Texas Gulf Coast to Maine

We are leaving the gulf Coast  Aug 1st our plan Arkanas-Tenn-kentucky- Ohio- Penn-New York- Vermont-New Hampshire Maine. We plan to stay in Maine area until the leaves start to change color then follow the color back down the east coast and take a southern route back to Texas. Any info on State Parks, Forest Ser, and COE Campgrounds and things to see on the way would be appreciated. We have only two stops on the way that are set in concreat US 127 Yard sale in Tenn. and Niagara Falls in New York
Thanks for any info Billy Bob 

Billy Bob said:

We are leaving the gulf Coast  Aug 1st our plan Arkanas-Tenn-kentucky- Ohio- Penn-New York- Vermont-New Hampshire Maine. We plan to stay in Maine area until the leaves start to change color then follow the color back down the east coast and take a southern route back to Texas. Any info on State Parks, Forest Ser, and COE Campgrounds and things to see on the way would be appreciated. We have only two stops on the way that are set in concreat US 127 Yard sale in Tenn. and Niagara Falls in New York
Thanks for any info Billy Bob

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growing up in maine i can tell you that there are really 2 parts to maine... coast and the north or "county". both very different but both very nice to visit and see. the northern side of things has some rolling hills however anyone that has traveled I95 north of bangor on the interstate can attest to the "flat parts". the maine coast is rocky and not too many beaches.  leaf "peak" season for northern maine can be from the last week in sept. through the 1st week in oct so make note of that. it all depends on the weather. cold nights are key. if you do go through nh on the way back try and hit this hwy -  http://www.nhtourguide.com/tripreports/kancamagus_highway_new_hampshire.htm -..  my in-laws from texas came up and i took them through to see it during peak season. they were amazed at the views and colors.

good luck and enjoy. drop me a note at [email protected] if you have more detailed questions.

Hey Bob, good to see you on this forum!  Your trip sounds great.  I am envious.  Looking forward to pictures and reports of your trip.

Without wishing to tick off the New Englanders, the best fall colors are southern Vermont and NY. Driving across NY from east to west (Niagara region)  in early October should be spectacular in red and gold.  The exact timing for best color is unpredictable - it depends on night time temperatures and rainfall. Could be anywhere from last week of September to end of October. Then take I 81 south.

There isn't much in the way of COE or Forest Service parks in that region. PA has some, though. NY has a nice state park system, though some may already be closed for the season by then.

I recommend seeing Acadia Nat'l Park in Maine, can spend a few days there and see all the sights, there are 2 KOAs near the park, not sure about other sites...

    My best advice is for you to take your time, visit Tourist Centers, and ask people at the campgrounds.  We have RV'd extensively in New England for over 40 years.  The is just so much to see and do, but you will need pick your interests, as you won't have time to see it all.
    Gary, not to be argumentative, the very best colours are here in the Canadian Maritimes, where we have so much more hardwood forests, in particular maple which produces all those shades of red leaves, so with their proximity, I'd say the White Mountains or the Adirondacts would be the closest in the US.

Ed

Thanks for all the info. Looking for a campground in USA with in 75 miles of Niagara Falls public or private any suggestions?

Ed we will visit Nova Scotia plan to spend  a week or 10 days any info would be appreciated

Billy Bob

Hfx_Cdn said:

          Gary, not to be argumentative, the very best colours are here in the Canadian Maritimes, where we have so much more hardwood forests, in particular maple which produces all those shades of red leaves, so with their proximity,

Ed

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Not to take sides, but I have to agree with Ed, but some might say I'm biased.  All those maples mixed with the yellow leaves from birch.  To be fair, outside the Maritimes in the fall, I've only seen North East Maine, and that's because we can see it across the St. John River from North West New Brunswick.

Hfx_Cdn said:

I'd say the White Mountains or the Adirondacts would be the closest in the US.

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Basically, the Appalachian Mountains.

Suffering through this miserably hot weather boiling up from Texas and spreading northeast, I'm inclined to think you're starting your trip a several weeks late.  You ought to be in Maine RIGHT NOW!  But, I'm going to do much the same in September and travel from southwest Missouri to Custer State Park, et al, so I guess I should just say enjoy.

Oh yes, one of my favorite parks is Buckaloons Recreation Area Campground up near Warren, Pa.  Shady secluded camp sites on the Allegheny River.  It should be right on your way to Niagara Falls (or at least, could be).

Billy Bob,  What kind and length of RV unit? Vermont and New Hampshire State parks generally are good, but not for large rigs. When we lived in Vermont we took our 26ft travel trailer into quite a few state parks. When we bought our first DP it was 36ft+ and we still were able to "stuff" it into several state parks, but most were tight. I would not even consider our current 43 ft rig.

I lived in  Vermont for 10 years. One place I always recommend is Simon Pierce Glass blowing shop. Nice shop with local goods in addition to the glass. You can watch the glass pieces being made. Really nice restaurant with river views. You can also visit his Hydro Electric plant. Neat stop. Off I89 first exit in Vermont after I91 (heading northwest). Take Rt 4 west to Quechee. Right on Waterman Hill Rd, across the river (CAR ONLY, this is a covered bridge!) Left on Quechee Main St, but you are there.

