Driving to Maine from Wisconsin
 

In August I am helping my daughter move to a new job in Tenants Harbor, Maine. We live in East Central Wisconsin--- about an hour north of Milwaukee.

The internet guides all have us driving south through Chicago to Cleveland, across New York State, though Vermont and New Hampshire, about a 20 hour drive. We are planning to take 4 days to do this trip, taking time to stop and visit the sights as we go.

When I look at maps, it seems shorter ( and perhaps more scenic) to drive north to Sault Ste. Marie across to Sudbury and then to Montreal, down through the upper Vermont and New Hampshire to Maine.

I do not like to drive through Chicago and this summer is particularly bad with all the road construction. Does anyone think the Canada route would be a better way to get to Maine?

Thanks.

I've driven back and forth from Toronto to Milwaukee, but both times, through Chicago.

I get your point.

The drive from Sault Ste. Marie across Ontario to the Ivy Lea Brridge near Kingson, and into the USA, would be interesting, but slow. Most fo the time you'll be on regular highways, not interstate-like high-speed roads.

Planned right, you'll go through the Muskoka toruist and holiday area, Ottawa, Canada's capital city, and then through the Rideau lakes tourist area.

Not a bad trip at all, if you are not tryoing to make good time.

Alternatively, and faster, you can put up with Chicago, cross into Canada at Detroit, and take highway 401 (interstate-like) all the way to the bridge back into the USA, seeing Toronto, and perhaps going out of your way for Niagara Falls, on the way.

BAK

Thanks BAK,
I will check out the mileage. If we can leave a day or two earlier, the Canada route sounds more relaxing and scenic. I would think there would be little traffic until I get by the cities.
Before we knew we were going to Maine we actually took a vacation in June to Niagara Falls. We went through the UP to Port Huron and then onto 401. It was a nice road. Coming back we hit Chicago at 1:00 on a Saturday. It took 4 hours to get from Gary to O'Hare. If I go south, I might take the ferry across the lake. I know it is expensive but the Chicago traffic was terrible.

It sounds like avoiding Chicago is a good idea.

I don't know the driving time from Wisconsin to Sault Ste Marie, but it's about 10 hours from there to Ottawa on Hwy 17. It's a two lane road, but a good one, with quite a few passing lanes. From west of Ottawa to Montreal, Hwy 417/Route 40 is a 4 lane autoroute. It's about a 2 hour drive.

In Montreal, follow Route 10 (Autoroute des Cantons de L'Est) towards Sherbrooke, and then 55 south into Vermont, where it joins I 91 south.

4 days is certainly enough to do the trip with time to see a few sights along the way.