Planning a summer trip from Northern VA to Acadia and back. Rough route in photo. I’ll be pulling a 30’ travel trailer so defiantly looking to avoid Baltimore/Philly/NYC. I’ll have to take 495 around Boston though.
On the way up it looks like 81>88>91>95 is maybe the route I’d like to take.
On the way back we have to stop in cape cod and Hartford so the route would be 95>495>84>81.
Looking mostly for advice on the way up. Planning to make 2 stops. Although likely might need a 3rd quick overnight.
Places to see?
Recommended campgrounds?
I’d like to see the white mountains and Mount Washington. I know very little about this area of the country.
I’d like to keep daily driving to 6 hours max
I could be entirely wrong about everything so any and all advice is welcome.
I haven’t taken all of that route, but I’ll comment on the parts that I have (we did a similar trip two years ago, but added the NJ Shore, NYC, and stayed along the Delaware Water Gap in PA, so crisscrossed back and forth a lot over the 4 months). We have a 43′ fifth wheel for reference.
Heading north from VA (Fredricksburg to Hershey) we used I-95/I-495/I-270 to Frederick, then US-15 to I-83 (but I-81 is only a few more miles along US-15). This was uneventful, but I knew my exits in DC and Mechanicsburg, and checked them all on Maps beforehand.
I haven’t traveled the 81/88 route, but that will bring you to Albany NY.
Based on elevation and our destination, I opted to take I-87 north from Albany and to cross into VT via US-4 to Hartford/Lebanon, but we were headed to Randolph VT so used US-4 to I-89. That route to I-91 would work just as well.
We didn’t cross through the White Mountains, but you’ll want to check elevations along your route as you plan it.
I-95 to and from Acadia is easy. We were coming from / returning to Wells ME, so used I-95 to Augusto ME, US-202 / ME-3 to Belfast, and US-1 to Ellsworth both directions. But US-1A between Ellsworth and Bangor is smooth if you wanted to stay on the freeway and avoid a few smaller towns along the way.
From ME to Cape Cod via 95/495 is busy but not really hard at all. We went back and forth several times on this route over the summer.
We did take part of I-84 on our way back, but exited in Danburry CT. The part I used was fine.
One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes the toll roads are the best routes. The tolls up there are expensive (our worst day was over $100 coming from Tarrytown NY to Lancaster PA through NJ), but the non toll options can be really bad drives, or add hours to the day, so make sure you check the routes and traffic / drive times and compare your options. I avoided tolls when it made sense, but sometimes they were the better choice to stay on the freeway, or to avoid really long drives or small roads with clearance issues.
We have traveled this area many times, by car and RV. Here are some comments.
-I81 to I84 to I90 to I495 gets you around Boston and toward Acadia.
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I95 around Boston to I93 for a few miles and then onto MA3 gets you to the Cape. Normally, going back from the Cape would be MA25 to I195 thru Providence to I95. Unfortunately, a bridge in Providence failed in December, resulting in long delays. It may be easier to take I495 to I95. The former is fine, just slow. The latter is easier but longer.
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Suggestion that you skip Cape Cod. It’s crowded in the summer, with LOTS of traffic. We live in Providence and have decided not to bother going there again. We much prefer Maine. Spend some time in Portland. It’s a great town and there is a lot to see from lighthouses to taking the mail boat around the islands.
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Campgrounds near metro areas are scarce. We have been to Minuteman Park near Boston a few times. It’s near Lexington and Concord, so you can get some history into the trip. There are also some nice campgrounds near Strousborg, PA. Not exactly on your route but 81 to 80 to 380 gets you the same place.
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Acadia is busy in the summer. Get some reservations ASAP.
Happy to answer any questions. Good luck!
Source: Nova to Acadia
