It is entirely possible to do most of this trip by Amtrak train.
If you live in northern Ohio, get on the Capitol Limited to Washington DC either in Cleveland or Pittsburgh. Southern Ohio get on the Cardinal at Cincinatti and stop for a picture at the station in West Virginia. After Washington DC, take the Northeast Regional to NYC. After NYC take the NE Regional to Boston. Rent a car in Boston for Maine, NH and Vermont. Don't forget CT and RI.
If you chose Cleveland, You could take the Lakeshore Limited back from Boston.
Having your own car with you in some of these cities is more of a hassle than it is worth IMHO.

From NY to Boston, you do go through CT and RI if you take the dreaded I-95. Right off 95 at exit 90 is Mystic, CT which has a very nice aquarium and Mystic Seaport (a maritime living museum, with tall ships and a small village with blacksmith, cooperage, etc to support the whaling industry) along with plenty of lodging and food options.

There is no coast road in New England from which you can see much of the coast. You have to get off the hwy and travel down small roads into the towns, many of which have a charm of their own.

North of Boston in MA I would look at the Salem/Gloucester/Rockport area then in NH a stop in Portsmouth. In Maine I would want to go to Acadia NP, but there is much to see south of there, some nice beaches south of Portland, Portland, beautiful little towns north of Portland.

I 95 has no tolls in CT and MA, but does have them in NH and ME. NY has tolls to get out. Do get a transponder so you can go through the "easy pass" "fast lane" at tolls. You can get one on line from the Massachusetts DOT which will be good for the whole east coast, even the part from DC to NYC. I have them fill it from a charge card when the balance gets low. It saves so much time and the need to have cash for tolls.

Have a nice trip.

Are you leaving from OH and the whole time is 12 days, covering DC, NYC, then up through New England? Or are the 12 days just for the New England portion?

If it's the former, that's a lot of ground to cover in 12 days. I think if it were me, I'd maybe hit Cape Cod after NYC. In June it won't be crowded there yet. But I'd recommend staying there for a few days, then maybe Boston for a night or two, and then leaving a good stopover point in between for your drive home to Ohio.

If it's the latter and you have a full 12 days to dedicate to New England, you can cover quite a bit. Is there anything in particular that is of interest to you? History, mountains, more rural, cities?

Its 12 days total. We are leaving from Ohio. 2 days in DC and 2 days in NYC are already booked. We love the ocean and cute little towns. I do want to see a lighthouse or too and also the White Mountains. I also like to visit a winery. Thanks for all the help!

Five states in 12 days ... Here is a first pass, tossed out for comments. Except for the NY bridges, the only toll road I can think if is I-90, aka the Mass Pike, and you won't be needing it with the below plan.

From NYC to Newport RI (3 nights). Visit CT and Rhode Island sites: Newport mansions and cliff walk, lighthouses, beaches, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium. Although I-95 is the obvious route, it is crazy congested on the western CT end -- prefer I-84 or the Merritt Parkway.

Drive to Boston via Plymouth (see the Rock if you must) and Plimouth Plantation, or take a little beach time ...

Boston (4 nights). Whale trip, aquarium, science museum, freedom trail, USS Constitution. Take the ferry to Provincetown and spend a day on a nearby Nat'l Seashore beach. (Driving in Boston is awful -- consider parking the car for good and using public transporation during your stay).

Drive to Portland ME, stopping for lunch in Portsmouth, NH or maybe Salem or Cape Anne (2 nights). Watch the lobster boats and tour the waterfront; boat tours of the harbor, children's museum.

Now a longish drive to Burlington VT, via White Mountains NH, Lake Winnepesauke NH, etc. 3 nights in VT. Visit Ben&Jerrys', hike, enjoy the lake, and look at scenic views.

Then home!

Maine isnt crowded in June, except for maybe the last week of June, so you don't really need a reservation if you're not too picky...you can drive until you find an area where you want to spend a night.

