JoyceL

I'm planning a drive to Montreal from Burlington, Vermont. Can anyone tell me which of these 3 routes would provide the nicest scenery?

1) I-89 North

2) take the ferry to Port Kent, and then Rt. 9 to I-87 North

3) Rt. 2 through the Champlain Islands to I-87 North

bm

Definately Route 2 through the Champlain Islands. Very pretty.

210

I found route 2 the most boring and longest way to get to Montreal. I vote for #1. The fastest way and least hassle to get through the border
Or going there #2 and coming back #1

Hubster

From experience I-89 is the quickest, most efficient way to go. Rte 2 would make for a long drive and day.

JoyceL

Thanks for the suggestions.

How is the scenery for option #2, going north from Port Kent, compared with option #1?

Also, for 210: What is it about option #3 that makes this drive boring for you?

I don't mind a slighly longer drive if there is nice scenery along the way. But I prefer not increasing the driving part by more than 30 minutes.

The Vermont drive will be one-way only. I'll be returning to my home in Massachusetts via New Hampshire instead of Vermont (going east from Montreal and then taking 55 and I-91 south.)

Hubster

The I-89 drive is the quickest, but probably the least scenic. Options #2 or #3 sound like more of what you are looking for. If you're not on a tight sched then go for either one.

rkkwan

Route 2, as mentioned, as pretty.

Enter Canada from US11, not I-87, where there may be a wait.

djkbooks

We've gone every which way and prefer the ferry to Fort Kent then I-87 going. Coming home, we head east on Route 202 (then south on Route 221 to Route 11, where we take either I-87 or I-89, depending on where we plan to stop on the way home) if there's a lot of traffic (which means lines at the border crossing) and cross at the next one, where there is never a line (but no duty free or tax refund office either).

Route 2 through the Champlain Islands is scenic enough - but very low speed limits (and speed traps) and very boring, with no place to stop for anything and gas stations with no public rest rooms.

210

djkbooks thank you for your description of route 2. This is how I feel about it too. Taking this route would add more than 1 hour. It is not only very slow but flat and no scenery of the mountains but some trailers too. Two ferries, from Charlotte, VT to Essex, NY and from Burlington, VT to Port Kent are very scenic with both Adirondacks and green Mountains visible.

JoyceL

Thank you for all your suggestions. This has been very helpful. If I can get an early ferry and if the weather cooperates, I'm going to try for the Port Kent route. Otherwise I'll take Rt. 89.

Now I have a question about my return to Massachusetts. I've been thinking of taking Canada Rt. 55 into the USA, where it becomes I-91. Does anyone know if the Customs wait tends to be very long at this border crossing?

rkkwan

I don't think that's a busy crossing. The line should be short.

210

Never waited longer than 2-3 minutes on weekdays, I don't know about weekends.