New England Camping
We were happy to finally be able do a New England camping trip that was cancelled in 2020. The trip lasted 4 1/2 weeks and covered six states in the northeast corner of the country: Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. Those six states were new states in which we have not previously camped.
Stops and Miles
We towed our camper approximately 3,188 miles with a total of 18 stops. Also, there was a good bit of driving without the trailer attached because the Ram traveled 3,600 miles. Our focus was getting to the New England camping areas, so it was longer drives and one night stops until we got there.
The States
Connecticut
First, we camped on the western side of the state, near the charming town of Litchfield. Our campground was Cozy Hills, the most friendly of all our stops. We were near Hartford which allowed us a day in there. The majestic Connecticut State Capital was a highlight, made more enjoyable by a tour. Our Sophie stayed with a sitter who lived in Hartford, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the city.
After the capital tour, we had a delicious lunch at Pepe’s Pizza and then a tour of Mark Twain’s home. It was interesting and informative about his later years.
On our way home after many more stops, we camped on the eastern side of the state, but it was only an overnight stop. I really love Connecticut. More on our time there is at Connecticut Camping Summer 2022.
Maine
The highlight of our trip was Maine. We camped in three different cities in Maine: Bangor, Bar Harbor, and Kennebunkport for a total of eight nights. Each city was special in its own way, but Acadia National Park was unparalleled. We camped two nights at Hadley’s Point campground with full hookups in Bar Harbor and two nights of dry camping in the National Park at Blackwoods Campground. Inside the park was my favorite! The terrain in Bar Harbor was mountainous and rugged.
Bangor
Firstly, Paul Bunyan Campground in Bangor was our home for two nights. We used our time there to check out Stephen King’s house and the Cole Transportation Museum. It was cool to see Kings house, but the Transportation Museum was amazing. For example, it has tractors, snowplows, and vehicles that are over a hundred years old.
Bar Harbor/Acadia
Acadia National Park is small, but so very beautiful. It and Bar Harbor are on an island called Mount Desert. I wish we could have done more hiking, but am glad we were able to do a little.
We stumbled upon the beautiful garden below in Bar Harbor and just stopped for awhile to enjoy its serenity.
Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport is a beautiful, small coastal town. Most importantly, it is known as the summer home of the George H.W. Bush family for over a hundred years. We saw the home from afar, but we mostly enjoyed checking out the small town and the amenities at our nicest campground on our trip, Sandy Pines Campground.
This was the only time to get in a pool during our trip. It is a saltwater pool and it was exhilarating—the perfect temperature and no chlorine smell. Sandy Pines was our favorite campground because of the nice amenities.
All of our stops in Maine were great. The only regret was no autumn leaves. For more details, check out Maine Camping Summer 2022.
Massachusetts
Traveling through the Berkshires, our first Massachusetts stop was in Pittsfield at Bonnie Brae Campground. We were there two nights. We spent our free day at the Hancock Shaker Village and we stopped at a nearby winery for a tasting. Both were fun, especially the Village. The Berkshires was so beautiful and the weather good except for an afternoon shower.
When we came back down the eastern coast, Gloucester was our next Massachusetts destination with camping at Cape Ann Sites. It was very mountainous there with narrow roads. We didn’t like it at first, but our three nights there gave us a great appreciation for the area. So much was this that we would like to visit again. More photos and details about our Mass stops are at Massachusetts Camping Summer 2022.
New Hampshire
The White Mountain range is in New Hampshire, so we got to see a lot of them. Our only stop in the state was in Wolfeboro at the Wolfeboro Campground. It was a nice, inexpensive campground in a lovely town with lakes all around. We took a day to ride the Cog Railroad to the top of Mount Washington, elevation 6,288. The railroad was a couple of hours away from Wolfeboro, but worth the trip.
We had three nights in Wolfeboro and stayed in town our other free day to take in the scenery and nice weather. I especially loved this small town! More about this stop is at New Hampshire Camping Summer 2022.
Rhode Island
Our worst weather was in Rhode Island. It was cloudy or raining during our entire stay. The goal was to take the ferry into Providence for a day, but there was actually some flooding there. So, it was a no go.
Despite the weather, we had a few hours to drive around a bit and enjoy Cliff Walk, a 3 1/2 mile walk alongside the ocean and the famous Newport mansions. I absolutely loved it! The views were stunning and the salt air felt rejuvenating for my lung condition.
Our other free day was a visit to The Breakers, one of the most famous Newport mansions. I loved it and my husband tolerated it. I would have liked to visit others, but marriage does involve compromise. More on this rainy stop is at Rhode Island Camping Summer 2022.
Vermont
The Green Mountains of Vermont were very beautiful. The state is crystallized in my mind for its incredible scenery, rich history, and covered bridges. Of all the states we visited on this trip, I think Vermont would be the most beautiful for the turning of the leaves.
Our time in Vermont was only at one stop, Camping on the Battenkill in Arlington. Most importantly, there were three nearby covered bridges that we got to enjoy. For more about our Vermont experiences, see Vermont Camping Summer 2022.
New England Camping in Conclusion
This trip was long awaited and delayed by COVID, but it was an incredible experience. We loved each of the new states we visited because each was special in its own way. So, we now have camped in forty-five states!
Happily, our New England camping had no snags and we certainly had gorgeous weather most of the time. Fall leaves would have been nice, so we have to go back!
