Need Trip Help

Thanks to all for your advice on admittedly sparse detail. We moved to Cleveland from the Smoky Mountains to be near the wife's family. I grew up in Ft. Laud and am a south and southwest kinda guy. If It were up to me I'd be headed to New Mexico and Arizona. However, it isn't up to me. The wife said let's go to New England. So, I looked at a map and it seemed a straight shot through PA into NY and then up to Vermont and thus back. I don't boon dock, my minimum is electric and water. State Parks w/ W&E, private parks, KOA's are fine with me. No idea where to go or what to see and perhaps this idea is the wrong one. ANy other suggestions would be appreciated.

bukhrn wrote:

legolas wrote:
thinking Cleveland, Ohio thru Peen, New York, Vermont and back. No experience here. Any help, ideas suggestions would be most helpful

May I assume the "Peen"is actually meant to be, Pennsylvania? If so, why go through Penn, unless there is something specific that you want to see there?Other than the short distance around Erie.

Yes,it was meant to be Penn. As I said...no experience with the Northeast...looks like the road runs directly between ohio and Penn....

Take route 20 across NY. Very scenic,gets close enough to the center of the state,so that most attractions are a fairly easy detour.

I don't know why anyone would suggest the interstates unless they are a means to a destination. You did not mention destination so stick to surface roads. Most of NY roads are at least decent!

1. Niagara Falls - we stayed at Branches of Niagara RV Park.
2. Zippo Case Knives Factory - Bradford PA - we didn't stay here but Riverhurst Park Campground in Olean NY looks good.
3. Ives Run Campground - Corps of Engineers - Tioga PA.
4. NY City - if you want to tour NYC and don't want to drive. We stayed at Newburgh NY KOA and took their tour bus. Expensive but worth it. Or you can take the train into the city from Beacon NY.
5. Vermont - Cabot Cheese Factory and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory.
6. Vermont - Quechee Gorge - either state park or we stayed at the KOA in White River Junction. Good location for day trips in VT.
7. We drove up to Plattsburgh NY and took the ferry over Lake Champlain to Grand Isle. We stayed at the Apple Island RV Park in South Hero VT.
8. Mt Washington NH - there is a KOA near there.

Timeframe? Interests for activities and stops? Preferences for campground amenities?

Absent any specific destinations, I prefer taking 86/88 across New York to taking I-90 across and contributing heavily to the New York state highway coffers. Parts of I-86 especially were at one point very rough, but I think most if not all of the terrible bits have since been repaved.

For possible destinations, I've thoroughly enjoyed Knoebels (Elysburg, PA, probably somewhat out of your way) and Letchworth State Park (NY, betwixt Rochester and Corning), obviously for different reasons. The Knoebels campground is nothing special, aside from it's location immediately adjacent to the fantastic traditional amusement park. It's clean and decently run, but rather cramped (particularly in the US states section) and low-frills. The location makes up for a lot!

Letchworth state park is spectacular, with many varied hiking/strolling and picnicking options in a spectacularly beautiful setting. The campground area is nice with typical state park luxuries (or lack thereof): simple but functional showerhouses, gravel sites with some space between them, partial hookups, etc.

Vermont certainly has some neat areas and parks. The state park campgrounds are all on the primitive side (no hookups), and some have many rather small or hard to access sites. Some do have very pretty settings, and the ones I've stayed at have all been clean and well-kept. I would suggest making reservations for stays on weekends, especially given the size of your trailer.

The Shelburne Museum is worth spending a day or two exploring. There are many great hikes, bike trips, and places to go boating here.

legolas wrote:
thinking Cleveland, Ohio thru Peen, New York, Vermont and back. No experience here. Any help, ideas suggestions would be most helpful

May I assume the "Peen"is actually meant to be, Pennsylvania? If so, why go through Penn, unless there is something specific that you want to see there?Other than the short distance around Erie.