Years ago, I rented a co-worker’s cottage (r.i.p. Steve Wilcox) on Keoka Lake in the Oxford Hills region of Maine and he spent a great deal of time mapping out the quickest route from Rochester, NY to Waterford, ME. I wish I had saved his route. I have tried several different paths that seem to follow the same or similar route but none of them are quicker. If I ever figure it out I will post an update. But for now, here is one of my routes. As I get my pictures organized I plan to post a blog for each group of photos I find that directly relate to a point of interest mentioned below.

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Through the mountains (to western Maine)

This is our favorite route just about any time of year as it takes you through both Vermont and New Hampshire. Here are the specifics.

1. NYS Thruway east to the Amsterdam Exit (27). Right onto Route 30 into the city of Amsterdam.
2. After crossing the Mohawk River stay in the right lane and continue onto route 67 East. Follow 67 East all the way to Ballston Spa.
3. Once in the village of Ballston Spa you will come to a stop light at the corner of routes 67 and 50. At this point turn right, follow route 50 south/67 east, continue on 50 south where it splits off to the left (just past the Speedway gas station). Follow route 50 south/67 east until you get to route NYS 87 (the Northway). You’ll go through 3 traffic circles until you reach the 87 North entrance ramp.
4. Take 87 North to exit 20 (Fort Ann/Whitehall Route 149). Follow route 149 east to Fort Ann. Take a left onto route 4 North. Follow 4 North to the town of Whitehall. [1]
   1. Alternate route for busy season (summer). The Adirondack mall draws a ton of visitors during the summer months. Take exit 19 (Aviation Rd/Aviation Mall) and take a right on Aviation Road which becomes Quaker rd. Follow this for 2.4 miles to route 9L. Left onto 9L for another 5 miles to connect with Route 149. Take a right on 149 and continue with the rest of the directions.
5. Once into the town of Whitehall Route 4 splits off to the right and crosses over the Champlain Canal. [2]
6. Follow route 4 all the way to Rutland Vermont where it joins up with route 7.[3]
   Take route 7 North/4 East (left) and follow up through the city. Route 4 splits off to the right in 2 1/4 miles.
7. Continue on route 4 all the way through Vermont, through Woodstock, through Quechee, until you get to route 89. [4]
8. Take route 89 South for about 3 miles and exit onto VT 91 North. Pay attention as the North and South exit ramps run together.
9. Take the Route 91 exit (North/South) (Brattleboro/White River) and head North (stay to the left on the ramp).
10. Take Route 91 North all the way to Exit 19, Littleton, route 93 south. [5]
11. Stay on Route 93 south into New Hampshire for 22 miles. Exit onto route 302 east towards Bethlehem, NH.
12. Continue on Route 302 through New Hampshire and into Western Maine. [6]

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 Alternate route through New Hampshire

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that we used to go to a co-worker’s cottage in Waterford, ME. My wife decided to ask google maps to plot a course to waterford instead of Bridgton and that made a big difference in the roads it chose. Never underestimate the stupidity of computers and the randomness of which they seem so capable. Even though both routes take you through Fryeburg Maine (where the two routes diverge), the roads selected are very different starting back in Vermont. I believe what follows is either the same route we used to take, or very close to it. Times have changed, some roads have changed, so there may be some variation. I plan to test this route out next time I travel to Bridgton. The reason I am pointing out this route is that it takes you through the White Mountain National Forest via the Kancamagus (Kanc to locals) highway. One of the prettiest stretches of road in the US. It is a 40 mph trip through the forest and take heed, once you are in there are no more gas stops until you exit on the other end. There is a gas station not long after you get on the highway and they will warn you that they are the last gas until the other side of the highway. Fortunately it is not that far so even if you only have a couple of gallons of gas, you can make it to the next station.

Momma moose on the Kancamagus Highway. Just east of Lincoln NH.

Starting at step 8 above, where it says to take route 89 south and exit at VT 91 North, replace step 8 as follows:

8. Take route 89 south and continue on through White River Jct and into New Hampshire, past the first exit for route 4, past Lebanon, and then take the second exit for route 4 east.
9. Continue on route 4 through the towns of Enfield, Canaan, Grafton, and finally picking up route 104 East towards Andover in the town of Danbury.
10. Take route 104 through the towns of Bristol, New Hampton, crossing under route I93, and taking the entrance ramp on the left to get on route I93 North.
11. Take route I 93 north to Lincoln NH, exit 32 onto route 112 East (Kancamagus Highway.
12. Take route 112 East for 40 miles to the town of Conway NH. Take a left (East) onto route 113. Continue on until route 113 ends and becomes route 302, just west of Fryeburg Maine. We are back to where we were in the previous directions, step 12, route 302.

