Anybody ever driven from Buffalo to Bar Harbor, Maine?

Question

We are doing this drive in our camper, will we encounter any serious mountains or steep grades? Can a newbie class A motor home driver do ok?

Thank you Nedra!! That helps!

Answer 1

Since you are a newbie, stay more on the major roads. You can get into trouble as a newbie in a class A vehicle on minor roads, so for your first trip stay to the major highways and READ all the TRUCK SIGNS along your route.

If there's a sign saying "NO big trucks", then you should find the truck route that is allowed.

You have my permission to email me direct at Yahoo. Just put a subject line that tells me it's YOU.

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ROUTING INFORMATION
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From your home, follow local roads to get on the NY Turnpike I-90
Follow I-90 for 323 miles in NY

For 168 mi in MA, you follow I-90 first, and change to I-290, to I-495, to I-95 to the NH state line

Follow I-95 for 16 miles in NH

For 225 miles in ME, your route is I-95 to I-395 to US1A to US1 to SR3

At the end, when you get to Mount Desert Island where Bar Harbor is located, if there are truck restricted signs on SR3 on the island, you have an alternate of SR3 to SR102 to SR198 to SR233


This routing comes from PCMiler mapping program which knows where trucks are allowed to travel and where they cannot go.
PCMiler did that second route once on the island, so there's a possiblitiy the other route is truck restricted.

If you will carry a computer, I highly recommend you go to DeLorme's website and purchase a copy of SA2008 Plus with an LT-20 gps. If you want topographical map information, you can also get Topo 6 or you could get just the topographical program and route your trip on it. SA2008 Plus, however, is better for routing and finding points of interest along the way, so you get the best of everything using both programs.

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SAFE DRIVING INFORMATION
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Truck restrictions include:
"Low Bridge" signs... if a bridge is lower than 13'6" you cannot go there. Low bridges take the a/c unit off the tops of motorhomes. There are no low bridges on the turnpikes.

In the NE states you are not allowed on ANY Parkway!

Watch for TRUCK SPEED SIGNS !
If trucks are restricted to 55, you are safer driving at these speeds.

If your Motorhome has an engine brake, use it on the downhill areas to control your speed. Going too fast on downhills can get you in trouble. If you do not have an engine brake, slow down a lot before you start on the downhill portion of the hill so you can keep your speed under control. There are usually recommended speed signs for truck on all downhill grades. With no engine brake, start LOWER than the recommended downhill speed so you can prevent going much faster as you will pick up speed going downhill.

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TIPS & TRICKS & ?mountain grades?
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This route should not give you any serious mountain grades. The Topo program would verify those areas best. There are some mountain areas in the New England states, but that is NOT a major mountainous area.

The biggest tip is to get and use SA2008 Plus mapping. They have a forum you can use to ask questions on usage of the program from other more experienced users. It's one of the top mapping programs.

When you make left turns, you can see where the left side (driver's side) of your vehicle is going in your mirror. Still, swing a bit wide, without going into the next lane unless you are in a really tight situation, in which case, like a truck, you might need to. If you will infringe on the next lane over, watch and wait till there are no vehicles there.

Your right side is your most blind side. Be aware; take care.

In making right turns, keep to the far left side of your lane. If you have a tight turn and have to infringe on the lane to your left you have TWO danger points to watch.... your left side must be clear of other vehicles for you to swing into it... your right side is a danger because cars often try to sneak by you on that side, not understanding you cannot see them.

Truck stops today cater to RVers as well as to big trucks. You can get a helpful book there called "The Next Exit", which tells you what is at each mile marker along the major freeways and turnpikes and interstates. They tell you what mile marker exits and rest stops are at to help you find them. They tell you what services at the exits will allow truck access, and these are places YOU can use as well. Places not listed as having truck access are much more risky to try using in your motorhome.

Some cellular companies have good internet service; others do not. If you have wireless capability for your laptop, Flying J has an excellent wireless service you can use. They have wifi not only at their own truck stops, but also at exits frequented by a LOT of trucks. Internet can help you keep in touch and keep track of weather conditions that affect your driving.

If you have questions I have not answered, you can email me.

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Answer 2

I've made that drive, and I'll keep it short.

The only problem might be in the Berkshires, east of Albany in Massachusetts. That's a bit of a high point. However, if you stay on the Interstates you should be OK -- there are rules about the percent of grade on the road. Get past Springfield, and you are practically coasting to Bar Harbor.

Answer 3

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