Need help with the shortest route NY to ME

[VIVID1]

We’re planning on riding to Nova Scotia from Chicago. We only have 9 days to do the trip. Because of the small amount of time available to do this ride we will be riding in to Canada through the lovely Detroit area, then we want to cross NY, VT, NH and ME using the shortest route possible but we still want the roads to be semi- fun and scenic, but not too twisty since we’ll be doing lots of miles each day. I could but I rather not ride all interstates, so I’m looking for fast roads with little traffic.

Anyone have any suggestions?  

[caddydaddy]

I travel from Upstate NY to Maine quite a bit, and the easiest way across Southern NY is probably Route 17, also known as I-86.  Most of it is now 65 MPH, except in certain parts that are still 55 MPH.  I'd take that to Binghamton, then take I-88 (very scenic and 65 MPH) to Albany, then whichever way you want to get through VT and NH.  I don't think there are any quick ways through those two states, since the quickest way East is the Mass Pike (I-90).
  Hope this helps at least get you through NY quickly!  It's a nice scenic ride using those routes I told you.  Enjoy!

[mattb1967]

I live in Maine and we lack quality east / west routes. Scenic routes would be route 2 through Shelburne New Hampshire and crossing into Gilead Maine. You can follow route 2 and choose to head down route 201 near Skowhegan and pick up I 95 for abit till you hit Bangor ME. Once in Bangor ME you can pick up route 9 and follow that all the way across to Calais ME and St Stephen CA.

Route 2 from Gilead to Skowhegan can be slow going, it travels through a number of towns but it is very scenic and you can pass most anyone at various intervals.

Route 9 from Brewer ME to Calais is very fast travel. Wide open, plenty of passing potential, very pretty with a number of great vistas and scenic views.

Hope this is helpful.

[VIVID1]

Wow, I just noticed all lanes of I-75 are closed in both directions between Rosa Parks Blvd and Clark St in the downtown Detroit, MI, area for the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project. The closure will be in effect from February 25, 2008, through the end of 2009. That sounds like a mess.

We might have to get up to NY via Indiana and Ohio (boring, I’ve done that route one too many times already). Or maybe via Ottawa?  

   

[VIVID1]

Route 17, also known as I-86.  Most of it is now 65 MPH, except in certain parts that are still 55 MPH.  I'd take that to Binghamton, then take I-88 (very scenic and 65 MPH) to Albany

I’ve done the I-86 a few times and it’s a great road. Now we just have to decide if we want to cross Indiana and Ohio again, then I-86 will definitely be the way to go. If we go through Ottawa we’ll be too far north to take it.

I live in Maine and we lack quality east / west routes. Scenic routes would be route 2 through Shelburne New Hampshire and crossing into Gilead Maine. You can follow route 2 and choose to head down route 201 near Skowhegan and pick up I 95 for abit till you hit Bangor ME. Once in Bangor ME you can pick up route 9 and follow that all the way across to Calais ME and St Stephen CA.

Route 2 from Gilead to Skowhegan can be slow going, it travels through a number of towns but it is very scenic and you can pass most anyone at various intervals.

Route 9 from Brewer ME to Calais is very fast travel. Wide open, plenty of passing potential, very pretty with a number of great vistas and scenic views.

Thanks. I was eyeballing 2 and 9 since they looked like major roads. 9 looks great so far, fast and scenic

[TuffguyF4i]

There is a fairy that runs from Portland, ME to Nova Scotia.  Cuts off many hrs on 95 up the coast.  

95 in ME is SOOOOOO boring!!!!!

Frankly, i don't think ME is a riding destination.  You're way better off heading south and hitting the smokey mountains.  I lived in Bangor for 6 months and was really bored with the riding.  Bad roads too.

[VIVID1]

There is a fairy that runs from Portland, ME to Nova Scotia.  Cuts off many hrs on 95 up the coast.  

95 in ME is SOOOOOO boring!!!!!

Frankly, i don't think ME is a riding destination.  You're way better off heading south and hitting the smokey mountains.  I lived in Bangor for 6 months and was really bored with the riding.  Bad roads too.

Been to the Smokey’s already    Haven’t been to Nova Scotia yet. I’m not concerned with quality of roads or curves on the way too much, I just want to get to Nova Scotia. I’ve ridden in ME before. I think some of the fairing clips from my 954RR are still laying on some of those frosts heaved roads in NH and ME  

I looked in to the ferry actually. If we took it we’d be taking it from Bar Harbor since we want to see Arcadia National Park.  

