Doesn't sound doable especially when it includes a holiday weekend with a lot of people on the roads. And for these areas, you generally need to take the Interstates. Why not either pick the Mid-Atlantic or New England (and even then maybe just Southern or just Northern?

I cannot think of anything redeeming to see in Bridgeport (maybe I am wrong) except maybe the views of the Sound? Go to Mystic instead on the way to RI.

Well, we really want to make it all the way to main so a few things can be left out like DC and Philly (I'd like to go to those two places on another trip entirely). According to google directions that route would take about 1 day and 4 hours if driven non-stop so we kind of thought it would be doable so long as we didn't stop and stay in every place. We really want to drive the coast for the trip up and that's the reason we want to avoid interstates. Thanks for the advice though especially on Bridgeport. Where is Mystic?

Skipping the 2 cities helps. Would you also skip NYC? Mystic is along 95 in CT (almost in RI) That weekend from MA to Maine at certain times (and in reverse) can be a near parking lot where an hour becomes 3 or 4 quickly. Same from RI to MA. This is the weekend before a lot of schools around here go back to school so its the last long weekend at the beach or college kids moving in. Traffic can be very bad. My family used to go the Cape or Maine that weekend - but never drove on the weekend due to the traffic.

95 from New York City to RI can turn into a massive traffic jam as well with construction and accidents quite a bit. Rt 1 parallels it but would be no better.

Google doesn't account for traffic at all and is quite misleading with its times.

"Driving the coast" is a slow go if you actually want to see it and try to avoid interstates. In the northeast there are smaller roads but you generally don't get to see the coast unless you go down little peninsulas. Bridgeport is dismal, an hour or so out of New York, Mystic is in eastern CT, a little over 2 hours from NY and is at exit 90 on route I-95 and most people stop there for Mystic Seaport, a museum of maritime history, complete with tall ships, and a village with all the shops associated with seafaring in the 1800's, takes most of a day to explore it. It looks like I - 95 goes along the coast but there are only a few places where you can actually see the coast from it, mostly when you are crossing rivers that empty into the ocean. Jamestown RI is an island connected by bridges to the mainland and to Newport. It is lovely and has a nice state park Beavertail, where you will get beautiful ocean views. It is a little more than an hour's drive from Mystic, CT. Southern Maine will be about 3 hours from there, if you use the interstates and don't hit Massachusetts at rush hour.

We drove from CT to KY on the interstates and it took the better part of two days. If you don't want to do interstates, it will take much longer and once you get to the coastal areas, there will be beach traffic to contend with that will slow you down too.

All that said, IMHO, if you really want to go to Maine, go there first, as fast as you can, then wander down the coast until you run out of time and have to head back to KY, relax, enjoy the trip, have a great time.

We weren't planning on overnighting in NYC and didn't know about stopping either. I've been kind of unsure because of being in a car and all, and the ability to find parking in NYC but at least we'd get to drive through it.

I can't reschedule the trip, so really we will just have to drive as far as we can in the first 6-8 days and then head back. Thanks again for your help. Also, with what I have mapped out we wouldn't be touching the interstates except in a few places, i think.

Emalloy - Thanks for all your advice! I hadn't even considered driving to Maine first (that make's perfect sense). I'll bring that option up with the girls and see what they think.

I think going there first will also help because then we will avoid the weekend traffic to the beaches because that will put us on the coast during the week.

If you have it mapped out, it will not include traffic or the amount of stoplights.

The only caution I would have for just driving as far as you can may be hotels. Due to the holiday, they may require multiple nights or be sold out.

I hope you enjoy it as it is a beautiful part of the country. I just don't want to see you plan too much and then sit in traffic. It has taken me 4.5 hours to drive Hartford to Baltimore then 8.5 hours home on 95. Just an example of how much time can vary.

I know this thread just benefitted me as I looked up Beavertail State Park and am planning on going there at 1 point soon.

If you're really interested in Antiques, I suggest you do some checking to see where there might be special antique shows on. The largest show I think in the northeast is just after your trip starting on Sept. 7. http://www.brimfield.com/

The New Hope, PA/Lamberville, NJ area between Phil. & NYC used to have great antiques but not sure if it still does. I don't see any great reason to go to Atlantic City unless you're gamblers. Longwood Gardens might be a nice stop. http://www.longwoodgardens.org/

How did you come up with this list of stops?

