summer trip. Tough Mudder/ upstate NY/ New England

Hi all. First off, I always come here to talk trips but do a ton of research before posting. Let's start with my setup. 2015 2500 HD 6.0L pulling a 2017 Jayco Jay Flight 284BHSW. And my dad's setup is 2018 Tahoe 5.3L with upgraded trailer package pulling a 2018 Grand Design Imagine 2500RL. So we will be convoying. I'll have 2 dogs and a 6 year old girl and 2.5 year old boy, my wife, and my parents. These kids have been everywhere with us in the last few years including 12,000 plus feet in Colorado and on 6-7hour hikes with us. They are high energy, and do well in a car for 8 hours if needed(we have a bag of tricks). Short version, don't worry about my kids, they're fine, and this isn't a parenting forum.

Now to the trip... My wife and I are avid Tough Mudder runners (10-12 mile obstacle course races). We plan on running 2 event locations for a total of 4 days on this trip. I've located 2 campgrounds near the event sites I think will work fine for the kids while they stay with grandparents on 2 event days and they will probably spectate the other 2 days. The rest of the trip is up for tweaking other than the wife said we are going to Maine, and she wants to go to Bar Harbor but here is a rough draft. Our hometown is Columbus Ohio so that will be the start(august 3rd) and finish (aug 20th or 21st).

stop 1. Campground near Andover, NY(tough mudder#1 Aug 4,5) I've located a campground called Hickory Hill in Bath NY that looks promising for the 3rd-6th(3 nights).

stop 2. Kind of up in the air on this one. I like the lake George area Jellystone in NY and like the Jellystone in White Mountain NH area as well. Things I'd like to do are see lake Champlain, Burlington Vt, and possibly hike Mt Washington. If you have a campground suggestion and logistical insight here, I'm all ears.

stop 3. Bar Harbor ME. This is the coveted stop for the wife and I. Ocean kayaking, whale watching possibly and definitely a sunrise hike of Cadillac Mountain. I want to be on the island, and I'm willing to pay. You tell me where if you have a primo campground. I also want to stuff my face with lobster. A lot of lobster.

stop 4. I'm kind of thinking Boston cape Cod KOA. I've never been to either Boston or Cape Cod. Can I do enough in 3 days to be worth it? Should I ditch this idea and spend more nights at other stops?

stop 5 Tough Mudder location #2. The event itself is located in Saugerties NY on Aug 18th and 19th. I found a Jellystone in Gardiner NY that looks like a water park in pictures. The kids would love it so other than it being booked up I can't see switching up. The nights here would be 17th, 18th, 19th and leave out on the 20th.

stop 6. Possible. If we are running late or just wore out the night of the 20th we will hit a KOA in western PA to break up the long drive home from Gardiner.

Guys, I know it was a long post. Hopefully it was enough info. I'd appreciate any feedback on my question marks,routes to avoid, places to fuel, places to see, places to eat...You get the idea. As always, thanks in advance, and happy camping!

lmpres
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
What about the Tough Mudder held at Gunstock NH (just outside of Laconia). Lots of good camping close....
Crabbypatty
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
Lake George we stayed at Lake Georg Camping Resort on the schroon river. They run you up river in a cattle wagon with tubes and you float back. Also has a shuttle to town and back. They did a bonfire on Saturday night where they burned the old picnic tables and anything else they could find. It was a huge fire.

White Mountains we stayed at Danforth Bay on Lake Ossipee and drove to Mt Washington and other areas on the "Kank" If you stay there and like BBQ, go to Yankee BBQ and order the "feast". If there are 4 of you you will bring some home...

Bar Harbor we stayed at Bar Harbor KOA Oceanfront. We had a waterfront FHU site. They have a guy cooking lobstah dinners in the CG. Driving over the causeway is Trents Lobstah Pound. Ive never eaten a 2.5lb lobstah before I went there and it was the most delicious sweetest Ive ever had. There is a Mountain Explorer Free shuttle service that loops the island. Just need to stand up at the office.

Boston Area
Just West is Boston Minuteman CG there is a train station nearby to get into Boston. We will be there end of July.
Plymouth Mass we stayed in Pinewood CG and took the ferry to PTown at the end of the cape. Its on a lake and only 10 minute quick drive into Plymouth. Lots to do.
Cape Cod we stayed at Cape Cod Camping Resort near Falmouth. Although its at the beginning of the cape the resort had FHU and is also on a fresh water lake, pool games for kids etc..

Hope that helps. Happy Trails
dolbsss
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
Crabbypatty wrote:
Lake George we stayed at Lake Georg Camping Resort on the schroon river. They run you up river in a cattle wagon with tubes and you float back. Also has a shuttle to town and back. They did a bonfire on Saturday night where they burned the old picnic tables and anything else they could find. It was a huge fire.

White Mountains we stayed at Danforth Bay on Lake Ossipee and drove to Mt Washington and other areas on the "Kank" If you stay there and like BBQ, go to Yankee BBQ and order the "feast". If there are 4 of you you will bring some home...

Bar Harbor we stayed at Bar Harbor KOA Oceanfront. We had a waterfront FHU site. They have a guy cooking lobstah dinners in the CG. Driving over the causeway is Trents Lobstah Pound. Ive never eaten a 2.5lb lobstah before I went there and it was the most delicious sweetest Ive ever had. There is a Mountain Explorer Free shuttle service that loops the island. Just need to stand up at the office.

