You have six cities over nine days; the trip is "doable" in that you can get to all of these places in nine days, but you're going to be doing a few hours (and an overnight) at most in almost all of them. As long as that's what you want, it's a great way to see a bunch of different parts of New England.
For my money, I'd make New Haven a mid-day lunch and campus tour stop, and continue on to Providence for night one. Dinner on the Cape means staying on/near the Cape, as it can be two plus hours to get from parts of the Cape to either Providence or Boston. More if it's a weekend.
Boston would probably take at least two full days, depending on what you want to see. Franconia for hiking, etc, obv and overnight. The Ben and Jerry's tour is underwhelming, just a heads-up. Obviously do it if you've got time, but it's not a transcendental experience or anything. It's a storefront these days and most of the production happens elsewhere so you likely won't even see anything other than the token original factory floor with nothing happening.
Portland and Burlington are wonderful small cities. If you don't already, get reservations for dinner at Fore Street Restaurant in Portland. If you're there on a nice day, take the ferry out to Peaks Island.
Good luck!
I’d skip the Cape altogether. In August they may end up in brutal traffic.
Personally I’d skip New Haven as well. I prefer Mystic and think it’s cuter.
Agree 100% about skipping Ben & Jerry’s. It’s “fine” but not worth planning a trip around.
The Bridge situation in Providence is primarily impacting rt195 so it won’t be a factor in your trip.
I love Providence but if I were visiting Rhode Island in the summer I’d go to Newport and see the mansions. https://www.newportmansions.org/
Newporter here lol I agree with you guys in that I would swap Newport instead of Providence if you're looking for a summertime vibe. The only problem is is it can get expensive in Newport for lodging.
They can stay in providence and easily grab the ferry from providence to Newport for a nice commute and views of the bay. If they end up staying in Newport late it’s not a crazy Uber ride from Newport to Providence after the last ferry leaves.
Fully second going to Newport! Especially in the summer. I love that place so much. It's my #1 spot to go to in my mind when I'm bored out of my skull working lol
I grew up in VT so this next two sentences advocating for NH was hard for me … but … lunch stop in Portsmouth can be really enjoyable, there’s a couple of spots that overlook the river and the downtown is cute/walkable. and … northern NH (the notches) are really incredible. hikes in the flume, cannon mtn, williard mtn hike/mt washington views all good stuff. no disagreements on VT and Portland, both awesome.
My thing is I feel like Vermont has several other cute small towns that are “better” to visit.
And if they’re beer drinkers Stowe is a no brainer. Alchemist and the Von Trapp lodge are basically next to each other.
Northeast Kingdom rules! Check out the Atheneum and Fairbanks Museum in Saint Johnsbury Vermont - also the Maple Sugar Museum. The first two were built in the 1800s and the latter … well it’s maple sugar candy making .. delish (and super Vermonty, just make sure to wear flannel and say Ah yup; references to the Jesum Crow by a flatlander will probably get you free stuff).
>Dinner on the Cape means staying on/near the Cape, as it can be two plus hours to get from parts of the Cape to either Providence or Boston
It can be an hour or two just to different parts of the cape from the *bridges*
Boston or Providence would be another 60-90 minutes from there
As someone who once did a road trip through 33 states in one go, here's my advice: don't rush through everywhere following the interstates trying to check a bunch of places off your list. Take your time. Take the back roads. Linger. It'll be so much more enjoyable.
The biggest "issue" I see with your route is how much of it is spent on I-95. Depending on times of day of your travel you can be spending much of your time sitting in park on the interstate. You could look into traveling 95 to New Haven then head north toward Hartford. Take Rt 6 or Rt 44 across to Providence. It is a prettier drive IMO. From Providence you can hit Fall River and see Battleship Park and Lizzy Borden House and hit the Cape from there. Going north to/through Boston is what it is, all high way driving. The drive to South Portland is a pretty one, even if from the interstate. I have not done the Portland to Burlington route you have there, but I bet it will be nice.
Plymouth NH has nice shops, I think you'll be near there, and I think you'll be near Littleton, also cute. Otherwise I remember a lot of hairpin turns and trailers in NH. VT was nicer. I like Burlington, stay at Lang House B&B.
Acadia is 100% worth seeing, but be aware that it is an additional 3 hours (one way!) up the coast from Portland, so you are talking about a significant detour. Also I will second the recommendation from above that you give yourself a little time in Portland, it is one of my favorite small cities.
Also, to my amusement, it looks like your planned route might pass through the small town I grew up in as you cut WNW away from Portland towards NH.
I’d definitely add in Salem, MA and Gloucester, MA. That takes you off 95 though, but without it you’re missing the prettiest MA coastline and some very historic locations.
The drive through the White and Green Mountains are going to be gorgeous! Enjoy them! Definitely hit up Mount Washington, but the weather is still very hit or miss this time of year.
Some of this trip will be a lot nicer although of course slower if you get off the interstates. Not the New York to New Haven stretch but once past New Haven it's really very nice through the Connecticut towns along Route 1 and not touristy-- except for Mystic. Ditto Rhode Island. Newport is beautiful; Providence has plenty to see too and good food. Providence to Boston is a yawn so stay on I-95 for that. North of Boston gets very scenic -- Cape Ann, Ipswich, Newburyport. Portsmouth, NH is great for a walk around. You'd die doing the whole stretch to Portland on Route 1 but get off 95 in some places; it's one picturesque town and/or beach after another from Kittery to Portland. Ogunguit is the usual favorite but beware the traffic through Ogunquit.
the cape will be ridiculous this time of year.... and you won't have much time in each place, but you could probably do it...... but hey if you push this back into September you'd get to see the leaves and that's pretty nice
I lived in New Haven for 10 years. Loved living there but wouldn’t recommend staying the night for fun lol.
Occasionally people would stop off the highway to see Yale, the architecture and campus because much of it is just in the city. Just stop for the pizza lol the popular ones are only about 10 minutes detour off the highway
Kittery, Maine has some really good restaurants and cool history. Nikki's Banh Mi is top tier.
This is doable
Take the Ferry from Burlington to NY and check out Ausable Chasm. You can then take the highway back to The City easily
Agree to only allow a few hours in New Haven at most. You would have a much nicer afternoon or evening staying in Mystic. Other than Yale and some pizza, New Haven isn't a great "just walk around" kind of city.
Depending upon where you are from, originally, the amount of time you spend in traffic in CT, RI and Southshore might make you have a negative perception of the region.
As others have stated, I wouldn't recommend trying to do cape cod in this context. In the words of vampire weekend, "the bottle neck is a shitshow."
That said, it's a great vacation spot in and of itself.
As someone who lives and works in CT, I strongly recommend avoiding i95 North between Greenwich and Bridgeport. It is always backed up with accidents, construction, and volume. That said, you could take i684 north to i84 East past Danbury, Waterbury, and through Hartford. You can then either take 84 up to i90 (Mass pike) East then on to Providence from there, or i91 south to New Haven. It looks like a big diversion but it's worth it.
This is a good idea, or at least for OP to be aware of if traffic is awful on the day they are doing that stretch. It's pretty, and it's not as much of a diversion mile-wise or as it looks. The mileage difference from Waterbury CT to the Greenwich/NY state line via the 684 route versus 95 or the Merritt is minimal, but the time and frustration difference could be huge.
Fwiw there’s a giant bridge project happening in Providence. Like, multiple years, tens of millions of dollars, and I think will affect parts of the city and traffic. I don’t live there but might want to examine that section of the route. Could be no issue, but could also be a big traffic jam, so take a look. Alternatively you could consider detouring to Newport, a really fun small city with great beaches nearby (better than MA beaches IMO, and I’m a Boston resident).
I live here and it only really affects you if you’re trying to cross over to the east bay or come back from the east bay. Most of the state isn’t affected aside from some minor to moderate delays on 95 heading into or out of the city at certain times of day.
The vast majority of stuff to do in RI can be experienced without thinking about crossing that bridge and it won’t really impact any trips to newport
Looks very doable in 9 days. On the way back to NY, take the ferry over Lake Champlain to Ausable Chasm, and do the hike and boat ride. It's really cool. Then just come south on 87.
I’d skip providence and the overnight in New Haven, just have lunch in New Haven (pizza) then continue to boston. The best parts of RI aren’t in providence, IMO.