Ship Ahoy Motel near Boothbay Harbor is often mentioned here, if you get that far up into Maine. In Maine you have to get "off the beaten path" as freeways and Route 1 don't get real close to the ocean. Look at Terrace by the Sea in Ogunquit, Fontenay Terrace Motel in Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise Motel, or the Billowhouse on a miles-long stretch of beach south of Orchard. In New Hampshire you'll want to stay by a lake....Bayside Inn is nice. Watch "On Golden Pond" before you go, and "Mystic Pizza"!

Travel jams are more about what TIME of day you hit the road rather than the route that you take, so plan wisely.

So, is that 12 days minus 4 days = 8 days? Recalculating....

Take 1 night from Newport. Visit Portland for the photo op, but don't stay overnight. Instead stay farther west near Lake Winnepesauke, say (3 nights). Skip Burlington, just drive through southern VT on your way home.

The wineries will be found in upstate New York, on your way home. I can't think of any in New England.

Is it better to stay out side of Boston and take the metro in? Found a place on North Hampton Beach.

Do I really need to stay on Cape Cod or can that be a day visit?

persoanlly I don't think there is any point to a day visit to Cape Cod, you'll not get a sense of it. If you want a beachy day trip from Boston better to go to Cape Ann.

Definitely do not get a sense of Cape Cod from just a day trip. I agree with Jubilada, a day trip to Gloucester, Rockport or Marblehead (all Cape Ann) from Boston would be easier.

No, do not stay in N. Hampton Beach if you are thinking of that as "outside of Boston". To really get a feel for Boston, I'd stay in the city itself. Cape Ann is more the New England beach "feel" than Hampton is, if you are looking for close to Boston. But maybe after DC & NYC you aren't all that interested in cities.

Honestly, I'd try to pick a few spots and stay two nights in each and avoid trying to hit all six New England states. I mean, you'll likely drive through most, if not all of them, on your journey, but I'd pick & choose a couple of key destinations, like two beach and then the White Mountains. It's a good long drive from N. NH back to Ohio.

Just an FYI: There are two wineries on Cape Cod. One in Falmouth and one in Truro. Both offer tours and tastings.

I agree with skipping the cape and going to beaches north of Boston. Also, skip Hampton Beach and head up to Maine to the York, Ogunquit and Wells area. The lighthouse in York would be perfect for pictures, there are some fun little stores to look around in and Goldenrod's restaurant and ice cream parlor where you can watch them making taffy the old fashioned way. Oqunquit has the Marginal Way, which is a paved sidewalk along the rocks near the water (not as dangerous as it sounds!). Wells has one of my favorite beaches, Drakes Island Beach. Getting across to the White Mountains in NH is not hard at all from southern Maine, we did it many times - splitting our week between Maine and North Conway NH.

Miss Cape Cod? Yikes. Don't miss Cape Cod. The National Seashore is world class. If you have the money, take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown on Cape Cod. You can sign up to take Art's Dune Tour there and enjoy one of his clam bakes. Or take a whale watch out of Provincetown. Provincetown is a gay enclave, very liberal and very lovely. Arguably, the Cape's best restaurants are here. You won't need a car in Provincetown and you can't take a car on that ferry anyway.

You might also consider taking a ferry to Martha's Vineyard from various locations on the East Coast. Google is your friend here.

There are vineyards and wineries all over New England including Newport, R.I., Long Island, Cape Cod and Connecticut. (again, google away).

Don't get me wrong, I love Cape Cod, but I also love Cape Ann and Maine beaches. I think since the original poster said she wanted White Mountains also, she'd have to choose between Cape Cod and some other NE coastal area. I'm not sure if 8 days translates to 8 nights or if it's 7 nights/8 days. To me you need at a minimum 2 nights on the Cape to have enough time to really explore. And, yes further up the Cape is great, but unless you are taking the ferry from Boston, that isn't always easy to do driving if you have limited time. Too much time in the car is tiring for a 7yo. I'm not sure if this scenario is what you are looking for, but this would be my suggestion. I'm counting out the DC & NYC portion and assuming it's 7 nights/8 days, so if you have an extra night, then perfect!!

