jmac
Casa Grande, AZ
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This coming spring/ summer we are on our way from Phoenix to Maine via Florida. My main concern is from Washington D.C. area to Manie.probably Bangor or Bar harbor area. Then Niagara Falls and Soutn bend , IN before returning to the northwest.
Out of D.C , should I just stay on I-95 all the way to Bangor with short side trips to the Foxwoods casinos in CT.
Are toll fee's going to be unreasonable?? Moho & dinghy............
I don't mind off freeway travel, but do want somewhat of a direct route.
thnaks for any info or suggestions for sights.
jmac
Jerry & Judy McDonald
MOLLY (THE BASENJI)
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PT
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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I would stick with I-95 except for bypassing New York City. From I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) get on Garden State Parkway up to New York Thruway, cross Tappen Zee bridge and take Cross Westchester to I-94 Connecticut Turnpike (no tolls on this hwy) and you will probably want to bypass Boston. Can't help there.
Harry
With wife Carole 13 yrs fulltiming
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ploiselle
South Shore, MA
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I have driven to and from Massachusetts to Florida many times. I would find a way around DC and NY. I have sat in traffic in both places for hours.
My suggestion would be (from Florida) 95 to 26 to 77 to 81 to 380 south(couple miles) to 84 to 90(toll) to 495 to 95(toll NH and ME) to 295(no tolls) to 95(toll getting back onto 95) to 395 to 1A to 3. There is a toll down south somewhere.
May I suggest that you stay at Bar Harbor Campground. IMHO, I would not stay at either Narrows. The new management is awful. You will love Acadia National Park. We go up every year. We have stayed in the KOA (nice, but about $90/night), Narrows( awful management and about $90/night with resort fee) and Bar Harbor Campground (nice and about $38 night with the 7th night free which brings it down to $32/night). Bar Harbor is less than half of the price of the others and closest to the entrance to the park.
If I remember correctly this route has a toll down south (over a bridge I think) than a toll on 90 in Massachusetts, toll in New Hampshire on 95 and tolls on 95 in Maine. Route 295 bypasses a lot of tolls Maine. This route has spectacular views as you go through the mountains. It is known as the truckers route. From the South Shore of Massachusetts it is 120 miles longer.
If you decide to take 95 and have a class A --- DO NOT GO THROUGH THE BALTIMORE TUNNEL.--- Huge fine because of the propane tanks.
If you are looking for things to do in Bar Harbor, post again.
Paul
EDIT Corrected typo --route 14 should be 1A
* This post was
edited 11/29/09 03:13pm by ploiselle *
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2 Retired
Myrtle Beach, SC
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We bypass all of I-95 from Petersburg Va to Delaware (right before Del. Mem. Bridge) by taking the I-295 bypass around Petersburg/Richmond area, the get back on I-95 around mile 86. We leave 95 at exit 104 - Carmel Church(route 207, to Rt 301 North towards Maryland. We stay on 301 until we pick up Rt 896 North to I 295 to I95 near the bridge. It's not faster than staying on 95, but it is far less stressful. I agree with previous post concerning avoiding NY City. The post's directions were the best you could follow.
Have a safe trip.
Two young retirees restless to GO!
Life is too short to wait too long to do all we want to do!!
Go and enjoy!!
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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Here's the deal; As you come up from south on I-95, you can exit at Emporia Va.and head East to Norfolk, where you pick up the Chessapeeke bridge and tunnel, to Delmarva Peninsula, take 13 north or 13A if you want to see the Ocean area. Then pick up the Lewes-Cape May Ferry to NJ. Then the Garden State all the way to Mahawa NJ (the right lane is for wide loads like a MH's at the tolls).Then route 17 north to the NYS Thruway (I-87) to Newberg-Beacon exit on to I-84 East to Conn. Then pick up I-90 East to I-295 north to I-495 northeast to I-95 to NH then to Maine. The Ferry ride at Lewes-Cape may is 80 minute and about $75, and you bypass all the DC, Baltimore traffic. I did not indicate all the routes, as some are state, but check the route out and match it to what you want to see and where you can stay along the way. Garden state is a smooth ride with only local deliver trucks, mostly cars. Have a fun trip, don't forget to use the 511 traffic number on your cell phone for checking traffic, and stay out of the Jacksonville area at rush hour.
