Belfast Forum: Belfast Maine destination

Yes, I think you should come all the way to Montreal and further. Cross the Maine border at Coburn Gore and then head down and east. The problem with dropping into the states earlier is that there are no fast routes in New England that go east and west. You might as well stay in Canada all the way to Maine.

I love that bridge in Port Huron. I've brought rowing shells out of Canada into the states over that bridge a number of times.

bonniemaev is right that the big problem is that there are no major east-west routes in northern New England. However, we've done a similar trip a few times and for us it's always been faster to take I-90 through NY and MA, then I-495 in MA to I-95 north to Maine. In Maine, I'd take 95 to Augusta and then 3 to Belfast.

The last time we did this was two summers ago. We drove from Bath, Maine to Stratford, Ontario. Going west, we did the Canada route, but coming home we did the mostly US route, crossing at Niagara Falls and then jumping onto I-90. It takes a long time just going through Maine when you do any of the Canada routes. And you can end up in major backups around Toronto. We ended up not driving straight through on the way out. On the way back, we easily drove straight through. Barring unforeseeable circumstances, I think it's a couple of hours faster to use the I-90 route.

Nothing sparks debate more than driving directions, so I'm now ducking!

No need to duck because of me. I sort of agree with you. After we lived in Maine for a year, we had to drive to Ohio for a wedding. We took the northern route through Montreal and Toronto on the way there. But we did NOT come back that way.

It was indeed a long drive just to get out of Maine on small highways. On the first day we didn't even make it to Toronto. I was shocked how wide Toronto is. I'd only driven there from the south. But to have to traverse it from east to west was bad and and in a rain storm.

So I reverse myself and agree with the mostly U.S. Interstate route.

bonniemaev, I wasn't worrying that you'd be mean. I've read many of your very helpful posts on this forum. Mine was a general reference.

I'm with you about how wiiiiide Toronto is.

My brother lives in Ohio (Wadsworth, near Akron) and he and his wife drive to Maine about every other year and to Myrtle Beach every year. I don't know how they can stand it. They manage the drive to Maine (Bath area) in 15 hours and Myrtle Beach in 12. I used to really like driving, but there are just too many crazy drivers on the road these days. We drove back and forth to Myrtle Beach last year and this year and we drove across the country three years ago. I love seeing all the things you can only see if you drive, but there are just so many downright dangerous drivers out there it just ruins it for me.

I agree with the previous posts, I used to travel from Maine to South Bend Indiana often and always came across Canada (no tolls and less congestion), down into Vermont, onto 93 for a short time and then 302, if memory serves me you pick up 302 shortly after St Johnsbury, into the Portland area, where you can pick up 295 and come north to the Belfast exit in Augusta (at which point you'll actually be 1 hour from Belfast).

Rowing shells? I am going to google that. I have a passport but not necessary this year when driving across the border. When flying it is required.

Thanks for all your driving advice. I had thought about going through New York but figured the traffic would be a nightmare out East. Now I see 495 probably avoids a lot of the congestion. And French will not be the language of the day.

You guys are wonderful! Meet me in Belfast.

Gas is $3.20 a gallon here, what have you got?

Right now, it's hanging in at about 2.99, but who knows?

You might want to check:

http://www.mainegasprices.com/

Generally, prices are higher the farther you go downeast (and into the tourist areas).

As for the rowing shells, google on Kaschper Racing Shells in Lucan, Ontario. It was tough paying duty on them on the bridge at Port Huron. They couldn't find the right category. No, it's not a canoe. No, it isn't exactly recreation -- it's more like suffering pain in order to obtain medals.