Drive from Killington -> Sugarloaf

[SkiDork]

Any tips? Suggestions?

Doing it early Sat morning, hope to arrive at Loaf at around 7:30 AM

 

[Black Phantom]

That is a brutal drive. Which route are you looking at? It could take 5 hours.

 

[Vortex]

I think route 2 right through bethel to 4. There are a few short cuts after bethel to the loaf. I never found them much faster. 1.45 from Bethel usually. It takess me 3 hours from Sr to Killington roughly. 5 hours is a realistic estimate.

 

[drjeff]

Any tips? Suggestions?

Doing it early Sat morning, hope to arrive at Loaf at around 7:30 AM

Leave about 7:30PM FRIDAY night

 

[Black Phantom]

Leaving at midnight will be cutting it close.

 

[riverc0il]

Route 4 East > I-91 North > Route 302 East > Route 3 North > Route 115 > Route 2 East > Route 27

Google maps has a first option through Erol but those roads are rough even though the drive is a few minutes shorter. It has the Route 2 option pegged at 5:15 or so which sounds about right.

 

[SIKSKIER]

The best route is exactly what Riv posted.I've done the northern route through Errol and Rangley via rt16 and it can be loaded with frost heaves so much so they really slow you down.Go rt 2 to Farmington.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

I second or third what riv said. I have done it, it's not that bad. I actually took this route home for Turkey Day to visit the folks. I hit up Sunday River in the morning and Sugarloaf in the afternoon, finally arriving at my folks house 15 hours later, but it was worth it!

 

[Black Phantom]

3rd the route. Driving that route in the dark is not easy. Lots of animals. Be aware.

 

[WoodCore]

Watch out for Bullwinkle!!!!

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

3rd the route. Driving that route in the dark is not easy. Lots of animals. Be aware.

Agreed, chances of seeing many moose on this route......just make sure it's not up close and personal. Last time I took that route I think I saw 10 moose, granted some of them were after leaving Sugarloaf and heading north and east....and we were having a normal snow year, which meant plenty of salt bulding up on the side of the road.

 

[Nick]

My sister used to live near Killington and did that same drive last year on her way to the AZ Summit. It takes almost the same amount of time it takes me to drive up to Sugarloaf from MA. Pushing 5 hrs.

 

[bigbog]

Leave about 7:30PM FRIDAY night

...drjeff's timetable sounds good....if you'll stay at the base area Mountain Hotel start in early pm and you'll get into a room a little after midnight so you can catch the morning conditions. To Killington I've always used that rte.#2(VT/NH) route.....
*The hi-speed route to/from Killington,#91 south>#2(Mass)>#495>#95(Maine trnpke)..up to #201north thru Skowhegan>left on #148 to Anson>#201A>#16 to Kingfield. If you have the vehicle...it would be high-speed cruise-contrl just about all the way to Skowhegan(ME).

Alllll that said....**I've never done the #4>I-89(NH) to Concord>I-93 to Manchester>#101E to Portsmouth as well...

If not at the Hotel, I don't know how late you can get in at Tranquility Lodge(Stratton/Eustic line)~5+mi north of access road.
(207) 246-2122. ($75.75+/night). Could give them a call to find out.
White Wolf Inn office(Stratton) closes at 8pm.

 

[SkiDork]

I was warned about the moose already by CVA students at Stratton... I'm figuring on leaving K around 1:30 or 2 AM, the CVA crew said about 5-1/2 hours. They do this sort of thing a lot, I feel for them.

Google maps has: 4 -> I-89 -> I-91 -> I-93 -> 2 -> 102 -> 3 -> 110 -> 16 -> Carrabassett Rd

But you folks are saying that will have too many heaves?

OK I'll take the suggested route above. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Cornhead]

Agreed, chances of seeing many moose on this route......just make sure it's not up close and personal. Last time I took that route I think I saw 10 moose, granted some of them were after leaving Sugarloaf and heading north and east....and we were having a normal snow year, which meant plenty of salt bulding up on the side of the road.

I take it moose are attracted to the salt, no? That's the route I've been taking, just tack on four hours to get to Killington for me. It takes me about nine hours to get to the Loaf. That's why I wait till everything else is closed in the Spring, and I can't take the jones any longer. The only time I've seen a moose is while traveling back from Sugarloaf. They are huge, and their bodies are just at the wrong height, windshield, for human carnage via collision. See Mythbusters.

 

[SkiDork]

Thats quite a different route than G maps, but I can see how it keep you out of the really deep rural areas, banjos etc.

I adjusted the G maps and it still says 5:19, which is just about what the original suggested route is. Cool.

Thanks again.

 

[Vortex]

I was warned about the moose already by CVA students at Stratton... I'm figuring on leaving K around 1:30 or 2 AM, the CVA crew said about 5-1/2 hours. They do this sort of thing a lot, I feel for them.

Google maps has: 4 -> I-89 -> I-91 -> I-93 -> 2 -> 102 -> 3 -> 110 -> 16 -> Carrabassett Rd

But you folks are saying that will have too many heaves?

OK I'll take the suggested route above. Thanks for the tips.

.


I would suggest the early part of the route you have posted, and then continue on Rt 2 to RT 4. I made the SR to K route quite a bit. that is the route I always use. The Route 2 to route 4 is pretty steady except a few slow jogs in Rumford and Farmington.


I think better roads at pre dawn make more sense.

 

[SkiDork]

Yes I like the better roads suggestion.

Google maps - I drag the route to what you all suggested, the route updates but the printed instructions (on the left) don't. How do I get those to update?

 

[SIKSKIER]

.


I would suggest the early part of the route you have posted, and then continue on Rt 2 to RT 4. I made the SR to K route quite a bit. that is the route I always use. The Route 2 to route 4 is pretty steady except a few slow jogs in Rumford and Farmington.
.

You like rt4 better than 27?

 

[Edd]

The best route is exactly what Riv posted.I've done the northern route through Errol and Rangley via rt16 and it can be loaded with frost heaves so much so they really slow you down.Go rt 2 to Farmington.

Yeah I've been scared those heaves would toss my car in the past. Had to keep my speed down for sure.