The Ultimate New England Roadtrip Itinerary

Driving up to Maine. On a budget, with Kids and Dogs.

Out of Appalachia, up the coast. Must See. Must Do.

Sight-see and Eat your way through New England!

Mapping out a fun trip North of West Virginia.

Roadtrip Roundtrip: Up and back!

At A Glance

This is a round trip-road trip. Out of Appalachia and “up the coast”…and back. With lots of driving (almost 2000 miles!); and also a lot of cool stops. Pre-planned and optimized. My recommendations are usually:

• Budget Friendly
• Family Friendly
• Dog Friendly

Being a “professional roadtripper”; I appreciate a route that makes sense. Neat, orderly, and right ready to go!

Day 1:  Plymouth, MA
        Marshfield Hills, MA
        Boston, MA 

Day 2: Salem, MA
       Wells, ME
       Portland, ME

Day 3:  Freeport, ME
        Georgetown, ME
        Bar Harbor, ME

Day 4:  Acadia National Park
        Gorham, NH 

Day 5:  Jefferson, NH
        Waterbury-Stowe, VT
        Burlington, VT    

Day 6:  Ausable Chasm, NY
        Fort Ticonderoga, NY
        Lake George, NY 

Day 7:   Howe's Cave, NY
         Scranton, PA
         Morgantown, WV 

I’ll confess..we did this trip in five days, rather than seven. All stops are possible in five days. However, if you want to see and appreciate Boston, spinnanight there! Six days is feasible for this trip. In America, the average 40-hour FT employee takes a week of PTO. Seven days makes it a vacation! Of course, you can stretch it out and spend more time and days. It’s already mapped out!

New England

I absolutely love New England! My very first time way up North was in 2013. Before that, I had no idea what it was like.. Or what kind of scenery it is. I probably thought I’d see lighthouses. New England is more than just lighthouses.

Since then, I’ve made several more jaunts up here. It is beautiful, historical, and FUN! It’s a special place you’ll want to visit again and again.

North Virginia

Typically New England consists of;

• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Vermont
• Maine

The night before…

Let’s head up!

From West Virginia, it takes about nine hours to get to Boston. In all of my jaunts up North, we would leave about 9 or 10pm. Which puts you into NYC area around two or three in the morning. Virtually zero traffic!

WV to MD

This is the easiest leg of the trip. Up and down throughout all the mountains. As you get to Hagerstown, MD and merge onto I-81: the drive becomes less leisurely.

Pennsylvania

Crossing into “Pee-Ayy” with semi trucks all around you. The convoy never stops! Even in the night, you really gotta stay on your toes. Once you get into Harrisburg Capitol area: merge onto I-78 you’ll be 1/3 the way to Boston!

New Jersey

Once you touch the state line for New Jersey: plan to get gas! It’s significantly cheaper here and it’s full-service, by law. Wawa in Philippsburg, IYKYK!

New Jersey law says you can’t pump your own gas

New York

Look to your right! It’s the BIG Apple! The city that never sleeps.. This is the most stressful part of the jaunt up North. Depending on the time of the day, the stress factor could be higher or lower. Rolling the the expressway in the middle of the night makes for very little traffic. There’s many lanes and many exits. Pay close attention, follow all signs towards I-95 / George Washington Bridge.

Connecticut

I-95 in Connecticut, the state seems like one giant overpass bridge. With no shoulders, and heavy traffic. It almost feels like an extension to NYC. But, there’s much more to discover!

Connecticut Pizza Trail

Most of my time in Connecticut has been spent passing through or sitting in traffic. I’ve never really explored much. I’ve stopped for gas here, which is expensive. Really, I need to take time to explore Connecticut. And try the apizzas!

Have you heard about apizza, New Haven-style pizza? What to know about it

Day One

Massachusetts

The Bay state. The Spirit of America; the present day location of the first exchange of giving.

Plymouth

Plymouth is home to the “first Thanksgiving”.

The Wampanoag Indians, also known as “People of First Light”; were responsible for a few lives. When the tired, hungry foreigners showed up.. They took care of them.

Marshfield Hills

This is a stop for fans of The Office. (We’re big fans!) Steve Carrell owns this store. Here you’ll find cute gifts, jams, jellies, and oddities. Best part: They’re open at 6:30am!

Boston

If someone were to ask me;

“What’s your favorite major city?”

… I’d tell ’em Boston. 

