Who’s ready to get this road trip started??
If you read my last post, 48 State Road Trip, then you know that I have ambitiously decided that road tripping across the United States is a great idea.
Now, I am going to delve into the actual route for this trip. I think it would ultimately be best to split it up into a couple of road trips, so as to not be on the road for such a long time. This would allow for a much needed rest period and would be a good time for any routine vehicle maintenance.
For the first trip of this series, I would be starting in Chicago, heading East to tackle the New England states (while making stops along the way) and then returning back to Chicago.
My dream scenario would be to travel with a tiny house on the back of a pick up or in a Class C RV. I am not very experienced with either of these, so I would definitely need to do my research before deciding which one is best for my needs. A great book that can help with this decision, though, can be found below. It explains the ins and outs of living tiny, how to ditch clutter and the benefits of a simplistic lifestyle.
Now, without further adieu lets dive into the route for this road trip! This would be about a 92 day road trip, making it just about 3 months long. There would be 38 destinations and some of them are pictured below so that you can visually see the route!
Start: Chicago, Illinois
I will be starting in Chicago, since that is where I am from. As a result, I will not be doing any site seeing and will simply be heading straight to my first destination!
Destination 1: Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
From Chicago to Indiana Dunes, the drive would be about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The Indiana Dunes extend 15 miles along Lake Michigan and are a fun place to take a hike and relax on the beach. There are also campgrounds nearby to spend the night. This destination would just be a 1 day stop.
Destination 2: Cleveland, Ohio
From the Indiana Dunes to Cleveland, the drive would be about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Once there I would explore downtown, go to Edgewater Park and see the “A Christmas Story” house. This destination would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 3: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
From Cleveland to Cuyahoga Valley, the drive would be about 30 minutes. The national park has twenty-two miles of the Cuyahoga River run through it, making it a beautiful scene. This destination would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 4: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
From Cuyahoga Valley to Pittsburgh, the drive is about 1 hour and 50 minutes. While here I would like to explore downtown, Strip District, Duquesne Incline, and Point State Park. This destination would be a 3-4 day stop.
Destination 5: Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania
From Pittsburgh to Pine Creek Gorge, the drive would be about 4 hours. This is a 47-mile gorge carved into the Allegheny Plateau with plenty of sights to see. This destination would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 6: Niagara Falls, New York
From Pine Creek Gorge to Niagara Falls, the drive is about 3 hours and 15 minutes. This natural wonder of the world is a definite stop on this trip. Taking a guided tour is a must. This destination would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 7: Finger Lakes Region, New York
From Niagara Falls to Finger Lakes, the drive would be about 2 hours. This region has a number of state parks, one being Watkins Glen State Park. It is also known for its many wineries and wine tours. This destination would be a 3-4 day stop.
Destination 8: Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont
From Finger Lakes to Green Mountain, the drive would be about 4 hours and 30 minutes. You have to drive past Albany, New York, so a stop would definitely be made there along the way. Once at Green Mountain, I would spend the day hiking and keeping my fingers crossed that I saw a Moose! This destination would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 9: Quechee Gorge, Vermont
From Green Mountain to Quechee Gorge, the drive would be about 1 hours and 30 minutes. This gorgeous gorge is a must see! This would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 10: White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
From Quechee Gorge to White Mountains, the drive would be about 4 hours and 30 minutes. These are apart of the Appalachian Mountains and are the most rugged mountains in New England. This destination would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 11: Camden, Maine
From White Mountain to Camden, the drive would be about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Since you have to drive past the capital, Augusta, I would definitely stop there on the way. Camden is on Penobscot Bay and has a historic district. It is an adorable coastal town! This destination would be a 3 day stop.
Destination 12: Acadia National Park, Maine
From Camden to Acadia, the drive would be about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Acadia is an absolutely beautiful national park along the Atlantic coastline. This would be a 2-3 stop.
Destination 13: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
From Acadia to Portsmouth, the drive would be about 3 hours and 30 minutes. I would also stop in Portland, Maine since it is on the way. Portsmouth is full of charm and history! This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 14: Boston, Massachusetts
From Portsmouth to Boston, the drive would be about 1 hour. While in Boston I would explore downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Boston Public Garden, Boston Harbor, and The Paul Revere House. This destination would be a 4-5 day stop.
Destination 15: Plymouth, Massachusetts
From Boston to Plymouth, the drive would be just about 40 minutes. This is a coastal town that is the site of the first Pilgrim settlement. This destination would be a 1-2 day stop.
Destination 16: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
From Plymouth to Cape Cod, the drive would be a short 35 minutes. With beautiful beaches and whale watching, Cape Cod is a must see destination on this road trip. This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 17: Nantucket, Massachusetts
From Boston I would take a short ferry ride to Nantucket for the day. Here I would explore the quaint town and visit the beaches. This is simply a day trip!