Just wanted to add that there are two Indian casinos near Mystic, Monhegan Sun and Foxwoods, which would enable you get in some gambling but avoid the long trip to Atlantic City.

Bridgeport, CT?? This is a city and there are so many nicer places along the coast of CT..

Just say 'no' to Bridgeport.

I must be confused: Are you trying to see these 16 spots in 10 days including the trip back home?

Why not just go as far North as NYC or start in Maine and just go as far South as NYC?

Although I'm a huge fan of road trips, I'd lose my mind on this one. We took 10 days to drive from Connecticut to Niagara Falls and back; we'd never have been able to accomplish anything like this.

There are quite a few stretches of this trip where sticking to driving along the coast would be both infuriatingly slow and boring. Some of the "coastal" roads are just like any other suburban roads , filled with strip malls, car dealers, etc. You won't really see much that is scenic, plus you'd miss out on the things you do want to do--some antiquing, a little gambling, along with some beautiful ocean views.

What I would do is pick a few stops, take the usually faster interstates to get between them, and then drive the "slow" roads for a couple of hours surrounding the place you want to actually visit.
For example, I think it's totally worth it to drive the coastal areas between Portsmouth, NH, York Harbor, ME, and Kennebunkport, ME.
Between ,Atlantic City, NJ, New York, NY, and Bridgeport, CT you will save a huge amount of time by skipping the coast and going straight to Mystic CT or somewhere in RI. If you want to see a couple of Jersey shore towns, skip MD and DE ones.

Also, consider varying the types of spots--some of the beach areas you mention will all start to look alike after a while. Maybe you want one old fashioned boardwalk town, one more upscale area, one with some history, etc.

And I totally agree with everyone else that Bridgeport is one of the least scenic spots in Connecticut, and that visiting any of the the big cities--DC, Philly, New York--would need more time than just a drive through.

Go to freetrip.com to get an idea of mileage and time between cities.

If you are going through Huntington, WV and are near it, you can use I-64 to the Virginia Beach area and take the bay bridge tunnel to Cape Charles in a day and maybe up to Ocean City or at least the Chincoteague, Va area. I would skip DC and Philly. Stay on 13 through the DELMARVA up to Delaware and take the ferry from Lewes to Cape May NJ following the coast to Atlantic City. I would also skip Bridgeport.

Use I-95 to get Mystic Seaport and up to RI.

We stayed at the York Harbor Inn and had a very nice meal there before continueing north on US 1. While in Maine, don't miss Acadia National Park.

I can't imagine they'd have time for Acadia (!!!) but it's a beautiful place that's for sure.

My recommendation would be to plan an overnight on the way to the farthest "must do" destination, then work your way home...as it's usually better to get most of the driving out of the way at the beginning of a road trip and return on a more leisurely schedule.

With several drivers and an early start, if you really want to "see" NYC, you could spend your first night there, ride around on the hop/on hop/off bus, then continue on to Maine, though two nights in NYC would be better.

There's really no point in driving through NYC. If you don't want to overnight there, you could drive to Liberty State park on your way north for views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline.

Ditto Washington, DC and Philadelphia...

It seems like your focus is on coastal destinations, which is just fine, but you really need to refine your list and pare it down quite a bit.

Do you really want to spend that much of your time driving all the way to Maine? That will require most of four days of your ten day road trip...

It would make much more sense to cut out everything north of Philadelphia/Atlantic City...where there are fabulous seaside destinations in the area...Cape May, Rehoboth...

Save parts north for another trip...and it would be far more efficient to fly and rent a car...

Slow down and revise - you are starting in KY, so you can't drive all the way to Maine in one day anyway.

What do you want to do/see? How did you come to create your list? Was it a collective effort - each of the 4 of you put in some places? Because that is what is sounds like. Many of the places on the list are fine, but somewhat redundant. Some are just questionable.

I'll tackle the New England part. Kennebunkport, Portsmouth, York, Newburyport - all nice seaside towns/small cities with something to offer. Pick ONE - I might suggest Newburyport or Portsmouth. Nice cute places to eat, stay, stuff to see. Easy drive to a beach from any of them.

Marlboro, VT? What is that about. I have never seen this on any list from anyone as a place to visit - perhaps I am missing something.

