New England Road Trip Itinerary: Route Map + Best Stops

Real home sense truck and fifth wheel camper at beach

This northern lite truck camper is what i drove during my new england road trip itinerary

When I was towing my 33-foot fifth wheel, I intentionally avoided New England. I remembered it as congested, busy, and… honestly, a little stressful from a quick visit decades ago. But once I downsized to a truck camper, the Northeast felt possible again — and that opened the door to a trip I’d been saving for: Acadia National Park.

I’ve been a national park fan forever. When I first went on the road in my original RV, my goal was simple: travel the USA and see as many parks as time (and the route) would allow. And part of the reason I wanted an RV in the first place was so I could stay near these iconic places without having to sell my soul or refinance a house.

Of course, New England has a reputation for being… pricey. So I approached this trip the way I approach most travel: save on the basics, then splurge on the moments that are truly unique. In other words, I’m a scrimper and saver — until there’s a boat ride, a once-in-a-lifetime view, a can’t-miss activity, or a “you have to eat here” meal that feels like part of the story.

This post is my New England road trip itinerary — a route map + highlights based on how we actually traveled it in July 14–August 4, 2023. Technically, it’s also a Northeast road trip because we started near Richmond, Virginia and road-tripped all the way to Maine. Along the way, we chased scenic drives, quick coastal stops, and a handful of places that made the trip feel like the kind of New England summer getaway people daydream about all winter.

If you’re planning a summer road trip in New England, you can follow this route exactly, or use it as a pick-and-choose menu for shorter trips. Some of these stops make perfect long-weekend summer getaways in New England, and others are the kind of places you’ll want to build a few days around.

Below is the full route and every destination we visited — including several well-known best places to visit in New England in the summer — and I’ll link each location to its own post as I publish the series.

New England Road Trip Itinerary: Route Map + Best Stops

The mini maps you see below are thumbnail previews. Each related article includes a larger screenshot map and are linked to the Google Map where I’ve saved all the stops.

1) Leaving Richmond + A Day Trip to Shenandoah National Park