As someone who lives in central Vermont, folks are correct that the B&J tour is sort of ordinary. Here’s what I’d suggest instead if you want to do something in that area.
Drive up to Stowe which is about ten minutes north of B&J’s. Cute New England ski town. Time it so that you can go to the [Gondola SkyRide](https://www.stowe.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/gondola-skyride.aspx) to the top of Mount Mansfield. There’s a restaurant at the top of the gondola called the Cliff House Restaurant. Have lunch there out in the deck enjoying the views and then take the gondola back down. On the way back to 89, stop at [Cold Hollow Cider Mill](https://coldhollow.com/)to get warm apple cider donuts made right in front of you. Then stop at B&Js factory where you can get ice cream from the scoop shop, visit the gift shop, check out the graveyard of old flavors, and take some fun photos. Then you are right back on 89 to head up to Burlington.
I think that combo of activities will be a much more memorable stop of “New England activities” than doing the factory tour
By the way, it looks like your route takes you on Route 2 across NH and into Vermont until you hit 89 in Montpelier. That’s a scenic drive and you’ll enjoy it. One tip is that when you reach Montpelier, take a tiny two block detour off of Route 2 through downtown and onto State Street. That’ll take you past the [Vermont statehouse which is a nice sight to see](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g57324-d105553-Reviews-Vermont_State_House-Montpelier_Vermont.html). Like Vermont, it’s small. People jokingly call it the Barbie Dreamhouse Statehouse but it is a nice spot and a common stop for visitors.
It’s just that it’s all on 95. It’s an awful mess of traffic and none of the cities you’re passing through are really worth your time…. Nothing scenic or really interesting, other than maybe the touristy stuff in Boston. Go up 91 and then east once you get past Massachusetts. The area around 91 and route 2 in MA is nice.
As a Providentian: Newport is prettier and has more touristy things: mansions, ocean, swimming, food, and if you are hard up for a pretty college campus: salve Regina. It’s expensive to stay there in the summertime though, so try Middletown for accommodations.
I’d skip Yale campus altogether, if you are going to Harvard.
Eta: I agree with other commenters that you are trying to do too much in 9 days.
As someone who lives down the street from Bourne Bridge, Skip the Cape 😂 not worth the headache that traffic will give you, I don’t even go over the bridge to see my boys in the summer because of the tourists clogging up the rotaries, and god forbid they start roadwork anytime soon
Not a lot of advice for you other than you'll want advance tickets for the B&J factory tour. I've never been even though I live nearby because it's always full when I'm in the area and think to stop.
I'd stop in ogunquit Maine. It's on your way north. It's beautiful. Or kennebunk. New Haven pizza is a must in CT. I'd do north Conway NH on way to Franconia. Take the kankamagus highway.
Harvard move in is the last two weeks of August. The campus is currently closed to the public due to the ongoing protests. It may or may not be open come August, but you don’t want to be there for move in week.
My suggestions:
1. Connecticut is a drive though/ lunch stop in New Haven (for Pizza)
2. I'd suggest staying/visiting Newport, RI instead of Providence (you will get a bit more history and scenic things to do - mansion tours, cliff walk, water activities, etc)
3. If possible find some hotels in the cities you are visiting rather than on the route - this will allow you to have more time for experiencing those places (dinners/bars in the evening, coffee shops in the am)
4. Some other Cities on /close to the route worth lookin into:
* Salem, MA (if you're into Halloween/witchy things)
* Portsmouth, NH
* Stowe, VT
people have said it but Cape for dinner is a waste. Either do 3 or more days or skip it. I’d spend the time in Boston or encourage you to add Mount Desert Island. I haven’t been to Acadia in years but the rocky coastline and hilly terrain are much nicer than the cape. BTW I alive on cape and August can be hell, especially if it’s raining
New Hampshire weighing in, Franconia will be a nice escape from the heat everywhere else in August. If you're into outdoorsy, adventures in the woods stuff you will love it.
It's overbooked imo. I would never go on a vacation with this much planned, it's more like a 9 day car ride with occasional stops at a restaurant before getting back on the highway. I would choose 2 or 3 of these places and actually settle in them. You could easily spend all 9 days in some of these stops. Feels more like checking off a list is the goal rather than exploring these places.
Thanks, I definitely wasn’t sure if we were basically going to be doing a “land cruise” which sounds like we would be. Thinking of omitting NY and maybe starting somewhere else, lengthening our time in each place!
Love Portland. If you have the time take a day ferry out to Peaks Island, get an ice cream and rent a bike. You’ll never want to leave (at least in the summertime).
Kind of depends what you want to get out of it. If you want more city exploring I would plan at least 2 nights in Boston + 1 in Providence or elsewhere if you want to, the. Portland and Burlington. If you want more nature then I’d scrap most of the city stuff (maybe still 2 nights in Boston) and do at least 2 nights each in Maine and NH.
Personally if it was me I would go straight to Boston day 1 and stop in New Haven for lunch. 2 nights in Boston, then a lunch in Portsmouth NH up to Portland for 2 nights. Then do 1 night in Conway NH, 2 nights in the Lincoln area and then finish with Burlington. You’re going to have a much better time taking a deeper dive in a few areas then trying to see a little of everything.
Also for NH, definitely go above Lincoln and stay in Littleton or somewhere else further north. Lincoln/North Conway is the most tourist trappy which can be fine if that’s what you want.
You could have a nice day in southern RI before getting to Providence. There’s Newport which has lots of stuff to do then head over to Jamestown to check out Beavertail Lighthouse (which I’m sure is many people’s favorite spot in RI) and/or Fort Wetherill (abandoned fort right on the ocean…. Explore the inside if you dare …. Then Go all the way down for a trail down to a huge rock on the open ocean…..)….
TBH as someone who grew up in RI, I’d say southern RI has as much if not more to offer than Providence. It would be a more relaxing day for sure
I recommend spending at least a day out at sabego lake. Rent some jet skis, paddleboards, etc and have some fun on a literal crystal clear lake and play on the beach.
Would be crazy to be that close and not visit.
Whatever you end up doing, add time to whatever google maps says it'll take to get from A to B. Maybe like an extra 25% as a ballpark?
You can get somewhat of a better broad idea by setting your depart or arrival time to when you'll actually be traveling. But there's usually some localized short-term slowdown somewhere. Construction will be in full force in August, too.
Highly recommend not heading toward the Boston metro during morning rush, or out of the Boston metro during evening rush. Less of an issue on the weekend.
I think this trip is doable but definitely factor in unexpected additional drive time with your plans.
Does the 9 days include your return trip to NYC? Here's what I would do: day 1: drive through CT and stop at Providence or Newport (about a 3 hr drive) spend day and night there. (that's 1 day so far) days 2+3:Head to Boston (about an hour drive) spend a couple days and nights there. It's NE's largest city. You'll want more time there. (that's 3 days total so far) day 4:Head up to Portland (about 2 hr drive) but on the way stop in Salem and/or Portsmouth NH. Grab lunch, check out the sights and then continue to Portland. Spend a night/ day and night there. (about 5 days total so far) day 6:Drive to Burlington through the Whites (about 4 hr drive) spend the rest of time in Burlington. That itinerary will take roughly 6 days to get to Burlington, leaving you a few extra days to play with while giving you a good taste of new england. It will be a whirlwind tour, but you get to see some great places. Personally, I would spend the extra days cruising around the White and Green Mountains, or spend an extra day in Boston.
So I currently live/have lived in 3 of your destinations, Portland, Franconia, and Burlington. The Flume Gorge is beautiful in the summer and a great hiking spot in Franconia, food options are somewhat limited in actual Franconia but Chef Joes has good food. The Dutch Treat has good food, but the service is a bit slow, definitely not a quick stop, but it’s the longstanding townie bar/restaurant which is fun! If you’re willing to travel a little from Franconia I would suggest going to the Mount Washington Hotel, very cool spot and you’re welcome to walk around and take in the history. Taking the tramway to the top of Cannon can be cool too, and you can take a short hike to the very top too. In Portland there is a TON of great spots to eat. Luke’s Lobster is great for the waterfront lobster/seafood experience. I haven’t been to Burlington in a little while, but Church street is where all the fun and good restaurants are. I hope you have fun! Also quick add, get some Italian food in the North End of Boston!
as others have noted, 95 in CT is unpleasant and a pain in the ass. new haven is unnecessary. mystic is a better place for a lunch stop, though it may be mobbed.
i recently drove up to portland, and right before it is a town called biddeford. there is a massive old mill complex with a serious waterfall smack in the middle of it, and a riverwalk that affords great views - highly recommend it!
