Travel report Florida to Maine

[BillMFl]

Each year I try different routes. This year it was leave Tampa area on 75 to 10 to 95. Light traffic, no towns and no tolls. A little longer but faster and easier than 301. Held speed to about 62mph in right lane. No significant contruction on 95, moderate traffic, mostly smooth except older two lane section in SC. Took the bypass around the east side of Richmond. Good road, very light traffic mid morning. Got off 95 on 17 at Fredricksburg to 66 thence to 81. 17 is a nice pretty drive and low stress route. I81 to I78 was very heavy traffic. I78 was light traffic until near Allentown. Took 33 to Stroudsberg. Usually take 209 to 84 but wanted to try 402. Its a decent road but longer so will use 209 next time. Took 209 from Port Jervis up to Kingston and got on 87 there. 209 is a pretty drive but lots of small villages and a slow drive (45mph avg). Getting off 84 onto 209 avoids the big hills of the Hudson valley and avoids the awfull toll bridge over the Hudson. I87 to the Mass Tpk avoids all the cities and traffic on 84 thru Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, etc. but does cost $20 pluss in tolls. Very light traffic until the Springfield area and on to 495 around the Boston area. We were spending a few days with fiends in southern NH or I would have taken a more northern route across Vermont and NH to Maine and avoided the Springfield/Boston traffic. Arrived in BoothBay safe and sound without incident. 38' georgetown gasser performed very very well!

[BillMFl]

Aadkins101 wrote:
River Beach is truly disgusting - muddy sites and filthy bathhouse. Tri State is even worse! There is just not a decent place to stay off 84 in that area. I've read so many complaints. Wish someone would build an RV Park in that area - expect it would do extremely well based on the number of people who ask for suggestions.

Wellll, the sites do get muddy when it rains at many many rv parks. Riverbeach and Tri State are not "country club" locations, but they just happen to be at a location that works well from a trip milage situation. And the Riverbeach rest rooms have been very clean when I have often stayed there. There may have been a large group of river rafters that messed it up before you got there assuming that you did stay there. But in 6 or 8 stays, I never saw it that way. The MH I have now is actually to big to stay there now, but I will still use it with my camper van. They do have a night watchman, its quiet, close to fuel and a Wallmart and easy on/off I84 and from that location its an easy days drive to New England areas.

[ct1964ups]

Aadkins101 wrote:
River Beach is truly disgusting - muddy sites and filthy bathhouse. Tri State is even worse! There is just not a decent place to stay off 84 in that area. I've read so many complaints. Wish someone would build an RV Park in that area - expect it would do extremely well based on the number of people who ask for suggestions.

Never been to River Beach but as for Tri-State...we pull in, use our own motorhome , so for an overnight it is ok..sites are level, easy off 84 to campground, easy in and out of sites and the park....Chuck

[Aadkins101]

River Beach is truly disgusting - muddy sites and filthy bathhouse. Tri State is even worse! There is just not a decent place to stay off 84 in that area. I've read so many complaints. Wish someone would build an RV Park in that area - expect it would do extremely well based on the number of people who ask for suggestions.

[ct1964ups]

BillMFl wrote:
Yes South 40 is still open. Nice quiet park but sites are a little uneven. Did it used to be a KOA? As for Port Jervis, Deerpark was a pain to get to in Port Jervis. Used to stay at Riverbeach but will check out Tristate next time. The Wallmart there is no lonnger RV friendly.

Yes South Forty was always a KOA back in the day....don't remember the sites ,other than they were all in the woods....
Tri-State has a field with 30 amps and water...and dump station or also FHU 50 amps pull thrus...it is great for an overnight

[BillMFl]

Yes South 40 is still open. Nice quiet park but sites are a little uneven. Did it used to be a KOA? As for Port Jervis, Deerpark was a pain to get to in Port Jervis. Used to stay at Riverbeach but will check out Tristate next time. The Wallmart there is no lonnger RV friendly.

[ct1964ups]

BillMFl wrote:
Thanks Chuck. If I am in a hurry, I can get to Boothbay in 4 days (have done it in 3 with my van but not fun). This trip we spent 5 days on the road and about 350 miles per day. New Green Acres in Walterboro, SC; South Forty near Petersburg, Va; and Deerpark KOA near Port Jervis, NY. All had nice long pull thrus. Fourth night was at our friends home in NH. I often stay at Pine Hill just east of Allentown Pa and sometimes in Sturbridge, Mass. Both are within a day of Maine for me. I used to be a big fan of I81 but the last couple years the trucks and traffic seem much worse. I like to stay in Columbia at Barnyard and walk to that delicious southern cooking little place nearby. Also use the KOA on 77 just NW of Statesville, NC. But Charlotte is almost as bad as Atlanta to drive thru. Happy trails to ya!

Bill,
You are right 350 a day is pretty perfect....you aren't beat at the end of the day...I will run Tallahassee,Fla to Ct in 2 1/2 days,but am I beat at the end...
I like the Barnyard as well,that area has some great places to eat,
We've also stayed at New Green Acres,but in Port Jervis...we stay at Tri-State...great for a quick in and out.....
Question...is the South Forty still open, have read conflicting stories on it...they used to have a great little Italian place there years back
Thanks for the info...enjoy the summer..Chuck

[BillMFl]

Thanks Chuck. If I am in a hurry, I can get to Boothbay in 4 days (have done it in 3 with my van but not fun). This trip we spent 5 days on the road and about 350 miles per day. New Green Acres in Walterboro, SC; South Forty near Petersburg, Va; and Deerpark KOA near Port Jervis, NY. All had nice long pull thrus. Fourth night was at our friends home in NH. I often stay at Pine Hill just east of Allentown Pa and sometimes in Sturbridge, Mass. Both are within a day of Maine for me. I used to be a big fan of I81 but the last couple years the trucks and traffic seem much worse. I like to stay in Columbia at Barnyard and walk to that delicious southern cooking little place nearby. Also use the KOA on 77 just NW of Statesville, NC. But Charlotte is almost as bad as Atlanta to drive thru. Happy trails to ya!

