Virginia to Maine

[Dwgcand3]

Wy wife and I are planning a trip from Virginia Beach to Northern Maine this summer. Problem, when we read about routes to get there we see warnings about bridge heights of 10' 6" and so on. My 5th wheel is 13' 5", does anyone have any suggestions as to the route we need to take so I don't customize my rig?

[Dave_Jeanette]

infogeek wrote:

bamcote wrote:

Jack Spratt wrote:
Go west to pick up 81N
East on 84
East on Mass Pike 90
North on 290
North 495
North on 95
One hour longer but bypasses the metro stress
And is more scenic

We do this route every spring to head to Maine/NH. I would suggest trying to stay in middle lane going through Connecticut, due to constant merging (non-yielding regardless of signs) traffic, but it's hard because the lanes keep shifting. Other than CT, this route isn't too bad.

This is what I'd do, too. I avoid 95 in NYC/NJ like the plague. Talk about traffic nightmares. And tolls. No thanks. I'd rather take the long way around. Less stress.

Can't agree more. This is a much more relaxing drive. Do it every couple of years from Maryland to New England and back.

[infogeek]

bamcote wrote:

Jack Spratt wrote:
Go west to pick up 81N
East on 84
East on Mass Pike 90
North on 290
North 495
North on 95
One hour longer but bypasses the metro stress
And is more scenic

We do this route every spring to head to Maine/NH. I would suggest trying to stay in middle lane going through Connecticut, due to constant merging (non-yielding regardless of signs) traffic, but it's hard because the lanes keep shifting. Other than CT, this route isn't too bad.

This is what I'd do, too. I avoid 95 in NYC/NJ like the plague. Talk about traffic nightmares. And tolls. No thanks. I'd rather take the long way around. Less stress.

[fireman41]

Jack Spratt wrote:
Go west to pick up 81N
East on 84
North on 290
North 495
North on 95
One hour longer but bypasses the metro stress
And is more scenic

Forgot to add the Mass Pike (I90)
X2 on this.
As a truck driver this is the way I go. I try to avoid the I 95 core door like the plague. No reason to go through DC, Baltimore, and NYC.

[bamcote]

Jack Spratt wrote:
Go west to pick up 81N
East on 84
North on 290
North 495
North on 95
One hour longer but bypasses the metro stress
And is more scenic

We do this route every spring to head to Maine/NH. I would suggest trying to stay in middle lane going through Connecticut, due to constant merging (non-yielding regardless of signs) traffic, but it's hard because the lanes keep shifting. Other than CT, this route isn't too bad.

[WILDEBILL308]

I went that way last summer. Do you have your EZ Pass? Going up 95 wasn't bad just jog over and use the Tappan Zee and not the Gorge Washington. GW cost me $76.00. I have driven 95 around Boston and 495 I didn't see any difference in traffic. Yes it is best not to do it during rush hour.
It depends on what you want to do and see around Portland and north. 295 and 95 split but come back together. If you are going to Acadia I would use 295 to 1 and follow 1 to 3 to the park. Where are you staying? I drove 1 all the way to East Port.
Bill

[Jack_Spratt]

Go west to pick up 81N
East on 84
North on 290
North 495
North on 95
One hour longer but bypasses the metro stress
And is more scenic

[beemerphile1]

Most semi-trucks are 13' 6". Stay on the interstates and turnpikes.

[Roadpilot]

Which ever way you go to the boston area (95 or 81) there are no low bridges on roads you can legally take a 5th wheel. Use 495 to avoid Boston. Then it's 95 all the way to middle Maine. Then 11 will bring you to northern Maine.

[Veebyes]

I believe the low bridges you are worrying about are over NY state parkways. No trucks or RVs, except maybe conversion vans, allowed.

As for low bridges anywhere else, they are very rare being too low for the average trailer or class A.

[Bumpyroad]

I would try to avoid I-95 from Fredericksburg, VA, to North of Baltimore if possible.
bumpy

[jplante4]

Don't go through Boston tunnels with propane. Best to circumnavigate the Boston area using I-495. And if you do this, it makes more sense to continue up I-87 to the Tappan Zee and take I-684 to I-84 to I-90.

[PapPappy]

Running up I-95 may seem terrible, but you won't have any height issues, as the trucks go that way, and they are going to make sure that they don't hit any low heights.
It really depends on what you want to do.....sightsee during the trip, or get up to Maine ASAP.

I drive I-95 all the time, from NC to NY and often up to Boston, so I'm familiar with it....and as I said, it may not be scenic, but there are plenty of stops and service areas...and you well seldom be alone on the road.

Best advice is to try and schedule your trip through NYC, to try and a avoid the worst of the traffic....for me, that is after midnight, but before 6:00 inm the morning.

[CloudDriver]

Here's an earlier thread on the same subject.

Starting from Virginia Beach, I would cross the CBBT and go north on route 13 through the DelMarVa Peninsula to join I95 near NJ. I know of no low bridges on these routes.

We went up to Acadia NP last Fall and used route 1 from Portland on north. No low bridge issues.

[glennestes]

You can use the Good Sam Trip Planner. It will warn you about low clearances & other issues.

http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/freetriprouting/

I, personally, would try to avoid I-95 until I got north of Boston.