Salem, MA. If you into the witch stuff or want to see the excellen Peabody Essex Museum, worth an overnight. I see you have specifically omitted Boston so I won't even suggest you add that - there is aleady too much on your list.

Rhode Island - pick Jamestown or Charlestown. Both nice, a bit different. Go for quality rather than quantity.

Right there if you spend a day in each of the above 3, you have already used up 4-5 days with driving time.

Bridgeport, CT. Why, why, why?

Pay attention to the "driving the coast" suggestions above. There is no such road that goes along the coast where you get to see anything other than endless small towns that become tedious quickly and lots of traffic lights. These are not the roads I think you expect with panaramic views of the ocean, lighthouses, etc. I would stay on major roads, and then get off and stop and see the various places on your list. Your driving time expectations mean no traffic, on the interstate, seeing nothing.

Skip NY, Philadelphia, Washington - these cities could take up more than the 10 days you have total round trip.

Wow, seems like a big bite. To me skipping the big cities, (as many of them are a trip in themselves) In the northeast, skipping Salem MA, (not much, my opinion) But heading up Route 1 hugging the coast starting around Newburyport northward toward Maine could be very relaxing, lots of Antique stops as well. Marlboro, VT Not much to see there. Vermont in the Winter would be another great trip on it's own. Cheers, Safe Driving!

Honestly the list just came from following the coast line while looking on google maps, it was just a way to keep us driving along the coast instead of being re-routed back to the interstate. Kennenbunkport is the only place I was specifically advised to go to. From the feedback above Bridgeport is out, we will do Mystic, CT instead. As stated before, the trip is already scheduled but where we wind up is not.

I believe we will drive to Maine first and then come down so we can better gauge the time needed to drive home. I had no idea how 'impossible' seeing all of these cities would be and that's why I defer to the experts (you guys) for guidance.

Is there any particular reason to include Atlantic City? Unless you are big gamblers, avoid it. It is a undesireable place. If you want to stop at the Jersey Shore, go to Spring Lake to view a lovely town and walk a stretch of the boardwalk.....

Let me put it this way, we live in NH and like to spend a week in Maine exploring a particular area. Whenever someone posts that they are coming to New England, I always recommend a short boat ride around Portsmouth NH harbor or an inland rivers cruise. We like the Ice House on Rt 1B in Newcastle for a lobster roll and onion rings or stay in town for a fancier dinner. Like, if you go to Mystic I would try a lobster roll at Abbott's because the lobster is pretty good and it's one of those one the ocean, casual seafood places (I haven't been in several years so if Abbott's has gone downhill, somebody speak up). Portsmouth is a seaport. York Beach ME is a resort/beach area. Two very different views of the ocean.
Rt 1 between Newburyport and Portsmouth is kind of interesting but there are also stretches of strip malls and car dealers. There's a stretch just north of Seabrook NH that goes thru a marsh. It may be Rt 1A that actually goes along the coast from Hampton Beach thru beautiful Rye (see the private mansions) I would use more interstate but yeegads, it will be a parking lot on Labor Day weekend Friday and Monday.
I agree with get to furthest point first and work your way south.
If your friends go to the CT casinos rather than Atlantic City, the non-gamblers could enjoy visiting the native American museum near Foxwoods. It's very interesting.

I hope you will report back. I usually spend 3 days on a driving trip with friends. 10 days with that kind of schedule would end up with me getting kind of cranky.

Are you planning on getting one hotel room among the 4 of you and all sharing a bathroom? That could make you ex-friends after the trip

gail - it will be one hotel room between the four of us, however. I'm the only one with long hair so the other 3 will be in and out. We figure two will shower at night and two will shower in the am before heading out. We are all pretty easy going and not too fussy.

Gail - Thanks also for the advice about the interstate and the panoramic views statement you made. That really is what we were looking for so if that's not going to happen then we will re-think things a bit. Also, the labor day weekend will be at the end of the trip and if we start in Maine first then I think we may avoid some of the issues with the crowds.

dfrostnh - Two are gamblers that's why Atlantic City was part of the original package but if it's not much to see (both gamblers have been to Las Vegas). We could do casinos in another town. Honestly I haven't read that much into some of these places so I was unaware of other casinos/gambling spots.

I guess my next question to you guys would be to give me what your list of doable cities would be. Leave out the big ones like NY, DC, Philly, & Boston (those I knew where ambitious to start with).