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joanne0012
Boston, MA
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I wouldn't recommend the Lewes ferry to somebody who's concerned about tolls and other fees.
On much of Route 95, the traffic varies from very light to absolutely horrendous, depending mostly on the time of day but also on whether there is an accident or road work. I strongly recommend that you do your northeast travel on the weekend as much as possible, since in most urban areas weekday rush hours run from 6 to 10 AM and 3 to 7 PM. Parts of Rt 95 in CT and MA are being worked on from 6 PM to 6 AM, with some astonishing backups; those projects will probably be suspended during the winter and resume in the spring.
You can't take your RV through the city tunnel in Baltimore because of the propane tank. Take Rt 695 around Baltimore, in either direction (I favor the inland/Towson choice to avoid potential for high winds on the bridge).
You can take 95 right through NYC, as long as you use the upper level of the George Washington Bridge (propane rules again). The bridge is no problem on a Sunday morning, but a nightmare during rush hours.
If you're heading to Foxwoods, then you need to get on Route 95 after you deal with NYC, rather than taking the otherwise-reasonable alternate route of 84 north through CT, then Rt 90 (Mass Turnpike) to 495 north. If you do take Route 95, you will drive straight through Providence RI but it goes around Boston so no specific concerns there.
* This post was
edited 11/29/09 09:07am by joanne0012 *
Joanne
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mdock2
Florida
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Thanks for the information, I was looking for the same info as the OP.
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mainetom
Maine, near Augusta
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ploiselle wrote:....My suggestion would be....getting back onto 95) to 395 to 14 to 3....
All good except it is 1A, not 14. AND, a heads up, there is (much needed) major construction going on on the last few miles of 1A before Ellsworth. Anyone headed to Bar Harbor, eastern Maine, Canada via that route next summer will either have to endure whatever the construction might bring or seek an alternate route.
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jones4110
Champlin, MN
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We will be heading "home" to Maine and Acadia this summer. If you take 95 all the way to Bangor you will miss most of the spectacular coast and towns such as Kennebunkport, Freeport, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Camden. Take the turnpike from Bangor when you are heading home. We will be looking at Rt 2 through VT and NH on the way back to Minnesota.
See ya on the coast.
Joan and Bruce
05 Excursion 39L
powered by 350 KittyCATS on a Spartan
2010 Traverse LT toad (Blue Ox & Breakbuddy)
...and a "road dog" named Max and his gabby sister, Abby.
"May the wind be always at your back and your destination the one you chose"
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trailertraveler
On the Road
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jmac wrote:This coming spring/ summer we are on our way from Phoenix to Maine via Florida. My main concern is from Washington D.C. area to Manie.probably Bangor or Bar harbor area. Then Niagara Falls and Soutn bend , IN before returning to the northwest.
Out of D.C , should I just stay on I-95 all the way to Bangor with short side trips to the Foxwoods casinos in CT.
Are toll fee's going to be unreasonable?? Moho & dinghy............
I don't mind off freeway travel, but do want somewhat of a direct route.
thnaks for any info or suggestions for sights.
jmac
If you want to make any stops and see anything between Florida and Maine; consider taking US 17 up the coast. It is good road and will take you through Brunswick, GA; Savanah, GA; Charleston, SC; Wilmington, NC; and Virginia Beach, VA where you can hookup with US 13 and continue North across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as described in one of the other posts. Do a search, there are recent topics on what to see and do and where to stay in all the cities I've mentioned.
Hope you have a great trip.
Safe travels!
Trailertraveler
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