NYC to Bar Harbor with kids
 

We're traveling from NYC to Bar Harbor with kids under 8. I'm looking for ideas on where to stop on the way to break up the trip. We plan to leave around 9:00 and would like to stop somewhere for lunch and to stretch our legs along the way. We'll be in Bar Harbor for a few days then head to Boothbay Harbor for a few days before heading home. I would love recommendations on must see / do items and kid friendly restaurants in both areas. Thanks!

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That's going to be a very long day with kids in the car, and very traffic dependent. I'd just assume you'll making a number of stops--and probably fast food--unless you pack food to bring along.

If the drive up is on a Saturday this month, be prepared for LOTS of traffic.

I think you need to get on the road way earlier. Stop at LL Bean in Freeport.

I meant to say WHERE you'll be when the kids are hungry depends so much on traffic that I don't think there is any point in aiming for a specific lunch spot.

We'll be traveling on a Sunday in hopes of missing some of the traffic. Will we still have a lot of traffic? How early do we need to leave to avoid as much traffic as possible? Thanks!

I don't think Sunday will be too bad since by noon, the heavy traffic will be people going home, such as southbound on I95.

In Boothbay there was a small park on a tiny shady island near the Coastal Gardens. It had picnic tables and access by a foot bridge. Looked like a popular place to launch kayaks. We got take-out lobster rolls from Karen's Hideaway and ate in the park. It was June so hardly anyone around. The East Boothbay General Store has terrific sandwiches and pizza.

Marlborough MA looks like about the right timing for lunch if you leave at 9am. Follow directions for Convention Center off Rt 495. Just before convention center is a shopping plaza containing Panera, Chiptole, grocery store, etc. I think just before the plaza are some fast food places. This is minutes off the highway.

Kimball Farm Ice Cream in Westford MA has a grill shack and outdoor picnic tables but on a Sunday it might be a zoo.

If you have picnic lunch with you, Hilton Park on Dover Point is only a few miles from the Portsmouth NH traffic circle I95 area and might be worth the detour. We have stopped there when pulling a camper. I could have sworn I've seen swings there but they aren't listed on the website. Lots of grass and splendid water views. Note: no swimming. Between I95 and Hilton Park on Rt 16 there is a huge mall area with different food options (Fox Run Mall) and various options on Woodbury Ave. You would have to get off Rt 16 and then back on to get to Hilton Park. If you only get off the highway for food, the Portsmouth traffic circle can get backed up. If you look at a map, you can get on I95 further north at Woodbury Ave or just south of the big bridge.

Our son manages to find playgrounds for road trip breaks for the gcs. Looks like Portland ME has some nice playgrounds but questionable how much time you want to take getting off the highway. I would avoid getting on Rt 1 between Kittery and Portland

That's a long long day in the car once you figure in a couple of stops, plus you hit about ten slow "construction zones" along the way. Can you leave mid-afternoon on Saturday and get couple of hours behind you? There's a Hyatt Place near New Haven with two beds plus sofabed and breakfast is included. On arrival you can go sea-shelling at Silver Sands State Park nearby. Then on Sunday you'll just need a lunch break.
Maybe you could drive as far as Hartford or into western Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon. Looks like hotels are wide open this Saturday night.