Youngstown to Syracuse or Scranton? - Montana Owners Club

vipermanden · 02-20-2018, 01:01 PM

We are planning our back east trip from Lake Tahoe, and will be going to the Goshen Montana RV plant, then on to Youngstown, Ohio, and then on to Boston, MA. But should we go north and stay in Syracuse, NY, or stay on 80 and go west and stay in Scranton, PA? Which place has more to see and do? Then in Boston area, any recommendations for RV parks? Then we will travel from Boston to Savannah, GA, and in between, so far we are thinking Boston to New Haven, CT then to Wilmington, DE cuz we have friends there, then on to Virginia Beach, VA then on to Sunset Beach, NC cuz we have friends there, and then to Savannah, GA any suggestions on what we should see or skip? Also, the first question about Scranton vs. Syracuse? Thanks

bullroc3 · 02-20-2018, 02:28 PM

This is my 2 cents for what it is worth. Take Interstate 90 and follow it to Buffalo. Then take the New York State Thruway (which is still Interstate 90) east to Syracuse and follow it into Massachusetts (Mass Pike) all the way to Interstate 93 and then go north a few miles to Boston. You should be able to pick up quite a few campgrounds by staying on Interstate 90. I am guessing that once you get to the Boston area you will find a campground well outside the city limits. Just saying. Once you leave Boston and head south, I would avoid Interstate 95. It will take you thru New York City (crossing the George Washington Bridge) and you may not want to do that. A suggestion would be to get back on Interstate 90 and head west to Sturbridge MA (Exit 9) to Interstate 84 which you would follow into Pennsylvania and take Interstate 81 south to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Pittston, PA) which will take you to Philadelphia. You can take Interstate 476 at the end of the Northeast Extension of the PA turnpike to Interstate 95 south and Wilmington DE.

There are no campgrounds in the Scranton PA area close to the interstate. Also, I believe that campgrounds between Sturbridge and Scranton are few and far between. There is one in Sturbridge MA.

Hope this helps.

vipermanden · 02-20-2018, 03:08 PM

Thanks, Bullroc, We will go 90 N to Buffalo, and then on to Syracuse. Then trying to find a place within 20-30 minutes of Boston seems to be a bit of a challenge. Then from Boston we will go to New Haven , CT, and then from there Google maps tells us to go 95 S till we get to Port Chester, then go west on hwy 287 then take the garden state pkwy, in Jersey, south past Woodbridge Township, where it tells us to get back on hwy 95 S thus avoiding NYC . Is New Haven an OK place to stay for our in between spot between Boston and Wilmington, DE?

bullroc3 · 02-20-2018, 03:34 PM

I don't know too much about that area. We had a Montana Rally last year (2017) at the Mystic CT KOA. That is a very nice campground. It would seem a little too far north of where you can make it in one day of travel. New Haven area seems the best choice.

mtlakejim · 02-20-2018, 03:47 PM

Good info. We are looking at a trip to Syracuse (my wife is from there) this fall. We did scope out one good place East of Syracuse that is associated with a casino? Don't recall the name but it looked nice online.....

bullroc3 · 02-20-2018, 04:52 PM

The Villages at Turning Stone

Bill and Jan · 02-20-2018, 05:09 PM

We have kids in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and near Steubenville, OH. We take any road but the interstate, if you want to see something along the way. Bradford, Pa is the home of the Zippo Lighter and Case Knife. Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville is worth the visit. Roger's Ohio has a great flea market. The US highways are as good and in some cases better roads than the interstate. Fuel is cheaper off the interstate. The biggest mistake RVers make is traveling too fast. You'll see lots more and enjoy the trip if you slow down and smell the roses.

mainer · 02-20-2018, 05:26 PM

You might want to check, but I didn't think you could take your RV on the Garden State Pkwy. Not sure about now, but in the past, you had quite a few tolls too. If you don't have one, I would invest in a GPS that is for RV's. We have the Good Sam GPS and you can put in your height and length of your 5th wheel and it will not take you on roads that you shouldn't be on. It will show you campgrounds and gas stations.
If it was me, I would take the Mass Pike from Boston (I-90) to I-84.

mtlakejim · 02-20-2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullroc3

The Villages at Turning Stone

Yep that’s it

Dave W · 02-21-2018, 05:29 AM

I-90 from Ohio to the Boston area works well though can be expensive. I would avoid I-95 between CT and Richmond VA like a plague but instead would take I-84 to I-81. That is still not great but you will avoid massive stop and go tie ups that can occur for no apparent reason. You leave I-84 at Scranton for I-81. It can be hectic until you are past Harrisburg but it does move. You can visit Hershey then on to Gettysburg which we did last fall. Even without taking their kinda expensive tour, you can drive the park yourself with their guidebook. Beyond PA and into Virginia and still on I-81 and the Shenandoah valley ther are more interesting places [lus the Blur Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive are beautiful rides sans 5er (though some will)

