Columbus Ohio to Burlington VT

[MikeRP]

Hey everyone, I’m headed out on our first big trip since COVID. We are going to South Hero VT.

Looks like short way is off the NY thruway on Rv 8. But it goes through the mountains. Is this a good road? Grades?

Any suggestions on getting to Burlington? I’ve thought about going thru PA and staying a night around Scranton. Then north the next day.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Lubehead]

You can figure out to get to Rt 89 or Rt 7 from Rt 90. Rt 7 is in my opinion the road you want to be on as there is more to see, although the pace is slower. If you just want to get there then use Rt 89.I don't know how Rt 8 comes into play.


I strongly recommend though that you visit the Shelburne Museum just South of Burlington. Truly one of the most unique museums out there that the whole family can enjoy.


Check out Electra Havemeyer Webb:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electra_Havemeyer_Webb

 

[MikeRP]

Thanks for the reply! Definitely I will be on RT 7 at some point. I’m coming from the west and the truckers take Rr 8 around Utica NY and then I’d cut over to get north on the east side of lake Champlain or stay on west side interstate and take a ferry to south hero island.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[GravelRider]

I'd recommend traveling on the west side of Lake Champlain up 87 through Plattsburg, NY, and take the ferry over Champlain. The views of the Adirondacks are nice along this route, and taking the ferry is a fun experience. I've been up on both sides of Lake Champlain, and overall, I find the NY side to be a bit more enjoyable, as far as views go.

A nice stop along the way is Frances Slocum State Park. It's about 30 minutes south of Scranton, and would be roughly halfway to Burlington. If you did stop here, you'd take route 118 from around Williamsport to Dallas, PA, which is a nice easy road to travel with an RV, but still scenic. This may add a bit of time and might not be worth it though. I didn't check on Google Maps or anything.

Another nice stop off along the way, though a bit further down the road from Scranton, is High Point State Park in western New Jersey. There aren't any hookups there, and they don't fit larger rigs, but it was a nice little park.

This being said, I'd imagine the norther route up through Erie, Buffalo, and Syracuse would be faster.

 

[DougW9876]

Going over and up through Scranton means I80 across PA which is a very busy road. Going Cleveland and Buffalo means I90 which is also busy and has NY tolls to pay. I prefer I 86 to I88 when going that direction. It has some hills but not anything that would cause a problem. It has a LOT less traffic and it has some decent scenery along the way. Basic route would be I71, I271 (Use the express lanes) I90 then take I86 from just east of Erie PA. I86 to Binghamton then I 88 toward Schenectady.

 

[rracer5]

Going over and up through Scranton means I80 across PA which is a very busy road. Going Cleveland and Buffalo means I90 which is also busy and has NY tolls to pay. I prefer I 86 to I88 when going that direction. It has some hills but not anything that would cause a problem. It has a LOT less traffic and it has some decent scenery along the way. Basic route would be I71, I271 (Use the express lanes) I90 then take I86 from just east of Erie PA. I86 to Binghamton then I 88 toward Schenectady.

Then take I87 (Adirondack Northway) to Plattsburgh, NY or continue on I87 to the last exit (or next to it anyway) which would be NY Rt 11 in Champlain, NY. Take Rt 11 to Rouses Point, NY. Then, just before the Canadian border, turn right on Rt 2 that crosses over the northern portion of the lake into Vermont and continue on down to your destination.

If you've got the time, you could even catch Rt 11 north of Syracuse or Watertown (off I81) and take the flatter route around the north side of the Adirondacks. Nice scenic drive.