3 Weeks Texas to Maine Road Trip Itinerary (and Other States in New England)

Last summer, we did a Texas to Maine road trip for three weeks long. Yes! It’s a long drive, and we were 6.2 mi shy of driving 6,000 miles!

On this Texas to Maine road trip, we also visited the other five states in New England. In total, we went and drove through 13 states.

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Our road trip to Maine from Texas started south of Dallas. We could drive straight to Maine, but we decided to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio first. From there, we continued to Niagara Falls in New York. Then we started exploring the New England region from Vermont.

We traveled in a minivan with our teardrop, the tiny travel trailer, hooked at the back. So, we stayed in RV Campgrounds except for the first day and the last two nights. 

As always, our dog Snoopy came with us. He has traveled with us since 2017 and has been to 23 states. After this road trip to Maine from Texas, he added seven more states to his list.

When you go through this Texas to Maine road trip itinerary, you will see that you can adjust it easily. Especially when you live further south, west, or east of Texas.

If you live in a different state, you can always start in the middle of the itinerary, or the final destination, the New England state.

Also, I give you options of places to visit or things to do if you have extra time. Three weeks is long enough, but I think a four weeks road trip to New England states from Texas is way better.

On the other hand, you can always cut the trip short. You can drive straight to New England, as well as on the way back to Texas.

Texas to Maine Road Trip in 3 Weeks!

My family and I did lots of road trips from Dallas, Texas, to different states and places. We did Dallas to South Dakota, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, Dallas to Washington DC, even Dallas to New Jersey. But this road trip from Dallas to Maine was the farthest one we had done so far.

Here’s our Texas to Maine road trip itinerary.

Day 1: Dallas to Bowling Green, Kentucky – 10h 45m

Stop: President Bill Clinton Birthplace in Hope, Arkansas.

Accommodation: Red Roof Inn. 3140 Scottsville Rd., Bowling Green, KY.

After about 30 minutes drive from Texarkana, Texas, you will see a sign of President Bill Clinton’s Birthplace. It is on the right side of the highway. It is in Hope, Arkansas, and is only around 5 minute’s drive from the interstate highway I-30.

You won’t spend time here as this National Historic Site is small. We’ve been here before, but not our dog Snoopy. It turned out dogs are not allowed inside the historic site. 

You can skip this place because the drive on day one is long. Save this stop for another trip.

Somehow, there’s always road construction along I-30 in Arkansas between Texarkana and West Memphis. So, be prepared for a delay. I suggest you leave home no later than 6 am.

It was dark when we arrived at Red Roof Inn in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We chose the hotel simply because dogs can stay for free. 

Several years ago, we stayed at the Red Roof Inn & Suites East Knoxville, Tennessee, for the first time. We were on the way back to Texas from The Smokies. The room was clean and neat, and we were surprised. Since that day, we chose to stay at the Red Roof Inn wherever we went. Unfortunately, we never found the same quality and service from other Red Roof Inn until today.

For hotel options, you can check the following link.

Day 2: Bowling Green to Streetsboro, Ohio – 7h (destination is in a different time zone)

Stops: Corvette Museum, Mammoth Cave National Park, and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Accommodation: Woodside Lake Park RV Campground in Streetsboro, Ohio. 2486 Frost Rd., Streetsboro, OH 44241. 

Corvette lovers, you must stop at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. It’s a great car museum. We have visited the museum before, so we only made a quick stop for pictures by the sign with our dog Snoopy.

Then we stopped at Mammoth Cave National Park to take Snoopy pictures by the sign. If visiting National Parks is your thing, you must do a cave tour here and skip the Corvette Museum. Dogs are not allowed in the cave, but fortunately, there’s a kennel near the Visitor Center.

Our last stop before Streetsboro, Ohio, was Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace. Its location is in Hodgenville, Kentucky. If history is more of your thing, I suggest you stop here and skip the Corvette Museum or Mammoth Cave National Park. 

