Calais Border Crossing and Maine Highway to Bangor

[Ted in Halifax]

I always have taken Houlton as the Border crossing. Can anyone tell me what Calais is like? and what the Highway through Maine to Bangor is like?

Trying to plot a cold weather February route ... any input?

 

[LSmith]

We used to always go through Calais but decided to try going through Houlton a few years ago and we wouldn't do it any other way now.

The highways are much, much better going through Houlton. The highway you take through Calias is much smaller and many parts are very, very remote. You wouldn't want to break down at night.

 

[tribus121]

All though Maine route 9 the " Airline " has been much improved in the last few years and i would recommend it as a nice summer drive it is still not a real nice road to drive during the winter . it is a twisty 2 lane road with heavy log truck traffic .

 

[pooksma]

Houlton Rte is much better in the winter time. Calais is a nice drive but even in the summer its twisty,turny. Like your own private Test Track-with campers.
Having done both several times, I vote Houlton.

 

[Fundytrail]

Houlton gets my vote after waiting about 2 hours for a truck to sand the road on route #9 one winter night so traffic could start moving again.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

I have traveled this route many of times. It is about 100 miles of woods...nothing to see except trees. The road is much better than it was 10 years ago, but I defintely would not head that way if the weather forcast was iffy at all.

If you wanted to experience this route one way and Houlton the other, I would definitely recommend going to the US via Calais and coming back to Canada via Houlton. I have never had any problems going through the US border at Calais, but coming back through St. Stephen has been a nightmare. On three separate occasions the guards decided to do a lengthy search of my car, all three times I was with young children who happened to be tired and cranky from a long drive...even a screaming infant would not make them at least hurry up going through every one of our suitcases and bags on one occasion. I have entered into Canada dozens of times at crossings in Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick...St. Stephen is the only one that has given me trouble.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Thanks ... Since this is a February Trip, I will take the Houlton route for sure. Thanks all!

 

[coastgirl]

We've done the drive in winter weather 2 round-trips, so twice down, twice back...3 of 4 were fine, great even. The fourth (coming home in Dec I believe--if not, it was coming home in Feb.)--white-knuckling it. It was snowing, and they reduced the speed on the "fast" road to Houlton (sorry, I haven't commited the hwy #s to memory!), down to 50 or 60 kms per hour, so we decided, huh, might as well take the airline if we can't go at 120 kms. It was AWFUL. The road was bad, not well-plowed, slow, dark, windy. (That's WIIIIndy, winding, not windy, as in lots of wind!) Thank God there was little traffic. (Though if we'd had a problem, no-one would've been handy to help!) That said, the interstate was a real disappointment too. The snow wasn't THAT bad, and here, well, we'd just clear it. It seemed like all that we-hate-to-pay-taxes stuff meant they weren't prepared to spend money on snowclearing, and the interstate, through NH up into ME where we branched off toward Calais, was in bad shape.

Our strategy this time is to go into it knowing we'll just STOP and take a hotel if we need to. We'll watch the weather and leave early if it's threatening, and we're coming back a day or two before we have to on the way home, so we can take our time getting home if need be.

I'd be curious to hear if others have travelled the interstate through Maine in heavy snow. Because if the state of snowclearing we saw was normal, then I'd say in bad weather neither route is good.

 

[iluvflorida]

I have never had boarder problems EXCEPT at Calais. Car searched. I think they were bored there were only two cars crossing at this time and both searched.

 

[mfgs7]

Safest thing is go the way you know in iffy weather. Try it on a fair weather trip, as it is a fun way to go.

We always go the Calais route. Never travelled it in crappy weather, but would probably still go Calais as the roads can't be maintained much worse than PEI in the winter and I know the route like the back of my hand now!!! With the new border crossing you miss all of St. Stephen as well as the slow town part of Calais. We usually go that way mostly because the "airline road" is a nice break from the boring 4 lane stuff. As for the border we have never had an issue going or coming and we go on avg 3 times a year crossing. Plus no one uses the new border crossing so we have never waited any more than 2 mins either way. Much better than the old crossing ever was.

 

[coastgirl]

I know! We hit on the new crossing this summer on a trip into Maine. It was this HUGE new station in the middle of nowhere...really quick and pleasant crossing.

 

[iluvflorida]

Yup. new crossing not busy at all. That is why I figured I got searched (is time ever) in hundreds of crossings. Guards bored and needed to something to do??