Honestly though, the ferry is damn expensive and I just don’t see us saving that many miles by taking it?  

The ride from Bar Harbor, ME to Cape Breton, NS is like 630 miles. If we took the ferry from Bar Harbor, ME to Yarmouth, NS we still have a 500 mile ride to Cape Breton.

 

[OSJ]

Been to the Smokey’s already    Haven’t been to Nova Scotia yet. I’m not concerned with quality of roads or curves on the way too much, I just want to get to Nova Scotia. I’ve ridden in ME before. I think some of the fairing clips from my 954RR are still laying on some of those frosts heaved roads in NH and ME  

I looked in to the ferry actually. If we took it we’d be taking it from Bar Harbor since we want to see Arcadia National Park.  

Honestly though, the ferry is damn expensive and I just don’t see us saving that many miles by taking it?  

The ride from Bar Harbor, ME to Cape Breton, NS is like 630 miles. If we took the ferry from Bar Harbor, ME to Yarmouth, NS we still have a 500 mile ride to Cape Breton.

 

If your goal is CBI then skip the ferry and ride thru ME and into NB the onto NS.  Getting from Southern NS to CBI quickly can be a challenge.

But backing up some, you can really make good time on Rt 2 from Montpelier Vt all the way to Bangor ME.  Yes you do go thru many small villages but you also have some very fast sections that are very rural.  Plus you get to see some of the white mountains.  

Use 95 to go from Newport ME to Rt9 just past Bangor.  Once on rt 9 you can really make some good time.  If you have time go a little south of Calais ( before you cross into Canada) and see this spot.  


Once in Canada you will take 1 from St Stephen to Moncton, its all highway and very boring.  The when you cross over into NS take the Sunrise Trail ( rt6 ) its about the same time as the TCH but much more senic.  

Once you on CBI then just enjoy, the people are fantastic, the roads are great and the scenery is breath taking.

I took a 10 ride a few years ago thru northern New England and NS, read about it here. I cant wait to go back!
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeofm4l/nerstatedirectories/index.html

[OSJ]

There is a fairy that runs from Portland, ME to Nova Scotia.  Cuts off many hrs on 95 up the coast.  

95 in ME is SOOOOOO boring!!!!!

Frankly, i don't think ME is a riding destination.  You're way better off heading south and hitting the smokey mountains.  I lived in Bangor for 6 months and was really bored with the riding.  Bad roads too.

aren't you the guy that said there was no good roads in CT?

Man you gotta get out more!

Ive been riding in New England for 25 years now, gotta figure I've done around 400,000 miles on 18 different bikes and Im still finding incredible roads all over.

 I have friends in Holden ME ( right next door to Bangor ) and I have spent some time with them up there riding around. Once the frost heaves are down there are many great riding destinations in and around that area.   I also have a friend that runs a resort in Bethel and spend at least 2 or 3 weekends a year with him and we go all over western Maine on fantastic roads.

One of the very best roads I've ever ran was 191 in down east Maine.  That road is awesome.  

Ive been all over WV, TN, NC and many other states, and yes the smokies was one of the best places I've been able to ride my bike. But New England has its gems too, you just gotta go out and explore  

[OSJ]

If you end up going the southern route on I90 then take that into Troy NY and then go north on I87 to Rt 149 ( Lake George area) that road brings you to Rt 4 which is a major road thru VT.  Other than Rutland you can make some time on that one.

Follow it to 118 north then onto 112 and over the Kanc highway.  This will lead you to rt 16 and north to Rt 2 on the NH/ME boarder.  You will go right by the Mt Washington Auto Road on Rt 16 north of North Conway.

There are some easy ways around some of the congested areas along this route, just let us know your plans and post up some files and we can guide you guys thru New England

[tomballos]

Awesome trip.  It looks like a decent ride up through the Lakes through Toronto, back into the US, over the top of the Adirondacks, through VT, NH, and ME, into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  Two hard days out and back with an extra half day for practicality.  And that leaves a good 4 days to explore NS/CB/and PEI.

I was just looking over the riding on the Islands and if you try and hit the main perimeter roads on all three it is about 1700 miles.  Which is about the same distance from and back to Chicago.  I say again,,, awesome trip.  I look forward to reading your trip report.

I came across this GPX file showing the Provincial Parks on the Islands, could be useful if your camping.

Nova Scotia Provincial Parks