Driving from NYC to Maine.. Suggestions? (Tourism) (Ellsworth, Verona: live, bike)

[mainegrl2011]

So far you've received some excellent suggestions. 9-10 hour drive NYC to Bar Harbor. That's a day up and a day back. You could easily spend a week on Mt. Desert Island/Acadia National Park. There was another thread awhile back someone driving from NY to Maine asking similar questions....might want to use the search feature of the forum for places to visit in Maine, Maine vacation ideas, etc. for additional information.

[Spanky25]

Originally Posted by adelashk

Hi all,
I am driving from NYC to Maine. I plan to stop by Portsmouth NH, Portland, and Bar Harbor along with Acadia National Park (will see the sunrise there). Any suggestions? How many days should I dedicate for this trip? Would three be enough?

Thanks!

I just got back Friday.
I spent 3 1/2 days visiting Portland, Boothbay and Freeport.
I then headed up to Bar Harbor for another 3 days for July 4th.

The perfect amount of time.

Keep in mind, from NYC (L.I. Here) Bar Harbor is 9 +/- hours away. Without traffic.

[hancox17]

Stay on Rte #1 for more touristie type things to do.

If you have a lot of time, this is a great idea but if you are only doing a week or less, you will spend all your time on the road, especially in the summer. The traffic will kill you. Maybe look at a map and find a few spots where you would like to come off the highway but driving from Portland to Bar Harbor on Rte. 1 will take forever.

[bwap_bonk]

Originally Posted by Spanky25

I just got back Friday.
I spent 3 1/2 days visiting Portland, Boothbay and Freeport.
I then headed up to Bar Harbor for another 3 days for July 4th.

The perfect amount of time.

Keep in mind, from NYC (L.I. Here) Bar Harbor is 9 +/- hours away. Without traffic.

You might have another 9hrs of traffic from Whitestone/Throgs Neck to your house!!

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by hancox17

If you have a lot of time, this is a great idea but if you are only doing a week or less, you will spend all your time on the road, especially in the summer. The traffic will kill you. Maybe look at a map and find a few spots where you would like to come off the highway but driving from Portland to Bar Harbor on Rte. 1 will take forever.

nahh..it's not too bad. Getting on I95 adds 20-30 miles onto a trip going north, the coast cuts that off and affords far better scenery. I've driven from Lubec to Brunswick on the 1 and it added probably about 30 minutes compared to what I generally do (get to Belfast, take 3 to the I-state). You just gotta have the cahoots to pass a few geriatrics.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by michael_atw

nahh..it's not too bad. Getting on I95 adds 20-30 miles onto a trip going north, the coast cuts that off and affords far better scenery. I've driven from Lubec to Brunswick on the 1 and it added probably about 30 minutes compared to what I generally do (get to Belfast, take 3 to the I-state). You just gotta have the cahoots to pass a few geriatrics.

You can save a bit of time going to Brewer and catching 395 to 95 instead. But if you're like me, it's not the destination, it's the journey that counts. BIL gets frustrated that I don't shoot down the Airline but take Rt1 most of the way. I'm in no rush most days.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by retiredtinbender

You can save a bit of time going to Brewer and catching 395 to 95 instead. But if you're like me, it's not the destination, it's the journey that counts. BIL gets frustrated that I don't shoot down the Airline but take Rt1 most of the way. I'm in no rush most days.

I come down east by way of the airline, but I usually go back by way of route 1.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by hancox17

If you have a lot of time, this is a great idea but if you are only doing a week or less, you will spend all your time on the road, especially in the summer. The traffic will kill you. Maybe look at a map and find a few spots where you would like to come off the highway but driving from Portland to Bar Harbor on Rte. 1 will take forever.

yes, and if you forget to get on Rt. 3 in Ellsworth, you may end up in Washington County.

To Take Rt. 1 from Ellsworth to Portland (or vice versa) or beyond and be able to enjoy the trip means allowing yourself AT LEAST 8 hours in my experienced opinion. There are many places that will catch your attention along the way and you will want to stop and do a little shopping or exploring. You can whiz by everything to save time, but if you're going to do that, might as well go to Bangor and get on 95 and head south.

If heading north stay on 95, then take 295 north and get back on 95 (or take 295 through Portland if you can take time to slow down a bit)....speed on up to Bangor and eat at Dysart's.....or get on Rt. 3 in Augusta, hook up with Route 1 in Belfast, stop at Fort Knox (Bucksport), maybe the Observatory, cross the bridges, get an ice cream and walk along the riverfront path (journey vs. destination, ya know), visit Colonel Buck's rather unique tombstone across from Hannaford in Bucksport....head on up Rt. 1 to Ellsworth.

If you use I295 from Portland to Augusta, then I95 to Bangor, then I395 to 1A, you should be able to make it from Portland to Ellsworth in 2-2.5 hours. It's about 100 miles from Augusta to Ellsworth (fewer miles if you take Rt. 3 to Belfast); if you can take advantage of the section of the interstate with 70 mph speed limit, it may shorten the trip a bit. I recently drove from Kennebunk to Ellsworth in 3 hours for the first time in my life (not my first time to make the drive, but the first time to make it in that short a time). I was careful not to go over the speed limit. I was more interested in destination rather than journey that particular day.

[ClownShoes]

It just took me nearly 3 days to cut my grass, a full week is cutting the trip short.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by ClownShoes

It just took me nearly 3 days to cut my grass, a full week is cutting the trip short.

You have grass? Here it's clumping together dead and turning into tumbleweed.