Whether you’re going for the seashores and the lobster rolls, or making an attempt to hit peak fall foliage and all the pieces pumpkin and apples, May via October is the right time to plan a New York to Maine highway journey. While it’s tempting to hurry via Southern New England in your approach from New York to Maine, take a while to cease and see the sights alongside the best way. This New York to Maine highway journey itinerary was designed for a one-week journey, however can simply be prolonged to incorporate extra time at every vacation spot or you possibly can proceed up the Maine Coast to see extra of Vacationland.
This highway journey is designed to go from New York City to Portland, Maine. However, if you wish to embody extra stops between New York and Boston, additionally, you will need to take a look at my New York to Boston itinerary for added concepts. Or, if you wish to see extra of Maine, you possibly can proceed north on a Coastal Maine highway journey or a highway journey via the Maine Highlands. This itinerary will take you from New York City to Maine, with stops in Mystic, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; and ending in Portland, Maine.
New York to Maine Road Trip
If you take a New York to Maine highway journey, the quickest route might be beneath six hours via Hartford, Connecticut. This makes the most effective return journey from Maine, however in your approach, I’d suggest taking a barely longer and a smidge extra of a scenic route in your approach to Maine.
From New York City, take Interstate 95 roughly 3.5 hours (site visitors can range) to the historic seaport city of Mystic, Connecticut. If you want a pitstop alongside the best way, downtown Stamford and New Haven each provide nice eating choices, or seize some lobster rolls at Ford’s Lobster in Noank, Connecticut.
Stop #1: Mystic, Connecticut
Your first in a single day cease needs to be within the charming seaside city of Mystic. I’m undecided whether it is extra well-known for Mystic Pizza, the 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, or the historic Mystic Seaport, a must-see household attraction. You will most likely need to keep right here for 2 nights, as there may be a lot to do on the town and close by.
Mystic Seaport is a recreated nineteenth Century seafaring village, full with ships, retailers, and workplaces staffed with costumed interpreters able to inform you about their craft and day-to-day life in a nineteenth Century city. The cooperage, print store, and common retailer are all common stops with children. Visitors may step on board the Charles W. Morgan, the final wood whaling ship on the planet, or get out on the water on a Mystic River boat experience.
Downtown you possibly can seize an ice cream and watch the drawbridge go up and down as ships cross by, browse the retailers, or get one thing to eat at one of many many seafood eating places. In addition to Mystic Pizza, I’m an enormous fan of the Engine Room for lunch or dinner, or Kitchen Little for breakfast.
Kids will even love watching the beluga whales on the Mystic Aquarium or exploring the paths on the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. If you might be visiting within the fall, it’s price ready in line at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill for some scorching, recent apple cider donuts. See extra concepts on issues to do in Mystic with children.
If you have got time to spend a few days, close by you possibly can get pleasure from a experience on the Essex Steam Train, a go to to the Pequot Museum on the land of the Mashantucket Pequot Nation, a lighthouse tour from New London, a day on the seashore in Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island, or some wine tasting at Jonathan Edwards Winery close to Stonington, CT.
Where to remain:
Stop #2: Newport, Rhode Island
From Mystic, it’s about one hour drive to your subsequent cease in Newport, Rhode Island. You can probably simply go to for the day and proceed on to Providence or Boston, however staying in a single day will provide you with extra time on the Classic Coast.
Whether you might be visiting within the spring, summer time, fall, or winter, there may be at all times one thing to do within the historic city of Newport, Rhode Island. Once a summer time getaway for the rich New York industrialists, Newport nonetheless attracts the yachting crowd because the “sailing capital” and the basic coast. You can do Newport in a day, as it is just an hour from Mystic, however if you wish to get pleasure from close by seashores, farms, or take a day journey to Providence, Rhode Island, plan on staying one to 2 nights.
Two must-do issues if you end up in Newport are paying a go to to at the least one of many well-known Newport Mansions and getting out on the water for a crusing tour. The Newport Mansions are former houses of the enterprise titans just like the Vanderbilts, which had been as soon as used as “summer cottages” however extra carefully resemble palaces than a seashore home. The largest and most well-known is The Breakers, however I additionally get pleasure from visiting Marble House.
If you don’t need to tour the houses, take a drive down Bellevue Avenue to see them from the entrance after which stroll alongside the three-mile Cliff Walk to get a glimpse of a number of the backyards, together with beautiful ocean views.
There are many crusing choices in Newport, from sundown schooner sails to seal-watching eco-tours (within the winter). Leave time to get pleasure from buying and strolling alongside Thames Street and Broadway in downtown Newport. You may pop into the International Tennis Hall of Fame or one in every of two automotive museums round city. There are loads of choices for an excellent meal, together with Bowen’s Wharf, the Black Pearl, Diego’s, and Midtown Oyster Bar.
In the night, you should definitely take a drive alongside Ocean Drive and attempt to catch a sundown from both Brenton Point, the Lawn at Castle Hill Inn, or Newport Island Harbor Resort on Goat Island. On your second day, both hit the seashore (my favorites in Newport are Gooseberry Beach and Second Beach) or take a drive over to the neighboring island of Jamestown to go to my favourite spot in Rhode Island, Beavertail State Park. If you like an city outing (or if you’re visiting on a Waterfire night time), head as much as Providence for the day or afternoon/night.
