Road Trip! Maine to Outer Banks, travel route advice needed! (Bangor: how much, shop)

[ekh32]

So I have been doing a little investigating on our upcoming road trip from Bangor to the Outer Banks for a family vacation. Has anyone made this trip? Any route advice out there? Sounds like I should avoid DC and take 13 over the Chesapeake and suck up the expensive tolls.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[mensaguy]

I'd take 95 to 495 around Boston, I90 to I84, west to I-81 at Scranton, S on I-81 to NC and find a route to the Outer Banks. This avoids most of the big cities and most of the toll roads (except for the Maine Turnpike).

[MrRational]

drive? why drive when you can float?

BW BARGE & CRANE SERVICE
MURRAY HADDAK ROAD
ROCKWOOD, ME 04478

[ekh32]

Interesting route. According to google it will add 2 hours, but may be worth it to avoid the big cities?

[ekh32]

Originally Posted by MrRational

drive? why drive when you can float?

BW BARGE & CRANE SERVICE
MURRAY HADDAK ROAD
ROCKWOOD, ME 04478

How much and when do you depart?

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by ekh32

Interesting route. According to google it will add 2 hours, but may be worth it to avoid the big cities?

That way may add 2 hours but DC (either way you go) will ad at least that. And then you get to Baltimore. Trust Mensa; and I only say that as that is the way i go to SC each year.

Also check out the caverns through Virginia.

[mollysmiles]

Agreed! We drove to Parris Island for graduation last April with that route. It's gorgeous and beats struggling with the traffic with most of the other ones you'll find. Lots of trucks around WV, but nothing like you get around NYC. I've driven that route (NYC) on the way to DC about ten years ago, and there's no comparison.

[AustinB]

Tolls aren't that bad, and the bridge over the Chesapeake is worth it. After all, how many times do you get to do it?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I agree completely with mensaguy. I don't think it will add time and it is definitely safer.

-break-

My only stop on the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel was in a helicopter with an engine failure. We barely made it to the island running the helicopter on prime. It was that or swim.

[Kiwiluver]

You could hop off 81 in Charlottesville Virginia, take 29 south to Danville (beautiful country BTW), get on 58(skirts the VA/NC border) and take it over to the coast and make yer way to the 'Banks form Eastern Virginia. When I come Nawth from NC, I go that way in reverse 29 to 81, 81 -84 in PA, 84-90 (Hartford CT traffic sux), then 90 to 128 to Maine! Gonna do it in a month whoo-ho!

Not to discourage you but the 'Banks ain't what it once was. It is a strip mall from one end to the other populated by New Yorkers and Ohioans. If I go there, I go in the winter as it is less crowded. The kids will have a blast on the beaches though. Make sure they see the wild ponies near Ocracoke. When my kids were young they loved to see them.

Wild Ponies on the Outer Banks - Outer Banks and the Northern Coast - North Carolina Travel & Tourism (http://www.visitnc.com/journeys/articles/outer-banks-northern-coast-1/2/wild-ponies-on-the-outer-banks - broken link)

Ocracoke is also where Black Beard the pirate once dwelled and his treasure is rumored to be buried.
Teach's Hole - Pirate Specialty Shop & Blackbeard Exhibit, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks Of North Carolina, Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Have fun!