Day 63 The Ultimate USA Road Trip Bar Harbor Mount Washington
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 26-04-2023
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from Bar Harbor Maine via a beautiful winding route through Maine to Mount Washington in the mountains of New Hampshire. The route is over 330 kilometers long with beautiful roads with great views and a number of beautiful stops.
We drive on beautiful winding roads through the interior of Maine with its beautiful country houses, we also see many small villages and ranches. We pass many viewpoints, beautiful lakes and cross rivers. In New Hampshire we go into the mountains with Mount Washington as the highlight. I rate this route with 5 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 3m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
335.92 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Along the route we pass many lakes and rivers that Maine has. Maine is also known for its beautiful towns and cities with stately mansions in Cape, Colonial and Victorian architecture, mostly built of wood with large verandas and painted in light colors.
Cape style homes are typical of much of New England, and Maine is no exception. Symmetry is a signature feature of these homes, with a balanced layout inside and out. Striking is a steep roof with a small overhang and built-in dormer windows. It is common for Cape style houses to have a large central chimney, either in line with the front door or along the outer gable wall. Siding on Cape homes is often horizontally hung wide clapboard or vinyl siding. Windows consist of several parts and are double hung and symmetrically placed. False wood or vinyl shutters are also characteristic of this style and may be the only decorative aspect to the exterior.
Colonial houses are another popular house style in Maine. The surface of these houses are smaller. They are symmetrical and square, with the front door in the center and windows on either side. Many colonial house plans include a false or inverted gable to break up the roofline. Colonial style is also called Georgian. Colonial houses have two full floors, with the ground floor containing the common areas, such as the kitchen, living room, office or half bathroom. The bedrooms and other bathrooms are located on the second floor. The floors are connected by a long staircase.
Victorian style homes are romantic, distinctive and rich in detail. While most of these were built between 1860 and 1900, contemporary Victorian designs imitate traditional features with more modern colours. Victorian homes often have steep gabled roofs and may have towers, turrets or dormer windows. High ceilings are a hallmark of Victorian homes, along with details such as intricate wood trim and ornate staircases. They often also find other "romantic" aspects, such as stained glass windows or decorative woodwork. So there is plenty to see along the way and it is definitely advisable to stop now and then to take a picture of these beautiful houses.
There are also many houses that are built in a Ranch or Split-Level style, but these are popular throughout the USA and not typical for New England and Maine.
The first stop is scheduled in Searsport where we visit the Penobscot Marine Museum, this is Maine's oldest marine museum and is designed to preserve the rich and unique maritime and shipbuilding history of Maine and Searsport. It was established in 1936 and the museum campus consists of two parts. The original heart of the campus is located on both sides of Church Street, and between Church and Reservoir Streets, just north of Main Street. In addition to these buildings, the museum has expanded to three adjacent buildings on the north side of Main Street west of Knox Bros. Ave.
Designed as a unique 19th-century seafaring village, the museum encompasses thirteen historic and modern buildings, houses a modern exhibition gallery with annual shows, and is home to a regionally significant library and archives focused on maritime history and regional genealogy. Eight of the museum's buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, five as part of a listing dedicated to the museum, and three as part of the Searsport Historic District.
Among the collections is an important photographic archive of glass plate negatives documenting life in New England and New York from 1909 and 1947, created by the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company. The photos are digitized and made available online for research and access.
The Campus consists of the following buildings;
• Admission Center
• Main Street Gallery
• Wildlife Education Center
• First Congregational Church of Searsport (still in use as a church)
• Captain Jeremiah Merithew House (Mid 19th century sea captain's home)
• Old sacristy
• Douglas and Margaret Carver Memorial Gallery
• Stephen Phillips Memorial Library
• Old Town Hall (1845)
• Duncan house
• Duncan Boat Shed
• Boat house
• Yard in the garden
• Ross Carriage Shed
• Fowler-True-Ross Shed
• Fowler-True-Ross House (19th century)
The Penobscot Marine Museum, it brings Maine's maritime culture to life on a three-acre campus of historic buildings. On-campus exhibits tell unique stories about ship captains and their families, Penobscot Bay's industries, global maritime trade, and modern-day fishing. The museum has more than 300,000 historical photographs, an extensive collection of maritime artifacts, a library, and an extensive online catalog and educational website. Well worth a visit.
