Route suggestion Northeast

[Dave e Victoria]

We are planning a route from Michigan to Ellsworth Maine in late June. In looking at the map, the main routes all seem to tend to the north into Canada. I'm looking for a scenic but practical route accrost this landscape from maybe Watertown NY to Burlington Vt and on over to maine. Is this practical? What do you Noreasters recommend?
Dave

[315RLS]

quote:Originally posted by Dave e Victoria

Some from NH or Maine may have another view but we've found the roads that go W-E few and far between in both states and would recommend coming across the mohawk trail in MA http://www.mohawktrail.com/ and then taking the coastal route #1/1A up to Maine or Spaulding tpk up through NH to the north side of the white mountains and across 302 into Maine...

[H. John Kohl]

Route 11 out of Watertown is nice. By the may it looks on the map route 2 around Champlain, NY will take you to Burlington and across Lake Champlain via bridges. When we did it with just the car we took the ferry and that was nice it was also fall, leave were in their color. Not sure the cost on the ferry with an RV.
If you come into NY from Pa get on route 20 once your in NY. It will save the high I90 toles and is good road. Around Rochester slide up to 104 and take it up to 3 north into Watertown. Good roads and nice trip. NY has some nice state parks but you need to reserve early for the large 35' campsites. Henderson Harbor 14 miles south of Watertown has a 2 year old camp ground on Association Island. Looks nice from the water. I have not camped there yet.
Good luck and tow safe.

[Garin1]

Dave, I don't know about the Mowhawk trail but the 1/1A route along the coast is absolutely breathtaking. Have a good trip and bring a good camera. On the 1/1A don't go to fast.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Dave, You'll be in my old stomping grounds. Prior to beginning our full time lifestyle in 2003, Lorraine and I lived just 40 minutes northeast of Watertown for 10 years and before that another 15 years visiting the 1,000 Islands region.

Even before crossing the border stop in at Kingston and Gananoque in Ontario.
If you are coming back into the states at Watertown on I81 you will be crossing the St Lawrence River and the 1,000 Islands. Plan on spending a few days to a week or more in the 1,000 Island area.
From the 1,000 Islands take Route 12 North to Route 37.
Continue on 37 East

Route 12 and 37 parallel the St Lawrence River and can be a very scenic drive. Above Massena NY you will travel through an Indian Reservation. A good place to refuel the TV and if you are smokers a better place to buy your smokes. Best place for fuel and smokes is the Bears Den. They also have a great little restaurant. While on the "Res" you may want to stop at the casino also located on 37.

Continuing on 37 you will eventually connect with Route 11 to Route 374. Take 374 into Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain.

If you decide to travel the above route PM or email me for additional info.

And stay in touch as we also plan on doing the New England states this summer. We will be at the NE Rally in New Hapshire the first weekend in June and than head out for Maine and eventually Nova Scotia before heading back through northern NY on our way to the MOC rally in Indiana.

[Bill Frisbee]

Dave and Victoria ...

Whatever route you take heading east from Michigan, I strongly encourage you to avoid the 401 and 407 (high tolls) through/around Toronto unless you plan to sneak through in the middle of the night. In the summer especially, the 401 around Toronto more closely resembles a 100 mile parking lot than a highway. IF you do decide to come through southern Ontario, I recommend crossing the border at Port Huron, take the 402 to the 401, then the 403 to the QEW all the way to Fort Erie. Cross back into the US at Buffalo and take I-190 to either I-90 (New York State Thruway (high tolls) or, as others have suggested, route 20 heading toward Rochester. The only tolls along this route are at the border crossing in Port Huron and the road is 4-lane "interstate type" all the way. The only "traffic" issues are around Hamilton and Buffalo but are easily managed.

Bill

[Dave e Victoria]

What great help. Glenn, I will keep in touch and let you know what we are up to as it gets closer. Now its time to get at the maps. Thanks again to all of you for the great help. Looks like I have more than one possibility so have a way to go and a way to return.
Dave

[CmdrDewey]

Glenn,

When your Maine plans are a bit more fixed let me know. We are going south the first two weeks of July and as soon as we get back we are going to New Brunswick to the Atlantic Provinces Samboree on July 19-24. Perhap we could hookup there or elsewhere.

If you need any information let me know.

David

[dcowie]

Here are some thoughts from a life time NE:
1A is a beautiful drive, however, it runs through MANY small towns, narrow roads & high traffic. A very densely populated area. One thing to watch out for on secondary roads is low under-passes.
If you come across VT near Woodstock (on Rte 89)on the way, it is great place to visit in and around that area. If you get to Manchester, NH on 89 to 93, take 101 across NH to MA and then 95 North to ME.
Once you settle on a route, contact me if you want info for MA, NH, ME.

[snowbunny]

We have travelled Route 11 east from Watertown with our Montana to Champlain NY and then Route 2 and 78 East from there across the top of the lake but still in the US. It's a pretty route and not much hassle except for a bridge they are working on between Alburg Springs and West Swanton (where we and our Montana are). We have never taken the Montana east from here although we have often taken the route from here through Swanton on 78 and then onto 15 then onto 2 in NH and Maine. It's all two or three lane and a bit hilly but not heavily travelled and parts of it are very pretty. If you want more info let me know.