Day 1 - depart NYC, spend night in Mystic, CT or Newport, RI
Day 2 - drive to Cape Cod (or coastal Maine)
Day 3 - Cape Cod / Coastal Maine
Day 4 - Cape Cod / Coastal Maine
Day 5 - Drive to White Mountains
Day 6 - White Mountains
Day 7 - Drive to NY for overnight (Saratoga?) Since it's likely a 12-13 hour trip from northern NH to Ohio (not sure where, I was using Cleveland as a reference) I'm assuming you would want to break it in half. You'll drive through part of VT on way home.
Day 8 - home to Ohio

If you really have your heart set on Maine, you could always cut out that day en route between NYC and The Cape. As a frame of reference, it's a 5-6 or so hour drive from NYC to Provincetown, MA (tip of the Cape) without traffic. SO, totally doable in a day if needed. Then you could always shave a day off your Cape time if need be for 2 days in Maine, or just do a one night on your way to the White Mountains.

You may want to keep your plan somewhat flexible, as I'm not sure when you are traveling in June, but it can still be pretty chilly in Northern New England. You just don't know, we could have summer, or I've spent many a late June with 50 degree weather for a few days. If the forecast is looking that way, I'd definitely opt for more time someplace like Newport, or the Cape (where it will likely be warmer than N. New Hampshire) or throw in a night or two in Boston.

I agree its unthinkable to come all this way from Ohio and not seeing Cape Cod. The problem is its kind of a long drive too far out of your way in the given time frame, and given that you want to see all 6 states. That's why I like the idea of a day trip, by ferry, from Boston to Provincetown (and then take a taxi, bikes, or the trolley/shuttle to the Nat'l seashore.)

Cape Anne is a reasonable, but not as awesome, substitute, if you really can't make it to the ``real'' cape. IMHO.

How early in June? Lake areas are full of mosquitoes until later in the month.

Of course, I'd add a hearty thumbs-up for Cape Cod, too!

However, I'd also urge you to re-consider your idea of hitting every state "even if it's just for 1 picture". To me, that's a little like walking into a restaurant just for a whiff of the cuisine. (Just my opinion, of course!)

The New England states have so much to offer. My hubby and I have traveled them all, and I have to say - our best trips were the ones where we just got in the car and made our way in a general direction with no set itinerary.

For our honeymoon, we left Cape Cod and headed up the coast to Maine. We spent a couple days exploring little seaside villages and pigging out on lobster.

We ended our coastal trek around Kennebunkport ME (love it there!!), and then made our way into New Hampshire to Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains.

After that, we kept going west toward Vermont. We made it as far as Burlington and Lake Champlain before turning south again toward the Berkshire Mountains of MA, and then back to the Cape.

As I recall, we did all this in 7 or 8 days.

Not once did we feel rushed, like we "had to be" somewhere at a particular time. We met some wonderful people along the way (usually in small town restaurants and diners, which I adore!). And we got to see so many sights we never would have known about, if we hadn't chatted up the locals over breakfast or lunch.

And ... I have an album full of spectacular photos and memories from every state we visited!

I realize this "go where the spirit moves" approach to traveling isn't for everyone. But if you're so inclined - June is a good time to do it, before the tourist rush begins.

Just my 2 cents ...

Hi, I would like to join this thread (if appropriate).

We recently relocated from Florida to the DC area. Before we get transferred again, we plan to take a 2 week summer vacation trip (July or August 2012) driving from DC up to Maine. We are still deciding on whether to take a small RV or a car. Are below the "not to miss" highlights for this type of trip? Our kids are 8 and 5 and love outdoors/cities/museums/history/pretty much everything. Thank you!! I would love anyone's opinion.

1. NYC
2. Mystic Seaport
3. Cape Cod
4. Boston
5. Salem
5. Portland
6. Acadia

We plan to do Philadelphia on a separate weekend trip.

Tom_Smith: So as not to confuse the issue here, please post your own thread or simply wait to see if the information offered to the O.P., Amy_Hoff, is of any use to you.

caper64... I love the idea of "go where the spirit moves", but I was unsure about getting hotels. Is it possible to do that in June. We are looking at leaving NYC on June 19th.

