All six New England states—Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine—could fit inside South Dakota and still leave plenty of room for buffalo to roam. And yet, looks can be deceiving. This compact region has more than its fair share of historic and cultural attractions, exhilarating recreational opportunities and breathtaking landscapes. Add the fact that Mother Nature initiates an extreme makeover every three months or so, and few destinations can rival New England for visual variety.



Nature's Awakening

As icicles rhythmically drip and maple trees pulse with sap, New England's meandering highways beckon to RV travelers. Although the added allure of colorful foliage justifiably makes autumn the region's busiest tourism season, those who heed the call of the road in the spring or summertime will find the region every bit as enticing. Whether you prefer to park your cozy condo on wheels in a single spot long enough to grow accustomed to the lull of the tumbling sea or the mournful cry of loons on a lake, or to motor from state to state on a journey filled with splendid scenery and intriguing history, New England offers an enormous array of travel choices.

Southern New England begins to thaw by mid-April, and from the time the first daffodils poke their sunny heads through the snow until beach lovers abandon the sand after Labor Day, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are ideal getaways.



Free Casino Parking

If you're equipped for boondocking, free RV parking is available at Connecticut's Indian casinos—Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun—and complimentary shuttles will whisk you to the gaming, shopping, and dining pleasures of these 24-hour entertainment emporiums. From Foxwoods, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, a cultural institution with fascinating, interactive exhibits, is also a free shuttle ride away. Both casinos place you a stone's throw from the attractions of Mystic, Connecticut, including Mystic Seaport, a recreated 19th-century maritime village, and Mystic Aquarium, with its penguins, sea lions and beluga whales. The beaches, lighthouses and seafood shacks of Rhode Island's South County region are also nearby, and if you've come to New England determined to eat your fill of the region's signature crustacean, don't miss the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet at Charlestown, Rhode Island's Nordic Lodge.



By the Sea

Newport, Rhode Island's magnificent turn-of-the-century mansions are a must-see. Whether you reserve a site at Fort Getty Recreation Area, a dog-friendly, oceanside campground on a former military site in nearby Jamestown, or park your rig at the Newport Gateway Center before boarding a trolley for a day of sightseeing, you'll long remember your time in this city by the sea. The Vanderbilts, Astors and eccentric heiress Doris Duke were among the elite Newporters who built the palatial "cottages" you'll spy from the Cliff Walk; mansion tours offer a glimpse of an opulent lifestyle that is almost unimaginable.

Then again, you may just appreciate the comfort and convenience of your humble mobile abode when you realize how easily you can reach Cape Cod by following Route 114 North from Newport to Interstate 195 East. Provincetown, the easternmost point in Massachusetts and site of the Pilgrims' first landfall, is less than three hours away, and while RV parks—such as the 310-site Old Chatham RV Camping Resort in South Dennis—may tempt you to stop short of the outer Cape, a uniquely serene experience awaits those who score a permit to drive along the Cape Cod National Seashore's off-road vehicle corridor and to camp just steps from the Atlantic and the Cape's famous sand dunes. Call the National Seashore's Off-Road Information line at (508) 487-3698 for details.



Maine & New Hampshire

In northern New England, mud season lingers for quite a while after maple sugaring winds down in early April. Then, just as the turf begins to dry in mid-May, black flies make outdoor recreation uncomfortable until about Father's Day. Unless you want to stock your galley with garlic to rub on painful bites, stick to Maine and New Hampshire's coastal regions for early season trips. As you begin to research camping and touring options along the rugged northern coast, you'll soon realize this is no hardship at all.

Hookups are available at New Hampshire's Hampton Beach State Park for RVers who like a full complement of family amusements along with their sunbathing and Boogie boarding; four-legged friends aren't welcome, however. When you stay at pet-friendly Bayley's Camping Resort in Scarborough, Maine, kayaking, karaoke, concerts, fishing, biking and sports competitions may keep you so active you forget you're a half-mile from Old Orchard Beach, with its rollicking Pier and seven miles of soft sand.



Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

Continue north to Bar Harbor, Maine, where the range of recreational activities available in Acadia National Park is nothing short of astounding. Active visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating and horseback riding; laid back travelers will want to appreciate the park's dramatic vistas on a horse-drawn carriage ride, devour popovers at the Jordan Pond House or drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise. Campsites within the park can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet, but there are no hookups, and these sites are in great demand. You'll find many private campgrounds, however, in Bar Harbor and nearby Bangor. Lubec, the easternmost town in the United States and home to the candy cane-striped West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, is an easy day trip from Bar Harbor. Be sure to stop at Helen's on Route 1 in Machias for a slice of Maine wild blueberry pie.



Heading Inland

Once the threat of ravenous black flies has subsided, drop back down to Portland and turn your rig inland on Route 302. You can follow 302—one of New England's most scenic roads navigable in an RV—through the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest and all the way to Vermont. Of course, you'll want to stop many times along the way, whether it's to spend time golfing, boating and enjoying the many summer programs for kids and adults at Point Sebago Resort on the shores of southern Maine's largest lake; to take advantage of outlet shopping bargains in North Conway, New Hampshire; to participate in educational programs and guided hikes at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Highland Center at Crawford Notch; or to ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway, an engineering marvel that has taken visitors to the summit of New England's highest peak since 1869.



Vermont's Grand Canyon

When you reach Vermont, join I-91 South, then exit onto Route 4, which leads west through Quechee to Woodstock. En route, you may want to overnight at Quechee State Park, located near Quechee Gorge—a picturesque, mile-long chasm nicknamed Vermont's Grand Canyon. Other worthwhile attractions in Quechee include the Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, where raptors are rehabilitated and naturalists lead hikes along the gorge; Simon Pearce, where artisans create beautiful works of pottery and blown glass before your eyes, and The Farmer's Diner, where breakfast, lunch and dinner selections feature ingredients fresh from Vermont farms.

With its classic town green, the village of Woodstock, settled in 1768, offers a glimpse of early New England. Visit Billings Farm & Museum, a working farm that dates to 1871, for a first-hand experience of Vermont's agrarian heritage.

With so much to explore, bidding farewell to New England is always a chore. As visions of lobster boats and lighthouses, forested hills and tranquil lakes, majestic mansions and mountaintops fade from view, you'll know that objects in your rearview mirror are larger than they appear.



Connecticut-based writer Kim Knox Beckius is the author of Backroads of New England, Backroads of New York and The Everything Guide to New England. She has produced About.com's

New England for Visitors Web site since 1998.