Lunch is planned in Augusta, there are many restaurants around Water Street, and you can also do some sightseeing, such as “The Olde Federal Building” by the river. "The Olde Federal Building" or "The Old Post Office and Court House" is a historic former federal government building in downtown Augusta built in 1886-1890 and is one of Maine's finest surviving examples of Neo Romanesque architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The former post office and court house is a symmetrical 2-1/2 story granite structure with a central tower, flanked on either side by a wall and a smaller tower. It was designed by Mifflin E. Bell (1846-1904), the supervising architect of the United States Treasury Department.
The building was used as a courthouse and post office until the 1960s, when a new, larger federal building was constructed for this use. The Old Post Office was sold to a private owner and now houses a bank, restaurant and office, while much of the exterior has been retained.
After lunch we drive over 170 kilometers to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. No long stops are planned along the way, but you can take your time to stop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We drive along beautiful liquorices, lakes and rivers.
The day's highlight and finish is a visit to Mount Washington in the White Mountains, and it wouldn't be complete without a drive down the legendary "Mount Washington Auto Road," opened in 1861, is America's oldest man-made tourist attraction.
Mount Washington, at 1,916.6 m, is the highest mountain in the northeastern United States and the topographically most prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River. The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. On the afternoon of April 12, 1934, the Mount Washington Observatory recorded a wind speed of 231 miles per hour (372 km/h) at the summit, the world record from 1934 to 1996. Mount Washington still holds the record for the highest recorded wind speed not associated with a tornado or tropical cyclone.
The Mount Washington Auto Road climbs to the summit from the east. The Mount Washington and Cog Railway climbs the western slope of the mountain, scheduled for Day 64.
Today we drive up the “Mount Washington Auto Road”. You will experience the dramatic beauty of the mountains, or the erratic weather that Mount Washington is so famous for. Get ready to climb to an altitude of 1,916.7 m in 12 km and be amazed by the beautiful vistas.
Drive carefully and respect others. The "Mount Washington Auto Road" can be driven by private vehicles, and tours are also available in vans. The car and driver toll is $45 with $20 for each adult passenger and $10 for children ages 5 to 12, but you will receive a bumper sticker that reads "THIS CAR CLIMBED MT. WASHINGTON". The toll for motorcycles is $30, unfortunately no bumper sticker for bikers, but you can always buy a sticker or souvenir at the Gift Shop at the entrance.
Cyclists are not allowed on the road, except for participants during specific cycling events in July August. Every June, the mountain road hosts the Mount Washington Road Race, an event that draws hundreds of runners. No other vehicles are allowed during these events, so plan your visit and check the website (in this review) for dates. This "Mount Washington Auto Road" is an amazing experience and is a must for motorcyclists.
We spend the night at the foot of Mount Washington in The Glen House. This luxury hotel resort is built with the classic New England look, with a wood-tiled roof and painted exterior. Opened in 2018, the hotel is similar to the previous four Glen Houses that have stood on the site since 1852, but with a modern twist. The hotel offers spacious and luxurious rooms. Look out from this hotel on the high top of Mount Washington!
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Maine
About this region
Maine is a state in the New England region of the United States, bordered by New Hampshire to the west; the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast; and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and northwest, respectively. Maine is the 12th-smallest by area, the 9th-least populous, the 13th-least densely populated, and the most rural of the 50 U.S. states. It is also the northeasternmost among the contiguous United States, the northernmost state east of the Great Lakes, the only state whose name consists of a single syllable, and the only state to border only one other state. The most populous city in Maine is Portland, while its capital is Augusta.
