Need tourist help (Bangor, Augusta, Rockland: live, shop, eat)

[tatans]

Coming to Maine, lurking around Augusta and over to the ocean for a bit then want to go to Montreal, what is the best route to get there from around the Augusta area??? plan to spend a few days in Montreal and return to the Augusta area and hang around to finish off our holidays, then back to Canadaland
Any help with the route to Montreal will be appreciated.

[slyfox2]

I LIVE ON MDI. I take 9, then 3, then 1. It takes me through scenic Belfast, and Buckesport, and past the Big Chicken Barn on the way to Ellsworth. You must stop at the Chicken Barn.

But Montreal is way way west of Augusta. Where on the coast do you want to go?

[Newdaawn]

Not sure what road to take to Montreal but kinda wondering what it is you find fascinating in Augusta? We live just over an hour from Augusta and so far the only thing we have done there is stay and eat at the Senator and visit the Maine State Museum right near the State House.

[tatans]

Just found Augusta a very nice place to visit, museum, toured the capitol, did a bit of shopping, met some very nice people, loved the restoration of the heritage buildings downtown, had the best steak since I left Calgary, we just centre ourselves in Augusta and drive around and see things, isn't that what tourists do? we have been to other areas in Maine and do enjoy our trips, my wife thought while we are in Maine why not go to Montreal and visit our friends as it is considerably closer to go to Montreal from Maine than from Nova Scotia ( a lot closer) and why not combine two enjoyable locations at once, and we are coming back to Maine on our way back. Maybe I will get the AMA to plan my trip seeing that I am a member, but will include the chicken barn.
thanks.

[Kracer]

Typical fast route to MDI from Augusta is 95 to 395 bypass Bangor ... about an hour/ 70 miles, then 395 dumps you on 1A to Ellworth about half and hour and MDI anothet half hour.

Rt 9/3 is a nice route if you have time and want to catch some scenery. Think you come out on the coast in Belfast.

You'd have to back track about 5? hrs to rt 91 in Vt to get to Montreal via very slow and twisty and very scenic rt 2 thru ME and NH.

Or any other route someone suggests. It will surely get you there.

[tatans]

What is MDI??? I think I would want to go in a westerly direction from Augusta or Bangor, we plan to visit the coast then go back to Augusta then head to Montreal, the coast is a seperate trip, must get out my maps, wasn't there supposed to be a new highway going from east to west through the middle of Maine??, it's been a while since we visited Maine.

[jackmichigan]

Try mapquest.com--it's a good site for directions and approximate driving times.

[Brodels]

An east/west highway is being discussed, but if it ever happens, it will be many, many years in the making.

As others have said, the quickest route to MDI (Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, etc.) is through Bangor. But you don't necessarily need to go that far to get to the coast. Belfast via Route 3 might be an option. Rockland via Route 1 or the Camden/Rockport areas are also nice. It all depends what you are looking for.

As for Montreal, I suspect Google Maps/Mapquest will put you on to Route 2 into New Hampshire. Another option, which probably wouldn't take that much longer and might be more remote and scenic, is to take Routes 16/27 by Sugarloaf, Bigelow Preserve, etc. If you are in the Bangor-ish area when you decide to head west, this might be the shortest option.

[tatans]

Originally Posted by Brodels

An east/west highway is being discussed, but if it ever happens, it will be many, many years in the making.

As others have said, the quickest route to MDI (Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, etc.) is through Bangor. But you don't necessarily need to go that far to get to the coast. Belfast via Route 3 might be an option. Rockland via Route 1 or the Camden/Rockport areas are also nice. It all depends what you are looking for.

As for Montreal, I suspect Google Maps/Mapquest will put you on to Route 2 into New Hampshire. Another option, which probably wouldn't take that much longer and might be more remote and scenic, is to take Routes 16/27 by Sugarloaf, Bigelow Preserve, etc. If you are in the Bangor-ish area when you decide to head west, this might be the shortest option.

Can't fgure out why people have me going to MDI (still don't know what that means) My basic question is which is the best route to take from Bangor to Montreal going by Plattsburg, (do not want to go through Quebec route). MDI is still a mystery. can anyone explain?

[slyfox2]

Originally Posted by Brodels

As others have said, the quickest route to MDI (Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, etc.) is through Bangor. But you don't necessarily need to go that far to get to the coast. Belfast via Route 3 might be an option. Rockland via Route 1 or the Camden/Rockport areas are also nice. It all depends what you are looking for.

Actually its about the same. One your drive really fast and go a longer distance, the other one you drive slower but go a shorter distance. I-95 is about 2 hr 15 minutes from Augusta. 9, 3, and 1 is 2 hours and 24 minutes. And you get to stop at the Chicken Barn too.