It takes around one hour and fifteen minutes from Bowling Green to Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace in Hodgenville. The destination is in a different time zone. Dogs are not allowed inside the building but are welcome on the trails and walkways. 

One thing I like about summer is that daylight is longer. That way, we didn’t have to set up our travel trailer in the dark, although we arrived in Streetsboro after 7 pm.

Woodside Lake Park is outside the city in a serene setting. Tall trees surrounded the campsite, and it was quiet. But I’m not sure when school is out, by seeing inflatables on the lake in the middle of the campground. It looks like Woodside Lake Park is a local’s favorite summer destination.

The bathroom at the campground was clean, but the water was a bit sulfur smelly. And you must pay for the WiFi service. If you don’t like to camp, you can always stay in one of their cabins.

Check it here for choices of hotels.

Day 3: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Spend all day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. These three places are not to be missed: Brandywine Falls, The Ledges, and Boston Mills Visitor Center.

Cuyahoga Valley is located on Peninsula, about 20 minutes from the campground. It is one of the dog-friendliest national parks in the U.S. 

If you have extra time, you can explore Streetsboro and Peninsula a bit. We got hit by a thunderstorm in the park, so we didn’t have time to do it.

Day 4: Streetsboro to Cooperstown, NY – 8h 45m

Stop: Niagara Falls.

Accommodation: KOA Cooperstown in Cooperstown, New York. 565 Ostrander Rd., Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Niagara Falls is one of the places in the U.S. that you must visit. You must cross to the Canadian side for a more spectacular view. Too bad the border was still closed during our visit.

We didn’t expect to see a lot of people there. After driving around several times and still couldn’t find a parking space, my husband told me to go with our son and dog. We went there once before our son was born, so he didn’t miss a thing.

Don’t forget to take the Maid of the Mist boat tour. But the line will be long, and dogs are not allowed. We save it for the next trip, when we go to Canada.

When you stop here, expect to have the same crowds as us. Or probably more.

Then we continued to our accommodation for the night, KOA Cooperstown in Cooperstown, upstate New York. It came with free Wifi, and the bathroom was sparkling clean.

We arrived in the dark, and the next day, we woke up in the 40s. I guess that is how June’s temperature is in upstate New York.

Today was also a long drive. There were places between Buffalo and Cooperstown that I wanted to stop at, but we will need a different trip for that. 

If you have an extra day, I suggest you spend a night at Watkins Glen instead, about a 3 hours drive from Niagara Falls. You can visit Watkins Glen State Park and the village.

For hotels in Cooperstown, check the following link.

Day 5: Cooperstown to Williamstown, VT – 4h

Accommodation: Limehurst Lake Campground. 4104 VT-14, Williamstown, VT 05679.

We didn’t make any stops except at Vermont Visitor Center for lunch and gas. Not that there weren’t beautiful places to see. On the contrary, there were many places to stop and things to do in upstate New York. It deserves another trip itself.

But, if you are a baseball fan, stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown before leaving for Vermont.

New York Amish live in Cooperstown. So, expect to see the buggies on the road. However, it’s not big as Amish Country in Ohio.

After check-in at the accommodation in Williamstown, Vermont, drive to Montpelier, the Capital of Vermont. It is only a 20-minute drive, and you will fall in love with the Capital, as I did. 

Park in front of the capitol building and walk around. After all, Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the U.S.

Then go back to the campground and rest. The bathroom facilities were old, but they all functioned fine. There’s free WiFi, but you must go to the office or at least the bathroom area to get a strong connection.

For non campers, here’s the link to hotels around Montpelier.

Day 6: Exploring Waterbury, Stowe, and chasing covered bridges near Williamstown.

Vermont is a beautiful small state famous for its maple syrup industry and covered bridges. Today you will visit the Maple Sugarworks, Ben & Jerry, Smuggler’s Notch, waterfalls, the floating bridge, and covered bridges. There are so many things to do and see in Vermont.

While exploring around, do not forget to try Creeme, Vermont’s famous soft ice cream. Also, bring home the maple syrup with you.