Founded in 1630, this city is rich in colonial and revolutionary American history. There’s a whole slew of  architecture to see and appreciate. Most buildings here are from the 1700’s; some dating back to the 1600’s. Well-preserved and meticulously taken care of.

I especially enjoy the Freedom Trail. On that trail, you can walk through a path of history. It’s like, fifth grade history.. All those things you  remember learning about, displayed right in front of you!

Some of my favorite stops in Boston include:

• Faneuil Hall Marketplace
  • Boston Terrier owners would LOVE The Wicked Dog
• Granary Burial Ground
  • Visit the graves of forefathers who signed the Declaration of Independence including: Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine.
• Paul Revere House
  • Built in 1680, this dwelling is one of the oldest structures in Boston.
• Quincy Market
  • A 200 year old marketplace of common goods. Used today, in the same way they used it in the early 1800s.
• Old North Church
  • Check out the box pews; affluent families would pay for their “spot”.
• Mike’s Pastry
  • Because the best canoli exists!
• USS Constitution
  • Built in 1797, this is the oldest naval warship still afloat.

Spinnanight

Red Roof Inn Boston/Saugus average $150 p/night. I’ve stayed here several times while in the Boston area. It’s convenient, safe, clean, and FREE PARKING! However, there’s no pool or breakfast. Enjoy a good night’s rest.. The longest leg of driving is over!

Day Two

Salem

Hocus Pocus was filmed here! OK.. That’s kinda historically accurate. But, the roots of this city are much deeper. Way before Disney and television…

“Hocus Pocus” Filming Locations in Salem, MA

The Witchcraft Act of 1604 was an English law that made “practicing witchcraft” a felony. Caught once, they could spend up to one year in prison. If caught a second time, they were given the death penalty.

In Puritan times, there were changes in the legal system. Spectral Evidence became accepted by judges. Those accused were hung, decapitated, or pressed to death. Each grave tells a story.

Wells, ME

Almost to Vacationland! Believe it or not, from Salem, MA you can be at a beach in Maine in less than 90 minutes. Hop back onto I-95 North toward New Hampshire. Which you’ll cross completely in 40 minutes. No worries, we will spend time in New Hampshire later this week.

Beaches in Vacationland

In Southern coastal Maine, the beaches are different. Maybe it’s the jagged rocky cliffs. Or the soft white sand.

The sea water temperature may reach 67°, at its peak for the year. It is really quite different than your average beach town along the Atlantic coast.

We really did enjoy our first time “chilling out” (quite literally!) on a beach in Maine.  Families all around us dressed in jackets and capris. A few wore swimsuits. Fewer went into the water. Which.. You can walk quite far, and only be up to your ankles.

Parking was $8 per hour, or $42 for all day. See? I don’t quite recommend it.

Congdon’s Doughnuts

Absolute freshness and goodness! My gracious!! “The donut family” doughnuts are the best I’ve ever had in my life. Looking back, this was the most delicious meal we ate on the trip. If I think about that maple glazed cream-filled too much, I’ll have to start driving back!

Day Three

Portland

I sure do love Portland! It’s not quite as historically cool as some of the Massachusetts towns. However, it’s beautiful and mostly surrounded by water. And.. it is a pure, Grade-A foodie & tourist town. Much great food, shopping, old cemeteries, boat excursions, lighthouses.

If you are spending time in Portland, DEFINITELY do the mailboat tour! Kids and Dogs will love it!

Casco Bay Mailboat Tour gives you a round trip tour of Casco Bay for $14.00. It’s such a beautiful boat ride, as you see all the tiny islands among the bay. And it’s quirky.. Because you’re actually along for the ride to make freight deliveries!

Things I’d recommend to do in Portland:

• Mailboat Tour
• Mardens Surplus & Savage
• Old Settlers Cemetery / Willard Beach
• Portland Head Light
  • The most photographed light house in Maine!
• Duckfat
  • Try some poutine!

Spinnanight:

Ne’r Beach Motel Average rate $135 p/night.  Pet friendly. Nice warm outdoor pool. They’ve even got an outdoor lobster cooking station. No breakfast (Congdon’s is up the road!) Walkable-ish distance to the beach. (This is a great option for Night 1, if you’re skipping Boston & Portland)

Hampton Inn Portland South Average rate $175. Great breakfast, indoor pool. Right next to the Maine Mall. Pet friendly, too.

Freeport

Freeport is such a cool little town! Here you’ll find little shops, ice cream parlors, and knick-knack-decor-stores. And a whoopie pie shoppe!