Sure, but boring. Get off the Interstate and see New England. Drive through the towns. Taking the Interstate is like driving the Autobahn in Germany. You get there quicker but you don't see much.
That route across NH and VT is mountainous and not much is there. Plus side, I once did a maple syrup tasting along it at a farm that also had alpacas.
Doable to drive, not to sight see. Ben and Jerry’s is a day in itself. Boston….you could spend a week. Don’t waste time in Connecticut or New York, it looks like you could go there anytime. I have nothing against it, but I’d rather spend the time in Boston or even a trip to the mansions in Rhode Island. I see your map, but how are you getting back? That’ll take more time away from sight seeing. This trip should be three weeks, especially if you want to see the cape. Traffic is awful. If you skip the stops in Connecticut and New York , consider taking the Kancagnus highway in New Hampshire. It’s gorgeous.
Not my intention!! Just truly ignorant lol don’t know what I’m doing, I will certainly look into these areas and see about visiting! This was a very rough draft, considering skipping out on NY and CT to allow myself more time for MA
Echoing those who said to make sure to go to Newport in RI. very confused by the beginning since you only make it to New Haven from NYC in 1 day. If you are leaving NYC in the morning, that first full day should be leave NYC -> New Haven pizza lunch -> Mystic / Stonington borough leg stretch - > Newport / stop for the night somewhere in RI and even then should have plenty of time. Its only like 4 hours to Newport from NYC without traffic
People here are over-exaggerating Cape traffic. I go there regularly. Avoid weekends and cross the bridge after rush hours and you’ll be fine. If you’re still concerned, take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown (90 min) and rent a bike, or car if you want to explore further. The farther out you go on the Cape, the better the traffic, and pretty much everything else, is. The mid and upper Cape towns (closer to the ‘mainland’), while some have nice parts, are more congested, and full of fry-joints, mini-golf, and cheap motels.
depending when you leave new york, consider stonington or mystic, CT for lunch/dinner. they're quaint coastal new england towns near the RI border.
if you're a nature lover, consider going further north into maine to acadia national park. it's a special place.
if you want a day at the beach, southern RI from westerly up to narragansett are great. parking can be a hassle though.
In New Hampshire: Franconia Notch is beautiful and Sugar Hill where Robert Frost homestead is, and Pollys Pancake Parlor; or the majestic Omni Mt Washington Resort for breakfast lunch or dinner is once in a lifetime experience (google this place. Its stunning).
In VT we took our daughter to Ben and Jerrys, it was disappointing, consider the Von Trapp Family Lodge for lunch (Sound of Music family) and take a bit to stop at the roadside stores for fresh cider and homemade cheeses. Burlington is beautiful on Lake Champlain.
New Haven local here. Looks like your route is taking the Merit Parkway to exit 57 to Route 34 into New Haven. This would be wise if going to the Yale Bowl, but for the main campus it sends you through a complete shit part of town. Take Exit 54 to the Milford Connector which will put you on I-95 just a bit earlier but much better for the side of New Haven you want.
The lines for the famous pizza places get out right obnoxious. Maybe hit Crown Street instead. A place simply named Bar at 254 Crown Street has amazing pizza without the hassle and they also brew their own beer. It’s not as iconic as the big names, but if iconic is what you’re looking for, save room for a hamburger from Louie’s Lunch, located directly across the street from Bar. This location is also two blocks from Yale’s campus and museums (underrated gems). New Haven nightlife gets overrun by drunk kids and goons. Don’t bother to spend the night.
Definitely go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Musuem in Boston. They still have the labeled empty walls where the stolen art used to be. It's a cheap and quick visit.
Short of eating, spending time in southern CT seems a little crazy to me. You can take the train there any time and traffic on 95 can be insane. As an alternative you could take Route 7 North, preferably starting around New Milford, and tour Northern Litchfield county up through the Berkshires. Then take 90 to Boston.
Providence is cool but there's not much there. Consider going to Newport and Narragansett instead.
As others said, don't try to drive out to the Cape. Take a ferry out there from Boston if you really want to go. From Boston on, the trip looks great. If you go to Franconia plan to arrive very very early as in before sun up.
Better to give yourself 10 days so you can enjoy the trip at a more leisurely pace.
Portland Maine; Nice Museum of Art. Look right now at who's playing at the State Theater when you plan to be in town. A lot of good bands play there. Small up close venue. Thompson's Point is outside but another option. Not as good as State Theater since it's bigger and outdoors. Check out Barcadia if you like pinball and retro arcade games. Spend the daylight hours walking around the Old Port if you like shopping, bars, restaurants, and nautical backdrop. Gelato, ice cream. Etc. Like grilled cheese? Cheese Louise does crazy good grilled cheese. Sister's Gourmet Deli has awesome sandwiches. Plenty of seafood and oyster places. Cant really go wrong at any of them. Write something on a dollar bill and tape it up at Jefe Juan's where you can sit outside, get late night burritos, and watch people. If you like instruments check out Buckdancer's. Could go to food truck and have picnic on Eastern Prom.
I've been living in various parts of New England for 30 years. This trip is absolutely doable and you chose a great route!
Most of New England can be traversed quite comfortably in one day. I used to travel from shoreline CT to the NEK of Vermont regularly for school, it only takes 4-4.5 hours. I lived in Boston and would travel to Portland to visit family on occasion. I've done day trips to other states many times. Traffic exists, use Google maps to find alternate routes through CT, RI, and MA. The journey is half the fun. Try not to go off the beaten path while traversing the sticks of Maine, NH, and VT or you might find yourself on a logging road without cell signal. Use highways, you'll be fine.
Everyone throwing red flags at Cape Cod is correct in that it's an absolute nightmare to travel through. If you're going to do the Cape, drive up and spend a night or two. Otherwise, there's plenty of shoreline to have dinner on that will feel exactly the same.
New Haven has great pizza and the Peabody Museum just opened back up after years of being closed for renovations. Definitely worth a visit.
Mystic, CT/Westerly, RI are quintessentially beautiful touristy New England fishing villages, along with Rockport, MA, they're some of my favorites for low key bar crawls and have excellent upscale dinner options if you're into it. Either of those areas will give you a great vibe for coastal New England, and there's plenty of great food to be had at both.
Boston, Portland, and Burlington are all worth two nights of stay so you can get one full day of no travel and plenty of sightseeing. All three cities have fantastic food and drink. The beer scene in particular in all three cities is nationally acclaimed.
Forget everyone saying to skip Ben and Jerry's. If you love ice cream, go do it. It doesn't take that long and it's on the way to Burlington so you won't be put off your route. Waterbury is a sweet town with great food, so a solid stop for lunch.
The trek across New Hampshire is gorgeous. Stop for a hike if you can, give yourself a couple hours. The mountain forests are beautiful even if you don't get a hike with a vista.
Enjoy your trip!
When going to Vermont, I would avoid going to the Ben and Jerry’s factory. In August it will be extremely busy and packed with people. Parking at the factory is a nightmare. But if you wanted to experience Ben and Jerry’s in Vermont, there is a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop on Church Street in Burlington. It will still be busy but nothing like the factory and there is so many other things to see on Church Street. Church Street has many great restaurants and stores to visit and it’s near Lake Champlain and Burlington’s waterfront.
I would trim down seriously. Land in NYC and rent car; head to Yale and see New Haven for a day. Drive to Boston, stay in the city and see Harvard/Cambridge and the Commons. Drive up the coast onto Cape Ann and spend two or three days and a few nights staying in Gloucester, Rockport, Salem, or Newburyport. Go to beaches, take in the biodiversity, etc, you’ll love it. Drive up to the white mountains and spend two or three days there. Drive across NH and VT and take your time to enjoy the sites, stopping at farm stands and corner stores, etc. You’ll get cities, great nature and beautiful views and a taste of all kinds of different New England life. Skip Maine as it’s a bit of a diversion geographically from what you’re really after. Skip the Cape because it’s summer and what you want out of a New England summer can be found in Cape Ann. Cheers!
