VT, NH, Maine teardroppers- weather and trip question

[Gold5one]

I am making plans to go to Lebanon , NH in about 2 weeks. If this job comes through on Monday, I will be pulling my Weekender XL to NH for a long term job at Timken bearings- a contract CNC tech job with excellent per diem--
There is too much fantastic camping up in the NE to leave my camper at home-
Q#1, I have a small A/C in the back window and I am thinking that it's just a dead weight- an A/c wouldn't get any use up there would it? A car dealer in Syracuse told me that back when an A/C was on $$ option, hardly anyone ordered a car with it.
2nd question- does anyone have an idea on a route for me from Florida? I am looking at the map now- I want no tollways at all and no major cities-
going up I-95, then jumping over at Richmond, VA to I-81 , then once I get to western NY, on I-88 near Albany I need some advice on a safe route for me to go to NH. If you have a better idea for the trip, please advise-
I have good friend in VT about 25 miles away with a full workshop who will let we store and work on Weekender.
I'm really pumped up to hit the road- I just have to find a weather window with no winter snow/ice-
Thanks
Mark
ps- when do the campgrounds open for the season?
-
==my traveling buddy, Sparky, has to stay home for now.

[lfhoward]

Hi Mark!

Lebanon, NH is about 45 minutes away from where I grew up in VT. Beautiful area!

This time of year you won't need AC, but if you stay there into the summer you will. Summers get to be 85-90 degrees and it can be humid. That said, if you position your trailer in the shade, you could probably get by without it, but you might wish you had it.

To avoid major coastal cities, I would say come up 81 to Wilkes Barre PA, then pick up 84 east and take that over to Hartford CT. From there, 91 north will take you to White River Jct VT, right across the river from Lebanon NH. That will be a lot easier on your TV than coming up 88 to Albany and taking hilly and curvy two lane roads across the Green Mountains.

You are smart to avoid 95, as it can be a parking lot most of the time through DC, Baltimore, Philly, and NYC with lots of tolls to boot. Happy trails!

P.S. Be sure to check out the Italian brick oven pizza restaurant in the Powerhouse Plaza in West Lebanon, NH. Yum!

[Kaz]

Can't help you out much with a drive route, but many times I have told my GPS no tolls, no highways and gotten some interesting rides. I grew up camping in new England and never needed AC in my campers. a good fan always does the job. So jealous! Can't wait to go camping.

[Gold5one]

lfhoward said-

To avoid major coastal cities, I would say come up 81 to Wilkes Barre PA, then pick up 84 east and take that over to Hartford CT. From there, 91 north will take you to White River Jct VT, right across the river from Lebanon NH. That will be a lot easier on your TV than coming up 88 to Albany and taking hilly and curvy two lane roads across the Green Mountains.

I came through Hartford this summer when we returned from Maine on vacation- I see that is a better option, thanks!
I think I will keep the A/C now, after all.
I talked to someone in Lebanon today and he said there is no snow- the rain has killed the winter sports this year.

[lrrowe]

This is not to discourage you, but to help be prepared. I love by I81 in VA and use it all the time to get to NJ. It can get very crowed with trucks and thus has the typical accidents/delays as other highways. But it is a far far better choice then I95... I agree. Just watch the peek times. And being an ex NY'r, I would agree with the suggestion to take I84 and not head towards Albany.