[Liam]

The best advice I can offer is to stay on truck routes, or at least get a truckers atlas and review clearances and weight limits prior to heading down a particular route.

I also know for a fact if the sign says no commercial vehicles it is code for low clearances or weight limits.

[Dean]

We live in New Hampshire, but have been all over New England in our bus and have never had a low over pass issue. NE is no different then any other part of the country. You do not have to stick to interstates.

NE is a beautiful place to visit. You won’t regret the trip.

[Tommy]

I’ve been traveling New England for years. Low clearance bridges are scary and there are
quite a few, but for the most part anywhere you would be willing to drive your Prevost should be okay. The most
frequent places you’ll find low clearance is where roads go under railroad
tracks or side roads going under major arteries. Weight problems can sometimes be found even
on state highways crossing rivers, or on bridges headed to smaller island
communities. Like around Kenneybunkport!

The biggest problem is finding RV campgrounds (I can’t call
anything in that area a resort) that can handle a large coach for three
reasons. 1. Most still have only 30 amps, 2. The spaces are small, 3. Lots of
trees make it impossible to get into most sites without paint damage (the trees
also make it difficult to use satellite TV).

However, there are a couple listed in Big-Rigs manual.

If you’re headed to Newport RI and you should be if going to
NE, there is one small but adequate campground right on 138a in Middletown
(three miles from the business district and sites of Newport). Paradise RV and Motel is
the name with no trees in the way, but request 50 amps when making the
reservation. Only a few sites have it. It’s not fancy, but clean and level and as
close as you can get to Newport. Unfortunately they don’t allow pets so you
might have to cheat a little on that if you have one with you.

I’ve spent many summers there in Newport and continue to go
back almost every summer.

Make your reservations early wherever you go in NE. A place not to stay: Black Bear Campground in the Salisbury area of MA.

If you have a GPS, you can get a software POI add on that shows (in plenty of time) low clearances. lowclearances.com

[Archived]

We do Maine and Vermont every year in a 40′ Foretravel.

Be aware no RVs on anything called “parkway” in NY. Most have very low overpasses and lack any form of shoulder, anyway, so you wouldn’t want to be them.

Campgrounds generally don’t open up until Memorial Day and close Columbus Day. Even in NYS you’ll find they won’t be open until May 1 or maybe Mother’s Day You’ll definitely want to research campgrounds ahead of time to make sure they can accomodate a bus. While there’s been improvement in the 15 years we’ve been doing this, 30A is still the norm and many have gravel/dirt interior roads and gravel/grass sites.

If you have specific areas in mind, we’d be happy to share anything we might know about specific roads and campgrounds.

Michelle

[Archived]

Michelle

we are planning a trip to the Maine coast in ?August and I am having a hard time deciding where we should stay around Bar Harbour – any thoughts? We would prefer full hook-ups and views – preferably without feeling like we are at summer camp with planned activities, etc – but am open to whatever my real options are. We intend to be using this as our base for Acadia National Park.

Thanks for any insight you can share!

Becky

[Archived]

Check out these reviews for Bar Harbor.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/maine/bar-harbor

Cheers,

Ronald

[Alvie]

Becky,

We haven’t done Bar Harbor in several years, ever since the cruise ships started arriving. I would normally suggest Bar Harbor Campground, but it’s going to be very tough to get a spot, particularly FHU) in August since they don’t take reservations and that’s by far the busiest time of year in Maine. KOA Oceanside might be your best bet, but I’ll look further at some of our past notes and see if I can find a less high-energy, activity-centric option.

Michelle

[Archived]

Ronald and Michelle –

Thanks to you both for the input – I do use RV Park Reviews about as much as I use Trip Advisor for other travel info and have rarely been led astray with either – that was part of my problem as I would find someplace and then read info that would lead me to deduce that it wasn’t where we wanted/needed to be. I agree that the ‘perfect’ place would be in the places that don’t take ressies and we aren’t willing to risk that in the summer – Anyway – we have landed on Timberland Acres in Trenton – so I believe we are good to go – at least once we get to Maine! We are doing the coastline in short hops – theoretically to shorten the amount of time each day in the car as we get out to see the area – we’ll see if that actually is the case once we get there as Joe is one who believes in not wasting daylight with things like ‘sitting’ unless there is a premium photo-op available!