Boston Area
Just West is Boston Minuteman CG there is a train station nearby to get into Boston. We will be there end of July.
Plymouth Mass we stayed in Pinewood CG and took the ferry to PTown at the end of the cape. Its on a lake and only 10 minute quick drive into Plymouth. Lots to do.
Cape Cod we stayed at Cape Cod Camping Resort near Falmouth. Although its at the beginning of the cape the resort had FHU and is also on a fresh water lake, pool games for kids etc..

Hope that helps. Happy Trails

sounds like you did well more than 3 days/4 nights in the Boston /Cape cod area. Am I not allowing enough time? I could always try back next summer. The Red Sox aren't in town when I'll be there and I really want to go to Fenway.
Tvov
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2018
Bar Harbor - we've been to Acadia 3 times, always stayed at Blackwoods campground which is one of the park campgrounds. No hookups, but great campground. One neat thing to do is go to "Thunder Hole" at night and stargaze. Acadia Park is open 24 hours, and there are no crowds after dark!

Boston / Cape Cod - my first thought is that those are two different trips. Or you could spend a day in each, but not really see much.

For Cape Cod, we've stayed at Atlantic Oaks campground roughly in the middle of the Cape. The Cape has the "Railtrail" (old railroad bed converted to a bicycling trail), and Atlantic Oaks is right on it. You can travel up and down the Cape by using the bike trail. The Rail Trail is mostly straight and flat, so easy to go a long ways.

If you want to do the "Pilgrim thing", we stayed at Pinewood campground years ago. Just be aware that the boat Mayflower II is at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut right now being renovated / rebuilt, so it won't be back at Plymouth for a few years.
Crowe
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
The Red Sox aren't in town when I'll be there and I really want to go to Fenway.

Go anyway. They offer tours-the info should be online.

One neat thing to do is go to "Thunder Hole" at night and stargaze.

Prefer the top of Cadillac Mountain. Drive up/down can be a bit hairy if it's foggy. They do close this road if necessary due to weather conditions.

We like the Bar Harbor KOA. Sites are "cozy" but you can kayak right off their beach, there are a lot if kid's activities, they do lobster bakes right on-site and they also do pancake breakfasts. It's expensive and a bit further out but the sunsets are unbeatable.
dolbsss
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
Tvov wrote:
Bar Harbor - we've been to Acadia 3 times, always stayed at Blackwoods campground which is one of the park campgrounds. No hookups, but great campground. One neat thing to do is go to "Thunder Hole" at night and stargaze. Acadia Park is open 24 hours, and there are no crowds after dark!

Boston / Cape Cod - my first thought is that those are two different trips. Or you could spend a day in each, but not really see much.

For Cape Cod, we've stayed at Atlantic Oaks campground roughly in the middle of the Cape. The Cape has the "Railtrail" (old railroad bed converted to a bicycling trail), and Atlantic Oaks is right on it. You can travel up and down the Cape by using the bike trail. The Rail Trail is mostly straight and flat, so easy to go a long ways.

If you want to do the "Pilgrim thing", we stayed at Pinewood campground years ago. Just be aware that the boat Mayflower II is at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut right now being renovated / rebuilt, so it won't be back at Plymouth for a few years.

my dad isn't really keen on driving the rigs through beantown and logistically it looks like we have to. I really want to do Boston big so maybe I'm gonna scrap the idea and add days to other stops.
dolbsss
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
Crowe wrote:
The Red Sox aren't in town when I'll be there and I really want to go to Fenway.

Go anyway. They offer tours-the info should be online.

One neat thing to do is go to "Thunder Hole" at night and stargaze.

Prefer the top of Cadillac Mountain. Drive up/down can be a bit hairy if it's foggy. They do close this road if necessary due to weather conditions.

We like the Bar Harbor KOA. Sites are "cozy" but you can kayak right off their beach, there are a lot if kid's activities, they do lobster bakes right on-site and they also do pancake breakfasts. It's expensive and a bit further out but the sunsets are unbeatable.

not a bad idea but I'm a huge baseball fan and seeing a Sox game is high on my baseball bucket list. I think I'm gonna scrap the idea and save it for another trip. Plus it sounds like Bar harbor might be better with a few more days.
DrewE
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2018
For stop 2, besides the reasonable options that have been discussed, the city of Burlington operates a campground at North Beach park. The beach on the lake is very nice and sandy and often popular during the day.

I woukd think twice before hiking up Mt. Washington. There are no lack of slightly less challenging but still impressive mountains to hike. Camel's Hump is one lovely option as an example. The cog railway or auto road (if your vehicles would be permitted) are good options for Mt. Washington.

It is something like a 3.5 hour drive from Burlington to Mt. Washington, probably another hour and a half from Lake George. It would not be practical to do that as a day trip, in my opinion.
jplante4
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2018
For Cape Cod Boston, decide on one for a 3 days stop. If Cape Cod, the KOA in Moddleboro is fine, or even Maple Park in Wareham. On Cape Cod is Cape Cod Camp and Resort in Falmouth.

If Boston, Minuteman or Normandy Farms are both close to rail stops with easy access to Boston. Do not try to drive into Boston. Terrible traffic, rudest drivers and propane restrictions in the tunnels.

Saugerties has a nice KOA and Rip Van Winkle park. We've stayed at the KOA but not Rip. I looked at Rip and it looked like it would be fun for kids.
Crowe
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018
y dad isn't really keen on driving the rigs through beantown

1. Don't call it "Beantown" when you are there. They'll pick you for a tourist instantaneously! :B
2. You can't drive through the city on I93. You must circumvent either on 128/95 or 495.

Plus it sounds like Bar harbor might be better with a few more days.

Absolutely!

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