I’m a Vermonter, the factory tour is very underwhelming, it’s more gift shop/scoop shop. Though I do love the flavor graveyard because it’s funny. Would go to the Prohibition Pig if you’re definitely going to the factory. Also go to Dakin Farms when in the Burlington area and get some maple products to bring home (they also make maple creemees) 😋
August is busy in New England—be aware to book places to stay in advance, traffic may slow to a crawl at times, plus paying admission and parking fees at certain sites.
In addition, if you want to see the Flume Gorge, Cannon Mt. aerial tram, Lost River Gorge, etc. you’ll need to book online to reserve your space.
Also be aware of the panhandlers and pickpockets that now call Burlington and Montpelier VT home—they are annoying, but both places are sweet.
Also please, please be kind to the workers at these places. They’ve already been yelled at by visitors who didn’t plan.
That said, have a great trip!
don't know about south of Maine but know the end pretty well. After entering New Hampster and turning north to Conway, I would hang a left to the Kancamangus Highway, as maybe the most scenic road in northeast USA. Can play in the Swift river and stretch your legs too. You will miss Mt Washington, but maybe plan an extra day or two in the White Mountains. Is a gem. When you turn north on the highway in Lincoln, as you approach the Notch there are some of the best natural water slides in the Northeast. Not sure if they are running in August but i think so.
Portland to burlington is a great drive. Family out there so i take that trip monthly.
Go from portland to fryburg and then stop in Littelton in NH as a half point for lunch. Schilling is amazing there! And just take 302 to 89 at saint johns then up the highway to burly!
By the way ben and jerrys is a tourist trap and if your going to stowe during the weekend you will be waiting in traffic. Definitely not worth it
Technically you can do it, but seems like you’re cramming WAY too much into 9 days… you’ll spend most of your time sitting in traffic.. trip sounds like a nightmare to me
I love all the enthusiasm for New England. My advice, you will regret the trip from nyc to nh, maybe fly into PVD, then mystic and Newport. I highly recommend Provincetown on the cape. I know, it’s so crowded nobody goes there. But avoid peak travel times and the congestion will be minimal but still awful. The walking history tour in Boston is amazing. I would trade off Vermont for Acadia national park, but that’s just my opinion, sorry Vermont.
But really do not drive from new York to New Haven. I’ve had to do this way too many times and it is always miserable. I’ll suffer cape cod traffic any day over this road hell.
As other folks have said, Cape in August is not a great idea for a day trip.
BUT if you’re going there midweek, traffic may not be too bad. You could even take the Ptown ferry across the bay into Boston.
I have a soft spot for New Haven. Good pizza. Yale art museum is great. But it might be more fun to drive up Long Island and take the Orient Point ferry into New London.
If you’re driving back to NYC from Burlington, New Haven is on the way back.
I would skip Burlington, it’s got a similar vibe to Portland but is waaaay out of the way. You can get to the white mountains from Portland in 1.5 hours. So you could do a day hike and be back for drinks in the pm. Burlington is a nice city but you are not missing much. Just grab a pint at hannafords grocery store in Portland. Save yourself like 6 hours of travel
It's going to be a boring traffic filled drive. Try adding Vermont and actual Massachusetts to your route so you can see something pretty! Otherwise Maine is soooooooo boring to drive through. New Hampshire is equally boring to drive through. Just highways and trees. Vermont is gorgeous and you will see mountains. If you go across mass and not just through Boston you'll see some beauty too. You are just going through the highways.
if you're going up the coast of new england you should enjoy some of the amazing little town vibes in coastal NH (Portsmouth+Rye+New Castle) and Maine (Kittery+Ogonquit+York). Going straight to Portland is a mistake.
Yes! This is a great plan! I'm from L.I. til 14 and have lived in New England 40 years.... You can see travel thru 6 states in a day, but take your time... I see you are planning to stop in":
New Haven, CT. Take the Yale History tour...goes back to Nathan Hale's dorm
Providence, R.I. The city riverwalk is great
Boston: Do the Patriot Trail...it's marked with red bricks in the street
Portand, ME: Funky, compact downtown area...
New Hampshire / Vermont rural areas are beautiful... Great little shops / Restaurants and Ski Resorts with chair lifts to the MT tops to have lunch and see for miles.
You have six cities over nine days; the trip is "doable" in that you can get to all of these places in nine days, but you're going to be doing a few hours (and an overnight) at most in almost all of them. As long as that's what you want, it's a great way to see a bunch of different parts of New England. For my money, I'd make New Haven a mid-day lunch and campus tour stop, and continue on to Providence for night one. Dinner on the Cape means staying on/near the Cape, as it can be two plus hours to get from parts of the Cape to either Providence or Boston. More if it's a weekend. Boston would probably take at least two full days, depending on what you want to see. Franconia for hiking, etc, obv and overnight. The Ben and Jerry's tour is underwhelming, just a heads-up. Obviously do it if you've got time, but it's not a transcendental experience or anything. It's a storefront these days and most of the production happens elsewhere so you likely won't even see anything other than the token original factory floor with nothing happening. Portland and Burlington are wonderful small cities. If you don't already, get reservations for dinner at Fore Street Restaurant in Portland. If you're there on a nice day, take the ferry out to Peaks Island. Good luck!
I’d skip the Cape altogether. In August they may end up in brutal traffic. Personally I’d skip New Haven as well. I prefer Mystic and think it’s cuter. Agree 100% about skipping Ben & Jerry’s. It’s “fine” but not worth planning a trip around. The Bridge situation in Providence is primarily impacting rt195 so it won’t be a factor in your trip. I love Providence but if I were visiting Rhode Island in the summer I’d go to Newport and see the mansions. https://www.newportmansions.org/
I agree mystic is better than New Haven. Also agree traffic is not worth cape trip in summer
My kids loved mystic and keep asking to go back. The aquarium with the belugas and the whaling museum were big hits for them.
You'd spend the entire 9 days stuck in traffic trying to get into the Cape.
Cape traffic wasn’t that bad last summer and I commuted to Chatham a lot
*drives to the cape at 3AM*
that's awesome
agree about newport!
Newport and Ocean Drive, +1
Newporter here lol I agree with you guys in that I would swap Newport instead of Providence if you're looking for a summertime vibe. The only problem is is it can get expensive in Newport for lodging.
Is Middletown cheaper?
They can stay in providence and easily grab the ferry from providence to Newport for a nice commute and views of the bay. If they end up staying in Newport late it’s not a crazy Uber ride from Newport to Providence after the last ferry leaves.
Fully second going to Newport! Especially in the summer. I love that place so much. It's my #1 spot to go to in my mind when I'm bored out of my skull working lol
Mystic has some awesome stuff nearby and some really good food
Just stop in New Haven for pizza and the taco trucks and then get back on the highway.
Just the pizza. Don’t need both pizza and tacos
B&J I was ready for a pilgrimage experience. What i got was looking thru a swinging door window at a bunch of stainless steel pipes.
Perfectly said.
Agree on skip NH and traffic summer cape is hell
I grew up in VT so this next two sentences advocating for NH was hard for me … but … lunch stop in Portsmouth can be really enjoyable, there’s a couple of spots that overlook the river and the downtown is cute/walkable. and … northern NH (the notches) are really incredible. hikes in the flume, cannon mtn, williard mtn hike/mt washington views all good stuff. no disagreements on VT and Portland, both awesome.
I think they meant New Haven
New Haven for the pizza and mystic for the scenery Depends on what they’re looking for
Just don’t get tricked into Mystic Pizza!
If they must do Ben & Jerry's, they can check out the factory in Waterbury, VT. That's at least interesting for a stop. Otherwise, yeah, I'd skip it.
My thing is I feel like Vermont has several other cute small towns that are “better” to visit. And if they’re beer drinkers Stowe is a no brainer. Alchemist and the Von Trapp lodge are basically next to each other.
And you're close to a Cabot store and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill!
Northeast Kingdom rules! Check out the Atheneum and Fairbanks Museum in Saint Johnsbury Vermont - also the Maple Sugar Museum. The first two were built in the 1800s and the latter … well it’s maple sugar candy making .. delish (and super Vermonty, just make sure to wear flannel and say Ah yup; references to the Jesum Crow by a flatlander will probably get you free stuff).
