel trailer.

If you had a lot of time, going through VT and NH is a beautiful, but slow ride. The route mentioned left out several things. Route 7 in VT is a north south road and you would have to take one of the several east west highways to get you to 202. These are pretty much two lane secondary roads with some fairly good grades.

Lived in VT 40+ years and it is beautiful. But if your goal is to spend time in Maine and around Boston, stay on the Pike to 495 north as suggested. You will pay for the tolls in saved gas and time.

[GeoBoy]

Crowe wrote:
Take 90 east to the Mass.Turnpike, then take 495 to 95, then 295 to 95 noth to Bangor, take Rt. 3 to Ellsworth and then into Acadia NP.

If you go straight to Acadia this is the route I'd take except there's no need to take 295-stay in 95. It's a few extra miles but 295 goes into Portland. There are some nice water views but there's also traffic and curves.

If you take 95 in Maine instead of 295 you will miss L.L. Bean. My wife never misses L.L. Bean when we are in Maine. That would be just awful.

[Crowe]

Take 90 east to the Mass.Turnpike, then take 495 to 95, then 295 to 95 noth to Bangor, take Rt. 3 to Ellsworth and then into Acadia NP.

If you go straight to Acadia this is the route I'd take except there's no need to take 295-stay in 95. It's a few extra miles but 295 goes into Portland. There are some nice water views but there's also traffic and curves.

[GeoBoy]

Take 90 east to the Mass.Turnpike, then take 495 to 95, then 295 to 95 noth to Bangor, take Rt. 3 to Ellsworth and then into Acadia NP.
Enjoy your trip to a beautiful, and my favorite NP.

[DHamm20]

Time is no issue we did Boston a few years ago and are looking for other ideas as we will be in Acadia for week. Looking for nice family campgrounds with good hiking and nature trails.

[Crowe]

Can't help on the route through VT, but I will suggest that if you can, plan your travel to avoid rush hours in the major cities. Once you hit Portsmouth you can go either north or south, but if you are choosing south to MA I might stay on 90, depending on where in MA you want to go. The Boston area has so much history so if that's your main focus I'd go there. If you want a beautiful national park, head up to Acadia in ME. How much time do you have? You can make the Boston area in a day-Maine would be more comfortable in two days. However, if you are leaving on Thursday p.m. you can drive a few hours and then stop somewhere along the way. That gives you two options for the next day: leave very early in the a.m. to get through the main cities OR wait until a little later on and go through them after rush hour.

[DHamm20]

Thank you for your input. We are in the beginning stages of planning our summer trip. I was told to go 90 - into Albany which then takes you to rt 7 past Green Mountain National Forset into rt 202 into Portsmouth NH. Has anyone traveled these routes? I am pulling a 35' travel trailer.