Forum Discussion

taylora02's avatar
taylora02
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015

12 Day New England Itinerary

I am planning a first time RV trip to New England with my husband and children (ages 10 & 7) for Summer 2016. I would love feedback and suggestions on this itinerary, campgrounds, and attractions, please.

DAY 1: Rent a 25' motorhome from Cruise America RVs, Bloomfield, CT. Stay at Fisherman’s Memorial State Park.

DAY 2: Visit Mystic Seaport, Mystic CT & historic homes in Newport RI. Drive back to Fisherman’s Memorial to spend the night.

DAY 3: Drive back to Newport to finish touring. Then, visit Plymouth, MA. Spend the night at Normandy Farms Campground.

DAY 4: Visit Boston. Go back to Normandy Farms for the night.

DAY 5: Visit Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord. Spend the night at Hampton Beach State Park.

DAY 6: Visit Portsmouth, NH. Drive to Wagon Wheel RV Resort and Campground to spend the night.

DAY 7: Visit Kennebunkport, ME and Freeport, ME. Drive to Bar Harbor, ME. Stay at Hadley’s Point Campground, Bar Harbor, ME.

DAY 8: Visit Acadia National Forest. Stay at Hadley’s Point Campground.

DAY 9: Visit Bar Harbor, ME for the day. Stay at Hadley’s Point Campground.

DAY 10: Drive to White Mountain National Forest. Visit Bretton Woods and ride on the cog railway. Take a hike in the Franconia National Park, NH.
Spend the night at the Lost River Valley Campground, North Woodstock, NH

DAY 11: Visit Montshire Museum of Science & King Arthur Flour Bakery & Cafe, Norwich VT for the day.
Return RV to Cruise America, Bloomfield, CT.

(Flex Day 12 to add to itinerary.) Thanks for your help!
  • Rangerman40's avatar
    Rangerman40
    Explorer
    Jan 27, 2016
    Having done most of your trip last year except mine was Cape Cod/ Old Orchard Beach/ Acadia/ White Mountains I can tell you there is waaaay too much driving in there. My trip mentioned above was 18 days long and we stayed at 4 different campgrounds. Cape Cod took 6 days by itself and I still feel I didn't see all of it. 1 day for Acadia is quite the injustice. Same for the White Mountains. No way you can get all that done in a day. We stayed at Lost River Valley Campground and it's an hour drive to the Cog. Half day for the Cog minimum.
  • Flintstones's avatar
    Flintstones
    Explorer
    Jan 26, 2016
    Padlin has it right, and the other posters concerns about too ambitious an itinerary are right on.

    Your campground selections are fine, but I also would keep it to Mystic Seaport area, Boston, Acadia National Park, and White Mountain area.

    Mystic seaport, a great take on foot, In Boston, a Duckboat Tour and again explore on foot, Acadia great for camping, biking and hiking. I would forget Bretton Woods, drive and camp on the Kangamangus Highway and explore all the neat natural attractions, plus enjoy North Conway and maybe a scenic train ride, or head over to the Cog Railway if thats a must.
  • lbrjet's avatar
    lbrjet
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2016
    You will need more time in NH to do the things you have planned. Agree with a previous poster that it would be much better to stay in hotels for this trip.
  • fwed's avatar
    fwed
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2016
    Day 7: You're staying over in Portsmouth then driving to Kennebunkport, Freeport, and then to Acadia. Do not take US Route 1, turnpike only for your schedule. Even at that, good luck. First, don't even think about taking a rig into Kennebunkport and stopping anywhere. It's a trafic jam with a car, and parking is almost impossible. If your family is anything like my wife, Freeport and LLBean is at least a half day experience. Then you've got about 4 hours at top speed to Acadia on the turnpike to Route 3, then Route 1. Doing this, if you can, you'll miss all of Route 1 and all that it has to offer. Then it's a long way from Acadia to the White Mountains.

    I don't blame you for wanting to see all of this, but personally I'd see less area and see it all better.
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2015
    Hey Taylor,

    You need to do a bunch more research before you do anything else. I used to live in the area (at one time, the four house down from Mystic Seaport). You can easily blow a day at the Seaport. There is no way you can even nearly do Mystic and Newport in the same day. it may only be 50+ plus miles between the two, but it is not all E-way. Going back and forth as your plan shows is a big waste of time.
    You are also missing the submarine museum in New London and WHOI. You need to re-evaluate your effort level.

    Matt (BTDT)
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2015
    Using your list. Fisherman's can be hard to get into but is a great CG.

    DAY 1,2: Rent a 25' motorhome from Cruise America RVs, Bloomfield, CT. Stay at Mystic. Visit the Sub museum, Aquarium, maybe Mystic Seaport.

    DAY 3,4: Fisherman’s Memorial State Park, visit historic homes in Newport RI. Hit the Salisbury Beach, eat seafood.

    DAY 5,6,7: Visit Plymouth, MA. Then to Normandy Farms Campground.
    Visit Boston, at least a day, maybe 2 depending on what you want to do.

    DAY 8: Visit Kennebunkport, ME and Freeport, ME. Drive to Bar Harbor, ME. Stay at Hadley’s Point Campground, Bar Harbor, ME. Note, Rt 1 along the coast can be a very slow drive.

    DAY 9,10: Visit Acadia National Forest. Visit Bar Harbor.

    DAY 11,12: Drive to White Mountain National Forest. Visit Bretton Woods and ride on the cog railway, or the bus. Take hike on top of the mountain.
    Spend the night at the Lost River Valley Campground, North Woodstock, NH

    Return RV to Cruise America, Bloomfield, CT.
  • BozemanTrail's avatar
    BozemanTrail
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2015
    Way too much driving/moving around with or without an RV. Cut the number of destinations down.

    Also, it may be more minor, but a 25' class C with two kids/two adults is going to be cozy to say the least, especially the Cruise America units without slide-outs.
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2015
    Based on your itinerary, I'd say skip the RV. It will be more costly to drive and cumbersome logistically driving to/from campgrounds to sight see compared to hotels that are already in the areas you want. An RV as hotel on wheels will not be pleasant for that trip IMHO.

    We finished a 10-day Boston/NH trip on Sunday. It takes us 2-days each way towing. We spent 4 nights @ Minuteman Campground and 3 nights at Lost River. It was a little less of a hassle for us since we tow a TT vs. driving a MH. Minuteman was a place to sleep. It could have been a rest area or Walmart parking lot honestly. Everyone was beat after each day we stayed there. We had two Boston city days and one beach day. Half a day on each end hanging out with friends near the campground. It was about 2h drive to Lost River where we spent only a little more time relaxing at the campground. We ate all breakfasts in the camper, but only two lunches and once dinner.
  • Rangerman40's avatar
    Rangerman40
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2015
    We are doing the whale watching out of Ptown today actually!! Tomorrow I think we are going to hit up Marthas Vineyard for the day.
  • Crabbypatty's avatar
    Crabbypatty
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2015
    Rangerman40 Do the Whale watch at P Town. The Lobster Roll at the Lobster Pot was very good. In Woods Hole they have a science discovery cruise very fun. also Shuckers has a great lobster roll and good ambiance.

    Bar Harbor: On the causeway driving into Mount Desert Island(Bar Harbor) is Trents Lobster Pound. That was the best 2lb lobster that I ever had anywhere. Its on the right before you go over the causeway.

    12 Days in NE. Your trip sounds too busy. Slow down and enjoy the ride. Been going to NE for 12 years still havent seen everything.....

    Happy Trails

About Campground 101

Recommendations, reviews, and the inside scoop from fellow travelers.14,716 PostsLatest Activity: Oct 15, 2013