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Drive from Maritimes to Ontario through U.S.

Drive from Maritimes to Ontario through U.S.

Old Jun 9th, 2006, 11:50 AM
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Drive from Maritimes to Ontario through U.S.

Hi there! We will be driving from Toronto to Nova Scotia in August and would like to drive back home through the U.S. We will leave Antigonish, NS on a Thursday morning and need to be back in Toronto by Saturday night, so we will have 3 days, 2 nights for the trip. We plan to cross the border at St. Stephen, NB. into Calais, ME but after that we have no clue what route to take and where to cross back into Ontario - maybe at Cornwall? I was wondering if anyone who has done this trip could tell me the nicest route and what places/things we should see along the way (2 adults, 30 yrs old, no kids). We're mainly interested in scenery. Where should we stay for the 2 nights to space the drive out? We'll be pulling a house trailer so could stay either at campgrounds or motels/inns. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!
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Old Jun 9th, 2006, 10:59 PM
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If you use mapquest with your starting point as St. Stephen you will see your route.

I really like that drive and if you had time would recommend going off the route slightly and stopping in Bar Harbor. If you stay in Portsmouth NH the first night, that would be about a 5 hr drive so you would have some time to play with there.

From Portsmouth NH you'll bypass Boston and head west to Albany NY. I'd get just beyond there and stay off the interstate at one of the lovely little towns in the Finger Lakes....Skaneateles is very charming, but they all have their merits. That drive would be about 6 hrs.

From the Finger Lake stop, get back on the interstate through to Buffalo, Niagara and Toronto. The direct drive is about 4-5 hrs depending on the border traffic so you might be able to stop in Niagara or Niagara on the Lake if you have time.

I can't really help with accomodations like campgrounds but checking some websites would likely give you information on that.

http://www.barharborinfo.com/welcome_frame.html

http://www.portsmouthnh.com/

http://www.visitfingerlakes.com/

After you have a look at the route and websites you may have your own ideas of where you would like to spend the 2 nights, but I hope that helps.


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Old Jun 10th, 2006, 09:32 AM
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Or you could drive from Maine across northern Vermont through the Northeast Kingdom and stay in Burlington VT.

There is a wonderful museum just south of Burlington in Shelburne VT (called the Shelburne Museum) which you shouldn't miss.

Then take a ferry from Burlington across Lake Champlain into Plattsburgh, dip south and check out Lake George and then drive up to Lake Placid.

If you cross back into Ontario at Ottowa you can check out that wonderful city as well.

There is no interstate for most of this route but it should fill the bill for scenery and places to see along the way.

Definitely use mapquest to familiarize yourself with the distances and drive times.
 
Old Jun 11th, 2006, 07:32 AM
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The fastest route is the one TobieT gives you. About 2,000km, so with three days, you only need to do about 700 a day. Mostly freeway, very easy. The Berkshires in Western MA is quite pretty, and with the time you have you can make some detours in the region. Similarly you in the Finger Lakes region of NY State. [However, those areas are pretty close to Toronto, so you can visit them on other trips.]

If you want to cut through NH and VT, you can just take US2 all the way from Newport, ME (exit 39 of I-95), through NH, to Montpelier, VT, before joining I-89 to Burlington. amaclise have told you the rest. Cross back to ON at Cornwall, Prescott or 1000 Island.
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Old Jun 11th, 2006, 01:51 PM
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There's no single way that's best.

I've done this trip a dozen times.

Calais to the coast, and at least visit Br Harbor. Acadia national park is one of the most scenic spots in America, but it'll take a fiar bit of time.

Follow the coast south, and pause in Boothbay Harbor.

From here., there's a lot of chocie.

Brunswick inladn to Lewiston, then into new Hampshire, highway 2 across the stae, into Vermonth, through St. Johnsbury, Montpelier, to Burlington. (HOW BIG IS THE TRAILER?)
Take the ferry to new York State, lake Placid, Saranas Lake, Watertown.

Turn north, cross into Canada on the Ivy Lea Bridge near Kingston, turn left and 401 to Toronto.

But this route involves some two lane highways, and that may not work with the trailer.

EAsy driving might mean longer; interstates down from main, and then the mass Turnpike to Albany and the new York State Thruway.

At Syracuse, I'd head north to Ivy LEa, though, to avoid the buffalo / Niagara Falls border crossings. It's a toss up as far as distance goes.

BAK
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Old Jun 12th, 2006, 06:16 AM
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Which is the fastest route (fewest driving hours), through the US or through NB and Montreal?

thanks!!!
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Old Jun 12th, 2006, 08:14 AM
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Fastest is on the interstates and turnpikes through the US.
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Old Jun 13th, 2006, 06:03 AM
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Thank you for all the great advice! It has been so helpful. Looks like we have lots of options. I'll print out everything, find myself a good map & figure out which one to choose.

Bak - the trailer is about 16-18 feet, so not too big but would make it difficult to pass anyone on a two-lane highways.

Thanks again folks!
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