Michigan to Maine

[jburch921]

Hello everyone. I'm planning a trip from Michigan to Quechee, Vermont than to Bar Harbor, Maine in the fall. I'm not quite sure if we'll be able to travel thru Canada at this point, can someone please give me some advice on some alternate scenic routes to take? and a possible nice area to stay the night between Michigan and Quechee, Vermont?

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

I don't quite share your pessimism regarding the opening of the US-/Canada border. As cases and deaths continue to decline, even in the face of the delta variant, and vaccination rates continue to increase, I think both countries will want to open the border sooner rather than later. We simply rely on each other too much to allow those who refuse to be vaccinated no matter what to control everyone else's destiny. In that case, and depending on where, exactly, you're starting from in Michigan, your overnight stop to Quechee would be around Syracuse, perhaps somewhere at the northern tip of one of the Finger Lakes on the 'thumb', Oneida Lake if you're looking for scenery.

On the other hand, if the border indeed stays closed, and again depending on where you're starting from in Michigan, you could easily need two overnight stops. We simply can't be too much more precise on timing without knowing your starting point - 'Michigan' is simply too big and vague. However, if the border is closed, you will have to drop south of Lake Erie and therein lies the rub. If 'getting there' is important, then you'll have no choice but to use the Ohio Turnpike and New York State Thruway, both toll and heavily used by trucks, and neither terribly scenic. You could take a more scenic route, basically following US-20 rather than the Interstates but that would up your driving time into a third day on the 'Michigan' to Quechee leg. From Glenns Falls NY to Quechee the obvious route of choice is US-4 through the Green Mountains.

Quechee to Bar Harbor would be a relatively easy day's drive and I'd suggest that you stay inland rather than following the route suggested by most mapping routines to drop down to the coast near Portsmouth NH and take US-1/I-95 from there. That's a nice route, but again it's toll and subject to heavy truck/tourist traffic. Instead look at some 'back roads'. I'd probably lean towards US-4/NH-118/NH-25 through Plymouth to NH-175/US-3 around Squam Lake then NH-258 back onto NH-25 around Ossipee lake to Standish ME and ME-35 around Sebago Lake to North Windham and ME-115 to US-202 all the way to and through Augusta (again eschewing I-95). ME-3 would then take you to Belfast and US-1/ME-3 for the final run into Bar Harbor.

Again, while I can be fairly specific about the Quechee to Bar Harbor route (I lived in New Hampshire and Maine for many years) details on the 'Michigan' to Quechee route would need a more precise jumping off location.

AZBuck

[Mass Tim]

While traffic on I-95 into Maine was relatively calm a few weeks back when I went to Old Orchard Beach, I suspect that will not be the case for long and I'd second the recommendations you are getting here.

As far as your starting point, the closer of an idea you can provide of your starting location, the better the recommendations are likely to be.

[BillyGr]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

However, if the border is closed, you will have to drop south of Lake Erie and therein lies the rub. If 'getting there' is important, then you'll have no choice but to use the Ohio Turnpike and New York State Thruway, both toll and heavily used by trucks, and neither terribly scenic. You could take a more scenic route, basically following US-20 rather than the Interstates but that would up your driving time into a third day on the 'Michigan' to Quechee leg. From Glenns Falls NY to Quechee the obvious route of choice is US-4 through the Green Mountains.

Quechee to Bar Harbor would be a relatively easy day's drive and I'd suggest that you stay inland rather than following the route suggested by most mapping routines to drop down to the coast near Portsmouth NH and take US-1/I-95 from there. That's a nice route, but again it's toll and subject to heavy truck/tourist traffic. Instead look at some 'back roads'. I'd probably lean towards US-4/NH-118/NH-25 through Plymouth to NH-175/US-3 around Squam Lake then NH-258 back onto NH-25 around Ossipee lake to Standish ME and ME-35 around Sebago Lake to North Windham and ME-115 to US-202 all the way to and through Augusta (again eschewing I-95). ME-3 would then take you to Belfast and US-1/ME-3 for the final run into Bar Harbor.
AZBuck

There is also need to connect from the Thruway or US 20 to Glens Falls and then US 4.
There are probably some options there to go more of an "angle" than the standard of Thruway to Albany and then Northway (plus the ability to avoid that area which gets heavy traffic at times). Maybe NY 29 from Johnstown to Saratoga or 67 from Amsterdam to Ballston would be a thought.

In Maine it might also be a scenic option to get onto 1 a bit further South (somewhere north of Portland, whatever is easiest) and follow that up, as that section runs basically along the coast and offers some interesting points/sites to stop for breaks (if that is desired).

[AZBuck]

Canada announced on Friday that the Toronto Blue Jays could return to their home field for the first time in nearly two years starting July 30, and that the other MLB teams would be allowed into the country to play them. While this was done as a National Interest Exemption to the Quarantine Act, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier in the week that restrictions could end in mid-August. Fingers crossed for your tip.

AZBuck

[AZBuck]

Canada announced Monday (July 19) that it will begin letting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada on Aug. 9...Officials said the 14-day quarantine requirement will be waived as of Aug. 9 for eligible travelers who are currently residing in the United States and have received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada.

[DonnaR57]

Just be sure to carry your proof-of-vaccination card.


Donna

[AZBuck]

Although Canada has announced that it will open its border with the US to fully-vaccinated travelers on August 9th, the United States yesterday (July 21st) announced that it will NOT open the border to non-essential travelers until August 21st.

...and so it goes.

AZbuck