Day 7: Williamstown to Lincoln, NH – 1h 30m

Stop: Rock of Ages

Accommodation: Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins. 218 US-3, Lincoln, NH 03251.

Today you will leave for New Hampshire, but there is one more stop to make in Vermont. It’s located less than 15 minutes from Williamstown on your way to New Hampshire: the Rock of Ages. 

Rock of Ages is a granite quarry, but your visit to the place won’t be disappointing at all. We drove our vehicle so Snoopy could join the tour.

Since it’s a short drive from Williamstown to Lincoln, NH, we let GPS lead the way. It showed a different direction from Google Maps. First, it directed us to Stone Iron Furnace in Franconia, New Hampshire.

A friendly resident welcomed us to her state and directed us to the Lupine field in Sugar Hill. It’s like our bluebonnet, but much taller and has more flowers. 

After checking in at your accommodation and supper, go to Franconia Notch State Park. It’s still bright enough to visit a few must-sees: Boise Rock, Old Man of the Mountain/Profile Lake, and the Basin. Dogs are welcome in these places.

Country Bumpkins is not very big. It offers free WiFi, and showers are strong. But bears are common in the area. When the owner told me about that, the memory of camping in Ouray Colorado the year before backing to mind. Eek! But the Country Bumpkin’s owner left the dumpster open so bears will go there instead of campers’ trailers or tents.

And here’s the link to hotels around Lincoln.

Day 8: Visiting Flume Gorge and Mount Washington

Lincoln’s location is in the heart of the White Mountains. You will visit Flume Gorge in the morning and drive to Mount Washington in the afternoon. These two are a must visit! 

Dogs are not allowed in Flume Gorge, but your dog will enjoy the drive to the summit of Mount Washington with you.

Do not forget to stop at Sabadday Waterfalls on the way to Mount Washington and visit a couple of covered bridges on the way back.

There are so many things to do and see in the White Mountains area that you might add another day or two. That is if you have extra time. You can visit Woodstock, Clark’s Trading Post, ride a tramway to Cannon Mountain, moose watching, hiking, and many more. 

White Mountains is a famous vacation destination in New Hampshire. My sister’s friend told me to revisit in the fall because the area is gorgeous during that season. 

As for Mount Washington, I would say it is like Pikes Peak in Colorado. Besides driving, you can ride a train or hike to the summit. The wind blows strong, and it’s cold up there. So, bring a jacket.

Day 9: Lincoln to Trenton, ME – 4h 30m

Stop: A quick stop in Rumford, Maine.

Accommodation: Timberland Acres RV Park. 57 Bar Harbor Rd., Trenton, ME 04605.

Finally, you will arrive at the farthest state on your Texas to Maine road trip.

Again, we let GPS take control. At first, I wanted to make a quick stop at Augusta, the capital of Maine, but that’s not the GPS directed us. I also wanted to stop at Bangor to see the Paul Bunyan Statue and Stephen King’s house. 

But, when we got to Rumford, we were welcomed by Paul Bunyan & Blue statues. So, we decided it was enough for Paul Bunyan for this trip.

After checking in at the accommodation, there’s a chance it’s still bright. Go to Acadia National Park to see what you can see for this day one in Maine. Don’t go straight to rest. After all, it’s a long drive from Texas. Use your time to see as many places as you can. We got to stroll around Jordan Pond.

If you prefer to stop at Augusta and Bangor, set your GPS to Augusta, followed by Bangor.

From Trenton to Acadia National Park entrance is about a 15-minute drive.

If you prefer to stay on the island, check out these hotels around Bar Harbor.

Day 10: Acadia National Park

Explore Acadia National Park all day, including all the little towns in Mt Desert Island.

Don’t forget to have lobster rolls for lunch or supper! It’s not cheap and not Texas size! We had it at three different places during our three nights stay there. What can I say? They are delicious.

Day 11: Trenton to Lubec – 2 hr

Stop: Schoodic Point.

While in the area, you must go to Lubec, the easternmost town in the U.S. It is also the location of West Quoddy Head, the lighthouse with red and white stripes.

