National Parks of the East in 2022

[Utahtea]

I'm in the very beginning stages of planning a 2022 Fall trip to the East Coast. This will be an RV trip in a motorhome towing a Jeep with our friends in their own RV. We like beautiful scenery, hiking, beaches, waterfalls, light houses and historical places. The timing of most of these parks will most likely be late July to mid August.

The National Parks that I need information on are:

Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. We have visited Voyageurs once back in 2000 and only had one day but it was before the boating season started so we didn't get to really experience the park. We plan on several days in the area. How long do we need to really see this park? Which part of the park do you recommend? What not to miss? Have you ever seen the Northern lights here? We were going to try and time a new moon for this park. If you know of any campgrounds with electrical and maybe water hook ups nearby.

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. I realize this will include a day boat trip and we were thinking of doing it from Grand Portage, Michigan.

Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

If you know of any campgrounds with electrical and maybe water hook ups in or nearby any of these parks.

Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Utahtea

[AZBuck]

As a former resident of the East Coast (DE, MD, NH, ME) I wouldn't call any of your targets so far a "National Park of the East". I'd also have to ask if you're interested in other parts of the (small letters) national parks system other than the designated (capitals) National Parks. If so, there are some great examples of such in the Midwest.

My parents grew up in Wisconsin. We'd visit every other year and most of my cousins are still there. So locations such as Apostle Islands, Picture Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores, and the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway are well within striking distance of places already on your itinerary, and well worth any slight detour to get to them.

I often recommend slightly off-the-beaten-path or lesser-known attractions over the ones that are on every other tourist's 'must see' list. The Great Lakes region is no exception. When you start with the advantage of all those woods and all that water frontage, it's hard to go wrong.

AZBuck

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Utahtea.

This sounds like a fun trip to look forward to ! It also seems like a lenghty one as you say a Fall trip but will arrive to the parks in late July to mid August ! (?) I cant help with specifics in this area but the National parks web pages have lots of info on things to do and what to expect in the parks. On this page you can look in surrounding communities for campgrounds around Voyageurs NP.

Dave.

[Utahtea]

As a former resident of the East Coast (DE, MD, NH, ME) I wouldn't call any of your targets so far a "National Park of the East". I'd also have to ask if you're interested in other parts of the (small letters) national parks system other than the designated (capitals) National Parks. If so, there are some great examples of such in the Midwest.

My parents grew up in Wisconsin. We'd visit every other year and most of my cousins are still there. So locations such as Apostle Islands, Picture Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores, and the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway are well within striking distance of places already on your itinerary, but well worth any slight detour to get to them.

I often recommend slightly off-the-beaten-path or lesser-known attractions over the ones that are on every other tourist's 'must see' list. The Great Lakes region is no exception. When you start with the advantage of all those woods and all that water frontage, it's hard to go wrong.

AZBuck

AZBuck,

Thank you for all the information. Yes, we want to experience other great locations and I love all your suggestions. I'm not sure of the route yet as far as Wisconsin and Michigan goes. We might be headed south from Isle Royal to see friends in Minnesota, then to St. Louis to see family, but that's just a BIG maybe at this point. From there it's to the East Coast so I'd be interested to learn the places you like for DE, MD, NH & ME and VT if you have any of those too. We've been to all those states but we had a much more limited time last time.

Our plan is to get to the east coast and then go north to see Maine, then try to time NH & VT for fall color and then head south before coming back home to California.

Utahtea

[AZBuck]

As it happens, my niece is getting married next month outside Wilmington DE. While I'm back east for that, I'll be going down to northern Virginia (DC area) and back. Most of what's in that area are historical sites: Constitution Hall and Liberty Bell in Philly, Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the National Mall and Government District in DC. I'll be sticking to much smaller venues such as the C&D Canal Museum and Terrapin Nature Park on the Eastern Shore, and horse country in northeastern Maryland. I have no intention of going anywhere near I-95.

Farther north, in New England, Acadia National Park is an obvious stop, but as you travel through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, try to route your drive through at least a couple of the steep-sided valleys, known as 'notches' locally, such as Smuggler's Notch in Vermont, Crawford Notch in New Hampshire, Evans Notch in Maine and others, most with paved roads, a few without. Their steep sides mean that the foliage vistas are above you, in plain view as you drive.

AZBuck

[DonnaR57]

You can check the Camping In/Near US National Parks forum thread, for the public campgrounds. I know you're looking for EW hookups, which may or may not be available.

My first thought, too, was "these are Midwest national parks". If you go to St Louis, the Gateway Arch has now become a national park (rather than a national monument).

When I think of Eastern USA national parks, I think of Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Cuyahoga Valley, Everglades, and Congaree National Parks.


Donna

[AZBuck]

Utah - I looked up an old RoadTrip Report from four years ago. Enjoy!

Now if I can just find the post that describes my back road method for getting around NYC...

AZbuck

[AZBuck]

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to search through ALL my old posts, just those threads that I started (as above) or had bookmarked, but I can lay out the route around NYC I mentioned if you so desire. I think with your rig it might be useful and quite worth looking at. It avoids the Delaware Memorial Bridge (toll), the New Jersey Turnpike (toll) the George Washington Bridge (toll) and the Cross-Bronx Parkway (horrendous traffic and potholes), but does require some urban beltways, and a navigator would come in very handy. If you want me to repeat it I will (and bookmark it this time). In the meantime, here are a couple of other New England discussions for your edification:

Down the coast from Boston (That's 'up' the coast for non-Mainiacs)
A Fall trip to northern New England

AZBuck

[AZBuck]

Here's a link to a post describing my basic route around NYC if you'd like to use it. It's in the third paragraph.

AZBuck

[BillyGr]

Here's a link to a post describing my basic route around NYC if you'd like to use it. It's in the third paragraph.

AZBuck

Just to note (since this was posted in 2005) - 206 in NJ is still an option, but the last time we went that way (probably 5 years ago now) it seemed to be a bit slower than it had been before (more lights and intersections.

Also note that just before that, the I-295 part may (or may not) be the same, as they changed some of the numbering when the connection from I-95 was made to the PA Turnpike extension that goes to the NJ Turnpike. Thinking it may not impact the part you described, but worth a glance just to be sure.

Also if time was a concern, connecting to the NY Thruway (I-87) North from I-287 up to I-84 (Exit 15-17) would be an option (still tolled but now cashless so no stopping), but not as scenic as what you describe.