Niagara Falls to Bar Harbor ME

[craig7h]

I would like to know from the folks (if any) that have traveled from Niagara Falls to Bar Harbor ME. I would like to find a good route going through Vermont and New Hampshire if it makes sense. I plan on doing this in the fall, any help would be great.

[rhagfo]

BarabooBob wrote:
We try not to travel on interstate highways unless we have to so you may not like our route. We were traveling east to west from Acadia NP to Niagara Falls. The basics of the route were to take Hiway 2 west from Bangor ME to Montpelier, Vt From there we took state roads to Ticonderoga. Highway 8 to Utica NY and I90 to Buffalo. Do NOT take that route unless you want to see some beautiful place and travel slowly. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the area. Yo will not go fast.

I agree, if not in a hurry to get there take the back roads (AKA State highways).

[jplante4]

mkc wrote:
When you say "fall", keep in mind that many (most) RV parks in Maine as well as other parts of New England close by Columbus Day. Some even close by October 1. So plan around that and check beforehand to make sure the places you want to stay are actually open.

I've seen this mentioned before, and although a few government parks do close in October, there are plenty of private parks open in the fall until the temps fall to where they need to shut off the water. And some stay open after that with no water at the site. Remember that the season is short in the northeast and they need to make enough money in 5 months to get them through the year. I have never had a problem finding a site through the end of October. Quite the opposite; the only time I've run int a full campground was late in October.

I was out to Atlantic Oaks on Cape Cod yesterday. A dozen rigs riding out the winter at no-water sites.

[jkwilson]

mkc wrote:
When you say "fall", keep in mind that many (most) RV parks in Maine as well as other parts of New England close by Columbus Day. Some even close by October 1. So plan around that and check beforehand to make sure the places you want to stay are actually open.

Very good point. Even places that are open after Columbus Day usually greatly reduce services. Buses quit running in the National Park in mid-October. Problem is that the Columbus Day window is about peak colors so you can't go early to beat the closings.

[mkc]

When you say "fall", keep in mind that many (most) RV parks in Maine as well as other parts of New England close by Columbus Day. Some even close by October 1. So plan around that and check beforehand to make sure the places you want to stay are actually open.

[BarabooBob]

We try not to travel on interstate highways unless we have to so you may not like our route. We were traveling east to west from Acadia NP to Niagara Falls. The basics of the route were to take Hiway 2 west from Bangor ME to Montpelier, Vt From there we took state roads to Ticonderoga. Highway 8 to Utica NY and I90 to Buffalo. Do NOT take that route unless you want to see some beautiful place and travel slowly. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the area. Yo will not go fast.

[DrewE]

My route of choice would probably be NY 18 to Rochester, then I-390 to I-490 to I-90, then NY 365 from Verona to NY 8 across the Adirondacks to NY 9N north, and across the bridge at Crown Point into Vermont.

In Vermont, 22A north to US 7 North to I-189 to I-89 to Montpelier, and thence US 2 to Bangor, and Alt 1 or whatever to Bar Harbor. Rerouting via the Kancamagus Highway (I-93S) is a good scenic option as well.

NY 18 is a nice two-lane road. It would probably be wisest to avoid the Lake Ontario State Parkway that has very rough pavement. (Unlike practically every other parkway in New York, the LOSP does not forbid RVs and non-commercial trailers, though there are some comparatively low clearances in the 11'+ range.) NY 8 and NY 365 do have some hills and curves generally, and more specifically NY 8 between Brandt Lake/I-87 and Hague/9N is pretty steep with pretty tight curves. I have no hesitation taking my motorhome over it, but some would probably find it pretty intimidating.

If you don't care to take NY 8, cutting across from Fonda to Saratoga Springs (via NY 30A to NY29) saves some time and milage and aggravation and toll charges.

US 4 across Vermont is another perfectly reasonable route. jkwilson's suggestion of stopping at Letchworth State Park if possible is excellent, too; it's one of the most beautiful state parks anywhere.

[jkwilson]

New York Thruway to Albany, then head up through the Green Mountains. Up to Lincoln NH and drive the Kancamagus Highway. I’d stay in Lincoln or Conway and maybe drive the Kancamagus again, then head to Bar Harbor. Green Mountains have some climbs, but nothing crazy. You’ll go through a lot of small towns and turn a lot going across Vermont, but that is Vermont.

If you have time, do Letchworth State Park south of Rochester.