The main point of this trip is to do some antiquing, some gambling, see some breathtaking views, seafood, lighthouses, and spending time together. We really are an easy-going bunch.

JusRestin - Marlboro, VT was just another map dot.

Id say go to either Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun (I usually go to Mohegan Sun as its smaller) and skip AC. This would definitely save time.

If you want a city, maybe stop in Providence? But I wouldn't bother with a city on this trip. Another suggestion maybe would be to stop at Yale and walk around in New Haven.

The 2 beaches I go to during the summer are Hammonassett State Park in CT and Misquamicutt in RI. Hammonassett has a wildlife area and is nice to walk around in. Its right off 95 so time-permitting you can stop there. Its not cheap to enter (believe its $15 for out of state).

$15 split between 4 people or $15 each?

Entry for a car.

I can't imagine that the route you want can be done in 1.5 days driving if you drive along the coast. Perhaps if you use major highways, hustle and don;t stop. But the roads along the coast you will often be doing 30 to 40 mph, have constant traffic lights and traffic in dozens of towns and I doubt you will get to Maine and back even without stopping except to sleep.

Sorry - I used to work in Westchester (north of NYC on the coast) and had a client in West Haven - closer to New Haven. Took local roads once since there was construction on the highway - and it took about 3.5 hours - versus an hour on the highway. So - at a guess you need to multiply highway time by 3 to 4 times to get some iea of driving along the coast - with extra added on for holidayweekend traffic.

Thanks for the advice NYtraveler. I've talked to a co-worker who has driven to Maine before and she did what another person on here suggested (drive to Maine and then made her way back slowly). She advised me to do the same. She said she made it from Louisville, KY to Vermont in about 17-18 hours and then spent the night there and then drove to Maine the following day. I think we will do that so if we run short on time we are closer to home rather than farther away. On the way up she said she took I-71 to I-90 and then to I-87.

Wow, 2,500 miles over 10 days. And driving along the East Coast corridor? The last week of Summer? And not on interstates? Yikes.

This trip is nuts. You'd do much better to pick one state and focus on it -- you won't be spending enough time to see or do anything much otherwise. If you want pretty scenery, ocean views, antiques, gambling - try Connecticut.

GoAway - As previously discussed, I wasn't aware of the difficulty when I first posted. My plans have since been parred down.

I will try to plan a reasonable itinerary. First, get to Kennebunkport/Portsmouth/Newburyport area (all within an hour of each other). That should take 2 days. Interstates all the way - maybe stopping somewhere semi-interesting for a night (see below - that could be CT casinos and then add that time to another major stop)

Spend first night plus one other - or a day and a half in that area. See the ocean - even go in if you have anti-freeze in your veins. Eat fried clams, see lighthouses, little shops. This is the true feel of coastal New England. You have now used up 4 days of the 10.

Mid-afternoon, drive to Salem, MA. Spend the night. Go to Peabody Essex Museum and perhaps one witch-related thing (which I find incredibly hokey, but many people like). Or substitute a half-day whale watch (may have to drive to Gloucester for that - about 30 minutes north - since there are no whales in KY. Mid-afternoon, drive to Rhode Island (about 2 1/2 hours).

Spend 2 nights in Rhode Island in Newport, Jamestown, Charlestown (in one place - don't move around). A different New England coastal feel - different era when area was settled, topography different. Nothing in Rhode Island is more than an hour apart.

You have now used up 6 nights.

If gambling and associated attractions are part of your thing, then pick either casinos in CT or Atlantic City as your next stop. Plan about a half day drive to NJ, a few hours to CT. Spend the night.

(Let's assume you picked Atlantic City since coastal seems important to you and there is no beach in KY that I know of!) You now have only a couple of days left - time is getting short.

Perhaps one night on the way home in mid-Atlantic coast - DE/MD/VA - pick ONE and only ONE. You will have only a night or maybe 2 there depending on time you took for your initial drive north.

Head home exhausted, hopefully still friends. Drive the Interstates for all travel between stops.

That would be my rough framework of a trip.