It probably wouldn't be prudent to go to the Cape without reservations. Schools get out around that time and many people take the first few weeks of summer vacation to visit beach destinations.

The last 4-5 years we haven't seen a whole lot of "No Vacancy" signs, at least not in the mid-Cape area, until until 4th of July week.

There's a good number of name-brand hotels in Hyannis/West Yarmouth/South Yarmouth, like Courtyard, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Clarion. I can't think of anything that's going on that week that would have all rooms in all those hotels booked up. So even if it's a busier than normal travel week, I'd say that getting a room in the mid-Cape region shouldn't be a problem.

Our honeymoon road trip was during the height of leaf peeping season, and we stuck with the name brands and had no trouble finding a room anywhere.

That said, if you'll worry all the way about finding a room at your next stop, then the "wing it" approach definitely isn't the best option for you!

We've found the summer season starts earlier and earlier on the Cape every year. It used to be that July 4th marked the beginning of the influx of hoards of visitors but recently the shoulder seasons are getting more crowded. Perhaps chain hotels would be the way to go though.

I think gardengrl's itinerary is on the right track but I think it would help if some specific reasons/sites could be listed. I liked one poster's reference to York Beach, Maine and things to do. There's a 7yo child in the back seat and I'm not sure anyone is going to get more than a glimpse. I'm not sure a 7yo will like Mystic (the Seaport? the Aquarium?). One time we took our niece to Plimoth Plantation because her mother insisted that we do something educational. She liked a go-cart place we found a lot better.

Perhaps those who recommend Cape Cod, should suggest a great beach for shelling and tidal pools.

Who knows how bad the bugs will be in June. Normally, lupine are blooming in the White Mountains in June so a breakfast at Polly's Pancake Parlor might be nice. The 7 yo might enjoy Storyland but they are open weekends only until June 15. The whole family might like The Flume or Lost River but black flies could be a problem in June.

The route back thru VT depends on family interests. Ben and Jerry's tour? And then south to Brattleboro VT for the farmers market if it's a Saturday? (Great ethnic food vendors for lunch) and then over to Bennington and then Albany NY?

Day 1 - depart NYC, spend night in Mystic, CT or Newport, RI
Day 2 - drive to Cape Cod (or coastal Maine)
Day 3 - Cape Cod / Coastal Maine
Day 4 - Cape Cod / Coastal Maine
Day 5 - Drive to White Mountains
Day 6 - White Mountains

I really like this plan.... Can anyone suggest a hotel / inn on the beach in York Maine (or around that area)? I really want beach front and kid friendly.

No Boston?

The Anchorage Inn in York is a really nice hotel, right on the beach, 3 pools, nice rooms and you can see the Nubble Lighthouse from it. It is a little pricey - but maybe ok for a couple nights. Wells and Ogunquit are literally right up the road so check out those towns too. Look up the Wells Chamber of Commerce site for a list of hotels. Also, a poster above mentioned Storyland in NH, it is a great place to visit with a 7yo and I highly recommend you spend a day there!

re:mystic seaport: my son was mad for it at 6,7,and8.

Got it all worked out. Thanks for all the ideas and help!!!

Dayton to DC
DC to White Mountains
White Mountains to York Maine
York Maine to Boston & Plymouth
Boston to Newport Rhode Island
Newport Rhode Island to NYC
NYC to Home

Makes sense to me except for DC to White Mtns.
Why not Dayton to Sryacuse (or Rochester) to White Mtns.
then NYC to Washington and Washington to Dayton.
DC to the north end of White Mtns. will be over 11 hours.
Make sure to drive the Kancamagus highway

I agree with Tom, you are doing quite a bit of backtracking to go back to NYC and then head west. Do you not want to have two cities back-to-back?

I just did not want the long drive to be the last day home. Open for ideas though!

No Cape Cod? Or will you visit while in Boston?

When I read your itinerary I feel exhausted and concerned for you trying to cover all this, and with a 7 yr.old unless the purpose is to be doing a road trip and skimming the surface of wherever you go. I am sorry to be a negative voice but It seems way too ambitious unless you will enjoy a road trip skimming the surface of so many places to see. This is a lot of driving!

