Safest route to bar harbor maine

[real4u2c]

Ok folks , Bar Harbor Maine, what's the scenic route from VA to there? I am trying to avoid low bridges, and horrific traffic.

[real4u2c]

6 days to bar harbor and 4 coming back.

[Dale_Traveling]

Did the reverse this past summer from Bar Harbor to south eastern Virginia in three days of driving. Push on during day 3 to get home.

I64 west to I95 north in Richmond. Jumped over to US17 north in Fredericksburg. Picked I66 west in Marshall Va the over to I81 north in Middletown Virginia. Stayed on I81 north all the way to Scranton Pennsylvania when we switch over to I84 east. Spent the night in a CG outside of Port Jervis New York. Next day headed out back on I84 east across New York and Connecticut and switch over to I90 east in south central Massachusetts for a couple of miles before switching over to I495 north to avoid Boston. Stayed at a Massachusetts state park on the ocean north of Boston for a couple of days. Headed back north on I95 thru New Hampshire and into Maine before switch over to I295 north thru Portland Maine. Joined back up to I95 north south of Augusta Maine and continued on to I395 south of Bangor then on to US1A which heads east. Just south east of Ellsworth Maine switched over to Maine 3 which will drop you into downtown Bar Harbor.

More or less a speed and moderate toll route. Somewhat schematic but it was the tail of two weeks on the road so getting home was the primary objective. 501 miles day 1, 273 miles day 2 and 245 miles day 3. Traffic was light with nothing worth writing home about.


Google Map of my route.

[Bumpyroad]

a little less out of your way would be to go to I-95 as far as exit 133 and take 17 over to 81
bumpy

[stvdman]

lmpres wrote:
Head west to 81. Take it north to 84 east in CT. Mass Pike (90) toward Boston. 495 north to 95 north.

It's the easiest most senic drive. Fewer tolls, less congestion traffic route. You avoid DC, Baltimore, NJ, and NY.

From someone who just made the trip in a car (from MD to Bangor, ME) and travelled up the NJ turnpike and wound my way through NYC....take the above advice. I will NEVER take that route again in my RV...and quite possibly not in a car either.

As soon as I got back I went looking for a better route to avoid NYC, and the above is about what I saw.

Good luck and safe travels!

[Blutoyz]

We are heading down from RI to NC soon (I am sure you know where Jacksonville is) and will give you an update on the road conditions and route after our trip

[real4u2c]

I am going to review all these routes you folks have submitted, some of the casinos as well, and free is always great, even if there are no hookups.

[NEHOG]

Kenz71 wrote:
Driving through Hartford, CT stinks. But the ride up 81 through Pennsylvania is nice. That leads to NY to the Tappan Zee then 84.

Avoid 95 at all costs, very congested & bumpy.

A possible side trip might be Foxwoods or Mohegan casino, I hear they are RV friendly. Easy to get back to 395 to head to Massachusetts to 290 towards New Hampshire & Maine.

Edit: just my opinions based on living in CT & MA for past 20 years.

Agreed, Hartford is not a fun drive. You can bypass it to the south (and actually though you think it is longer, it is worth the few miles more.)

Avoid Foxwoods for RVing. It is not that good. Mohegan Sun, on the other hand is fine. We stay there when we are in that area (there are a lot of great things to do there, too.) The RV 'park' is free (you must register, call the number on the sign) and there are *no* services (no power, water or dump station.) The view however is fantastic from most spots on the front row, overlooking the Thames River. Breakfast at the Casino (Go to the Hash House A Go Go, huge breakfast at a very good price.) There is a shuttle bus from the RV park to the casino every 20 minutes or so, 24 hours a day.

Personally I don't recommend I-95 from north of Boston (or even south of Boston!) to Maine. It is a heavy traffic road. I'd take I395 north from Mohegan, through Worcester, then take I-90 to I-495 if you're determined to get back on I-95. For me it is I-190 to Rt-2, then north to home.


There are just so many great things in central MA, and NH/VT that following I-95 is a major loss.

Since this is home territory, ask and I'll try to answer questions.

Anyone interested, I'm about 4 miles from the main base park for Mt. Monadnock, the most climbed mounted in the world!

[Roger_in_VERMON]

I second DrewE. We traveled I-95 to VA and SC only once. It's been I-84 ever since. It may be a bit longer but much more relaxing. The Kancamagus Highway thru the white mountains is worth the trip.

[Kenz71]

real4u2c wrote:
Is it true that the bridge overpasses are less that 13 feet tall.

In NY & CT their is the Hutchinson & Merit parkway that are passenger vehicle only, no trailers with many bridges less than 13'

I personally hate them as they are not graded well meaning lots of hills. Stick to 684 & 84 you will be fine.

[real4u2c]

Is it true that the bridge overpasses are less that 13 feet tall.

[Kenz71]

Driving through Hartford, CT stinks. But the ride up 81 through Pennsylvania is nice. That leads to NY to the Tappan Zee then 84.

Avoid 95 at all costs, very congested & bumpy.

A possible side trip might be Foxwoods or Mohegan casino, I hear they are RV friendly. Easy to get back to 395 to head to Massachusetts to 290 towards New Hampshire & Maine.

Edit: just my opinions based on living in CT & MA for past 20 years.

[NEHOG]

DrewE wrote:
...

If you do go up I-95, be aware that the tunnels around Boston do not permit propane, which means I-93 through (under) the city and I-90 into the city are unusable by RVs. I-95 itself is OK, as are the other interstates further from the city proper.

Just a suggestion, but take I-495 around Boston, not I-95. There is nothing attractive about the I-95 loop, and the traffic can be horrible. And yes, avoid going into Boston, there are many, many restrictions on RVs there.

[gonesouth]

I wouldn't touch the KOA at DWG with a 10 Foot pole. Much prefer anywhere else.

Two routes I'd consider are i-64 from you to Staunton, VA, then i-81 to allentown PA then Delaware Water Gap to Milford PA on i-84. then through Hartford to I-90 at Sturbridge, MA then i-495 around Boston to I-95, then up 95 to Portland, ME, then i-295 to Brunswick, ME then #1 to Rockland and Bar Harbour. About 18 or 19 hours and the only city is Hartford which is a breeze.

An option is to take the CBBT and Lewes ferry as far north as Atlantic City, then up 30 to Philadelphia, then I-276 to Easton, PA. Then up the DWG and north. Same time but adding the CBBT and Philadelphia.

[jplante4]

Bumpyroad wrote:
I was also thinking about I-81 but that is about a million miles out of the way from the eastern shore.
bumpy

That's ok. Just take US13 up the DelMarVa and pick up I-276 around Philly to I-476 to Scranton.