This Maine coastal town is known best for one thing. You’ve probably seen those boots. Maybe you lived the preppy era in the 80’s. It’s worth a visit to the LL Bean Flagship Store. Find some quality made boots and tote-bags here!

Georgetown

Keep heading North on Rt. 1. toward Bath, ME. It’s time to get a lobster roll! Georgetown may be a bit out of the way, but the drive is absolutely gorgeous. And.. It is WORTH IT!

Lobster Roll

The very first time I ever came to Five Islands was in 2013. Each trip up to Maine has always included a trip to this lobster shack. It’s quite a gem!

Picture it: The breeze from the sea gently flowing, the aroma of lobsters being boiled, the taste of a succulent lobster roll– THIS VIEW ALL AROUND. This is how you do lunch in Maine!

I’ll admit.. This place was a hidden gem. And it really still is. However, lines and prices have doubled since COVID. At $42.95.. This was the most expensive lobster roll I saw all week. The dining atmosphere and views are still the same!

Bar Harbor & Acadia

From Five Islands to Bar Harbor is a three hour tour. Continue on Rt 1 towards Down East. Enjoy the scenery!

Roll down the windows and smell the fields of lavender.

See all the many lakes and ponds.

Blueberry farms.

Lobster shacks.

Moose signs.

Where Is “Down East” Maine Anyway?

We had Five Islands for lunch, and by the afternoon we were on a beach in Acadia. It is feasible! But, to stay on track, keep moving.

Bienvenue!

Welcome to Bar Harbor!

Right at the door step of Acadia National Park. Where the mountain meets the sea. Acadia National Park is also home to the earliest sunrise in the United States.

Here you’ll feel the French-Canadian influence. And you won’t feel hot.. At all! It was a brisky 58 degrees at the beach on a mid-July afternoon.

10 Hikes You Can’t Miss In Acadia National Park

As you enter the gates of Acadia, a US Park Pass is required. $35.00 covers your private vehicle for seven days. You can get an annual pass for $80, which covers all the parks in America. Those with permanent disabilities can get a lifetime pass for FREE.

Those wanting to see the view from up top: You’ll need to book a time slot beforehand. Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations.

Spinnanight: Harborview Motel & Cottages. Average $150 p/night. No pool or breakfast. Dogs are permitted, with room to run! Easily, this was one of the best views I’ve ever had from any hotel.

Day Four

Bar Harbor & Acadia

See.. We did this trip in five days. After exploring Sand Beach, we checked into our hotel, and explored downtown Bar Harbor the next morning. If you have more time, maybe you’d like to spend two nights in this area. There’s so much to see and appreciate!

Walking around downtown Bar Harbor, there were a few cute shops and so many touristy-traps. It’s also a popular cruise destination..So many souvenir stores. “T-shirts $5!!!”.

We enjoyed breakfast at Jordan’s at the recommendation of a local fireman. Talking to locals is one of my favorite parts of traveling. I’ve usually got questions. And they have answers and stories to tell. The banter has sent us in many unplanned directions.

Jordan’s Restaurant had the fastest service of any restaurant I’d ever visited. As soon as they take your order, the waitress yells over the counter.. Then less than two minutes later; Everything you ordered is magically in front of you! The pancakes and muffins were delicious. The breakfast potatoes were out-of-this-world! Who knew about those Maine potatoes?!

Think you know Maine potatoes?

Bangor

As you wrap up your visit to Bar Harbor; it’s time to backtrack a little.  Head back up Rt. 1A, toward Bangor.

Maine Military Supply is a cool stop right along the way. This is such a one-of-a-kind electic store. So much army and survival equipment, at low prices!

Stephen King’s House is right in Bangor. In a beautiful neighborhood, you’ll find this creepy and kooky mansion. It is private property, be respectful! SK Tours offers filming locations and in-depth knowledge with the “Derry Tour”, for $62.

Continue heading South on I-95. Right before you cross into New Hampshire.. Make a stop in Gray, ME. Maine Wildlife Park has over thirty species of Maine wildlife. This is your chance to see a moose! For $11 this small “zoo” gives you a chance to meet some real locals.

New Hampshire

Goodbye Maine! Hello Summer Warmth! Oh, look.. It’s the Appalachian Mountains again! It’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like home.

My car showed the fluctuations in temperature. The gauge jumped from 53° in Bar Harbor that morning to 97° in Gorham that afternoon.

