Help needed for ME, NH, VT route

[LDRydr]

I'll be doing a little ride (ok, a BIG ride) next month to visit all the states. I could use some local help in finding the FASTEST route from Kittery Maine to Bennington Vermont. My route will have me running through Weston CT where my sis lives, then up near Portsmouth NH to get Maine. Then I need to come back down and grab Bennington VT before heading towards Troy and back onto 90 for other points west.

Somebody else that did this route said 7 from Pittsfield MA up to Bennington VT was really slow. What do you think of 101 (Manchester-Keene-Brattleboro-Bennington)? Or 2 all the way west from Leominster to Williamstown then up to Bennington? Or just come back down 495 to 90 then north on 7 or 22 up to Bennington?

BTW, this would be on a Saturday, leaving Weston about 10am, leaving Portsmouth about 1:30pm.

Route below. Points in question would be from 38 to 40.

 

[jmarran]

Rt. 90 (Mass Pike) may be the fastest way to cross the state, but also the least fun way.

Also, Rt. 7 is not necessarily bad, but not terribly exciting either.

Option 1: After taking 495 from NH to Mass, take Rt. 2 to Rt. 7 North into Bennington. The western part of Rt. 2 is a blast!

Option 1A: Take Rt. 2 West then 112 North, then 9 West into Bennington. Nice ride, but you miss the fun part of Rt. 2.

If you can find a way to get onto 116 West in Amherst, then take 112 North and then 2 West, you will have ridden the best roads in MA.

 

[LDRydr]

I'm not opposed to a bit of scenery. That said, if one rider peeled off 495 then took 2 all the way west to Williamstown, and another rider stayed on 495 then took 90 and 7 up to Willamstown, which would get there first? I've really just got to make tracks and don't want to run the risk of a small-town parade, or farmer's market forcing things to a crawl and causing me to lose time and heat up (in my head).

 

[101stpathfinder]

I'm not opposed to a bit of scenery. That said, if one rider peeled off 495 then took 2 all the way west to Williamstown, and another rider stayed on 495 then took 90 and 7 up to Willamstown, which would get there first? I've really just got to make tracks and don't want to run the risk of a small-town parade, or farmer's market forcing things to a crawl and causing me to lose time and heat up (in my head).

Can't help you here as our objectives are different (I am looking for easy miles)

I am coming down from Kittery, Jumping on 101W hitting I93N toI89. Fueling in Lebanon-

hitting I91S with fuel in Brattleboro, taking 91 down to I 90W for the haul to Fargo!

Butt, we WILL meet in Hyder......... :yahoo:

 

[snikr]

Rt. 90 (Mass Pike) may be the fastest way to cross the state, but also the least fun way.Also, Rt. 7 is not necessarily bad, but not terribly exciting either.

Option 1: After taking 495 from NH to Mass, take Rt. 2 to Rt. 7 North into Bennington. The western part of Rt. 2 is a blast!

Option 1A: Take Rt. 2 West then 112 North, then 9 West into Bennington. Nice ride, but you miss the fun part of Rt. 2.

If you can find a way to get onto 116 West in Amherst, then take 112 North and then 2 West, you will have ridden the best roads in MA.

I agree with what Jmarran says about RT 2 in Mass. Nice road and good views. And if you can hit RT 100 in VT, most any part of it is good.

Tom

 

[jmarran]

I would think that taking 101 and/or Rt. 9 and bypassing Mass. altogether may technically be faster, plus would remove a whole lot of miles. Depending on when you are doing this, Rt. 7 south of Pittsfield is where most of the congestion occurs during summer/fall. Aside from that, it's mostly 2 lane all the way from Lee to Bennington, so traffic would be a factor.

 

[FJReady]

Rt 101 from Portsmouth to Manchester NH will be very fast. From Manchester to Milford will not be so fast, but from there on westward will be moderate (50ish mph) roads. It will be pleasant ride though.

495 south to Rt 2 west is not a bad option, once you get west of Rt 91 , route 2 gets a little more fun.

I would not recommend the 495/mass pike (rt90) to rt 91 north option. It will not be that enjoyable and you'll learn first hand why they call folks from these parts "Massholes"

from jmarron: "If you can find a way to get onto 116 West in Amherst, then take 112 North and then 2 West, you will have ridden the best roads in MA."

I agree. I've ridden that road a couple times. much fun, worth the time to find it. If you can make the time of course.

I think I would take the 101 west through Manchester route. There will be a few slow areas but still probably quickest.

What day are you doing this? I'll try to wave as you go by.

 

[Mr Bill]

Can't tell on your map, but one way you swing by Worcester and thats what you want to do.

Using google maps shows a pretty direct and scenic route if you can average 53mph would make it even with your route.

Well your route should be changed to swing into NY and go up 22. Thats the bike road, everyone avoids 7.

75mph on your route or 53mph on the direct google map route will get you there in the same time.

You should have no problem with traffic that time of day on the slab. The scenic route? Who knows.

NewEnglandRiders.org has a lot of info and their related delphi forum has a lot of riders with many miles in this area.

 

[LDRydr]

Thanks Bill. I think I've decided on taking Hwy 2. Then either 112 if I'm feeling like I've made good time, or 91 north then 101 west to Bennington if I'm feeling like I've been slowed down. May as well see a little scenery, the whole rest of my trip is pretty much slab. And thanks for the website tip, I'll check it out.

 

[Mr Bill]

Rt 2 is slab with a 55 limit.

112 is very nice pavement and a great bike road!

 

[Fred W]

Living just south of Manchester, NH, and having a son living in Albany, NY I do the majority of that route a lot.

Stay far away from the Mass pike. Boring, bad drivers, no fun.

Yes, Rte 2 from ~ Orange to the MA/NY border is a nice road. Just did it 2 weeks ago. But so is Rte 9 across VT, perhaps even better than Rt 2.

If you don't mind passing on the Double Yellows, which happens to be perfectly LEGAL In VT, you can get from Manchester NH to Troy in 3 Hours, which is also how long it takes via the Mass pike. It takes at least 1/2 an hour longer via Rte 2 in MA and you'd have to drive down I495 through some crappy construction sections to get there.

So, unless you need to touch down in MA soil, I'd just blast across Rte 101 in NH, then Rte 9 through VT.

Like so: GoogleMaps link

PS - do not believe the GoogleMaps time estimates. They assume that you drive like a little old lady.

 

[Mr Bill]

I agree with Fred, we be bad drivers here in Mass.

 

[Fred W]

I can say that with conviction as I am a native Masshole refugee.

 

[LDRydr]

Thanks Fred, I think I'll put this one down as my preferred route, since mostly I need to make tracks across there. From what I found on the VT double-yellow-passing it looks like it's ok as long there are not specific NO-PASSING zone signs.

 

[Fred W]

Correct. Or if there are no constables around, which is pretty much all the time anywhere except on the interstates.

You'll enjoy Rt 9 across VT. A few twisties and a lot of nice sweepers.

 

[snikr]

Fred is correct, RT 9 is a good road. If you need riding company I'm only about an hour away LDRydr.

Tom