Travel advice - South Jersey to Belmont NH

[stantyszka]

Fleshing out summer camping trips and am thinking of making the trip from southern NJ to Benton NH to see the Lake Winnipesaque area. Anyone towed this route or a norther portion of it that can advise on road condition, terrain, and inclines? Seems like there is a lot to do in the area and it seems like there are a slew of campgrounds. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Stan

[n-e-d]

Ellacoya State Park right on Winnipesaukee - big
long sites and a rarity for New England state parks full hookups. Small beach,bath house that includes laundry, you would want to make reservations full on weekends maybe some weekday openings . Mass pike clogs at 84 and 495 and 93 can get slow during the summer but you're clear usually above concord.

[retired on a mountain]

June 11 th starts bike week

[retired on a mountain]

What kind of camper do you have? We take 87 up to 7 to Bennington 9 to 93

[stantyszka]

Originally Posted by retired on a mountain

June 11 th starts bike week

Good call - I'll cross out that week.

[stantyszka]

Originally Posted by retired on a mountain

What kind of camper do you have? We take 87 up to 7 to Bennington 9 to 93

Wildwood xlite 281qbxl. Bunk house, 6000 lbs. pull it with a ram 1500 crew cab,5.7 Hemi.

[retired on a mountain]

Going on 7/9 has some tight turns

[stantyszka]

Originally Posted by retired on a mountain

Going on 7/9 has some tight turns

Are the tight turns marked or are they underwear soilers?

[vettaboy]

Originally Posted by stantyszka

Are the tight turns marked or are they underwear soilers?

You are going to burn a lot of gas going over the mountains on 7/9. I would stick to the highways.

[n-e-d]

Hey OP just notice you have two different destinations Benton which is near Franconia Notch and Belmont south of Winnipesaukee are you heading for both or just one?

[Strigflag]

Having made the trip from Philly more times than I want to count, I offer the following. Unless you are on the eastern edge of NJ I would take 295 to 195 to the NJT. Then pick up 287 to 87 to Newburgh, NY. Take 84 to 90 to 290 to 93. Then 140 east to Belmont. If you are on the Eastern edge of NJ, you may consider the GSP to 287 to 684 to 84.
Now a bit of advice. Try to time your trip so you get through Waterbury and Hartford, CT outside rush hours. Avoid at all costs the George Washington bridge. Try to avoid the Tappan Zee. Avoid getting fuel in NY or CT. Pick up fuel on RT 17 in Mawah NJ or another good place is the Pilot at MA exit 1 Sturbridge. I apologize if I offend anyone but, do not let MA drivers intimidate you. They frequently may not use their "blinkahs" to signal lane changes or turns. So just stay alert. Also be aware that NH funds their roadways with traffic fines.
Good luck and Happy Trails.

[Strigflag]

Having made the trip from philly more times than I want to count, I offer the following. Unless you are on the eastern edge of NJ I would take 295 to 195 to the NJT. Then pick up 287 to 87 to Newburgh, NY. Take 84 to 90 to 290 to 93. Then 140 east to Belmont. If you are on the Eastern edge of NJ, you may consider the GSP to 287 to 684 to 84.
Now a bit of advice. Try to time your trip so you get through Waterbury and Hartford, CT outside rush hours. Avoid getting fuel in NY or CT. Pick up fuel on RT 17 in Mawah NJ or another good place is the Pilot at MA exit 1 Sturbridge. I apologize if I offend anyone but,
do not let MA drivers intimidate you. They frequently may not use their "blinkahs" to signal lane changes or turns. So just stay alert. Also be aware the NH funds their roadways with traffic fines.
Good luck and Happy Trails.

[dvalley]

I live in the Belmont NH area Stantzyka. Your two best bets for campgrounds are Ellacoya State Park and Danforth Bay in Freedom. Danforth Bay will give you more options for day trips as it is about halfway between the White Mountain area and Lake Winnipesaukee area. It is also gated and well patrolled with lots of amenities for all ages. Camp sites are spacious and many have lots of privacy, unless you are choosing a pull through site . Highly recommend it, especially if you have kids but book early as they fill up.

As for getting here up the eastern corridor the best route is 84 to Hartford, 91 N to pick up rte 9 in Brattleboro, or take 84 up to the Mass Pike (90) then 91 from there. Either way you will miss the Boston traffic and the roads will be good. Rte 9 brings you into Concord where you can pick up 93N. From there either exit 20 or 24 depending on your final destination.

You definitely do not want to do 202/9 through Vermont as you would have to go over Hogback mountain. Not something you want to do towing a load unless you have no other choice.

[Delco Bobby]

Originally Posted by Strigflag

Having made the trip from philly more times than I want to count, I offer the following. Unless you are on the eastern edge of NJ I would take 295 to 195 to the NJT. Then pick up 287 to 87 to Newburgh, NY. Take 84 to 90 to 290 to 93. Then 140 east to Belmont. If you are on the Eastern edge of NJ, you may consider the GSP to 287 to 684 to 84.
Now a bit of advice. Try to time your trip so you get through Waterbury and Hartford, CT outside rush hours. Avoid getting fuel in NY or CT. Pick up fuel on RT 17 in Mawah NJ or another good place is the Pilot at MA exit 1 Sturbridge. I apologize if I offend anyone but,
do not let MA drivers intimidate you. They frequently may not use their "blinkahs" to signal lane changes or turns. So just stay alert. Also be aware the NH funds their roadways with traffic fines.
Good luck and Happy Trails.

I sadly made the trip from Philly area to Boston college a few times in a nice car. I will never drive in Connecticut again. Every trip and every road was horrible. Heed the advice about Hartford and Waterbury but rush hour seems more like 12 hours. PA and Jersey roads are nothing to brag about but my not so recent experience with Connecticut says that state has BIG PROBLEMS.

And I never saw so many people driving on the shoulders of the roads as I did in MA.

[dvalley]

Originally Posted by Strigflag

So just stay alert. Also be aware that NH funds their roadways with traffic fines.

Actually... we fund our roadways with the liquor stores that are on the highways

[Delco Bobby]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Actually... we fund our roadways with the liquor stores that are on the highways

Well, get em liquored up and then bust them for DUI.

Just kidding.