Baltimore to Maine to Niagara FAlls Road trip
 

Hi all!
I am planning a road trip that starts out in Baltimore and heads up the coast to Maine (maybe bar harbor)We will probably want to stop in Boston along the way. From there we want to head over to Niagara Falls in Ontario. I would like to see alot of natural scenary and do it as cheap as possible. we dont mind camping. I was wondering if there were any suggestions for stops along the way, any must sees or scenic roads.

Here are a few:
1) Don't be in a hurry - once you are in Connecticut, stay on Rt. 1 (veering off to hit Boston, of coarse) all the way up the coast: very scenic and you'll pass through hundres of cool, quaint, samll towns.
2) Eat lobster at each of the towns you stop in.
3 For God's sake - don't drive all the way to Maine and miss Bar Harbor!!!! (it's "must see")
4) In Boston, consider staying at the John Jeffries House in Beacon Hill - a stunning bargain for the location. http://www.johnjeffrieshouse.com/

How much time do you have?

Bar Harbor and Niagara Falls are nowhere near each other.

I have driven from DC to Niagara a few times. You go through central PA (small roads but interesting) or through Pittsburgh on the interstate (not as interesting but slightly faster).

Niagara Falls is actually much closer to DC than NYC (check the map).

If I were you, I'd either do Niagara Falls and other places in Western NY or Ontario or Boston/Bar Harbor. I would never attempt to combine the two areas as the driving would be of epic proportions.

By the way, there are drama festivals in both Niagara-on-the-Lake and Stratford, Ontario, in the summer that are a trip by themselves. You have to stay for a week to see all the plays in each place!

I love advice that is given without benefit of the full knowledge of bgoldie's plans. No where do I see how long he/she plans to spend.
If you think this plan should be discouraged, then I certainly suppose you all would have discouraged me from driving to Maine on my way to Alaska from Florida. But it was part of a wonderful 5 month trip.
If bgoldie said he wanted to do this in a weekend, there would be cause for alarm, but I didn't see that. In 10 days to two weeks or more it sounds like a great plan to me.
And while I love both the Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival and wouldn't miss them if within 500 miles or so, seeing all those plays doesn't sound like something a person who is asking for as "cheap as possible" is likely to want to do.

bgoldie, I suggest you get off the main highway through Maine and travel in and out along the coast -- much more scenic. From the coast of Maine, I'd cut across Route 2 to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, then on to Stowe, Vermont. Cross Lake Champlain on a ferry if you can and then across I-90 to Buffalo and Niagra Falls. If you have time in New York, dip down to the Finger Lakes. Have a great trip.

Patrick

That sounds like a really interesting trip. I believe I'll save this and added to Bardo's John Jeffries House in Boston I believe I'd enjoy this for a week.

I like the thought of taking the ferry across Lake Champlain and, of course, I'd love to stop again at the Finger Lakes.

Scenic roads you cannot miss in the areas you're considering:

- US 1 in Maine, from about Bath to the Canadian border.
- Kancamagus Highway (Rte 112) in NH over the White Mountains.

From Maine west to Niagara Falls, you can go through New York state, or you can go through Canada, including Montreal & Toronto. If you go through Canada, visit the Thousand Island where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence.

If you are going through Vermont & NY State, then others have already given great advice like Lake Champlain, the Finger Lakes of NY, and the Adirondack.

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful suggestions! I am planning to be on the road for about ten to twelve days. I definately will not want to miss Bar Harbor, it sounds beautiful. I will keep checking back, and I'm sure I will have more questions. Thanks again!

Patrick, I think you were a little hard on Lauren. Her first line reads "How much time do you have?" I think that she was just trying to be helpful and I totally agree with her advice.