Alternate to the alternate

Starting at step 9 above, replace steps 9 -12 with these steps.

9. Take the Route 91 exit (North/South) (Brattleboro/White River) and head North (stay to the left on the ramp). Continue on route 91 north to exit 16 for route 25 (Bradford)

10. Take route 25 east to Piermont (approx. 2.7 miles). Take a left onto route 10 heading north. Continue on route 10 (Dartmouth College Highway) for 9.2 miles.

[Update] As a bonus, 2 of the last 3 times I have driven this route I have seen a fairly large black bear crossing route 10. You may not think of this as a bonus but I do.

11. Take right onto route 116 heading east for 10 miles. 116 ends at Rte 112, the Kancamagus Highway. Take a right onto 112 East.

12. Continue on 112 East through the White Mountain National Forest, into Conway NH. Through Conway, until 112 ends and merges onto 302 East.

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Points of Interest (alternate route)

Loon mountain Ski Resort – one of the places you will pass one you get on route 112 is Loon Mountain. It is a fairly large ski resort right in the middle of the white mountain national forest.

Along the Kancamagus Highway, about 7 1/2 miles  past loon mountain you will drive through a hairpin turn. We’ve all heard the term before but rarely do we actually see a true hairpin turn. I believe the good state of New Hampshire tells you to slow down to about 20 mph. They are serious.

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Points of Interest

rest area – on route 87 north bound between exits 17 and 18 there is a decent rest area with bathrooms.

[1] Adirondack Outlet Mall – typical outlet mall shopping. Can be a little hairy getting through here in the busy (summer) season. Take alternate route shown in step 4.1 above.

The Loft at the corner of route 9 and 149. It’s a decent little burger joint but takes cash only. Note. Google maps lists The Loft as both a restaurant (you’ll see the little fork and knife graphic), but it also lists it as a woman’s clothing store, which it is not.

[2] Skene Manor: About .6 miles from where route 4 splits, turn left on Mountain St. and take it to the end where it splits to the right into Potter Terrace. Here you will find a really cool old mansion called Skene Manor (http://www.skenemanor.org/information) You can see the manor high upon the hill when you first turn right onto route 4. After passing by year after year we finally decided to track down what we saw. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to take the tour and have lunch in the tea room.

[3]Rest area – as soon as you cross the border into Vermont there is a rest area on the right hand side. Vermont rest areas are some of the nicest you will find and usually have coffee (free but they accept donations). This is also a great spot to let the dogs out for a sniff.

[4] Woodstock Vermont. Woodstock is the quintessential New England town with quaint and picturesque shops and restaurants. There are several Inns and Motels for a weekend visit. Woodstock also has one of our favorite rest stops where you can rest, grab some food and even cool your feet in a mountain stream. Just west of the village of Woodstock you will find the White Cottage Snack Bar.

Here you can get food, drinks, and ice cream and take a break from driving. They close for the season around Columbus Day and re-open in the spring. As you can see below it is a great place to kick back an relax and take a break. It is pet friendly (outside) and always a relaxing break.

This is a view of the picnic area along the Ottauquechee River at the White Cottage Snack Bar.

Scotland by the Yard. Past Woodstock, but before the Quechee Gorge there is a specialty shop called Scotland by the Yard which features goods imported from Scotland.

Quechee Gorge. Just west of Woodstock and just before you get to VT route 89, you will cross paths with the Great Quechee Gorge. There’s a park, an animal preserve featuring Raptors, a quaint plaza with several cool shops including a Cabot Cheese Shop and a Vermont Distillery.

[5] King Arthur Flour bakery, cafe and store. Exit 13 off of 91 North. Turn west onto VT 10A, left onto route 5 south and about 1/2 mile on the left is the King Arthur Bakery and store. Also note: If you turn east onto 10A you will cross the White River into Hanover New Hampshire, the home of Dartmouth College.

[6] Crawford Notch – Route 302 will take you straight through Crawford Notch State Park which features several road side waterfalls (depending on the time of year) and also passes by the AMC Highland Center which is maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

North Conway NH. Great tax-free shopping. Outlet malls, local shops, good food. Try Peaches for breakfast or lunch. Merlino’s for a good family dinner.

White Mountain National Forest – hiking trails and camping. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the country is located here.