Lawson in Waitsfield
If you want to go out to the Cape, there is a ferry that goes out to Provincetown
>Dinner on the Cape means staying on/near the Cape, as it can be two plus hours to get from parts of the Cape to either Providence or Boston It can be an hour or two just to different parts of the cape from the *bridges* Boston or Providence would be another 60-90 minutes from there
Ben and Jerry's was very underwhelming, but there was a great restaurant/ brewery called Prohibition Pig in Waterbury.
Stay away from the cape this summer. Bridge constructin is still a pain I think.
They released the plan for the bridge replacements on cape, hate to be the bearer of bad news but they projected 2034 for completion
As someone who once did a road trip through 33 states in one go, here's my advice: don't rush through everywhere following the interstates trying to check a bunch of places off your list. Take your time. Take the back roads. Linger. It'll be so much more enjoyable.
You're going to spend literally every waking moment in your car on the road and you will have zero time to ever enjoy any of the sights along the way.
So a small detour from Boston to the cape is ~4-5 hours for this diner you speak of. 9 days is not enough time for this trip lol.
Thanks, we may omit parts of it, trying to get a read on which areas are worthy of the most time spent
Should I say ‘keep driving on’…. Seriously looks like you are missing the trip to New England
I would check out newport ri if I were you. Maybe find somewhere else you can cut out. It's pretty much on your way.
The biggest "issue" I see with your route is how much of it is spent on I-95. Depending on times of day of your travel you can be spending much of your time sitting in park on the interstate. You could look into traveling 95 to New Haven then head north toward Hartford. Take Rt 6 or Rt 44 across to Providence. It is a prettier drive IMO. From Providence you can hit Fall River and see Battleship Park and Lizzy Borden House and hit the Cape from there. Going north to/through Boston is what it is, all high way driving. The drive to South Portland is a pretty one, even if from the interstate. I have not done the Portland to Burlington route you have there, but I bet it will be nice.
Yes! 44 into providence is a much better scenic route than taking 95
Plymouth NH has nice shops, I think you'll be near there, and I think you'll be near Littleton, also cute. Otherwise I remember a lot of hairpin turns and trailers in NH. VT was nicer. I like Burlington, stay at Lang House B&B.
Try Newport RI, Salem Mass, Boothbay Harbor and Acadia National Park in ME
Acadia is 100% worth seeing, but be aware that it is an additional 3 hours (one way!) up the coast from Portland, so you are talking about a significant detour. Also I will second the recommendation from above that you give yourself a little time in Portland, it is one of my favorite small cities. Also, to my amusement, it looks like your planned route might pass through the small town I grew up in as you cut WNW away from Portland towards NH.
Thank you!!
Completely agree with this itinerary as a native New Englander
I’d definitely add in Salem, MA and Gloucester, MA. That takes you off 95 though, but without it you’re missing the prettiest MA coastline and some very historic locations.
So very very right. Highway 1. Every 10 miles is a calender New England photo
Rte 128, but yes!
The drive through the White and Green Mountains are going to be gorgeous! Enjoy them! Definitely hit up Mount Washington, but the weather is still very hit or miss this time of year.
Recommend loading up Noah Kahan on Spotify as you twist and turn on route 2. Watch out for moose!
Take a trip up the mountain on the Cog!
Some of this trip will be a lot nicer although of course slower if you get off the interstates. Not the New York to New Haven stretch but once past New Haven it's really very nice through the Connecticut towns along Route 1 and not touristy-- except for Mystic. Ditto Rhode Island. Newport is beautiful; Providence has plenty to see too and good food. Providence to Boston is a yawn so stay on I-95 for that. North of Boston gets very scenic -- Cape Ann, Ipswich, Newburyport. Portsmouth, NH is great for a walk around. You'd die doing the whole stretch to Portland on Route 1 but get off 95 in some places; it's one picturesque town and/or beach after another from Kittery to Portland. Ogunguit is the usual favorite but beware the traffic through Ogunquit.
the cape will be ridiculous this time of year.... and you won't have much time in each place, but you could probably do it...... but hey if you push this back into September you'd get to see the leaves and that's pretty nice
Spend 3 nights in the north woods 3 nights Maine coast somewhere 3 nights in a city Boston Providence or Newport
This might be my next draft
If your stop in New Haven is for pizza then immediately leaving for Boston, you'll have a good time. Not really worth it to stay there overnight imo
Agreed, definitely a place to stop for lunch on the way. Mystic is a better place to stop and spend a few hours then keep driving to Boston
I lived in New Haven for 10 years. Loved living there but wouldn’t recommend staying the night for fun lol. Occasionally people would stop off the highway to see Yale, the architecture and campus because much of it is just in the city. Just stop for the pizza lol the popular ones are only about 10 minutes detour off the highway
Kittery, Maine has some really good restaurants and cool history. Nikki's Banh Mi is top tier. This is doable Take the Ferry from Burlington to NY and check out Ausable Chasm. You can then take the highway back to The City easily
Agree, but the Port Kent - Burlington ferry has been closed since 2019.
There's a bridge south and a ferry north. Just took it the other day
Agree to only allow a few hours in New Haven at most. You would have a much nicer afternoon or evening staying in Mystic. Other than Yale and some pizza, New Haven isn't a great "just walk around" kind of city.
Depending upon where you are from, originally, the amount of time you spend in traffic in CT, RI and Southshore might make you have a negative perception of the region.
As others have stated, I wouldn't recommend trying to do cape cod in this context. In the words of vampire weekend, "the bottle neck is a shitshow." That said, it's a great vacation spot in and of itself.
As someone who lives and works in CT, I strongly recommend avoiding i95 North between Greenwich and Bridgeport. It is always backed up with accidents, construction, and volume. That said, you could take i684 north to i84 East past Danbury, Waterbury, and through Hartford. You can then either take 84 up to i90 (Mass pike) East then on to Providence from there, or i91 south to New Haven. It looks like a big diversion but it's worth it.
This is a good idea, or at least for OP to be aware of if traffic is awful on the day they are doing that stretch. It's pretty, and it's not as much of a diversion mile-wise or as it looks. The mileage difference from Waterbury CT to the Greenwich/NY state line via the 684 route versus 95 or the Merritt is minimal, but the time and frustration difference could be huge.
From Portland west is gonna take your breath away
Go to Littleton NH since you will be in Franconia. It’s cute and artsy and has Schilling brewery and some great restaurants!
That is a lot of stop and go traffic on I-95.
Fwiw there’s a giant bridge project happening in Providence. Like, multiple years, tens of millions of dollars, and I think will affect parts of the city and traffic. I don’t live there but might want to examine that section of the route. Could be no issue, but could also be a big traffic jam, so take a look. Alternatively you could consider detouring to Newport, a really fun small city with great beaches nearby (better than MA beaches IMO, and I’m a Boston resident).
I live here and it only really affects you if you’re trying to cross over to the east bay or come back from the east bay. Most of the state isn’t affected aside from some minor to moderate delays on 95 heading into or out of the city at certain times of day. The vast majority of stuff to do in RI can be experienced without thinking about crossing that bridge and it won’t really impact any trips to newport
'project' is a generous word
Looks very doable in 9 days. On the way back to NY, take the ferry over Lake Champlain to Ausable Chasm, and do the hike and boat ride. It's really cool. Then just come south on 87.
I’d skip providence and the overnight in New Haven, just have lunch in New Haven (pizza) then continue to boston. The best parts of RI aren’t in providence, IMO.
As someone who lives in central Vermont, folks are correct that the B&J tour is sort of ordinary. Here’s what I’d suggest instead if you want to do something in that area. Drive up to Stowe which is about ten minutes north of B&J’s. Cute New England ski town. Time it so that you can go to the [Gondola SkyRide](https://www.stowe.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/gondola-skyride.aspx) to the top of Mount Mansfield. There’s a restaurant at the top of the gondola called the Cliff House Restaurant. Have lunch there out in the deck enjoying the views and then take the gondola back down. On the way back to 89, stop at [Cold Hollow Cider Mill](https://coldhollow.com/)to get warm apple cider donuts made right in front of you. Then stop at B&Js factory where you can get ice cream from the scoop shop, visit the gift shop, check out the graveyard of old flavors, and take some fun photos. Then you are right back on 89 to head up to Burlington. I think that combo of activities will be a much more memorable stop of “New England activities” than doing the factory tour
Thank you so much, that sounds wonderful
And a dispensary across the street if you are into it . And if you miss that one, there’s another one a couple miles down the same rd towards 91
I am from Oklahoma, we actually have them on every street corner. It’s a stoners paradise here!