Destination 18: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
From Boston I would then drive to Woods Hole which is about 45 minutes away. From there I would hop on a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for the day. Once there, I would take a trolley tour, see Aquinnah Cliffs, and visit the beaches. This would be a day trip and I would spend the night near Woods Hole.
Destination 19: Providence, Rhode Island
From Woods Hole to Providence, the drive would be about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Here I would visit the Riverwalk and Brown University. I would also take a downtown driving tour and take a historic walking tour. This would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 20: Devil’s Hopyard State Park, Conneticut
From Providence to Devil’s Hopyard, the drive would be about 1 hour and 20 minutes. This park includes many hiking trails and breath taking waterfalls. This destination would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 21: East Rock Park, Connecticut
From Devil’s Hopyard to East Rock, the drive would be only about 50 minutes. This park has views of Long Island Sound and Harbor as well as a bird sanctuary. This park is also only 4 minutes from Yale University, so I would also go there. Between the two, this would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 22: New York City, New York
From East Rock to NYC, the drive would be roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes. I would of course hit the highlights such as the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, and the Brooklyn Bridge. I would also like to really immerse myself into the city by exploring smaller, unique neighborhoods. With so much to see in NYC, this would definitely be a 6-7 day stop.
Destination 23: Atlantic City, New Jersey
From NYC to Atlantic City, the drive would be about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Once here, I would visit the popular boardwalk and beaches. This would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 24: Cape May, New Jersey
From Atlantic City to Cape May, the drive would be about 50 minutes. In Cape May I would explore Washington Street, visit the Cape May lighthouse and spend the day relaxing on the beach. This would also be a 2 day stop.
Destination 25: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
From Cape May to Philadelphia, the drive would be about 1 hour and 40 minutes. In Philadelphia I would visit the Eastern State Penitentiary, the famous “Rocky” steps, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. This would be 3-4 day stop.
Destination 26: New Castle Historic District, Delaware
From Philadelphia to New Castle, the drive would be about 45 minutes. Here, I would visit the Old New Castle Courthouse and the Delaware Historical Society’s Read House and Gardens. This would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 27: Assateague Island, Maryland
From New Castle to Assateague Island, the drive would be about 2 hours. Once there, I would go see the many wild horses roaming the islands beaches. This would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 28: Colonial Annapolis Historic District, Maryland
From Assateague Island to Colonial Annapolis Historic District, the drive would be about 2 hours and 10 minutes. This quaint town is rich in history and I would spend the day taking a tour. This would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 29: Baltimore, Maryland
From Colonial Annapolis Historic District to Baltimore, the drive would only be about 40 minutes. In Baltimore I would explore downtown, visit Fort McHenry, go to the Historic Ships, visit Babe Ruth’s Birthplace and Museum, and visit the Hampton National Historic Site. This would be a 3-4 day stop.
Destination 30: Great Falls National Park, Virginia
From Baltimore to Great Falls, the drive would be about 55 minutes. The Great Falls are a perfect opportunity to explore both history and nature at the same time. This would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 31: Richmond, Virginia
From the Great Falls to Richmond, the drive would be about 1 hour and 50 minutes. In Richmond I would explore downtown, visit the state capital building, Maymont gardens, the American Civil War Museum, and the Hollywood Cemetery. This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 32: Williamsburg, Virginia
From Richmond to Williamsburg, the drive would be about 50 minutes. Since this town is rich in history, I would visit the historic district and museum. I would also visit Jamestown and Yorktown (the “Historic Triangle”). This would be a 2 day stop.
Destination 33: Virginia Beach, Virginia
From Williamsburg to Virginia Beach, the drive would be about 1 hour. This coastal city has a 3 mile boardwalk and miles of beaches. This destination would be a 1-2 day stop.
Destination 34: New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
From Virginia Beach to New River Gorge, the drive would be about 5 hours and 50 minutes. This gorge is quite scenic and has a picturesque bridge above the whitewater river. This would be a 1 day stop.
Destination 35: Cincinnati, Ohio
From New River Gorge to Cincinnati, the drive would be about 4 hours and 20 minutes. Once here, I would explore downtown, go see the Ohio River, and go to the Finlay Market. This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 36: Louisville, Kentucky
From Cincinnati to Louisville, the drive would be about 2 hours. In Louisville I would sight see in downtown, go to the Louisville Slugger Museum, and visit Churchill Downs. This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 37: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
From Louisville to Mammoth Cave, the drive would be about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system known in the world and has breathtaking views. This would be a 2-3 day stop.
Destination 38: Springfield, Illinois
From Mammoth Cave to Springfield, the drive would be about 5 hours and 30 minutes. In Springfield I would visit the Old State Capital, Lincoln’s Home, the Lincoln Monument and Washington Park. This destination would be a 1-2 day stop.
End: Chicago, Illinois
From Springfield to Chicago, the drive would be about 3 hours. This would be the end of my New England road trip!
If I am missing any must see destinations, please let me know in the comments below!