CaptnJohn · 02-21-2018, 08:58 AM

Well, at least you will relax at Sunset Beach (I live 20 seconds away in Ocean Isle Beach). Very little traffic unless you get crazy and go into Myrtle Beach (about 30 minutes.
Where are you staying?

twindman · 02-21-2018, 09:51 AM

Wilmington is just across from Philly. My daughter was in Philly 3 years and the nearest RV Park we could find was 40 miles away. Maybe there is something in Deleware???? Fortunately we were able to drop the rv in daughters parking lot for a week and stay in her duplex.

vipermanden · 02-21-2018, 10:56 AM

Thanks, Dave, I think we will visit Gettysburg on the way to Delaware. Any RV parks around there you recommend? Also Capt. Jon, I have not reserved yet, but was thinking of Willow Tree Resort in Sunset Beach?

vipermanden · 02-21-2018, 11:23 AM

Dave, If I go from Boston to New Haven, CT, and then to Gettysburg, it says to take 95 till I get past Stamford, CT, then take 287 west until it connects up 80 west then stay on 80 west until it connects with 81 going south. Is this route ok for 58 feet in length?

CaptnJohn · 02-21-2018, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

Thanks, Dave, I think we will visit Gettysburg on the way to Delaware. Any RV parks around there you recommend? Also Capt. Jon, I have not reserved yet, but was thinking of Willow Tree Resort in Sunset Beach?

Willow Tree is the nicest in the area, but the address is Longs SC. Going to the beach Cherry Grove beach probably 20 minutes and Sunset closer to 30. I have visited all clear to south Myrtle and is the only I'd stay in. Actually stayed a week when we bought the last two 5ers. Away from but close to everything. The alternative is Brunswick Beaches or the Myrtle tourist traps.

vipermanden · 02-21-2018, 01:35 PM

Yeah, I'm finding out that a good investment for the next 5-10 years, might be building a luxury RV park, since they are far and few between, and there are more baby boomers buying RV's, so the good RV parks fill up fast these days.

Dave W · 02-21-2018, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

Thanks, Dave, I think we will visit Gettysburg on the way to Delaware. Any RV parks around there you recommend? Also Capt. Jon, I have not reserved yet, but was thinking of Willow Tree Resort in Sunset Beach?

We were very happy at Gettysburg Campground last fall - even in the driving rain (https://gettysburgcampground.com/) It is only a couple miles from the middle of town as well as the battlefield. Some sites are somewhat tight but doable. Also, and if you drive through town, there is one very tight turn you have to make though we had no trouble with our combined 58 feet of TV and 5er. We have also stayed at Granite Hill CG which is a bit further out of town and very nice as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

Dave, If I go from Boston to New Haven, CT, and then to Gettysburg, it says to take 95 till I get past Stamford, CT, then take 287 west until it connects up 80 west then stay on 80 west until it connects with 81 going south. Is this route ok for 58 feet in length?

I-287 can be a very busy way as it is an Upstate NY/NJ commuter way to get into New York City. Take that and join I 78 to I-81 though I still like I-84 to I-81 which the opposite way is our normal way home via I-87. I-80 W is the PA Turnpike and is a limited acce$$ toll road and much not in very good shape

I hope you have an RV GPS as Google Maps and Mapquest really aren't gaited well to RVs, especially in the East. You can also use the Good Sam on line routing method as well which work pretty well.

Too bad you aren't considering travel along the St Lawrence and the Adirondacks as there is plenty there too. You can even cross Lake Champlain via ferry, wander Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains then over to Maine for some lobster and a trip Downeast.

vipermanden · 03-01-2018, 02:23 PM

Mainer, You mention you have the Good Sam GPS. I went on line and saw the top three rated RV GPS units were all Garmin RV 660 LMT, Garmin RV 760 LMT, and Garmin RV 770 LMT-S But if you go on to Amazon, and look at the reviews of these top 3 rated RV GPS units, they have 20% 1 star reviews saying these things are worthless in the RV mode, and take you on crazy dead end roads etc. What exact model is your RV GPS unit, and do you ever run into the problems all of these 1 star reviewers were talking about?

JABURKHOLDER · 03-01-2018, 02:55 PM

Since someone else put in their 2 cents, I'll put in my 3 cents. Avoid the PA turnpike. Way too much in tolls.

vipermanden · 03-01-2018, 03:00 PM

What highway number is the PA turnpike, or where does it go from and to?

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