Where to remain:
Stop #3: Boston, Massachusetts
When it’s time to bid adieu to Rhode Island, drive two hours north to Boston. Now when you’ve got further time, you’ll want to spend three days in Boston, particularly if you wish to take some day journeys to Gloucester, Rockport, or Salem, or cease at Plymouth alongside the best way.
Boston is wealthy in historical past and allure, and like several massive metropolis, it has its justifiable share of nice museums too. If you have an interest in historical past, taking a stroll alongside the Freedom Trail is a must-do. Of course, chances are you’ll get extra out of it for those who join a tour with a costumed information.
To higher perceive Boston’s pivotal position within the Revolutionary War and founding of the nation, pay a go to to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Kids will particularly love tossing the tea into the Boston Harbor or a snack on the tea store.
Within a brief stroll of the Boston Tea Party Museum, it’s also possible to go to both the Boston Children’s Museum or the New England Aquarium. If you might be visiting in the summertime, I’d suggest reserving a whale-watching cruise prematurely for a day on the water and a glimpse of some magnificent creatures. If you don’t have time for a whale watch, you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from a while on the water with a harbor cruise or a ferry across the Boston Harbor Islands.
Afterward, take a stroll alongside the Rose Kennedy Greenway and both get pleasure from a number of the meals vans congregated there, or stroll over to the North End, Boston’s “Little Italy” and decide up some cannoli at Mike’s Pastry. And whereas it’s touristy, the road performers round Fanueil Hall are at all times entertaining and there are many locations to seize a fast chew. For a extra upscale meals corridor, drop into the Boston Public Market or head throughout city to Eataly Boston.
Sports followers ought to attempt to ebook a tour of the “Green Monster” and Fenway Park or attempt to catch a Boston Red Sox sport on this basic stadium. If you respect artwork, go to the Museum of Fine Arts, or the intriguing Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum close by (and study concerning the well-known heist that passed off there.)
While you might be on the town, take a stroll via the Boston Common and Public Gardens, and take a experience on a Swan Boat earlier than you go to the well-known “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture. You may pop into Cheers on Beacon Hill and see if anybody is aware of your identify. Movie and tv followers would additionally get pleasure from a tour with On Location Tours of common Boston filming websites from Good Will Hunting, Ted, The Departed, and others.
Where to remain: Boston is notoriously dear, so for a household, chances are you’ll need to take into account one of many following choices:
Stop #4: Kennebunkport, Maine
On your approach to Portland, head two hours north of Boston to the charming coastal city of Kennebunkport, Maine. As quickly as you cross into Maine, get off the freeway and hightail it to Bob’s Clam Hut for a number of the greatest lobster rolls and fried clams in New England. Then meander up the coast, taking your time to cease into a number of of the most effective cities within the Maine Beaches area.
If you’ll want to stretch your legs, cease in York for a stroll alongside the 1.5 mile Cliff Walk or top off your kitchen pantry on the Stonewall Kitchen firm retailer. Another must-stop vacation spot in your highway journey to Maine must be in Cape Neddick on the Nubble Lighthouse. Located on an island simply off the coast, this is likely one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine. If you might be hungry, you may get some recent lobster at Fox’s Lobster House proper subsequent door or Dunne’s Ice Cream down the road.
Just a little bit additional alongside you’ll arrive in Kennebunkport (you may need to drive previous the Bush Family compound alongside the best way.) In city, you possibly can get pleasure from buying and eating on the many eating places reminiscent of Federal Jack’s, Allison’s, Mabel’s, or the well-known Clam Shack. Pedro’s a great place for Mexican and Arundel Wharf affords an excellent view.
We additionally like to go out of city to Cape Porpoise Chowder House, which is common with locals and vacationers alike. Just be warned that parking is tough to seek out so chances are you’ll must stroll a bit. You can keep in Kennebunkport or drive one other 40 minutes to Portland, Maine. Your last vacation spot on this New York to Maine highway journey.
Where to remain:
- The Boathouse — this waterfront lodge proper in Dock Square is ideal for while you need to be within the heart of the motion
Stop #5: Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine is likely one of the greatest small cities on the East Coast. Plan to spend at the least a few days exploring Portland and the encircling space. The park and space round Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth is an ideal spot for a picnic and to clamber over the rocks and watch the boats go by. When you might be there, you should definitely decide up a lobster roll from the Bite into Maine meals truck.
Back in Old Port, take a day to discover the boutiques alongside the harbor and wharves. There are so many wonderful eating places in Portland to attempt together with Luke’s Lobster, Duckfat, Eventide, and Fore Street. There are additionally many craft breweries within the Portland space and you may board the Brew Bus for a tour for those who don’t need to danger driving.
On your second day, you possibly can take a ferry across the Harbor Islands or attempt a lobster cruise the place you study all about lobster fishing and even get to maintain and prepare dinner what you catch. Or, spend a day buying up in Freeport, dwelling of the flagship L.L. Bean retailer.
Where to remain:
While this New York to Maine highway journey itinerary solely takes you into Southern Maine, it’s straightforward to increase this to go as much as the coast with a cease at both Boothbay Harbor or Rockland earlier than reaching Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
This highway journey offers you an excellent introduction to Southern New England and consists of a number of the area’s highlights. If you might be in search of extra highway journey concepts and need to dig a little bit deeper into New England, I’d suggest:
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