Actually, this is one of the peaks of  Appalachia. In the White Mountains; Mount Washington sits at 6,288 ft elevation. The highest peak is in the Black Mountain at the summit of Mt. Mitchell, at 6,684 ft.

6 Ways to Visit the Summit of Mt. Washington NH

Gorham

Other than a Beach Boys concert back in 2014; I’ve never spent much time in NH. With that thought in mind; it’s pretty amazing how much different landscape is in this tiny state.

These folks have the best of both worlds. Separated by about 100 miles (2 1/2  hr drive) . It does not seem possible.. But, I’ve seen both sides! It truly is a marvel..

But while we’re up here in the mountains of the Granite state: Here’s a few things to explore…

Things to do in Gorham, ME

• Cog Railway
  • Climb to the summit by train, $84 p/person.
• Flume Gorge
  • A two hour hike through a granite gorge with caves and waterfalls. $20 p/person.
• Mt Washington Auto Road
  • Earn that FREE bumper sticker!
• Gorham House of Pizza
  • Wins award for Best Pizza during this trip!
• North East ATV Rentals
  • Around town, you’ll see many folks driving quads. It reminded me of Southern WV. But, with Romney, WV architecture.
• Santa’s Village
  • Pure Joy. Family style. This Christmas theme park was on my bucket list for years. It did not disappoint! $44 p/person

About a half hour or “a notch” from Gorham, is Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH. It’s Christmas everyday here!

Talking to the locals, the accent around here is quite different. It was interesting to reflect on “Mountain Life” with them. I talked about the hills and hollers. They claimed to be “from up above”, explaining how distance is measured in “notches”.

How To Talk With a New Hampshire Accent

Spinnanight: Town & Country Inn and Resort, Gorham, NH. Right at the base of Mt. Washington! Indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room. Restaurant. Pet friendly. $115.00 p/night.

Day Five

Jefferson, NH

Way back in 2012, I had saved this Christmas theme park on Pinterest. So, to wake up that morning in Gorham, NH and head over.. I was bursting with excitement!

We got there early and enjoyed the skits. It truly is Pure Joy, Family Style. The park sticks to its theme: Everyday is Christmas. The magic was sprinkled in all the red and green. As for kitschy theme parks: This one is a winner!

New Hampshire is Officially the Only State Where It’s Legal to Not Wear a Seatbelt

I mean, this is the “Live Free or Die” state. It was cool to experience a theme park that’s not cash-grabby. Drinks were like, $2.00. Carnival games were open and free to play. Strollers were free! No charge for parking.

The park is sort of small. We were able to ride all the rides, and see everything in less than four hours. Less than two hours away from Ben and Jerry’s! We finished the theme park much earlier than expected. Which gave us time to enjoy more of Vermont.

Vermont

Nicknamed “The Green Mountain State”: Vermont reminds me so much of “The Mountain State”, West Virginia. It’s sort of like, a “miniature version” of our state. The geography is similar. The people may be a little different. Hillbillies to Hippies. Apples to Apples. Resourceful in their own way and darn proud of it!

Things to do in Waterbury-Stowe Vermont

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill
  • Vermont to the CORE! We bought so much jams, jellies, fudge, donuts, etc. You must try the Maple Creamee!
• Cabot Creamery Store
  • You’ve seen that seriously sharp cheddar at the grocery store. They’ve had the entire cheese collection and a few samples!
• Ben & Jerry’s
  • Come for the factory tour and ice cream fun. Tours are $6 and includes a small ice cream afterwards.

Burlington, VT

The Vermont “Dairy Tour” has come to an end.. Off to the “city”!

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont, with a population of about 45,000. About the size of WV’s Capitol city of Charleston. 

Tbh, like Downtown Charleston, the vibe felt kinda off. We planned to go to Battery Park and see the cannons dotted around Lake Champlain. Once we arrived, we were thrown off by the homeless population. Due to safety concerns, we opted out of visiting that particular downtown spot..

These others “seem safe”..

• World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet
• Lake Champlain Monster Monument
• Forever Young Treehouse

Head South, on route 7 towards Fort Ticonderoga. Like I mentioned earlier: This is a road trip with lots to do and see. It’s not really a “relaxing vacation”. Keep moving to stay on track. On such trips, I’d recommend to “book as you go”. My advice worked well for me up until this point.