Maine has traditionally been known for its jagged, rocky Atlantic oceanic and bayshore coastlines; smoothly-contoured mountains; heavily forested interior; picturesque waterways; and its wild lowbush blueberries and seafood cuisine, especially lobster and clams. In more recent years, coastal and Down East Maine, especially in the vicinity of Portland, have emerged as an important center for the creative economy, which is also bringing gentrification.For thousands of years after the glaciers retreated during the last Ice Age, indigenous peoples were the only inhabitants of the territory that is now Maine. At the time of European arrival, several Algonquian-speaking peoples inhabited the area. The first European settlement in the area was by the French in 1604 on Saint Croix Island, founded by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The first English settlement was the short-lived Popham Colony, established by the Plymouth Company in 1607. A number of English settlements were established along the coast of Maine in the 1620s, although the rugged climate and conflict with the local indigenous people caused many to fail.
As Maine entered the 18th century, only a half dozen European settlements had survived. Loyalist and Patriot forces contended for Maine's territory during the American Revolution. During the War of 1812, the largely undefended eastern region of Maine was occupied by British forces with the goal of annexing it to Canada via the Colony of New Ireland, but returned to the United States following failed British offensives on the northern border, mid-Atlantic and south which produced a peace treaty that restored the pre-war boundaries. Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820 when it voted to secede from Massachusetts to become a separate state. On March 15, 1820, under the Missouri Compromise, it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state.
Read more on Wikipedia
Maine has traditionally been known for its jagged, rocky Atlantic oceanic and bayshore coastlines; smoothly-contoured mountains; heavily forested interior; picturesque waterways; and its wild lowbush blueberries and seafood cuisine, especially lobster and clams. In more recent years, coastal and Down East Maine, especially in the vicinity of Portland, have emerged as an important center for the creative economy, which is also bringing gentrification.For thousands of years after the glaciers retreated during the last Ice Age, indigenous peoples were the only inhabitants of the territory that is now Maine. At the time of European arrival, several Algonquian-speaking peoples inhabited the area. The first European settlement in the area was by the French in 1604 on Saint Croix Island, founded by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The first English settlement was the short-lived Popham Colony, established by the Plymouth Company in 1607. A number of English settlements were established along the coast of Maine in the 1620s, although the rugged climate and conflict with the local indigenous people caused many to fail.
As Maine entered the 18th century, only a half dozen European settlements had survived. Loyalist and Patriot forces contended for Maine's territory during the American Revolution. During the War of 1812, the largely undefended eastern region of Maine was occupied by British forces with the goal of annexing it to Canada via the Colony of New Ireland, but returned to the United States following failed British offensives on the northern border, mid-Atlantic and south which produced a peace treaty that restored the pre-war boundaries. Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820 when it voted to secede from Massachusetts to become a separate state. On March 15, 1820, under the Missouri Compromise, it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state.
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Route Collections in this region Trans Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) or Trans-Canadian Highway is a system of highways that cover all 10 provinces of Canada.
The Federal and Provincial Highways System that now forms the TCH were authorized by the Trans-Canada Highway Act of 1948 and opened in 1962. It was completed in 1971. The total length of the TCH is 7821 km.
Contrary to the American Interstate Highway System, the TCH does not consist of an unambiguous network of motorways, but forms a network of restricted access highways and other main routes that are more akin to the Dutch provincial roads. The route is indicated by a green shield with a white maple leaf.
The numbering of the roads that are part of the TCH is the domain of the provinces. Only the western provinces have aligned their numbering and the TCH has the designation Highway 1 there.
The main route of the TCH starts in Victoria in British Columbia and runs via Calgary and Regina to Winnipeg. From Winnipeg the route leads to Kenora in Ontario, after which several branches pass through Ontario to Ottawa.
Further east, the route passes through the province of Quebec via Montreal and Quebec, among others, to Moncton, New Brunswick. Then the TCH continues east through Nova Scotia, where a branch (via the Confederation Bridge) leads to Prince Edward Island. Another section runs down to the sea in the port city of Sydney, where a ferry service leaves for Channel-Port aux Basques on the island of Newfoundland. From there the route continues for more than 900 km to the provincial capital of St. John's, in the extreme southeast of the island.
We not only drive the TCH, but will take the rural roads as much as possible, because only Highway driving is too boring and Canada has many beautiful roads through its beautiful landscape. You drive through all provinces and through very varied and scenic landscapes, from the Rockies in the West, the Central Prairies to the Eastern Maritimes and the Northern Forest.
