Best Route from Montreal to Acadia NP

[JeffGH]

Hello,

I'll apologize up front if I mess something up, but I'm new to the website and to posting threads.

We are planning a family trip from Michigan to Acadia NP with a layover in Montreal. We are pulling a 20 ft camper and are trying to figure out the best route to get from Montreal to Acadia NP. Many of the mapping tools out there take us on 10 to Sherbrooke and then 212/27 into Bangor and then 1A on down to the NP. It's definetly the shortest route, but if it is really hilly and curvy I'm not sure it is a good route of us.

Any suggestions on routes to get from Montreal to Acadia NP?

Of course some hillyness is expected and not a problem, but a lot of it can be tiring and hard on the brakes.

Thanks for any feedback,
Jeff

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

You said, "a lot of it can be tiring and hard on the brakes". I have towed many, many times, and the best word I can use is DOWNSHIFT. If you have an E4OD tranny, take it out of OD which downshifts the transmission to 3rd. If you have an automatic tranny, use 2nd gear to avoid burning out your brakes.

I am sure someone will comment about your routing, as I don't happen to have a (paper) map in front of me.

Donna

[AZBuck]

Fortunately for you, the shortest route from Montréal to Bar Harbor goes around most of the 'mountains' that are between those two points, mostly the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and the Longfellow Mountains of western Maine. Unfortunately, however, that shortest route is mostly on somewhat lesser-driven two lane roads, especially once you cross into the United States. From Montréal take the Eastern Townships Autoroute (A-10) to Exit 143 and then take QC-610 east around Sherbrooke and then pick up QC-112 east to Westbury. Next take QC-212/QC-161 to the border where the road becomes ME-27. That will in turn duplex with ME-16 which you will follow when the two roads split again in Kingfield.

Now it gets a bit 'complicated'. About 15 miles down the road from Kingfield, ME-16 will hit ME-8. Turn right onto ME-8/US-201A and follow that all the way to Madison ME. Shortly before Madison, you will also pick up ME-148. When ME-8/US-201A make a right in Madison, you go straight ahead to remain on ME-148. Six miles later you will come to US-201 where you will make a right (south) towards Skowhegan At Skowhegan, make a left onto US-2 east and follow that to Newport and get on I-95 north to Bangor. At Bangor, take I-395 east to US-1A t Elsworth where (finally!) ME-3 will take you the rest of the way south to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park..

I know that seems like a lot to remember, and it is. But check it out on a good set of maps and it will all make sense. And, of course, you will bring directions and maps with you, no? And not just rely on GPS.

AZBuck

[JeffGH]

Fortunately for you, the shortest route from Montréal to Bar Harbor goes around most of the 'mountains' that are between those two points, mostly the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and the Longfellow Mountains of western Maine. Unfortunately, however, that shortest route is mostly on somewhat lesser-driven two lane roads, especially once you cross into the United States. From Montréal take the Eastern Townships Autoroute (A-10) to Exit 143 and then take QC-610 east around Sherbrooke and then pick up QC-112 east to Westbury. Next take QC-212/QC-161 to the border where the road becomes ME-27. That will in turn duplex with ME-16 which you will follow when the two roads split again in Kingfield.

Now it gets a bit 'complicated'. About 15 miles down the road from Kingfield, ME-16 will hit ME-8. Turn right onto ME-8/US-201A and follow that all the way to Madison ME. Shortly before Madison, you will also pick up ME-148. When ME-8/US-201A make a right in Madison, you go straight ahead to remain on ME-148. Six miles later you will come to US-201 where you will make a right (south) towards Skowhegan At Skowhegan, make a left onto US-2 east and follow that to Newport and get on I-95 north to Bangor. At Bangor, take I-395 east to US-1A t Elsworth where (finally!) ME-3 will take you the rest of the way south to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park..

I know that seems like a lot to remember, and it is. But check it out on a good set of maps and it will all make sense. And, of course, you will bring directions and maps with you, no? And not just rely on GPS.

AZBuck

Thanks AZBuck! Just looking it over on Google maps and and I can follow along. I will be sure to plot and bring it on a paper map. Glad to hear it is not super hilly. I'm guessing from you knowledge of the roads, you've driven it before or spent some time in the area.