Any New Hampshire Dis'ers that can help with roads?

[mykidslovesdisney]

We are traveling up to Plymouth NH this wkend for a football game. We are coming from Hartford CT. Mapquest has us going up to Lawerence MA and then on I93 to Plymouth Ma.

My question is if we took I91 into Vermont and got off at exit 15 Fairlee - which is right on the border of VT and NH. What types of roads are RT25a, rt 118, rt 25 and rt 3a over to plymouth?? Is it a populated area to travel thru or very mountainous?

We traveled I 91 into Norwich VT labor day wkend and the highway seems soo much better than getting onto the MA Pike and I 95. Mileage seems the same but it adds 20 mins onto our trip.

I am leaning towards I91 only bc it seems like a smoother ride. We usually add 30-40 mins into our trips for bathroom breaks with 4 dc in the vehicle!

Any assistance would be wonderful
thanks in advance

 

[clanmcculloch]

The only part of 3A that I'm familiar with is farther south, but here's a general observation about NH highways. With the exception of the large interstates, highways through NH are mostly streets running between and through small towns. Between towns you may get up to 50mph but through towns you'll get stop signs, stop lights and 25 or 30mph speed limits. It's beautiful but slow.

 

[GranddadTom]

I was up in NH a couple of weeks ago (Loon Mountain) and my GPS took me through Lawrence also. Boy, what a mistake. Why would it take someone so close to Boston? On the way home we went over to Vermont and came back down Rt 91 - nice drive. My only caution is the weather. Some of the back roads over the White Mountains look like they could have been an adventure if the weather was bad.

 

[seashoreCM]

Or you can try this: From Hartford take I-84 East to the end, I-90 (Mass Pike). I-90 east * to I-495 Boston. I-495 Boston north * to U.S. 3. U.S. 3 north into Nashua, stay on the highway which becomes Everett Turnpike past Exit 7. Stay on the highway north which becomes I-293. Stay on the highway north which becomes I-93. Takes you right to the Plymouth area.

The disadvantage of the straight across roads from I-91 east is being stuck behind someone for a long time. And those roads are generally northwest to southeast when you would really like southwest to northeast. I estimate that when you get to Fairlee (Rte 25A) you have about an hour to go averaging about 30 mph.

You won't have occasion to use 118 or 3A unless you got off I-91 in White River Junction and came over (added later: via I-89 south into New Hampshire) to U.S. 4 and that way the distance on slow roads is somwhat greater than Fairlee to 25A and the overall distance is almost the same.

On the way home from Plymouth NH via I-93 do not take any of the bear rights until you get into Mass where you take "local" lanes to get onto I-495 south.

* to * : Optional shortcut. Take the Auburn exit off I-90 around to I-290 Worcester (don't take I-190) which brings you up and around to I-495 in Marlborough.

 

[DVCSAMNH]

Or you can try this: From Hartford take I-84 East to the end, I-90 (Mass Pike). I-90 east * to I-495 Boston. I-495 Boston north * to U.S. 3. U.S. 3 north into Nashua, stay on the highway which becomes Everett Turnpike past Exit 7. Stay on the highway north which becomes I-293. Stay on the highway north which becomes I-93. Takes you right to the Plymouth area.

The disadvantage of the straight across roads from I-91 east is being stuck behind someone for a long time. And those roads are generally northwest to southeast when you would really like southwest to northeast. I estimate that when you get to Fairlee (Rte 25A) you have about an hour to go averaging about 30 mph.

You won't have occasion to use 118 or 3A unless you got off I-91 in White River Junction and came over to U.S. 4 and that way the distance on slow roads is somwhat greater than Fairlee to 25A and the overall distance is almost the same.

On the way home from Plymouth NH via I-93 do not take any of the bear rights until you get into Mass where you take "local" lanes to get onto I-495 south.

* to * : Optional shortcut. Take the Auburn exit off I-90 around to I-290 Worcester (don't take I-190) which brings you up and around to I-495.

I think this is a great way to go. seashoreCM knows a lot more about the alternate backroads than I do but I do know about "leaf-peepers" in NH in October and there are LOTS of them on the back roads right now. You will no sooner get out from behind one of them and you will get stuck behind another. Use seashoreCM's highway directions. You'll be glad you did.

 

[francie57]

Agree with the pp about the 84 to 90 route. We usually do that route with the exception that we take the Auburn exit off the Mass Pike andd take 290 to 495. Takes you off the Turnpike and seems to be a shorter trip.

 

[diswish]

seashoreCM has the best route. I grew up 30 minutes northeast of Hartford and now live in the town next to Plymouth NH and that is the route I take every time. If you have Fast Lane or EZ Pass you will save time at the toll stations, especially on the way home at the Sturbridge toll.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Thanks everyone for the information.

We are going to try the I91 route and get off in White River Junction and head up from there. (my boss is from the area and said that would be better than going to fairlee). We are only 5 mins from I91 so it seems like a direct shot up. We have to be there at 1pm and planning on leaving at 7am. It gives us enough time to make bathroom breaks and stretch our legs.


I really want to avoid I90 in Mass. We went out to the Boston area a few wks ago and the Westbound traffic was at a stand still for miles and miles and miles. I was thankful we were on the opposite side of the highway at the time. We will be heading out that way again next wkend when we go to Beverly MA for their last away game.


We traveled I91 over Labor day wkend and it was a breeze -- highway was empty. I am sure there will be leaf peepers-- we will be one too-- but that is okay.

If going out that way doesn't seem to work we will come home the other way.

thanks again.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

We live next door to Plymouth (well about 20 minutes away) and when we travel we do I-91, your directions that you posted we exactly right much easier (a little boring on I-91), but quicker, smoother. Have fun, I'm assuming you are going to PSU? My son is going to that University!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

OP here, We ended up going up I91 to Orford, NH (exit 15). The trip across to Plymouth was absolutely awesome. The road was nice-- not many cars at all on the roads. The foliage is past peak - alot of trees were bare and those with leaves were rather dull. We did see a mountain in the distance that had snow on the top. It was soo cool to see. DS11 was trying to tell me it was frost on the mountain!

We will use this route again if needed. Soo glad we took I91 vs I90/495/93. There was virtually no traffic.

Oh and my DSS team won!!!


thanks again for all the helpful info!

 

[camlace]

I was up in NH a couple of weeks ago (Loon Mountain) and my GPS took me through Lawrence also. Boy, what a mistake. Why would it take someone so close to Boston? On the way home we went over to Vermont and came back down Rt 91 - nice drive. My only caution is the weather. Some of the back roads over the White Mountains look like they could have been an adventure if the weather was bad.

To clarify...Lawrence is not "close" to Boston. And Lawrence is on the same highway (Rte 93) Loon Mtn is right off of...so hence the reason a map would send you that way, rather than on slower local/state highways (in general) rather than a major interstate.

 

[Rpsemont]

Another option is to take I-91 to Brattleboro, head towards Keene, then Concord, then North on I-93

I go from Springfield, MA to Laconia about once a month and find this is usually a pretty hassle free way to go and within minutes of the other ways.

Mass pike - and I-495 can be problematic during heavy traffic times.

Route 9 from Brattleboro to I-89 outside of Concord is mostly 50 mph, with only a few slowdows- Then I-89 and I-93 are easy highways to take you to Plymouth.

Be sure to take or print maps, as sometimes the GPS can't get a signal so you need to have some idea of where you're going

Good luck!