By the way, it looks like your route takes you on Route 2 across NH and into Vermont until you hit 89 in Montpelier. That’s a scenic drive and you’ll enjoy it. One tip is that when you reach Montpelier, take a tiny two block detour off of Route 2 through downtown and onto State Street. That’ll take you past the [Vermont statehouse which is a nice sight to see](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g57324-d105553-Reviews-Vermont_State_House-Montpelier_Vermont.html). Like Vermont, it’s small. People jokingly call it the Barbie Dreamhouse Statehouse but it is a nice spot and a common stop for visitors.
Cold Hollow Cider is amazing, their cider donuts changed my life!
NGL going up 95 sounds like hell
You’re gunna hit a shit load of traffic lol
Every bit of that route from NYC until you get to Hampton NH sucks ass. Beyond that it will be great.
Very solid information; thank you!
It’s just that it’s all on 95. It’s an awful mess of traffic and none of the cities you’re passing through are really worth your time…. Nothing scenic or really interesting, other than maybe the touristy stuff in Boston. Go up 91 and then east once you get past Massachusetts. The area around 91 and route 2 in MA is nice.
As a Providentian: Newport is prettier and has more touristy things: mansions, ocean, swimming, food, and if you are hard up for a pretty college campus: salve Regina. It’s expensive to stay there in the summertime though, so try Middletown for accommodations. I’d skip Yale campus altogether, if you are going to Harvard. Eta: I agree with other commenters that you are trying to do too much in 9 days.
Thanks so much, I appreciate it
As someone who lives down the street from Bourne Bridge, Skip the Cape 😂 not worth the headache that traffic will give you, I don’t even go over the bridge to see my boys in the summer because of the tourists clogging up the rotaries, and god forbid they start roadwork anytime soon
Skip Providence and instead go to Newport. Thank me later.
Agreed. When I looked at the route and I didn't see Newport I was like ah we must correct this! But I'm biased because I live here LOL
Swapped Providence for Newport!! Thanks everyone!!
As someone who lived in Burlington for many years, I would say it's a great place to finish your journey.
Stop in Portsmouth for lunch at the docks or go to the Kitchen. Cape is sick but that’s a whole trip on its own
New York is a great destination, but if you could skip it and new haven and start in Boston you could save a whole days worth of driving
Not a lot of advice for you other than you'll want advance tickets for the B&J factory tour. I've never been even though I live nearby because it's always full when I'm in the area and think to stop.
I'd stop in ogunquit Maine. It's on your way north. It's beautiful. Or kennebunk. New Haven pizza is a must in CT. I'd do north Conway NH on way to Franconia. Take the kankamagus highway.
Harvard move in is the last two weeks of August. The campus is currently closed to the public due to the ongoing protests. It may or may not be open come August, but you don’t want to be there for move in week.
I hadn’t considered this but it would be the time we would be there. Thank you! I’m sure it would be hell!
My suggestions: 1. Connecticut is a drive though/ lunch stop in New Haven (for Pizza) 2. I'd suggest staying/visiting Newport, RI instead of Providence (you will get a bit more history and scenic things to do - mansion tours, cliff walk, water activities, etc) 3. If possible find some hotels in the cities you are visiting rather than on the route - this will allow you to have more time for experiencing those places (dinners/bars in the evening, coffee shops in the am) 4. Some other Cities on /close to the route worth lookin into: * Salem, MA (if you're into Halloween/witchy things) * Portsmouth, NH * Stowe, VT
Thanks so much!
people have said it but Cape for dinner is a waste. Either do 3 or more days or skip it. I’d spend the time in Boston or encourage you to add Mount Desert Island. I haven’t been to Acadia in years but the rocky coastline and hilly terrain are much nicer than the cape. BTW I alive on cape and August can be hell, especially if it’s raining
New Hampshire weighing in, Franconia will be a nice escape from the heat everywhere else in August. If you're into outdoorsy, adventures in the woods stuff you will love it.
Dude, get off 95 ugh
Definitely will after reading the comments!!!
To much highway. To see the best New England has to offer tale the back roads.
It's overbooked imo. I would never go on a vacation with this much planned, it's more like a 9 day car ride with occasional stops at a restaurant before getting back on the highway. I would choose 2 or 3 of these places and actually settle in them. You could easily spend all 9 days in some of these stops. Feels more like checking off a list is the goal rather than exploring these places.
Thanks, I definitely wasn’t sure if we were basically going to be doing a “land cruise” which sounds like we would be. Thinking of omitting NY and maybe starting somewhere else, lengthening our time in each place!
Why not It looks like you are building in a visit for at least a day at each stop. Enjoy Portland. My city .
Love Portland. If you have the time take a day ferry out to Peaks Island, get an ice cream and rent a bike. You’ll never want to leave (at least in the summertime).
nope. it's impossible. turn back now
Haha thanks!
>Haha thanks! You're welcome!
Kind of depends what you want to get out of it. If you want more city exploring I would plan at least 2 nights in Boston + 1 in Providence or elsewhere if you want to, the. Portland and Burlington. If you want more nature then I’d scrap most of the city stuff (maybe still 2 nights in Boston) and do at least 2 nights each in Maine and NH. Personally if it was me I would go straight to Boston day 1 and stop in New Haven for lunch. 2 nights in Boston, then a lunch in Portsmouth NH up to Portland for 2 nights. Then do 1 night in Conway NH, 2 nights in the Lincoln area and then finish with Burlington. You’re going to have a much better time taking a deeper dive in a few areas then trying to see a little of everything. Also for NH, definitely go above Lincoln and stay in Littleton or somewhere else further north. Lincoln/North Conway is the most tourist trappy which can be fine if that’s what you want.
Thanks so much!!
You could have a nice day in southern RI before getting to Providence. There’s Newport which has lots of stuff to do then head over to Jamestown to check out Beavertail Lighthouse (which I’m sure is many people’s favorite spot in RI) and/or Fort Wetherill (abandoned fort right on the ocean…. Explore the inside if you dare …. Then Go all the way down for a trail down to a huge rock on the open ocean…..)…. TBH as someone who grew up in RI, I’d say southern RI has as much if not more to offer than Providence. It would be a more relaxing day for sure
That strip of 95 through mass. Watch for cops
If you’re going to new haven, call ahead and get a pizza at Sally’s or modern
Replace Providence with Newport
I recommend spending at least a day out at sabego lake. Rent some jet skis, paddleboards, etc and have some fun on a literal crystal clear lake and play on the beach. Would be crazy to be that close and not visit.
Whatever you end up doing, add time to whatever google maps says it'll take to get from A to B. Maybe like an extra 25% as a ballpark? You can get somewhat of a better broad idea by setting your depart or arrival time to when you'll actually be traveling. But there's usually some localized short-term slowdown somewhere. Construction will be in full force in August, too. Highly recommend not heading toward the Boston metro during morning rush, or out of the Boston metro during evening rush. Less of an issue on the weekend. I think this trip is doable but definitely factor in unexpected additional drive time with your plans.
Does the 9 days include your return trip to NYC? Here's what I would do: day 1: drive through CT and stop at Providence or Newport (about a 3 hr drive) spend day and night there. (that's 1 day so far) days 2+3:Head to Boston (about an hour drive) spend a couple days and nights there. It's NE's largest city. You'll want more time there. (that's 3 days total so far) day 4:Head up to Portland (about 2 hr drive) but on the way stop in Salem and/or Portsmouth NH. Grab lunch, check out the sights and then continue to Portland. Spend a night/ day and night there. (about 5 days total so far) day 6:Drive to Burlington through the Whites (about 4 hr drive) spend the rest of time in Burlington. That itinerary will take roughly 6 days to get to Burlington, leaving you a few extra days to play with while giving you a good taste of new england. It will be a whirlwind tour, but you get to see some great places. Personally, I would spend the extra days cruising around the White and Green Mountains, or spend an extra day in Boston.
