driving to maine (Portland, Kittery, Rockland: where to stay, motel, restaurant)

[ontheroad]

This sounds like a good route if you want to go fast. I drove from near San Diego to Maine in 92 up to Bar Harbor, and did something like this but with many, many stops along the way.

It's a terrific drive, and then I think petrol was about a buck so I didn't worry too much about time or expense. The last time I made a similar drive (last March) it was more like $3.00+ a gallon, and I did it faster but not too different than these suggestons, modifying as I went. I had a good atlas and a compass.

Enjoy the trip and welcome to the East, and New England.

Originally Posted by arzachena

That is the way we go too

40 to 81 to 84 to 90 to 495 to 95.

Easy as pie

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Fill up just before you leave Pennsylvania on I-84. Depending on what you are driving you should be able to make it to New Hampshire. That will be the last cheap gas. NJ, NY, CT and MA are very short segments of your route. It's four states, but it isn't far.

If you don't have a CB it can be useful on a trip. You can get a cheap one in a big WalMart for about $40 and a mag-mount antenna for another $15. You don't need a license. Channel 19 is most frequently used by truckers. Some areas have foul language, but most rural areas are OK. It helps pass the time. Don't get distracted though and miss your exit.

[ontheroad]

Good advice. Gas in NYS is now about 30+ cents more than PA. But I think NJ may be less...haven't checked there in quite awhile.

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Fill up just before you leave Pennsylvania on I-84. Depending on what you are driving you should be able to make it to New Hampshire. That will be the last cheap gas. NJ, NY, CT and MA are very short segments of your route. It's four states, but it isn't far.

[Zymer]

Stops along the way- Food, fuel, fluid exchange (bathroom/coffee)- "Truckstops" mostly aren't what they used to be, 30 or 40 years ago, they cater to ordinary motorists as well and offer convenient access to and from the highway so you don't have to hunt around.

TA Travel Centers (used to be Truckstops of America) seem to be the best (in my opinion), followed by Flying J, with Pilot and Petro vying for 3rd place.

MA isn't that great as far as travel stops go, so if you make a stop at the TA in Willington CT (I-84, Exit 71 (Ruby Rd.)) that should carry you pretty much the rest of the way as far as fuel goes, though you may want to stop to stretch your legs/eat/drink somewhere in between. There is another TA at Exit 3 off 95 in Greenland, NH.

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Fill up just before you leave Pennsylvania on I-84. Depending on what you are driving you should be able to make it to New Hampshire. That will be the last cheap gas. NJ, NY, CT and MA are very short segments of your route. It's four states, but it isn't far.

If you don't have a CB it can be useful on a trip. You can get a cheap one in a big WalMart for about $40 and a mag-mount antenna for another $15. You don't need a license. Channel 19 is most frequently used by truckers. Some areas have foul language, but most rural areas are OK. It helps pass the time. Don't get distracted though and miss your exit.

Oh yeah, I like to have one all the time. The Uniden Pro520XL is a good one, inexpensive ($35-40) and offers variable receive gain control that you can use to cut down the hash and static and weaker signals.

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Oh yeah, I like to have one all the time. The Uniden Pro520XL is a good one, inexpensive ($35-40) and offers variable receive gain control that you can use to cut down the hash and static and weaker signals.

Oh my goodness. I'm having a flashback to "Convoy"....
My dad drove truck for awhile back in the day, and while he was giving me driving lessons during a family cross-country trip, he warned me to keep an eye on the truckers' speeds and never to go flying past a line of trucks demurely minding the limit....watch those Smokies

[elston]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

elston, I envy you! The journey between one end of the country and the other is bound to be unforgettable! Oh, the sights you'll see! Almost makes me wish our trip was longer!!

Thank you for the good thoughts! I am excited. When I drove to California from NH went thru the heart land (OH, Ind, Ill, Nebraska, Co, Az. etc this time will be the southern tier I am looking forward to it.

If I were planning it rather than living it--I would hit Tennessee and Virginia in dogwood and red bud season...but I am not in charge of my life...just going along for the glorious ride. In many ways our lives are a journey and yes Oh the sights that we can see along the way.

[K-Luv]

Well, regardless of which route you take just be sure to give your vehicle a good tune-up before you leave.

I've driven back and forth across the country numerous times (three times in January alone) and the only time I ran into trouble was one time during the month of May; ran into a blizzard in Wyoming and could barely see fifteen feet in front of me. I thought about pulling over, but I couldn't tell where 'over' was, but figured that it was best to keep driving, slowly. For awhile I didn't even know if I was still on the road.

[Abbymoulton]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Elston- Traffic in Richmond was a nightmare the last time I made the mistake of going through there. I also avoid NYC, D.C. and Baltimore like the plague.

I always use 81 for points South/Southwest. It is slightly longer, and since they put in the new interchange to 84 it's pretty easy. Traffic is relatively light for most of the trip, except during rush hour around Scranton/Wilkes Barre PA and Hartford CT.

I would recommend that route, despite the weather. 81 to 84 to 90 to 495 to 95.

Bert and I both totally agree with Zymer's route. You skip ALL the nasty cities and traffic and it is a really nice trip to make. We just made the trip from Florida to Maine and took 81 most of the way and then the rest of that route. It looks much further on the map..but the fact that you don't have the worries of City driving and tons of traffic make up for that. When are you leaving out there, Elston

[elston]

Originally Posted by Abbymoulton

Bert and I both totally agree with Zymer's route. You skip ALL the nasty cities and traffic and it is a really nice trip to make. We just made the trip from Florida to Maine and took 81 most of the way and then the rest of that route. It looks much further on the map..but the fact that you don't have the worries of City driving and tons of traffic make up for that. When are you leaving out there, Elston

We leave California on the 24th of this month! Maine or Bust! Can't Wait! Heading out thru Yuma--just like the movie!