You need to slow down. You have a 7 year old with you. I appreciate wanting to visit as many states as possible, but you are trying to do too much.

I would skip DC and do that on another trip with Philly and Baltimore...maybe the Shenandoah Valley.

Mystic, CT: aquarium, submarines
Newport, RI: mansions
Boston, MA: great city with parks, museums, etc
York, Maine: beaches, animal kingdom
White Mountains: hiking, Storyland, Santa's Village

Wineries: numerous in Mass and NH...just google it. I like Fulchino in Hollis NH

I have to be honest, given the distance from Dayton to many of these places, it sounds like a lot to cram into 12 days.

From Dayton to DC is 8 hours (so that's pretty much a day) and from Saratoga NY (where I had suggested a stop over on the way back to OH) it's 11 hours. Even from DC to NY is 4 hours and with traffic and finding your way, you are looking at a lot of long days.

I'm offering this advice as the parent of two young kids who has done countless car trips. We've driven from VT to Florida a number of times, and last year I took them on a 10K mile road trip across the U.S., I think you need to pare this down. It is just so much to do in a short time. I think you'll all be exhausted and very tired of the car by the time you get home.

I've taken both my kids to NYC and DC and you need a few days in each to really see them (and that's cutting out a ton from what you *could* see there). I agree with the above poster, maybe cut one of those out?

While it's true that the distances between places like White Mtns to York, ME and ME to Boston, Boston - Newport are all fairly short, you have to allow time for getting breakfast, getting checked out, traffic, etc. then getting settled in on the other end, finding a place for dinner. It can leave little time in the day to explore.

Is it at all an option to fly? You could fly into NY and immediately start a route to New England and circle back, dump the car, spend a night in NYC, then take the train to DC for a few days and fly home.

I appreciate all the responses but we are still doing our road trip. I have a wonderful daughter who has traveled a lot since she was born. She was the one who wanted to to do this. She knows that its going to to be over 2000 miles. My husband and I have both been to DC and NYC multiple times and just want to share a few things with her.

Okay, to go back to your original post...

Tolls around NYC are expensive. The GW Bridge is about $12...the Tappan Zee is $5, I think. The Mass Pike (I90) will have tolls as well.

To skip tolls from DCA to NYC, take I295 after the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Take it all the way up to the vicinity of Fort Dix (Route 206???) to skip a few tolls on the Jersey Turnpike.

With so many states in only 12 days, you are going to miss a lot. Here is what I would try to cram in...trying to find things a 7 year old would enjoy.

DC - the beauty of DC is most things are free. Maybe visit the zoo and the monuments.

On the drive to NYC you could stop in Philly. Visit sites like the Liberty Bell and grab lunch at Reading Terminal Market. Maybe run up the art museum stops a la Rockie.

Nothing in NJ I'd stop for given your time.

NYC - American Girl Place???

RI - Newport for the mansions

Mass - I'd skip Cape Cod on this trip...not enough time. Spend some time in Boston, take a duck tour. Grab dinner in the north end. You could visit Lexington and Concord if you folks are in to history. Drive up 95, thru NH to Maine.

Maine - stay south due to time. Either Portland, York, Kittery. Kittery has huge outlet stores. Portland has great restaurants. Obviously there are beaches...cold water.

Then go west into NH. I'd do the White Mts and the Kanc. You could visit Storyland or Santa's Village for a day. If you like to hike, some easy-ish family hikes are Lonesome Lake and Diana's Baths.

Drive into VT. If you stay north, you can do the Cabot tour and the Ben and Jerrys tour.

Then drive across NY State, through Syracuse to get home.

Just a tip about the tolls on the highways - you can get an EZpass that is good for all tolls from DC to Maine. The transponder does not cost anything - you just order it ahead of time, using a credit card it automatically keeps your balance at $20 and deducts any tolls. This saves a lot of time, especially in the summer, most EZpass lanes don't even require the driver to slow down - in fact the signs say not to!