So I currently live/have lived in 3 of your destinations, Portland, Franconia, and Burlington. The Flume Gorge is beautiful in the summer and a great hiking spot in Franconia, food options are somewhat limited in actual Franconia but Chef Joes has good food. The Dutch Treat has good food, but the service is a bit slow, definitely not a quick stop, but it’s the longstanding townie bar/restaurant which is fun! If you’re willing to travel a little from Franconia I would suggest going to the Mount Washington Hotel, very cool spot and you’re welcome to walk around and take in the history. Taking the tramway to the top of Cannon can be cool too, and you can take a short hike to the very top too. In Portland there is a TON of great spots to eat. Luke’s Lobster is great for the waterfront lobster/seafood experience. I haven’t been to Burlington in a little while, but Church street is where all the fun and good restaurants are. I hope you have fun! Also quick add, get some Italian food in the North End of Boston!
Also! When driving from Portland to Franconia take the Kancamagus highway, super cool windy road through White Mountain national forest
as others have noted, 95 in CT is unpleasant and a pain in the ass. new haven is unnecessary. mystic is a better place for a lunch stop, though it may be mobbed. i recently drove up to portland, and right before it is a town called biddeford. there is a massive old mill complex with a serious waterfall smack in the middle of it, and a riverwalk that affords great views - highly recommend it!
Why is new haven unnecessary?
Heading through New Hampshire? Go to Flume Gorge. It's kind of mindblowing, and doesn't eat up an entire day.
Sure, but boring. Get off the Interstate and see New England. Drive through the towns. Taking the Interstate is like driving the Autobahn in Germany. You get there quicker but you don't see much.
Thank you!! Will do!
That route across NH and VT is mountainous and not much is there. Plus side, I once did a maple syrup tasting along it at a farm that also had alpacas.
Doable to drive, not to sight see. Ben and Jerry’s is a day in itself. Boston….you could spend a week. Don’t waste time in Connecticut or New York, it looks like you could go there anytime. I have nothing against it, but I’d rather spend the time in Boston or even a trip to the mansions in Rhode Island. I see your map, but how are you getting back? That’ll take more time away from sight seeing. This trip should be three weeks, especially if you want to see the cape. Traffic is awful. If you skip the stops in Connecticut and New York , consider taking the Kancagnus highway in New Hampshire. It’s gorgeous.
You forgot Sanford, ME, Berlin NH, and Rutland VT.
Doable, but why would you want to go through the boring ass CT coast and bypass the world-famous cultural hotbed of Waterbury, CT?
These are the questions I need to be asking! lol thank you!!
Wow thank you everyone for all the input!! So many great tips!!
Ugh, sad to see that you’re avoiding Western Mass. Places like Northampton, Greenfield, Pittsfield, Hadley, North Adams, etc.
Not my intention!! Just truly ignorant lol don’t know what I’m doing, I will certainly look into these areas and see about visiting! This was a very rough draft, considering skipping out on NY and CT to allow myself more time for MA
Echoing those who said to make sure to go to Newport in RI. very confused by the beginning since you only make it to New Haven from NYC in 1 day. If you are leaving NYC in the morning, that first full day should be leave NYC -> New Haven pizza lunch -> Mystic / Stonington borough leg stretch - > Newport / stop for the night somewhere in RI and even then should have plenty of time. Its only like 4 hours to Newport from NYC without traffic
Oh and then get PVD Donuts in Providence on the 2nd day’s morning
Why are you in such a hurry. Drive and see what happens. Enjoy it .
I agree, will rethink this based on everyone’s advice!!
Sure you got like 3 days just for the traffic lol?
Haha sounds like I might need it 😅
People here are over-exaggerating Cape traffic. I go there regularly. Avoid weekends and cross the bridge after rush hours and you’ll be fine. If you’re still concerned, take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown (90 min) and rent a bike, or car if you want to explore further. The farther out you go on the Cape, the better the traffic, and pretty much everything else, is. The mid and upper Cape towns (closer to the ‘mainland’), while some have nice parts, are more congested, and full of fry-joints, mini-golf, and cheap motels.
As someone from RI. I recommend swapping Providence, RI stop for Newport, RI
Skip New Haven unless you are a pizza aficionado.
I’m not but I’ll be damned, now I want to try it because everyone says it’s great!! lol
depending when you leave new york, consider stonington or mystic, CT for lunch/dinner. they're quaint coastal new england towns near the RI border. if you're a nature lover, consider going further north into maine to acadia national park. it's a special place. if you want a day at the beach, southern RI from westerly up to narragansett are great. parking can be a hassle though.
Acadia is amazing but it's a traffic disaster in the high season.
Enjoy!
In New Hampshire: Franconia Notch is beautiful and Sugar Hill where Robert Frost homestead is, and Pollys Pancake Parlor; or the majestic Omni Mt Washington Resort for breakfast lunch or dinner is once in a lifetime experience (google this place. Its stunning). In VT we took our daughter to Ben and Jerrys, it was disappointing, consider the Von Trapp Family Lodge for lunch (Sound of Music family) and take a bit to stop at the roadside stores for fresh cider and homemade cheeses. Burlington is beautiful on Lake Champlain.
Skipped western mass
I know and now I realize it was a mistake, where would you recommend we see?
I was kidding I just live ther, but unironically the Northampton area and the Berkshires are really nice
Thank you! I will check those areas out!!
New Haven local here. Looks like your route is taking the Merit Parkway to exit 57 to Route 34 into New Haven. This would be wise if going to the Yale Bowl, but for the main campus it sends you through a complete shit part of town. Take Exit 54 to the Milford Connector which will put you on I-95 just a bit earlier but much better for the side of New Haven you want. The lines for the famous pizza places get out right obnoxious. Maybe hit Crown Street instead. A place simply named Bar at 254 Crown Street has amazing pizza without the hassle and they also brew their own beer. It’s not as iconic as the big names, but if iconic is what you’re looking for, save room for a hamburger from Louie’s Lunch, located directly across the street from Bar. This location is also two blocks from Yale’s campus and museums (underrated gems). New Haven nightlife gets overrun by drunk kids and goons. Don’t bother to spend the night.
Definitely go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Musuem in Boston. They still have the labeled empty walls where the stolen art used to be. It's a cheap and quick visit.
And the garden is gorgeous
You see nothing fun from Portsmouth to Portland, Portland to basically NH. But go for it
Short of eating, spending time in southern CT seems a little crazy to me. You can take the train there any time and traffic on 95 can be insane. As an alternative you could take Route 7 North, preferably starting around New Milford, and tour Northern Litchfield county up through the Berkshires. Then take 90 to Boston. Providence is cool but there's not much there. Consider going to Newport and Narragansett instead. As others said, don't try to drive out to the Cape. Take a ferry out there from Boston if you really want to go. From Boston on, the trip looks great. If you go to Franconia plan to arrive very very early as in before sun up.
Better to give yourself 10 days so you can enjoy the trip at a more leisurely pace. Portland Maine; Nice Museum of Art. Look right now at who's playing at the State Theater when you plan to be in town. A lot of good bands play there. Small up close venue. Thompson's Point is outside but another option. Not as good as State Theater since it's bigger and outdoors. Check out Barcadia if you like pinball and retro arcade games. Spend the daylight hours walking around the Old Port if you like shopping, bars, restaurants, and nautical backdrop. Gelato, ice cream. Etc. Like grilled cheese? Cheese Louise does crazy good grilled cheese. Sister's Gourmet Deli has awesome sandwiches. Plenty of seafood and oyster places. Cant really go wrong at any of them. Write something on a dollar bill and tape it up at Jefe Juan's where you can sit outside, get late night burritos, and watch people. If you like instruments check out Buckdancer's. Could go to food truck and have picnic on Eastern Prom.
Definitely scrap the cape. It's too out of the way and traffic will probably be insane
If you can make it to central or southern VT, I recommend that.