Due to pending rain in the forecast for our day at Santa’s Village. We opted to spend more time in Acadia/Bar Harbor area. We knew we’d have to skip Ausable Chasm, since we were slightly delayed. I really was looking forward to seeing Fort Ticonderoga. On the way there, we stopped for a quick dinner and I began booking a hotel.. the hotel we wanted was SOLD OUT. Sadly, we couldn’t make it to Fort Ticonderoga before dark. We will certainly be back to explore this area again!

Spinnanight: Super 8 Fort Ticonderoga. Average $115.00 p/night, Eight minutes from Historical French war forts.

Country Inn and Suites (Lake George) Average $155 p/night. Pet friendly, wonderful breakfast, indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub. Right next to Six Flags!

Day 6

New York

The NY/VT Crown Point area is the Path through History. So much has happened here. A lot of stuff going on these days. Yet, This is the New York that no one knows..

Hudson Valley Tourism’s “Path Through History’”

I’m a huge fan of Peter Santenello.. The Appalachia series caught my attention. Since then, I’ve been tuning into his newly uploaded content. He shared a video highlighting this particular area. Which no.. I didn’t know!

Things to do in the Crown Point Region:

• Ethan Allen Homestead
• Shelburne Museum
• High Falls Gorge
• Star Trek Tour
• The Wild Center
• Lake Placid Bobsled Experience
• Ausable Chasm
• Lake George

Lake George

“The Queen of American Lakes”

“Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw; formed by a contour of mountains into a basin… finely interspersed with islands, its water limpid as crystal, and the mountain sides covered with rich groves… down to the water-edge: here and there precipices of rock to checker the scene and save it from monotony.”
— Thomas Jefferson

This New York Lake Was Just Named the Cleanest in the U.S.

We didn’t really plan to go Lake George: The plans led us here. (or lack of planning hotels ahead) And.. I am already planning another trip back!

A hot spot in the Ice Age…

Indigenous People.

French-Canadians.

American Revolutionaries.

Tourists.

Amish.

And… Frankenstein museum!

Once a glacial retreat in North America. The Birthplace to American Vacations is rooted in much history.  It’s history of names trace back several languages. After some battles and treaties: today Lake George is named and honored after King George II of England. 

Things to do in/around Lake George:

There’s a whole lake of things to do! I could legit take a full week vacation here!

• Six Flags Great Escape
• Martha’s Dandee Creme
• Minnie Ha Ha Steamboat Tours
• Frankenstein Museum
• Dino-Roar Valley
• Million Dollar Beach
• Fort Ticonderoga
• Fort William Henry
• Mount Marcy
  • And lots of hiking trails!
• Glen Falls
• Saratoga Springs State Park
• Howe Caverns

You’ll never forget

Howe Caverns

As you head south on I-87 through the Hudson Valley: The beauty is absolutely remarkable! Ridge, valley, and farmland: It sure reminds me of home.

Definitely make a stop in Howe’s Cave, NY and explore Howes Caverns. This was such a unique cave visit! Second to the Empire State Building, this is the most popular attraction in NY.

Visitors get a one hour spelunking trek and a 20 minute boat ride through the largest cave system in the Northeast. $29.50 p/person.

Stewart’s Shops Are a Pillar of the Hudson Valley

This is the land of Stewart’s Shops. Stop for gas, go for milk! Be sure to grab some chocolate milk, egg nog, cheese, ice cream, or delicious dairy goods.

Pennsylvania

As we merge onto I-81 South, I began spotting signs for Sheetz. I knew we were getting closer to home.

Scranton

I was also seeing signs for Scranton. And.. It was dinner time! In the end, from the beginning. This trip came complete circle.

Scranton is such a fun city. Nearby the Poconos. We enjoyed exploring the area back in 2022. As fans of “The Office”; There’s more than a few spots to check out!

Things to do around Scranton/Lackawanna County:

• Bushkill Falls
• Kalahari Waterpark Resorts
• Steamtown Railroad
• Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den
• Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
• Boulder Field
• Lehigh Valley Scenic Railway
  • Jim Thorpe, PA is such a cool side-quest town to explore!
• Various filming locations from The Office

‘The Office’ fans rejoice: Chili’s opens Scranton branch, bringing back iconic appetizer

Which way Home?

Head back south on I-81 to to head back home.

If Almost Heaven, Country roads doesn’t take you home.. Albany, NY is at the crossroads of every cardinal direction. You can head West, towards Ohio.. Or East towards Massachusetts. Full circle to this trip: Albany is about two and half hours from Boston.

Fly home.

Drive home.

Walk.. Step by step.

Make the best memories.

Never stop exploring!

Keep being thankful.

You are so loved ❤️

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