Community Forums

TCollins · 03-03-2019, 09:09 AM

Planning a trip to the Bar Harbor area in September or October from NW Ohio. Eventually I will hit 95 going north. I was thinking of exiting 95 at Brunswick, ME and following US1 north to Ellsworth then head south down into Bar Harbor.

Is US1 an acceptable highway for a 30' MH with toad? Don't care about making time but it sure looks like a scenic route.

Would appreciate comments from those of you who are familiar with this route.

ME for Maine · 03-03-2019, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCollins

Planning a trip to the Bar Harbor area in September or October from NW Ohio. Eventually I will hit 95 going north. I was thinking of exiting 95 at Brunswick, ME and following US1 north to Ellsworth then head south down into Bar Harbor.

Is US1 an acceptable highway for a 30' MH with toad? Don't care about making time but it sure looks like a scenic route.

Would appreciate comments from those of you who are familiar with this route.

Ye, by all means take this route. September or October traffic should not be too bad and there’s lots more to see on this route than staying on the interstate. Stop in Camden and take the toad to the top of Mt Battie for a spectacular view of Camden Harbor and the coast. You will not regret it!

IC2 · 03-03-2019, 10:46 AM

US 1 is fine but be aware that if you enter the state in the Kittery area that travel can be kinda slow as there are quite a few towns. I would NOT go through Portland on US 1 but pick up I95/295 and bypass then pick up US 1 at Freeport (think LL Bean and a great place to spend some time and lots of money). From Freeport to Bar Harbor - clear sailing. The road from US1 to Bar Harbor is easily navigated but is twisty and can be very slow, especially on a weekend. Bar Harbor is tough to navigate though years back did it towing a 35' 5th wheel

Gladie · 03-03-2019, 12:11 PM

That’s exactly what we did last September. We got off 95 in the Boothbay Area and stayed at Shores Hill Campground for one night. Then headed north to Acadia on Route 1 with our 32 ft coach towing a Jeep. It was very easy, no traffic and much more scenic than 95.

rkresge · 03-03-2019, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCollins

Planning a trip to the Bar Harbor area in September or October from NW Ohio. Eventually I will hit 95 going north. I was thinking of exiting 95 at Brunswick, ME and following US1 north to Ellsworth then head south down into Bar Harbor.

Is US1 an acceptable highway for a 30' MH with toad? Don't care about making time but it sure looks like a scenic route.

Would appreciate comments from those of you who are familiar with this route.

US 1 should be just fine in Sept., and it will be scenic, but do expect it to be a little tight in places like Rockland, Camden, and even Bucksport. In the summer you would hit some backups in places like Wiscasset (be sure to stop at Red's Eats there, if it's open).
There's so much to see along that whole US 1 route to Ellsworth that it's impossible to list it all. Almost every town on and near US 1 has cool stuff. Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, Camden, and more. Be sure to check out the observatory at the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge, too.
We're doing that route in early June, with a couple of nights at Shore Hills (Boothbay), and a week at Bucksport (KOA). We have family near there, and it's easy to get to both Acadia/Bar Harbor and Bangor.
2 years ago did that in mid Oct., unfortunately after all the campgrounds closed. Fall foliage is cool.
Good luck!
Roger

lancslad · 03-03-2019, 09:16 PM

Don't forget to stop at "Red's Eats" on Rt 1 in Wiscasset ME. Best lobstah rolls in the world. Its on the left at the bottom of the hill.

rkresge · 03-04-2019, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancslad

Don't forget to stop at "Red's Eats" on Rt 1 in Wiscasset ME. Best lobstah rolls in the world. Its on the left at the bottom of the hill.

Yeah, and it's also kinda hard to miss with the lines around the block!

Roger

PanJH · 03-04-2019, 06:32 AM

we do that route every year in our 43'mh towing a pickup . No issues

Superslif · 03-04-2019, 12:19 PM

We did that trip last Sept as well, except taking I-95 to route 3 to Ellsworth then onto Bar Harbor. What ever you do don't let the Visitor Center in Bar Harbor direct you to drive your RV thru downtown Bar Harbor to get to our campground the Blackwoods Campground. I should have known better. Even in Sept. Bar Harbor was busy and has very narrow streets.