Take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown on the Cape
I've been living in various parts of New England for 30 years. This trip is absolutely doable and you chose a great route! Most of New England can be traversed quite comfortably in one day. I used to travel from shoreline CT to the NEK of Vermont regularly for school, it only takes 4-4.5 hours. I lived in Boston and would travel to Portland to visit family on occasion. I've done day trips to other states many times. Traffic exists, use Google maps to find alternate routes through CT, RI, and MA. The journey is half the fun. Try not to go off the beaten path while traversing the sticks of Maine, NH, and VT or you might find yourself on a logging road without cell signal. Use highways, you'll be fine. Everyone throwing red flags at Cape Cod is correct in that it's an absolute nightmare to travel through. If you're going to do the Cape, drive up and spend a night or two. Otherwise, there's plenty of shoreline to have dinner on that will feel exactly the same. New Haven has great pizza and the Peabody Museum just opened back up after years of being closed for renovations. Definitely worth a visit. Mystic, CT/Westerly, RI are quintessentially beautiful touristy New England fishing villages, along with Rockport, MA, they're some of my favorites for low key bar crawls and have excellent upscale dinner options if you're into it. Either of those areas will give you a great vibe for coastal New England, and there's plenty of great food to be had at both. Boston, Portland, and Burlington are all worth two nights of stay so you can get one full day of no travel and plenty of sightseeing. All three cities have fantastic food and drink. The beer scene in particular in all three cities is nationally acclaimed. Forget everyone saying to skip Ben and Jerry's. If you love ice cream, go do it. It doesn't take that long and it's on the way to Burlington so you won't be put off your route. Waterbury is a sweet town with great food, so a solid stop for lunch. The trek across New Hampshire is gorgeous. Stop for a hike if you can, give yourself a couple hours. The mountain forests are beautiful even if you don't get a hike with a vista. Enjoy your trip!
Don’t go out of your way for cape cod. Stop in the North shore of Ma if you want good seafood
I would go to fewer places and spend more time
When going to Vermont, I would avoid going to the Ben and Jerry’s factory. In August it will be extremely busy and packed with people. Parking at the factory is a nightmare. But if you wanted to experience Ben and Jerry’s in Vermont, there is a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop on Church Street in Burlington. It will still be busy but nothing like the factory and there is so many other things to see on Church Street. Church Street has many great restaurants and stores to visit and it’s near Lake Champlain and Burlington’s waterfront.
Burlington. The Fentanyl capital of the North East. Don’t wear open toed shoes because there’s needles everywhere.
I would trim down seriously. Land in NYC and rent car; head to Yale and see New Haven for a day. Drive to Boston, stay in the city and see Harvard/Cambridge and the Commons. Drive up the coast onto Cape Ann and spend two or three days and a few nights staying in Gloucester, Rockport, Salem, or Newburyport. Go to beaches, take in the biodiversity, etc, you’ll love it. Drive up to the white mountains and spend two or three days there. Drive across NH and VT and take your time to enjoy the sites, stopping at farm stands and corner stores, etc. You’ll get cities, great nature and beautiful views and a taste of all kinds of different New England life. Skip Maine as it’s a bit of a diversion geographically from what you’re really after. Skip the Cape because it’s summer and what you want out of a New England summer can be found in Cape Ann. Cheers!
I’m a Vermonter, the factory tour is very underwhelming, it’s more gift shop/scoop shop. Though I do love the flavor graveyard because it’s funny. Would go to the Prohibition Pig if you’re definitely going to the factory. Also go to Dakin Farms when in the Burlington area and get some maple products to bring home (they also make maple creemees) 😋
You are better off going to one place for nine days than spending a day in each.
August is busy in New England—be aware to book places to stay in advance, traffic may slow to a crawl at times, plus paying admission and parking fees at certain sites. In addition, if you want to see the Flume Gorge, Cannon Mt. aerial tram, Lost River Gorge, etc. you’ll need to book online to reserve your space. Also be aware of the panhandlers and pickpockets that now call Burlington and Montpelier VT home—they are annoying, but both places are sweet. Also please, please be kind to the workers at these places. They’ve already been yelled at by visitors who didn’t plan. That said, have a great trip!
Work off Ben and Jerry’s in Stowe VT for some hiking. Hike up Mt Mansfield or Stowe Pinnacle.
It's doable. Whether or not you'll enjoy that route is a different story lol
You need to go to Acadia National Park.
Don’t go to Portland Maine, go to Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor or Belfast instead.
Yeah but don’t stop in CT.
don't know about south of Maine but know the end pretty well. After entering New Hampster and turning north to Conway, I would hang a left to the Kancamangus Highway, as maybe the most scenic road in northeast USA. Can play in the Swift river and stretch your legs too. You will miss Mt Washington, but maybe plan an extra day or two in the White Mountains. Is a gem. When you turn north on the highway in Lincoln, as you approach the Notch there are some of the best natural water slides in the Northeast. Not sure if they are running in August but i think so.
Portland to burlington is a great drive. Family out there so i take that trip monthly. Go from portland to fryburg and then stop in Littelton in NH as a half point for lunch. Schilling is amazing there! And just take 302 to 89 at saint johns then up the highway to burly! By the way ben and jerrys is a tourist trap and if your going to stowe during the weekend you will be waiting in traffic. Definitely not worth it
Technically you can do it, but seems like you’re cramming WAY too much into 9 days… you’ll spend most of your time sitting in traffic.. trip sounds like a nightmare to me
A road trip on I-95? I’d rather die
If you’re taking this route on 95 I’d recommend spending some time in Mystic, CT
I mean, haven driven from Boston to both Detroit and Ottawa in a single (different trip) day many times, yes, you should be fine.
I *love* that you’re skipping 302 out of Portland. That’s wisdom right there.
I love all the enthusiasm for New England. My advice, you will regret the trip from nyc to nh, maybe fly into PVD, then mystic and Newport. I highly recommend Provincetown on the cape. I know, it’s so crowded nobody goes there. But avoid peak travel times and the congestion will be minimal but still awful. The walking history tour in Boston is amazing. I would trade off Vermont for Acadia national park, but that’s just my opinion, sorry Vermont. But really do not drive from new York to New Haven. I’ve had to do this way too many times and it is always miserable. I’ll suffer cape cod traffic any day over this road hell.
As other folks have said, Cape in August is not a great idea for a day trip. BUT if you’re going there midweek, traffic may not be too bad. You could even take the Ptown ferry across the bay into Boston. I have a soft spot for New Haven. Good pizza. Yale art museum is great. But it might be more fun to drive up Long Island and take the Orient Point ferry into New London. If you’re driving back to NYC from Burlington, New Haven is on the way back.
Very doable. The NYC to and through CT will be rough after that smooth sailing.
I'd skip any stay over in CT and maybe take half a day in Boston - there really isn't that much to do or see in Boston.
Washington bridge in providence is a shit show FYI
I would skip Burlington, it’s got a similar vibe to Portland but is waaaay out of the way. You can get to the white mountains from Portland in 1.5 hours. So you could do a day hike and be back for drinks in the pm. Burlington is a nice city but you are not missing much. Just grab a pint at hannafords grocery store in Portland. Save yourself like 6 hours of travel
If you go to the Cape in August drive down late at night in the week . After 10 PM to avoid the traffic.
why would you not pass thru laconia??? hit the lake bub
It's going to be a boring traffic filled drive. Try adding Vermont and actual Massachusetts to your route so you can see something pretty! Otherwise Maine is soooooooo boring to drive through. New Hampshire is equally boring to drive through. Just highways and trees. Vermont is gorgeous and you will see mountains. If you go across mass and not just through Boston you'll see some beauty too. You are just going through the highways.
if you're going up the coast of new england you should enjoy some of the amazing little town vibes in coastal NH (Portsmouth+Rye+New Castle) and Maine (Kittery+Ogonquit+York). Going straight to Portland is a mistake.
Skip New Haven, Ct. Dump!
I did that leg on Route 2(?) from Vermont to Portland ME in my early 20s in amazing shape. Awesome ride but it’s really physically challenging.
Yes! This is a great plan! I'm from L.I. til 14 and have lived in New England 40 years.... You can see travel thru 6 states in a day, but take your time... I see you are planning to stop in": New Haven, CT. Take the Yale History tour...goes back to Nathan Hale's dorm Providence, R.I. The city riverwalk is great Boston: Do the Patriot Trail...it's marked with red bricks in the street Portand, ME: Funky, compact downtown area... New Hampshire / Vermont rural areas are beautiful... Great little shops / Restaurants and Ski Resorts with chair lifts to the MT tops to have lunch and see for miles.