East Coast Trip

[wrushing]

We are planning an extended trip from Alabama over to Savannah, Georgia...then all the way up the East coast to Maine (and possibly Nova Scotia); then back down through New York State, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc. Just wondering any of you have made a similar trip, and if so, parks you liked, good highways, or highways to definitely avoid. We will especially be looking for a good way to bypass the New York City/New Jersey area. Appreciate any and all information on routes, RV parks, and attractions. Thanks!!

[OutdoorPhotogra]

For Civill War, go to Harper's Ferry, WV, Antietam, and then Gettysburg. That's not the worst path around DC either. Just come up west side of Smokies.

[Padlin]

Unless I missed it you didn't say when. Campsites can be hard to get come October. The farther north you go the earlier campgrounds close for the winter as do many restaurants and so forth.

[petrel]

Do whatever you can to avoid I-95 through Northern VA (Richmond to NVA) on the weekends or during traditional rush hour. Keep in mind that this warning actually extends through DC and into Southern MD and includes the beltway.

If you are not going to hit Fredericksburg or Manassas for civil war interests, or take a peek at Yorktown or Williamsburg. Good alternate routes through VA are 13 on the Eastern Shore (DelMarVA Peninsula), US 17, or 301.

If you opt for 95 through VA anyway, there is a nice KOA just north of the Thornburg Exit, and a Walmart that accepts overnight campers at the Spotsylvania Exiit. Either one may be a good stop off if you hit the traffic. Hope you have a great trip!

[Crowe]

I didn't see you mention when you were planning your trip.

This information is very valuable. It gives those who want to help you a better understanding of what to suggest as well as guidelines as to what might be closed.

Gettysburg would be my first choice for Civil War attractions. For mansions try Newport, RI. For general historic there's so much in MA-Old North Bridge, Minuteman National Park, Lexington Green and the towns of Lexington & Concord just to name a few. Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, MA is very nice. For something different do the tour and tasting at Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry, NH. There's a craft beer house right next door. For lobster there's just too many places to mention!

[NCWriter]

You might enjoy the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Historic lighthouses, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, beautiful beaches.

In South Carolina, I like the coastal town of Beaufort. A great place to camp is at Hunting Island State Park right on the Atlantic Ocean.

Maine is a great vacation destination as already mentioned, and at many campgrounds you can call in an order for a cooked lobster dinner delivered right to your campsite.

[paulcardoza]

We could fill 20 pages of things to do and see in the Northeast. You need to tell us when you are coming, how long you'll be here and what types of things peak your interest.

[mgirardo]

I didn't see you mention when you were planning your trip. Keep in mind, in the Northeast, a lot of campgrounds close for the season by mid-October.

-Michael

[Dick_B]

Do a Google search for `_______ tourism' and put the city, state, area or whatever in the blank space and read what the specialists have to recommend.
Take the bus tour of Boston. Stay at Normandy Farms in Foxboro, MA

[Vet_Man]

Go soon or you will be seeing what snow looks like.

[wrushing]

Thanks to each of you who replied. You have given us some VERY valuable information. Much appreciated! Someone asked for more information...we will be pulling a 35-foot 5th wheel. We are not locked into any particular amount of time e...what it takes to see and do everything in the Northeast! We love hiking, touring historic sites (for me, old mansions...for my husband, Civil War stuff) and we LOVE visiting wineries! Definitely lo e the quaint villages, and local eateries, especially for fresh lobster.

[dahkota]

Parks we really liked so far:
Fisherman's Memorial State Park in Rhode Island. Close to Newport and beautiful beach towns.
Scussett Beach State Park in MA. Just off Cape Cod next to the Cape Cod Canal. At the beach!
Schoodic Woods campground in Acadia National Park. Huge sites on the very quiet Schoodic Peninsula.
Jonesport Campground in Jonesport, ME. The views are wonderful, the town is tiny and quiet - a downeast Maine experience.
Winhall COE in southern Vermont.

The roads in far northern Maine are marginal - frost heaves got on my nerves.
We loved Cooperstown, liked Bangor, hated Old Orchard Beach. We are now in the finger lakes with plans to head to Alexandria Bay, a must see according to our friends from New York.

[Dance_Chick]

We were headed to Bar Harbor with a stop in Mystic Ct and a few points north from there. We were advised to take US 17 to I-81 then I-84E past Newburgh NY and then take CT-9 to connect to 95. DH decided NOT to heed this advice, and we went I287 across the Tappan Zee bridge and hooked up to I-95 near Stamford CT. BIG mistake. It was a flippin' zoo, and I-95 in CT is also a zoo. Hook up to 95 much farther north depending on where you want to stop to visit. We recently came to Harrisburg PA from New Hampshire on I-84/I-81 through Newburgh and realized we should've taken the advice given.

Mystic CT is worth a stop. We also took a ferry to Martha's Vineyard from Woods Hole MA. I particularly loved Newport RI. Bar Harbor is a must.

[DrewE]

I haven't made that particular trip, but have toured around a reasonable amount in the area.

Besides NYC (as most of the other posters have suggested), I would avoid driving through Boston. Driving under Boston isn't too bad (in the tunnel) but propane is forbidden from the tunnels, so it's a no-go for an RV. Driving Boston surface roads are no fun.

A solution, if you wish to see the city (and it has a lot to offer), is to take public transport in. I've gone from the Alewife station most recently, which has a large parking garage (that would not be appropriate for an RV but would be for a towed or tow vehicle). Apparently sometimes getting a parking space there during weekdays can be a bit of a problem, but it isn't during weekends.

Some other suggestions of places to visit...the White Mountains of New Hampshire (Mt Washington, the Kancamangus highway, Franconia, etc.) are beautiful. Mystic Seaport, if you're into ships or boats or water travel at all. The Shelburne Museum is eclectic and unique (and large). There are many pretty areas of the Adirondiacks. New York also has some spectacular state parks, including (perhaps most famously) Watkins Glen and Letchworth State Park, both around the Finger Lakes region.

For RV parks, I've heard very good things about Lake George RV park, though I've never set foot there myself.

You might get more helpful suggestions if you provide a little more information. What sort of RV are you traveling with? What kinds of activities and sites do you like? What are you looking for in a campground/RV park? How tight is the budget? How much time do you have?

[Ernest]

wrushing wrote:
We are planning an extended trip from Alabama over to Savannah, Georgia...then all the way up the East coast to Maine (and possibly Nova Scotia); then back down through New York State, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc. Just wondering any of you have made a similar trip, and if so, parks you liked, good highways, or highways to definitely avoid. We will especially be looking for a good way to bypass the New York City/New Jersey area. Appreciate any and all information on routes, RV parks, and attractions. Thanks!!

If you want to bypass New York/New Jersey I would recommend you make your way over to I81 north towards Scranton PA from there you take I84 east towards Providence RI. this will by pass all of the bad traffic congested roads. As far as seeing things you have the Blue ridge, Pocono mountains, Gettysburg, Cape Cod.

Just a thought if you stay on I81 up towards Binghamton NY you his the Finger Lakes wine country. No a bad place to get some good wine to go with the seafood.

I personally run the I84 to I90 and go around Boston when heading to New England and North.

Safe travels.