Use the free national park shuttle bus as it saves the headache of finding a parking spot both in downtown Bar Harbor and inside the park along the coastal road.

Route 1 north of Acadia NP. did have some rough road sections and two major construction zones. We did two weeks in Acadia and then a week in New Brunswick Canada. Made it a 6 week trip from our home in NE. Ohio.

Would I plan another Acadia trip? Yes. Would I do it in the summer? No way, I couldn't imagine the summer season traffic from Bucksport / Ellsworth and then south into the Mt. Desert Peninsula...Especially loved our second week at Schoodic Woods National Park Campground.

doc · 03-04-2019, 12:23 PM

What IC2 said

MainelyScott · 03-10-2019, 04:01 PM

I live here and truthfully September and October are best time to drive Route One. You should have no trouble getting around with your rig and you’ll certainly see more of the coast!

MainelyScott · 03-10-2019, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

We did that trip last Sept as well, except taking I-95 to route 3 to Ellsworth then onto Bar Harbor. What ever you do don't let the Visitor Center in Bar Harbor direct you to drive your RV thru downtown Bar Harbor to get to our campground the Blackwoods Campground. I should have known better. Even in Sept. Bar Harbor was busy and has very narrow streets.

Use the free national park shuttle bus as it saves the headache of finding a parking spot both in downtown Bar Harbor and inside the park along the coastal road.

Route 1 north of Acadia NP. did have some rough road sections and two major construction zones. We did two weeks in Acadia and then a week in New Brunswick Canada. Made it a 6 week trip from our home in NE. Ohio.

Would I plan another Acadia trip? Yes. Would I do it in the summer? No way, I couldn't imagine the summer season traffic from Bucksport / Ellsworth and then south into the Mt. Desert Peninsula...Especially loved our second week at Schoodic Woods National Park Campground.

What he said, 100%

MainelyScott · 03-10-2019, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

We did that trip last Sept as well, except taking I-95 to route 3 to Ellsworth then onto Bar Harbor. What ever you do don't let the Visitor Center in Bar Harbor direct you to drive your RV thru downtown Bar Harbor to get to our campground the Blackwoods Campground. I should have known better. Even in Sept. Bar Harbor was busy and has very narrow streets.

Use the free national park shuttle bus as it saves the headache of finding a parking spot both in downtown Bar Harbor and inside the park along the coastal road.

Route 1 north of Acadia NP. did have some rough road sections and two major construction zones. We did two weeks in Acadia and then a week in New Brunswick Canada. Made it a 6 week trip from our home in NE. Ohio.

Would I plan another Acadia trip? Yes. Would I do it in the summer? No way, I couldn't imagine the summer season traffic from Bucksport / Ellsworth and then south into the Mt. Desert Peninsula...Especially loved our second week at Schoodic Woods National Park Campground.

What IC2 said, 100% 👍

Teamfoxy · 03-19-2019, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

We did that trip last Sept as well, except taking I-95 to route 3 to Ellsworth then onto Bar Harbor. What ever you do don't let the Visitor Center in Bar Harbor direct you to drive your RV thru downtown Bar Harbor to get to our campground the Blackwoods Campground. I should have known better. Even in Sept. Bar Harbor was busy and has very narrow streets.

Use the free national park shuttle bus as it saves the headache of finding a parking spot both in downtown Bar Harbor and inside the park along the coastal road.

Route 1 north of Acadia NP. did have some rough road sections and two major construction zones. We did two weeks in Acadia and then a week in New Brunswick Canada. Made it a 6 week trip from our home in NE. Ohio.

Would I plan another Acadia trip? Yes. Would I do it in the summer? No way, I couldn't imagine the summer season traffic from Bucksport / Ellsworth and then south into the Mt. Desert Peninsula...Especially loved our second week at Schoodic Woods National Park Campground.

I was looking at staying in Acadia National Park this June. They still had openings for a up to a 35 foot MH, but all of the sites said 11 foot height clearance. We are at 12' 3" to the top of the AC. Comments in Alstays say that many sites are OK up to 14 feet, but nothing says which those might be. I hate to book anything when I might not be able to use it. Any firsthand knowledge appreciated.