The riding season is generally April through October with longer seasons on the west coast and southern Ontario. Provide good all season clothing or bring rain gear, depending on the province and the season the weather can change and you may be surprised by a rain or even a snow or hail shower, so be prepared.
In Canada the metric system is used, so speeds are indicated in Km / h. A helmet requirement (DOT approved) applies throughout Canada.
You will see many wildlife throughout Canada. This varies from province to province, such as deer, buffalos, moose, caribou, wolves, pumas, bears, mountain goats, sheep, lynx, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, badgers, various rodents and all kinds of birds. Even if it is very tempting to stop for a photo, don't do it, it can be very dangerous.
The routes described in this review sometimes deviate from the Trans Canada Highway, bringing the total length to 9,300 kilometers. The routes are made so that you drive through the beautiful parts of Canada with truly beautiful panoramas and beautiful sights to visit, this differs from museums, parks to historical points. The routes are not too long so there is time to stop for photos and sights along the way. You can also choose to arrange and combine the stages differently or to add other routes to shorten or extend your journey. The routes are marked with a rating in stars, some routes are less challenging or interesting but are necessary to drive to the next point, which is why they often have a lower rating.
In the route description you will find more details about the routes and the points of interest along the way. These points and also hotels, restaurants, petrol stations etc. are indicated with a POI and sometimes also with a Route point. In the description you will also find links to interesting sites and to the routes that connect to that day.
The described routes are;
Day 01 TCH Victory to Nanaimo
Day 02 TCH Nanaimo to Hope
Day 03 TCH Hope to Kamloops
Day 04 TCH Kamloops to Revelstoke
Day 05 TCH Revelstoke to Lake Louise
Day 06 TCH Lake Louise to Calgary
Day 07 TCH Calgary to Medicine Hat
Day 08 TCH Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw
Day 09 TCH Moose Jaw to Regina
Day 10 TCH Regina to Brandon
Day 11 TCH Brandon to Winnipeg
Day 12 TCH Winnipeg to Kenora
Day 13 TCH Kenora to Ignace
Day 14 TCH Ignace to Thunder Bay
Day 15 TCH Thunder Bay to Marathon
Day 16 Thunder Bay to Wawa
Day 17 TCH Wawa to Sault Ste Marie
Day 18 TCH Sault Ste Marie to Espanola
Day 19 TCH Espanola to Mattawa
Day 20 TCH Mattawa to Ottawa
Day 21 TCH Ottawa to Montreal
Day 22 TCH Montreal to Quebec
Day 23 TCH Quebec to Riviere du Loup
Day 24 TCH Riviere du Loup to Grand Falls
Day 25 TCH Grand Falls to Fredericton
Day 26 TCH Fredericton to Moncton
Day 27 TCH Moncton to Charlottetown
Day 28 TCH Charlottetown to Truro
Day 29 TCH Truro to North Sydney
Day 30 TCH North Sydney to Corner Brook
Day 31 TCH Corner Brook to Grand Falls
Day 32 TCH Grand Falls to Clarenville
Day 33 TCH Clarenville to St John.
Have fun reading the reviews and planning your next road trip.
If you have driven this trip, I am very curious about your feedback!
The Federal and Provincial Highways System that now forms the TCH were authorized by the Trans-Canada Highway Act of 1948 and opened in 1962. It was completed in 1971. The total length of the TCH is 7821 km.
Contrary to the American Interstate Highway System, the TCH does not consist of an unambiguous network of motorways, but forms a network of restricted access highways and other main routes that are more akin to the Dutch provincial roads. The route is indicated by a green shield with a white maple leaf.
The numbering of the roads that are part of the TCH is the domain of the provinces. Only the western provinces have aligned their numbering and the TCH has the designation Highway 1 there.
The main route of the TCH starts in Victoria in British Columbia and runs via Calgary and Regina to Winnipeg. From Winnipeg the route leads to Kenora in Ontario, after which several branches pass through Ontario to Ottawa.
