Vermont Travel Forum

Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 02:37 PM UTC

We plan to drive from Montreal downtown to Boston downtown on a Monday morning.
What would you suggest to do: drive straight to Boston or spend the day aong the way sightseeing. We could drive through or spend the whole day somewhere, we have time but I don't know if there is anything interesting to see in Vermont or New Hampshire... Which route would you choose?

I would also like to know what would be the best border crossing to take on a Monday morning - a bigger one (traffic jam?) or a smaller, secluded one? Is it suspicious if we cross a border (with foreign passports in a rented car) in such small place, should we better go to a larger crossing with more international travellers? Which one would you suggest? Thanks!

Permanente

8 replies

[Reply]

Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 06:22 PM UTC

I haven't made the drive in years, but if you plan to drive Hwy 93 there are many areas in NH that are very scenic. You could be side tracked for a week on the drive with the areas especially in the the Lakes Region in mid NH.

Can't help with the border as when I used to make the drive they barely looked at your driver's license.

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Agraichen

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 06:25 PM UTC

i strongly suggest that you take route / highway 7 south from burlington, vermont all the way down ro Lee in massachusetts and then take I90 east from Lee to boston. Highway 7 passes through most picturesque spots in VT and the scenery becomes better from bennington, VT down into berkshires county of MA. a little bit of exploring at Vermont - MA border can be most refreshing - guaranteed.

besides scenic spots and lakes for boating and water sports, the cities of bennington, north adams, williamstown, hancock, pittsfield, lenox and Lee are worth visiting.

i have my tips on the region in my MA pages. please do read them.

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Faiza-Ifrah

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 06:28 PM UTC

imho, with a passport of amother country, its much better to stay on the tried and tested. from personal experience, i will cross the border that is used to handling international travellers no matter how busy it is. just plan ahead for least trafic time.

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Faiza-Ifrah

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 09:32 PM UTC

take the expressway 15 from montreal south over the border and then take US11 east to pick up US2. Follow US2 south thru the grand isles in the middle of lake champlain - beautiful. At the end of the isles, pick up I89 which will take you near burlington and shelburne, then montpelier the capitol, then stowe, then woodstock and quechee. great places to stop, scenic, fast. ends up joining I93 which will run down to the massachusetts turnpike and boston.

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nicolaitan

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 01:25 AM UTC

Burlington and Woodstock are two interesting towns to visit in Vermont. In New Hampshire, we enjoyed the St. Gaudens National Historic Site, which preserves the home and workshop of the sculptor St. Gaudens. TheWhite Mountains in New Hampshire are also very scenic, but out of our way.

Just north of Boston, visit Salem, the town in Massachusetts that had the infamous witch trials. It has a very good Museum, the Peabody-Essex Museum.

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mikelisaanna

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 04:01 AM UTC

I have lived in Vermont year round for 35 years, and now just seasonally. My cottage on Lake Champlain is 500 Feet from the border. You have received some good ideas from the others about where to go and see. As far as Border crossing goes, it does not matter, the Customs/ Immigration officers will inspect you that same from one crossing to another. Monday morning should not be a traffic backup time. Tieups usually occur on Friday evenings going South, and Sunday evening going North. Having a rental car across the border should not cause any concerns I know of. I myself have done it a number of times going North. By the way, I would suggest you take I 89 south to Swanton after you cross the Border, then VT 78 east to Vt 105 East and drive across the "Northeast Kingdom" to Newport. Then take Vt 5a towards St Johnsbury. At St Johnsbury you can go via I 93 south thru New hampshire all the way to Boston. Feel free to stop along the route and visit small towns and scenic places. It is not a toll road so you can pop off and on at will.

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jonellis

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 07:56 PM UTC

Perhaps Hwy 93 has changed but for years there was one toll booth in Hookset. I've not driven it in 5 years so I don't know the current toll cost.

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Agraichen

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Re: Montreal to Boston - anything interesting en route?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 03:01 AM UTC

You are correct, there is a toll booth at Hooksett. I always get off at Concord since My Daughter lives there. Then when I am going South I take 3A and it comes back into I-93 below the toll booth. Saves 75 cents or a dollar and since I am already on 3A going thru Concord, I don't lose any time. But that is the only one. The point being that it is limited access highway, but not limited in respect to not being able to get on or off without going thru toll booths. All the Exits are free access. The only Toll Section is that one going from Concord to Manchester. In don't think it is longer than 10 miles. New Hampshire has no sales or income Tax, so they need to raise money somewhere.

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