new in the USA

Hi

my partner and I are planing our trip in April to the states. We are staying in NYC for 4 nights then we would like to hire a car and drive up North to the New England states .

My question is :

Is April still cold up North and do we need a 4WD?

What are the most scenic routes for this time of year as we are interested in Nature.

Cheers

Majeda

new in the USA

I live in mid-NH and we have about 2 feet of snow now with another foot coming tonite. We will probably have snow on the ground here the first part of April and hiking can be done in the Whites with crampons and poles or snoshoes which you can rent. I do not think 4WD is needed. You can get ice but then nobody should be on the roads. Franconia Notch can have tricky roads in a storm but they take great care of our roads in NH. Temps are crazy so pack layers. We will get wind most likely but not the low temps of Jan. You need a light hat and mittens for lo altitude hiking. Just look at a map and consider route 93N to route3 to route302E to N.Conway. That is a popular route.

new in the USA

Hello Majeda,

Early April will still be cold, but it is possible that the middle of April/end of April will be nice (high temperatures in the 50s and 60s if you%26#39;re lucky -fahrenheit). Keep in mind that this is also the time that you can expect a lot of showers.

I don%26#39;t think you need 4WD.

A previous poster suggested a beautiful drive in NH ending in North Conway. I haven%26#39;t driven that route in the spring, but in the fall it is just spectacular!

A drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine is another beautiful drive. Again, I%26#39;ve never been here in the spring since all my visits have been in the summer, but I%26#39;m sure the scenery should be gorgeous on a sunny day. En route to Acadia, you can stop in Camden, a lovely Maine town, and visit Mt. Battie State Park - they have a tower at the top with beautiful views.

A drive up into the Litchfield Hills area in Northwestern CT is another pleasant drive - nature, antiquing, covered bridges ...

Coastal New England is beautiful, no matter where you go. I also like Newport, Rhode Island - there are beautiful mansions that you can visit and there%26#39;s a nice walk called the Cliff Walk that hugs the ocean.

Try to get a book on New England like Frommer, Fodor, Lonely Planet ... read what they have to say since there%26#39;s a wealth of information there.

Have fun!

As you can see from the comments, April is an ';iffy';time in NE. and the further North, the ';iffier'; it will get.

How long is your trip? It is cherry blossom time in Wash DC from 3/28-4/12 - I know, wrong direction but just a thought.

Also, it is Patriots day in Boston with the Marathon or a visit to Lex/Concord. Coastal drives are usually a little warmer than drives thru the interior of NE.

Do you care about cold/snow?

Google mud season in new england to get an idea why it can be difficult to create an itinerary during April.

Give us a little more info and we can try to be a little more specific.

April can be quite cool, especially in the evenings. I wouldn%26#39;t think you need 4WD, I manage all year without it. A drive along the Conn. River Valley is beautiful any time of the year. From either southwest NH or southeast Vermont you can make plenty of day trips and see covered bridges, returning birds,short or long hikes. The northwest corner of Mass is also nice and all these are some of the best Nature areas to visit.

Thanks neslaw1

Actally Washington DC was on the books as we were planing to drive south west after but after I read your feedback and other TA I think we will visit the New England states in autumn ....

We are in the states 8th of April to 25th but we are staying in NYC for 4 nights then picking a car on Sunday and heading to Washington DC to two days (after you mentioned the orange blossom) and then we are visiting a friend for two days in little egg harbour NJ for 3 days so we are left with eight days...so I guess do the coastal drive up to Boston and stopping at various places eg RI and Martha vineyard and maybe the hamptons How does that sound???

Cheers

Majeda

Thanks neslaw1

Actally Washington DC was on the books as we were planing to drive south west after but after I read your feedback and other TA I think we will visit the New England states in autumn ....

We are in the states 8th of April to 25th but we are staying in NYC for 4 nights then picking a car on Sunday and heading to Washington DC to two days (after you mentioned the orange blossom) and then we are visiting a friend for two days in little egg harbour NJ for 3 days so we are left with eight days...so I guess do the coastal drive up to Boston and stopping at various places eg RI and Martha vineyard and maybe the hamptons How does that sound???

Cheers

Majeda

My suggestion, if you are the flexible type of people would be to visit Wash. Depending on your interests, 2 days can be enough or just a taste as there are a ton of great museums. Little Egg Harbor is very close to Cape May so I am sure that is on your friend%26#39;s itinerary. Great bird watching there!! You can leave Wash and travel thru del to rehobeth beach and then take a ferry ride over to Cape May and finish the trip up to LEH. Should not have to make a reservation at that time of year. Talk to your friends about this.

Depending on the weather, you can decide whether a mountain trip is worthwhile. Or you can follow the shoreline to Newport as has been suggested. I love MV. It will be off season so staying there for a couple of days should not be too expensive and you should be able to bring your car on the ferry without a reservation there also.

You have 8 days which can cover a couple of areas like Cape Cod, Boston, or hit Western MA like Lenox and the Berkshires. It really just depends on the weather.

A drive up Route 1A in NH along the seacoast is beautiful!

Looks like you are going towards Newport, RI if it is a nice day out and not to windy I would say pack a lunch and chairs if you will have them or a blanket and make a stop at Beavertail State Park on Jamestown Island next to Newport. This is a park that does not get much attention but well worth the trip, it is high on a bluff with cliffs and crashing waves all around. Just a beautiful spot that I am sure you will enjoy. And it is ';free';

I hope you enjoy your trip