Further east, the route passes through the province of Quebec via Montreal and Quebec, among others, to Moncton, New Brunswick. Then the TCH continues east through Nova Scotia, where a branch (via the Confederation Bridge) leads to Prince Edward Island. Another section runs down to the sea in the port city of Sydney, where a ferry service leaves for Channel-Port aux Basques on the island of Newfoundland. From there the route continues for more than 900 km to the provincial capital of St. John's, in the extreme southeast of the island.
We not only drive the TCH, but will take the rural roads as much as possible, because only Highway driving is too boring and Canada has many beautiful roads through its beautiful landscape. You drive through all provinces and through very varied and scenic landscapes, from the Rockies in the West, the Central Prairies to the Eastern Maritimes and the Northern Forest.
The riding season is generally April through October with longer seasons on the west coast and southern Ontario. Provide good all season clothing or bring rain gear, depending on the province and the season the weather can change and you may be surprised by a rain or even a snow or hail shower, so be prepared.
In Canada the metric system is used, so speeds are indicated in Km / h. A helmet requirement (DOT approved) applies throughout Canada.
You will see many wildlife throughout Canada. This varies from province to province, such as deer, buffalos, moose, caribou, wolves, pumas, bears, mountain goats, sheep, lynx, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, badgers, various rodents and all kinds of birds. Even if it is very tempting to stop for a photo, don't do it, it can be very dangerous.
The routes described in this review sometimes deviate from the Trans Canada Highway, bringing the total length to 9,300 kilometers. The routes are made so that you drive through the beautiful parts of Canada with truly beautiful panoramas and beautiful sights to visit, this differs from museums, parks to historical points. The routes are not too long so there is time to stop for photos and sights along the way. You can also choose to arrange and combine the stages differently or to add other routes to shorten or extend your journey. The routes are marked with a rating in stars, some routes are less challenging or interesting but are necessary to drive to the next point, which is why they often have a lower rating.
In the route description you will find more details about the routes and the points of interest along the way. These points and also hotels, restaurants, petrol stations etc. are indicated with a POI and sometimes also with a Route point. In the description you will also find links to interesting sites and to the routes that connect to that day.
The described routes are;
Day 01 TCH Victory to Nanaimo
Day 02 TCH Nanaimo to Hope
Day 03 TCH Hope to Kamloops
Day 04 TCH Kamloops to Revelstoke
Day 05 TCH Revelstoke to Lake Louise
Day 06 TCH Lake Louise to Calgary
Day 07 TCH Calgary to Medicine Hat
Day 08 TCH Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw
Day 09 TCH Moose Jaw to Regina
Day 10 TCH Regina to Brandon
Day 11 TCH Brandon to Winnipeg
Day 12 TCH Winnipeg to Kenora
Day 13 TCH Kenora to Ignace
Day 14 TCH Ignace to Thunder Bay
Day 15 TCH Thunder Bay to Marathon
Day 16 Thunder Bay to Wawa
Day 17 TCH Wawa to Sault Ste Marie
Day 18 TCH Sault Ste Marie to Espanola
Day 19 TCH Espanola to Mattawa
Day 20 TCH Mattawa to Ottawa
Day 21 TCH Ottawa to Montreal
Day 22 TCH Montreal to Quebec
Day 23 TCH Quebec to Riviere du Loup
Day 24 TCH Riviere du Loup to Grand Falls
Day 25 TCH Grand Falls to Fredericton
Day 26 TCH Fredericton to Moncton
Day 27 TCH Moncton to Charlottetown
Day 28 TCH Charlottetown to Truro
Day 29 TCH Truro to North Sydney
Day 30 TCH North Sydney to Corner Brook
Day 31 TCH Corner Brook to Grand Falls
Day 32 TCH Grand Falls to Clarenville
Day 33 TCH Clarenville to St John.
Have fun reading the reviews and planning your next road trip.
If you have driven this trip, I am very curious about your feedback!
View Route Collection
Ultimate USA road trip part 07
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the seventh collection that takes you from Salem in ten days through Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Canada, Pennsylvania and Ohio to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the seventh collection that takes you from Salem in ten days through Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Canada, Pennsylvania and Ohio to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
View Route Collection