If Vermont and New Hampshire are famous for their covered bridges, you must visit lighthouses in Maine.

But first, you must stop at Schoodic Point, another part of Acadia National Park. Visitors like to skip this, but it’s a big mistake. Schoodic Point is stunning!

You will drive on Highway 1, and there are little towns that are worth a stop, too. Jonesport, Machias, and Cutler are some of them. Too bad it was foggy when we left Lubec. We could not make any stops at these little towns.

I also learned that Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the U.S. Some places let you rake your blueberries, but the season starts in late July. So, we did not get to do it.

Day 12: Trenton – North Hampton, NH – 4h 45m

Stops: Fort Knox & the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory in Prospect, Portland, and York, all in Maine.

Accommodation: Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort. 115 Lafayette Road. North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Today you will move towards the Boston area and stay in North Hampton in New Hampshire. It is less than an hour away from Boston.

This is also the day when you turn around toward home on your Texas to Maine road trip.

It’s not easy to find RV campgrounds because it gets to fill up fast. People in New England like swimming in the ocean in the summer. Camping is their choice of accommodation. 

Sometimes we didn’t stick to our itinerary, especially when we saw something interesting. 

On the way to North Hampton, we chose to drive Highway 1. We were passing small towns in coastal Maine. You might want to stop at every place, but you need a special one week to explore coastal Maine.

Less than an hour from Trenton, we saw a fort and a tall bridge tower in Prospect. We did not know anything about the places, so we made a stop. 

The fort is full of history, and there’s an observatory at the top of the bridge tower. The only observatory bridge in the U.S. and the world’s tallest public bridge observatory! It’s taller than the Statue of Liberty and 108 feet shorter than the Washington Monument in D.C.

I suggest you stop at Fort Knox and tour the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory.

Dogs are not allowed in the observatory. However, they can stroll the fort with you.

Keep driving on Highway 1, and you will pass Wiscasset. The famous Red’s Eats lobster roll is in this town. You will see a long line of people waiting to order the lobster roll. You are welcome to stop and join the waiting line, but remember you still have two stops to make: Portland and York.

Downtown Portland is so full of tourists that we couldn’t find a parking spot. So, we went straight to Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. You don’t want to miss this famous lighthouse in Maine. After all, visiting lighthouses is one of the things to do in Maine.

If lucky, you might get a parking spot in downtown Portland and enjoy your visit. Or, if you have an extra day, spend a night in Portland.

From Portland, we stopped in York to see the Nubble Lighthouse. It is another must-see lighthouse in Maine.

Day 13: North Hampton to Salem, MA – 45 min

Stops: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport. 

Salem is not a big town, and you will do a lot of walking in the city. You will spend at least 4 hours here.

From Salem, you must visit the coastal towns in Cape Ann. Go northeast to Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport. It’s a pretty drive, and you might want to stop for a swim. Most of the beaches are not free, though.

Day 14: North Hampton to Boston, MA – 1 hr

The Freedom Trail is a must-do in Boston, especially on your first visit. It will take around 90 minutes to 2 hours to do the tour. Of course, you will go more than the estimated time if you explore each attraction along the trail.

Another must visit are Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, Boston Common, Beacon Hill, and USS Constitution.  

As for us, we started our day in Boston by visiting MIT in Cambridge. For our son, it’s the highlight of the trip. My friend is taking his postgraduate studies there, so he got to take us around. We even parked the car on campus and took the train to Harvard before we went to Boston Common.

Dogs are allowed on the T during off-peak hours, 10 am-4 pm, and after 7 pm. They should be on a leash and cannot take up a seat.

Day 15: North Hampton to Foster, RI – 2h

Accommodation: Ginny-B Campground. 7 Harrington Road, Foster, RI 02825.

Searching for RV campgrounds around Rhode Island and Connecticut wasn’t easy. I wanted a place close enough to attractions in both states since I didn’t want to stay for one night in Rhode Island and moved to Connecticut for another night. That was just too much for a long trip.

