Florida to Maine in June

[Fizzixman]

Planning to head north out of the Florida panhandle for Maine at the end of June. Asking for suggestions for the best route for a truck and 29 foot trailer.

 

[DonTom]

Planning to head north out of the Florida panhandle for Maine at the end of June. Asking for suggestions for the best route for a truck and 29 foot trailer.

I would think that depends on what part of the FL Panhandle you're in.

By looking at the map, from the center of the panhandle, I would try to get on I-75, head to Macon, GA and then go NE from there and get on I-85 and continue to go NE. That will at least bypass Atlanta.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[LarsMac]

Depending on where you are starting, I would make my way to Tallahassee, and take US 319 to Augusta, GA. Then I-20 to Columbia, SC. There, take I-77 North to to Virginia where it meets I-81.
I-81 will take you all the way up to Scranton, PA area, then I-84 to Worcester, Mass.
North from there and Maine is just up the road.

This route by-passes most of the bigger cities and associated traffic, and there are plenty of things to find along the way if you're not in a hurry.

Margo and I made that run back and forth a few times over the years.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Made that journey many times, starting from Ocala (central FL) and headed to the central Maine coast, Camden or Elsworth & Bar Harbor areas. We used I95 north thru the Southeast and switched over to I81 in VA & PA, and then I84E to I95N again in New England. Our choice was as much about touching places where we had friends or family or campgrounds that we were familiar with as with the highway itself. Afterall, interstates are more about "making miles" than scenery or relaxing. We typically spent 3-4 weeks making the trip, so few long days of interstate driving.

There are lots of alternates along that general route if you are looking for rural drives, other sorts of attractions, etc.

If you start from further west in Florida, cut across Ga & the Carolinas and catch the lower end of I81 to get to southern NY. Then I84 or I90 to get into New England and I95N. Or use I91 or I93 in New England and cut over to eastern Maine on US 2, but you miss the southern Maine region that way. Again, the choices depend on what you want to see and whether you are optimizing for travel time or scenery.

 

[Fizzixman]

I would think that depends on what part of the FL Panhandle you're in.

By looking at the map, from the center of the panhandle, I would try to get on I-75, head to Macon, GA and then go NE from there and get on I-85 and continue to go NE. That will at least bypass Atlanta.

-Don- Reno, NV

Thanks, Don. Yes, we're half way between Tallahassee and Panama City. Bypassing Atlanta sounds good!

 

[Fizzixman]

Made that journey many times, starting from Ocala (central FL) and headed to the central Maine coast, Camden or Elsworth & Bar Harbor areas. We used I95 north thru the Southeast and switched over to I81 in VA & PA, and then I84E to I95N again in New England. Our choice was as much about touching places where we had friends or family or campgrounds that we were familiar with as with the highway itself. Afterall, interstates are more about "making miles" than scenery or relaxing. We typically spent 3-4 weeks making the trip, so few long days of interstate driving.

There are lots of alternates along that general route if you are looking for rural drives, other sorts of attractions, etc.

If you start from further west in Florida, cut across Ga & the Carolinas and catch the lower end of I81 to get to southern NY. Then I84 or I90 to get into New England and I95N. Or use I91 or I93 in New England and cut over to eastern Maine on US 2, but you miss the southern Maine region that way. Again, the choices depend on what you want to see and whether you are optimizing for travel time or scenery.

Thanks, Gary. Good advice.

 

[Fizzixman]

Depending on where you are starting, I would make my way to Tallahassee, and take US 319 to Augusta, GA. Then I-20 to Columbia, SC. There, take I-77 North to to Virginia where it meets I-81.
I-81 will take you all the way up to Scranton, PA area, then I-84 to Worcester, Mass.
North from there and Maine is just up the road.

This route by-passes most of the bigger cities and associated traffic, and there are plenty of things to find along the way if you're not in a hurry.

Margo and I made that run back and forth a few times over the years.

Thank you. Missing bigger cities Is a real plus!

 

[DonTom]

Thanks, Don. Yes, we're half way between Tallahassee and Panama City. Bypassing Atlanta sounds good!

But I have no experience with the route, so take Gary's advice who has done it several times.

I have been in the FL Panhandle before and I went north as far as SC, but I recall very little about it all. It was my first real road trip in my 2022 Class A, starting from here in Reno.

But I do I remember I enjoyed my stay in Marianna very much where I discovered southern hospitality is for real.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Compadre1]

We have traveled from the panhandle to North Easrern NY a few times each direction. One trip around Atlanta was enough for me, same thing for the DC area. On an early Sunday morning maybe. Our preferred route is through Alabama to Chattenooga to Knoxville where you can pick up I81.in northern PA you can get on I84 heading east. We're not big KOA fans. But there are a lot of them along this route and they tend to be near the interstates. The ones in Tn and Virginia are very nice.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

I would suggest whatever route your RV specific GPS charts out. And, this would take in to account how many stops you want to make, and where, especially if there places you want to visit for a few days. RV Life has good planning software with GPS, same with RoadTrippers, and others.

 

[JucyBrucie]

Whatever you do, avoid the Washington/Baltimore highways! We go to Myrtle Beach every spring and discovered that Rt 301 from North of Richmond, VA to just south of Wilmington, DE is a much safer and more relaxing route.