Also if you are going further north, just a few miles off I89 near Waterbury is the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream plant on RT 100.

Burlington Vermont is neat little city on Lake Champlain. Just south of Burlington is the Shelburne Museum.

The colors best in northern Vermont/New Hampshire and southern Canada.
The Adirondacks are also beautiful. You can cross from Vermont to NY at the top of Lake Champlain via road or take one of several ferries across.

Also in NY on your way over to Niagara Falls are the Finger Lakes. This is wine country and very beautiful.  I particularly like Seneca lake. Sampson State park is on the lake and reportedly very nice, but I have never stayed there. We stayed at Clute Memorial Park and campground (near Watkins Glen).

Can't help with Niagara, we stayed in some standard fare commercial park - just a place to use as a base.

ken

    Billy Bob, as our tourism ad on TV just asked "when are you coming" ?  The drive down through the Saint John River Valley is beautiful, we just drove it yesterday on our way back from Montreal.  Fundy National Park, St Martins are pretty places and RV friendly.  If the weather is warm, Parlee Beach near Shediac is one of the nicest beaches I have ever been to.  Then into NS, you've got Springhill with a coal mine tour or the Ann Murray Museum, then onto fossils at Joggins, Halifax with all it has to offer as an old style seaport, the Annapolis Valley including Habitation Port Royal (2nd oldest permanent settlement in North America).  Or Cape Breton with its highlands that are gorgeous at any time, but during colour season, offers one of the best views anywhere.
  Those are just a few things to highlight, do a search in the Trip Logs, as several Forum embers have provided detailed reports on their trips here.  But, Marc or I would be pleased to provided any specifics, all you need to do is ask, he is in Saint John, and I flip between our cottage in Shediac, and home in Halifax.

Ed

Eveyone is talking about the leaves up north. We haven't been there with the MH ....yet.

We did make a trip that took us through Arkansas and stayed at a nice State Park in SE corner of the state - Lake Chicot. They said it was unusual, but they had a power failure in the town (Lake Village) that fouled up the water testing wo we had to use bottled water or boil water whjile there but it still was a nice quiet little place.

Have fun

Rgds,

Scobey

With all the talks about heat in the US right now, makes me think it's a winter destination.  I'm fine with mid 80s here in the summer.

Again thanks everbody for the info.

Ed we are leaving the Texas coast Aug 1st so will be late Aug or 1st Sept when we go into Nova Scotia.
I pull a 30ft 5th wheel with a F250 P.S.

On the road again tomorrow is the big day we leave for Maine We are excited about our new adventure
Hope that it gets cooler as we head north east. My old F 250 is so excited about the trip that I had to lock it in park to keep it form leaving tonight. Attached is our truck and trailer in our drive way

Billy Bob,

Not sure how fast you are traveling, or from where on the coast exactly, but Mufreesboro State Park north of Texarkana and hunt for diamonds, and Riverside RV Park in North Little Rock, right across from the Clinton Presidential Library, assuming you are heading up I-30 to pick up I-40.

Sounds like a great trip log starting!

Kim
(native Arkansan, wannabe Texan, currently Montanan)

Hello everbody sorry about not keeping up with my trip to Maine in 2011, had so much trouble with my lab top recording my trip and pictures that I just gave up untill I could get things organized. If its ok with the RV Forum Community I will start with the day we left on our trip Aug 1st 2011
The morning of Aug 1st I unlocked my old F250 and we headed from Sweeny, TX to Canton to spend two days at our friends Mike & Gloria's Horse Farm, continued tomorrow with photos I hope

Aug 1st & 2nd 2012 We arrived at our friends Mike & Gloria's around 11am. they have a small horse farm at Canton, TX. We visited played games, just took it easy for two days resting up for a long trip to Little Rock, Ar.
First photo is of our rig in Mike's driveway, the 2nd of two of their favorite horses. We did not ride the horses, just toured their farm they have a very nice place here.

Aug 3 We were up early and on the road, want to take a short detour to Emory, TX. to pick up some East Texas peaches, plums & tomatoes. see photos. We turned NE to Texarkana and I 30 to Little Rock, Ark. were we plan to spend the night. We couldn't make very good time because of all the 18 wheelers some times the trucks were lined up as far as you could see.
Still we got to Little Rock early in the day so decided to drive on east on I 40. My DW looked in our Passport America book and found a nice sounding Campground in Dickson, Tn. the Tambark C. G. We got to the C G about 6pm, Its a good C. G.great for an over night just off I 40. We just drove through Ark. I know that there is a lot to see an do in Ark. But we have Res. in Crossville, Tn. for the 4th. After a long day today we plan to slow down an tour the different areas as we travel through. 

Nothing wrong with a trip report a year later.  ;D. Looking forward to additional installments.