If you’re willing, I would love to share our itinerary and get some feedback on it and perhaps points along the way not to be missed!

We are also a bit stuck on where/how to break up the trip up/back from South Carolina, especially thru VA and PA as there don’t seem to be a whole lot of options along the way other than KOAs which are wanting 2-3 night stays.

Becky

[Fred F.]

Becky,

Please add your OK campgrounds to our PC Map.

[Archived]

Tom

I think Joe is taking care of that for us – but I don’t believe we have stayed anywhere that isn’t already on the map.

B

[Bernie]

Will add them to the map after we stay. Don’t want to go on the advertisments!

[Rudy]

Becky,

We also find that area to be “challenging” when it comes to campgrounds that will fit a big rig.

In Virginia – what area are you thinking of stopping in? Same with PA. We have found Fort Chiswell in Wytheville can handle larger rigs and is good for an overnight. Don’t even think about the KOA in Natural Bridge or Harrisonburg. Very narrow roads.

In PA, Pine Grove/Twin Grove KOA will work. Expensive and a bit off the interstate, but will work.

There is not much between PA and the far northeast that can handle a big rig. There is supposedly a rest area on I84 in the Danbury area that has an RV overnight section.

If you are interested in exploring Vermont, our favorite is Lake Champagne campground. Nothing touristy of note (except fantastic farm markets) in the immediate area, but a good central point for using the toad to explore central VT. It is grass only (no pavement) and only a handful of 50 amp sites, but depending on the time of year you may not even need A/C. There are a couple of sites that can handle a bus, although you’ll definitely want to unhook at the campstore.

Which reminds me, many NE campground have and extra $3-5/day charge for running air conditioning, even on their 50 amp sites. Lake Champagne is one of them.

A tip while in Maine and if you like lobster, most supermarkets (Shaw’s, Hannaford) are set up to steam them for you at no charge. Go to the fish counter and order. It takes about 15-20 minutes, so do your shopping and pick up your lemons and butter. You will be able to buy hot, steamed lobster much cheaper than at a restaurant (often cheaper per pound than hot dogs). Take it back to the coach, melt your own butter, and enjoy. Most of the restaurants are set up for the tourists and charge prices to match. DIY is the way we go.

Michelle

[Davy]

Thanks for the tip. Making me salivate beyond control! Can’t wait to get up that way.

[AL]

Fredricksburg, Va KOA we stay there 2-3 times a year

Danbury, Ct exit 2 have specific RV only parking w/dump station

Bayley’s Campground Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Narrows and Narrows two campground in Trenton, Maine (Acadia N.P.)

We have stayed in all of the above without any problems with a 45′

We live in Maine and have traveled on a lot of secondary roads in our coach without any problems due to height or weight restrictions. Consult a truckers map to locate the few restricted roads.

[Archived]

Thanks to all for the help!

It looks like the Fort Chiswell park might work for us at least on the way up – unfortunately we may have miscalculated a bit and are trying to head home Labor Day weekend – could be a big OOPS on our end as several places have 3 day minimums/are full…..oh the joys…..

Will continue to check out the other options mentioned…I had looked at the Narrows and now can’t remember why I had passed on them – may have been an oversight on my part.

Right now we have ressies (all of these are along the Maine coastline) at Wild Duck Campground in Scarborough for 2 nights, Main Stay Cottages (with RV hook-ups) in Winter Harbor for 3 nights, Sunset Point in Lubec for 4 nights, Timberland Acres in Trenton for 3 nights, Saltwater Farms in Thomaston for 2 nights and then heading home – possibly a night or two over in NH at a state park but not if it seems that we need to head south to get ahead of weekend traffic for Labor Day. The theory is to move every few days to cut down on the daytime driving back and forth with the toad but to keep us more localized to the area we are staying in – less time in car, more time enjoying. We’ll see if this actually plays out for us!

Thanks for the great tip on the groceries – I have absolutely no problem with chilling at the bus with delish supper and a great view!