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Coastal Maine - Harbor Ridge or Samoset??

Polly Metallic

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We plan to stay overnight next Friday in Manchester NH to visit my sister, and we'll leave before noon to reach Acadia Village Resort. Does anyone know offhand if the major routes betwen Manchester NH and Ellsworth Maine are likely to be congested on Saturday morning?
 

missyrcrews

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Better than Friday!

We plan to stay overnight next Friday in Manchester NH to visit my sister, and we'll leave before noon to reach Acadia Village Resort. Does anyone know offhand if the major routes betwen Manchester NH and Ellsworth Maine are likely to be congested on Saturday morning?

You'll likely be fine until you hit Wiscasset...there is always traffic getting over the bridge on the Sheepscot in the summer. Not sure about north of there...but it will be better than a Friday afternoon, that's for certain!
 

tonyg

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Take the Maine turnpike to Augusta and then rt. 3 and that all the way to Belfast and the rt. 1 to Ellsworth or stay on the turnpike to Bangor exiting on 395 and then to rt. 1a.
Just follow the directional signs to Bar Harbor if they don't say Ellsworth. The rt.3 way is shorter in length, but the Bangor to rt.1 way is faster.

The coastal route is way too time consuming and I've only done it once.
 

amycurl

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The road construction in SW Harbor has been suspended for July and Aug this year and last...the construction on Rt 3 in Bar Harbor will begin next year. We've been on MDI for the last ten days...amazing weather, but stopped by HR to use the hot tub one day, and saw some guests picking wild blueberries by the entrance.


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RFW

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We plan to stay overnight next Friday in Manchester NH to visit my sister, and we'll leave before noon to reach Acadia Village Resort. Does anyone know offhand if the major routes betwen Manchester NH and Ellsworth Maine are likely to be congested on Saturday morning?

We have not driven directly from Long Island to Southwest Harbor in many years, and only did the full coastal drive once. Too much of a grind to be called a vacation. We often stop overnight in the Tewkesbury/Lawrence MA area to break up the drive, making the trip in two day 4 1/2-5 hr legs, rather than one 9-10 hr trek. As mentioned above, we either take the turnpike to Augusta, then to Belfast and route 1 to Ellsworth or stay on the turnpike to Bangor. Unless there are construction delays along the way, we have never had a problem, whether on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

We often stop in Belfast for lunch. There are a number of nice places for lunch. www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g40508-Belfast_Maine.html#EATERY_OVERVIEW_BOX
 

Polly Metallic

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Back from Acadia Village and just finished my review of the resort, which should appear soon.

We drove over to Harbor Ridge to see what it looked like. Much nicer looking buildings and grounds than Acadia Village, and of course it's nice to be on MDI, but there wasn't much view there. Water views were very distant.

We didn't run into any construction on MDI and on the whole, the entire drive to and from Maine wasn't too bad. Very long, though, at about 10 1/2 hours, but it was a fairly easy drive.
 

tonyg

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That is pretty good time. It usually takes us about 7-1/2 to 8 hours for tne NY-CT border.
 

tonyg

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Just got back from the area and the construction on SW Harbor is done. It was a very warm September week in Maine.
 

tonyg

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While in the area we stopped at the Jordan Pond House for lunch. It was a total disaster- service, food, seating, etc.. We haven't eaten there since new management took over 2 or 3 years ago and nothing compares favorably to the old management experience. I highly recommend anyone considering it to change their mind. It is off my list of places to eat.
 

amycurl

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Yes, the new concessionaire at JPH is based in the desert southwest and is a disaster. No locals go there now. The old company, Acadia Corp, has taken over the management of the Asticou Inn, the huge old historic hotel in Northeast Harbor. Same excellent service, popovers, and lobster stew as they offered at JPH. And lunch on their veranda has amazing views over the harbor! Definitely a worthy substitute, and the crowds haven't found it yet ( although it will fill for lunch and tea; reservations recommended.) plus--you can now get the food, view, and service for breakfast or brunch! :)


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