You probably won't be able to drive onto the ferry to MV or Nantucket unless you already have a reservation. There are plenty of CG's on the cape, then you can bike to the islands via ferry. MV is a pretty small island, and very beautiful. Very "bike-able".
We just returned from a trip to Rhode Island yesterday! We stayed at Fisherman's Memorial State Park for five days and can recommend it as well. You are not too far from many of the places to visit in CT, RI, or southern MA.
Peter's Pond Park is in Sandwich, about 25 minutes outside Hyannis, where you can pick up the ferry to MV or Nantucket. You can access the canal from there and I would highly recommend Heritage Plantation in Sandwich. If you've got the time, go out to the National Seashore at the end of the Cape-the beaches are beautiful. Just be forewarned that Provincetown caters to many types of "alternative lifestyles". And the roads there are tiny! Definitely hit Acadia in Maine and the White Mountains in NH. Clark's Trading Post is worth a visit-the trained bears are fun to watch.
Does anyone know how booked Fisherman's Memorial SP gets on the weekends? I guess I should make a reservation? And does anyone know the best route there from Ohio across PA? Mapquest had me going through the upper part of NYC!! I'm not sure I want to take my camper through there...
2008 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 DC V6 4.0L Supercharged 307HP 310TQ
2007 Cruiser RV Fun Finder 250BHS, Equalizer, Prodigy 5500#'s 27ft
jdubh2 wrote: Does anyone know how booked Fisherman's Memorial SP gets on the weekends? I guess I should make a reservation? And does anyone know the best route there from Ohio across PA? Mapquest had me going through the upper part of NYC!! I'm not sure I want to take my camper through there...
Definately make a reservation. Especially if you want full hookups.
Going across Geo.Washington Bridge and on the Cross Bronx Expressway would be the shortest. Don't worry, you will survive. We have done it in a Class A towing a toad and back when we had a travel trailer.
Or you can opt to go over the Tappen Zee Bridge (I -87) and reconnect to 95 east of the city. I'm not sure how much that it will add to your trip but it's woth checking out. It's adds about 45 mins to an hour on to us coming up from the south
We were at Fisherman's for Memorial Day Weekend and I used the Geo Washington Bridge. We went over on a Thursday around 11:00 in the morning and I was surprised how well the traffic was flowing. It's not like the route you through downtwom Manhatten on city streets. It's like going through any big city on the Interstate. Actually the drivers in NYC are better mannered then the ones in DC as far as giveing a break to merge, etc. The traffic going through New Haven, CT was way slower.
Make sure you get in the lanes that take you over the upper deck of the bridge as they don't allow propane on the lower deck. There are signs well in advance of the bridge that tells you which lanes go to the upper deck.
Normally I go over the Tappen Zee or the bridge up in Newburg when we go to New England, but RI is located in a place that just makes it more convienient for us to use the X-Bronx. I was in a hurry and didn't want to add time/milage to the trip.
Dave & Mary
Isabel (a cuddly little Boston)
Buddy (The Beast) another Boston
2005 Itasca Suncruiser 35A
2003 Jeep Liberty
If it's listed in the Yellow Pages, the government shouldn't be messing around with it.
As stated earlier in this thread, we just returned to Ohio from a trip to Rhode Island two weeks ago. We also wanted to avoid any NYC congestion. The route we took, after obtaining suggestions from the forum, was easy to travel, with good roads, and no construction of any significance.
Part or all of our route may be an option for you:
1) I-80 across PA to I-81, then north on I-81 to I-84 at Scranton.
2) I-84 took us across eastern PA and NY, well north of NYC.
3) South of Hartford, CT we dropped down to I-95 on CT Route 9.
4) Then I-95 north to CT 78 south, just north of Westerly, CT.
5) Lastly, US 1 north along coast to Narragansett, RI.
I would probably recommend getting reservations at Fisherman's Memorial SP in advance- couldn't hurt. Although the electric and water areas were not very full over the weekend two weeks ago, the full hookup area was packed. I have just been there the one time- others more familiar with the park may have better information.
Hope this helps!
* This post was
edited 06/12/08 04:04pm by kmayfield *
It does help, I hope we're not missing anything by not driving up the coast via New York. I travel to Danbury, CT every now and then for work so I understand that route exactly.
I just made reservations at Fishermans. Thanks for all the advice!
Having been in and out of Mass. RI and CT by every route possible I would suggest, coming from the West as you are to follow the 81-84 route into CT and as you have been into Ct on 84 you may know you can go from 84 to 95 a variety of ways. 34 from Sandy Hook-84 to New Haven-95. Route 9 from New Britain to 95 near Old Lyme or further along 84 at Hartford onto Route 2 to Norwich and then to the Coast on 395 by New London and Mystic Seaport.
Westerly is in Rhode Island not Connecticut.
School is out now and the Camp Grounds are filling up, especially on Week-ends so I would urge you to get Reservations if possible.
If you can fit it into your short time in the area, you should try for The Whaling National Park in New Bedford, MA where there is mucho
Whaling History, Museum with half model of a Whaler, The Moby Dick Famous Seaman's Bethel, The Number One Fishing Port in the Nation.
Out of New Bedford there is a Ferry to Marthas Vineyard.
Some one mentioned Marthas Vineyard and Bicycles. the Vineyard is 25 miles long and nearly 25 miles wide. That is one hellofa bike ride.
Rent a Scooter or buy a one day pass for the Transit Bus. On and off the Bus and ride all day.
Nantucket also has Transit Buses, I've been told. I haven't been to Nantucket for many years but it is still there.
Take a swing through Plymouth to see the Plymouth Rock and out on the Cape at Provincetown see the Pilgrims Tower.
The old joke about P'Town is that "if you drop your wallet in P'town, kick it to North Truro before you bend over to pick it up"!!!!
When you get up to Vermont stay at The Sugar House Camp Ground in Plymouth, Birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge. The Historic Site is worth seeing, kept just as it was when The President was born there and grew up and was sworn in as President. All kept "as it was".
The Historic District is off Route 100A. If you go East on 100A you will come to Route 4 and The old corner store. We once owned that store. Worth stopping for a peek before you go to Woodstock, VT.
If the air is clear it is worth the ride up to Killington Ski Area and a ride to the TOP of Killington. One can see five states and into Canada on a clear day.
Enjoy your quick trip and come back again and see what you will have missed on your first short trip.
Good Luck
You are going to have to keep moving, whereas you say you will only be in New England for two weeks.
Capt. Chet
03 Journey DL 39.5 w/330 CAT and bells & whistles!!!!
Toad is a 04 Malibu
Full timing
Member ODW, TT Alliance,PA
FMCA f10045d
Yep, this trip is more of a "lets see what we can in 2 weeks and take notes on where and what we want to come back and see" trip. I usually do that with all the states I visit, get a general idea the first time then go back more specific the next time. Thanks again everyone!
Offline
& Mary 