I think it’s understandable since Rhode Island and Connecticut are two of the smallest states in the country. They don’t have enough space to build RV campgrounds like in Texas. 

Ginny-B Campground location is in a wooded area. It means the WiFi connection on the campsites was not good. If parking by the office, you will get a WiFi connection.

There are permanent residents, and people parked their trailers in the park and turned them into their summer houses. The weekend of the 4th of July is always fully-booked. 

After setting up our trailer, we drove to Providence, the capital of Rhode Island. It’s only 35 minutes away. From there, we continued to Newport, about 45 minutes from Providence. When you go, do the Cliff Walk.

Day 16: Foster to Mystic, CT – 1h

Today you will visit the last state in New England: Connecticut. You will visit Mystic, Groton, and Hartford, the State Capital.

From Ginny-B to Mystic is only a 50 minutes drive. Here are places worth checking: Olde Mistick Village, Mystic Seaport Museum, and Historic Downtown Mystic. And don’t miss the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, which goes up at the top of the hour. 

If you remember Mystic Pizza, the movie from the 1980s, you must grab a slice of heaven from the restaurant. It’s delicious.

Then we continued to Groton to see the USS Nautilus. It is only 15 minutes away. If you are not into submarines, you can skip this stop.

Less than an hour’s drive later, we arrived in Hartford. We drove through the capitol and downtown area. Also, to Mark Twain’s house. Too bad it is not pet friendly, so we just visited from the parking lot.

If you are not into submarines, you can go to New Haven, which is almost an hour away from Mystic. Then make a quick stop at Hartford on the way back to Foster.

Day 17: Foster to Gettysburg, PA – 6h

Stop: Hershey’s Chocolate World, PA.

Accommodation: Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday. 20 Knox Road, Gettysburg.  

Since it was another long drive again, we decided to make one stop only. That was Hershey’s Chocolate World.

Harrisburg, the Capital of Pennsylvania, is only 20 minutes from Hershey’s. It was the right time to drive through the Capital, but traffic was horrible when we were there. So, we decided to go straight to our accommodation in Gettysburg.

I like the setup of the KOA here. Tall trees surround the campground, and there is a nature trail if you want to hike. A pool is open from Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day Weekend. And it is heated.

Day 18: Gettysburg

A day spent at the Gettysburg National Military Park and downtown Gettysburg. 

Start your self-guided tour from the Visitor Center. My husband said one day was not enough, especially if you are a history buff. He said he could spend one day at the Visitor Center if we had extra time.

Downtown Gettysburg is pretty, with historical buildings and old architecture.

Our friend suggested we eat at Dobbin House Tavern. Too bad there were no empty tables during our visit. You might try eating here and reserve a table a week before you come here.

There are so many things to do in Gettysburg that you will need at least two days in this historic town.

Day 19: Gettysburg to Pittsburgh, PA – 3h 45m

A one-day trip to Pittsburgh was a personal trip. Our family lives here, so we made a quick one-day visit with them.

My original plan was to stop at Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, then spend a night in Nashville before driving home. 

From Gettysburg to Harpers Ferry is about an hour. Then you will drive around 9 hours and 30 minutes to Nashville. It will be a long day, but you will gain an hour once you get to Nashville.

Day 20: Pittsburgh to Forrest City, AR – 12h 30m (destination is in a different time zone)

Accommodation: Red Roof Inn. 2333 N Washington St, Forrest City, AR 72335.  

Every time we drove home from Pittsburgh to Dallas, we never made any stops except for gas and meals. It’s just a long drive, and we wanted to go as far as we can. We missed our house!

12h 30m is a long drive, but you don’t have to leave early the next day. Take your time, and enjoy your rest.

Your Texas to Maine road trip is almost at the end.

Day 21: Forrest City to Dallas, TX – 6h

Last day on the road. Drive straight home, ready to sleep on your bed.
Even our dog Snoopy always zoomed in to his spot on the couch for napping once we got home.

So, there it is! A 3 weeks Texas to Maine road trip! Long drive and tiring, but memorable.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.