[ct1964ups]

ct1964ups wrote:

BillMFl wrote:
Each year I try different routes. This year it was leave Tampa area on 75 to 10 to 95. Light traffic, no towns and no tolls. A little longer but faster and easier than 301. Held speed to about 62mph in right lane. No significant contruction on 95, moderate traffic, mostly smooth except older two lane section in SC. Took the bypass around the east side of Richmond. Good road, very light traffic mid morning. Got off 95 on 17 at Fredricksburg to 66 thence to 81. 17 is a nice pretty drive and low stress route. I81 to I78 was very heavy traffic. I78 was light traffic until near Allentown. Took 33 to Stroudsberg. Usually take 209 to 84 but wanted to try 402. Its a decent road but longer so will use 209 next time. Took 209 from Port Jervis up to Kingston and got on 87 there. 209 is a pretty drive but lots of small villages and a slow drive (45mph avg). Getting off 84 onto 209 avoids the big hills of the Hudson valley and avoids the awfull toll bridge over the Hudson. I87 to the Mass Tpk avoids all the cities and traffic on 84 thru Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, etc. but does cost $20 pluss in tolls. Very light traffic until the Springfield area and on to 495 around the Boston area. We were spending a few days with fiends in southern NH or I would have taken a more northern route across Vermont and NH to Maine and avoided the Springfield/Boston traffic. Arrived in BoothBay safe and sound without incident. 38' georgetown gasser performed very very well!

Meant to ask before I rambled on,but how long did it take you and what campgrounds did you finally decide to stay at ?...Chuck



If ya like to change routes frequently....from Tampa stay on 75 up into Ga..to exit 201..have Flying J and some rests there...take Ga 36 across to Jackson pickup Ga 16 to Monticello,Ga and from there Ga 83 up to I-20..it is maybe tops 45 miles from 75 to 20...it is all 2 lane but also a truck route ,so no low overheads..speed limit is 55/60 almost all the way...it takes all of 5 minutes to get thru the 2 towns...Once on I-20 toward Columbia,SC..which is 3 hrs....you have a cpl of choices for the rest of the route home...up 77 to 81....or 20 out to 95 or 77 to 85 in Charlotte.NC and then 85 to 95 in Richmond,Va or another nice route is 85 to Greensboro,NC pickup Rt 29 toward Danville up to Charlottesville ,Va to I-64..this 29 is almost 4 lane all the way and is as pretty a ride as is Rt 17
Along all of these variations are some great in/out overnight campgrounds to stay in
Didn't mean to bore you with my ideas....but have followed your different routes on here...with interest..so ,just threw some ideas out there
We, go north- south...east- west from up here probably 4 or 5 times a year and mostly to same directions but different places....Chuck

[ct1964ups]

BillMFl wrote:
Each year I try different routes. This year it was leave Tampa area on 75 to 10 to 95. Light traffic, no towns and no tolls. A little longer but faster and easier than 301. Held speed to about 62mph in right lane. No significant contruction on 95, moderate traffic, mostly smooth except older two lane section in SC. Took the bypass around the east side of Richmond. Good road, very light traffic mid morning. Got off 95 on 17 at Fredricksburg to 66 thence to 81. 17 is a nice pretty drive and low stress route. I81 to I78 was very heavy traffic. I78 was light traffic until near Allentown. Took 33 to Stroudsberg. Usually take 209 to 84 but wanted to try 402. Its a decent road but longer so will use 209 next time. Took 209 from Port Jervis up to Kingston and got on 87 there. 209 is a pretty drive but lots of small villages and a slow drive (45mph avg). Getting off 84 onto 209 avoids the big hills of the Hudson valley and avoids the awfull toll bridge over the Hudson. I87 to the Mass Tpk avoids all the cities and traffic on 84 thru Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, etc. but does cost $20 pluss in tolls. Very light traffic until the Springfield area and on to 495 around the Boston area. We were spending a few days with fiends in southern NH or I would have taken a more northern route across Vermont and NH to Maine and avoided the Springfield/Boston traffic. Arrived in BoothBay safe and sound without incident. 38' georgetown gasser performed very very well!

If ya like to change routes frequently....from Tampa stay on 75 up into Ga..to exit 201..have Flying J and some rests there...take Ga 36 across to Jackson pickup Ga 16 to Monticello,Ga and from there Ga 83 up to I-20..it is maybe tops 45 miles from 75 to 20...it is all 2 lane but also a truck route ,so no low overheads..speed limit is 55/60 almost all the way...it takes all of 5 minutes to get thru the 2 towns...Once on I-20 toward Columbia,SC..which is 3 hrs....you have a cpl of choices for the rest of the route home...up 77 to 81....or 20 out to 95 or 77 to 85 in Charlotte.NC and then 85 to 95 in Richmond,Va or another nice route is 85 to Greensboro,NC pickup Rt 29 toward Danville up to Charlottesville ,Va to I-64..this 29 is almost 4 lane all the way and is as pretty a ride as is Rt 17
Along all of these variations are some great in/out overnight campgrounds to stay in
Didn't mean to bore you with my ideas....but have followed your different routes on here...with interest..so ,just threw some ideas out there
We, go north- south...east- west from up here probably 4 or 5 times a year and mostly to same directions but different places....Chuck

[Steeljag]

Thank you for the info, and glad you had a safe trip.