Peak Foliage early? need advice on route change...

Hi all

After checking the foilage conditions map,it seems the peak foliage on the north west parts of maine and NH is in full effect all ready.

I am planning a trip to the area starting next weekend but i%26#39;m starting at bar harbor area and suppose to spend the second part,14-16 of october at the Bethel to portland route.

Do you think it might be a bit too late for hte foilage peak time?

How long does it usually ';stays on'; ?

plus - any advice on should i avoid the kancamagus hwy at these dates? i read some horror stories on backed up traffic through out the whole way...i guess weekends are worth than weekdays,but since my plan is to be there juat after the long weekend i am wondering if it would all be worth it...

thank you!

Peak Foliage early? need advice on route change...

In your previous post, MainerontheGo gave you a great route that eliminated the Kanc, but still gave you a lot of great viewing/stopping territory.

Foliage ';stays on'; as long as the weather cooperates. Wind and rain play a huge part in that process. I%26#39;m in southern Maine and already have quite a few leaves and *%26amp;$#! pine needles down in my driveway and on my lawn, but we%26#39;re not at peak yet.

Although there are many ';scenic drives,'; when the foliage is showing off, you will see it along the interstate (gorgeous last week in the Augusta/Waterville area) and any route you drive. My commute gets prettier every day!

Peak Foliage early? need advice on route change...

thank you cb48!

Yes, the route i was given sure looks nice - the

problem is i%26#39;m not sure it will be worth the almost full day of driving to bethel from bar harbor at this time.

it supose to take 5 hours just gettin there without stops (if i%26#39;m right)...

As you are from the south part of maine,can you advice me of a more ';southern'; route from bar harbor to portland which is not along the shore?

I was thinking going through watervile,down to augusta,than to lewiston - spend the night around there..than the next day go from lewiston to freyburg and down to portland through hwy 113 , which suppose to be very scenic?

my aim is to make a shorter drive than going all the way up to bethel,but still have good foilage views.

(as i guess peak foilage would get to the south area last...)

thank you ,

gil

Yes there are routes from BH to Portland that don%26#39;t swing so far west that *may* be foliage-worthy. Continue to check the mainefoliage website for updates.

From BH take 1/3 to Belfast. From Belfast you can take 3 down to Augusta or for more rural route take 137 west to Rome (north end of Belgrade Lakes).

Take 27 south along Kennebec River and then maybe 126 west from Gardiner to Lewiston OR

Continue west via 17 or 133 to Rte 4 in Turner and south into Auburn/Lewiston

From Belfast take route 3 to augusta so that you can stop at John%26#39;s Ice Cream near Lake St. George (is John%26#39;s still open in October???)....take 201 from Augusta down to Freeport, a much better place than Lewiston to spend the night. Hallowell has some good spots to stop at for lunch or dinner, Slates...Liberal Cup....a chinese restaurant that%26#39;s good...., or Freeport has Jameson%26#39;s Tavern and Broad Arrow Tavern.