For your next 10-day trip, assuming you are all still speaking, do the east coast cities. Start in Boston and spend 2 days, New York 3 days, Philadelphia 1 day, Washington 3 days then home. Along the eastern seaboard there are plenty of inexpensive one-way airfares that would allow you to fly to Boston from somewhere and then take Amtrak along the rest of the route back to Washington. I have no idea how to get from DC to KY - but it is likely there are inexpensive one-way fares as well.

Now I have planned 2 trips for you. It seems to make much more sense since you have jumbled so much together for a 10-day trip as to be unworkable and not enjoyable unless you just want to drive thru each place on the list and wave as you go by.

If this rough itinerary makes sense to you, then start to fill out specifics for each stop. You know we will all have many conflicting opinions on how to do that.

Just a note -- driving to Maine you are much better off driving diagonally across CT and and MA by taking 684 north to 84 to Mass Pike to 495 and rejoining 95 up at the MA/NH border than following 95 along the coast in CT.

Excellent advice from Mr/Ms Diavolo. Most mapping programs take you over the George Washington Bridge in NYC. Ignore them. You want to go over the Tappan Zee Bridge and then 684/287/84/90 (Mass Pike) - and then 495 towards 95 and Maine (actually there is another diagnoal road, 290, off 495 - but those are details for later).

I used to live in Beverly,Ma- the shore North of Boston- called the 'North Shore' and go back that way several times a year to a beach called Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA. The back shore of Gloucester is also a very beautiful ride and will take you to the tip of Cape Ann which is the town of Rockport- very scenic harbor, shops,art galleries, etc...what you think of when you picture coastal New England.
I now live in New Hampshire, and another of our favorites is to go up to Maine to Ogunquit- there is a large beach, and a walking path along the ocean called the Marginal Way, with spectacular views.

gail and Fra_Diavolo have given you good advice for a fine couple of trips. If you get to Rhode Island and haven't time left to go down the coast, then hit the CT casinos that are only a little over an hour or so from the Newport/Jamestown area. They are also less than a half hour from Mystic CT which has a nice seaport museum and Foxwoods has a large, very nice Indian museum for those of you who don't want to spend time in the casinos. The casinos are large, glitzy, Vegas style places so make sure you know which valet area or parking garage you left your car in or you will spend hours looking for it when you are ready to leave.

Have a great trip!

Another option that eliminates a long driving leg: Fly into Maine, rent a car there and make your way back to KY through various means.

See the towns gail has suggested, or head to Acadia and see the other towns on the drive south. You can do a whale watch in Maine out of Bar Harbor.

Instead of driving to Salem next, consider driving to Boston. It's also historic, wonderful and if you're going to be nearby anyway, you might as well visit. For a real treat, take the ferry out of Boston to Provincetown on the Cape for the day (not cheap!).

From there, head to R.I. If you decide to spend a few days in the Charlestown R.I. area you'll be able to visit Newport and the CT casinos from there.

See if you can make your way to New Haven CT and get on the metro North train into New York City. If you haven't been to NYC yet, this would be a great time to go for a few days. See if you can leave your rental car in New Haven for pickup.

From New York City: Fly home to KY or look at your time frame. Maybe you have enough time to take the train to Washington, DC for a few days. You can fly or drive home from there.

Have I just pushed your budget outside your limits? (maybe not). And although you'd be splitting the cost of the car, lodging, etc. you'd be increasing individual costs with plane, train and ferry travel. It might balance out though, you'll have to play with the numbers.

If you fly to Somewhere on the East Coast from KY, it'll change the entire tone of your trip.

Bowsprit - We considered what you were suggesting and actually the flight isn't the cost prohibitive factor there, the car rental jumps from $486.00 to around $1,300.00. So it's just cheaper to rent the car for round trip. Also, my Aunt said we may take one of her vehicles, so it may not cost us anything but gas and the split of an oil change upon return from the trip.

What about doing a variation of it? Fly to Boston and rent a car, do the New England portion. Then either return the car in Boston and take Amtrak / fly to NYC or return the car in NYC. Then spend whatever time you want in NYC (not that you have a lot) then Amtrak it to DC to pick up a rental car there or someplace along the Amtrak route and to the circuit that want and drive it home. Not sure if this is more cost-effective but may buy you time / sanity.

Obviously, this goes out the window if you use your Aunt's car.

I'D go out the window if I were in the car all that time! I know I'd be looking at some variation of fly, drive, sleep for this trip but that's simply my opinion based on what I know about myself.