Getting to Campobello can be either a chore or simply part of the experience, whichever you choose. Those traveling from Vermont have two choices: Route 2 east from Montpelier to Bangor and north from there, or take the longer-but-faster way southeast to Portsmouth, NH and then up the Maine Tpk/95 to Bangor. Since Route 2 winds and wends so much with so many small towns and villages, it takes a good 11 hours to travel the 400 miles to Campo. An overnight near Mt. Washington to break up the trip isn't a bad idea. The route to Portsmouth/Portland and then north is about 100 miles farther but about two hours faster due to highway vs "slow-road" traveling.

From central New Jersey, it's about a 650 mile drive, which usually takes between 11 and 12 hours. Of that, about half — believe it or not — is in the state of Maine. We found the best way to be 287N out of NJ, 87N north to Newburgh, NY, pick up 84E across Connecticut toward Hartford and connect with 90E (Mass Pike) in Sturbridge. Take 90E to 495N to 95N into Maine.

Once in Maine, you can either hump it all the way on 95 to Bangor, or slide over onto 295 and make a pitstop at Freeport. LL Bean has nice restrooms, and is always open. Derosier's Market across the street from LL Bean has great sandwiches to grab on the run (try their Turkey Toasty). From Freeport, get back on 295N and it will ultimately merge into 95N toward Bangor. Once near Bangor, you can either take Route 9 north through the woods (literally, but the quickest) or venture over 1A to Ellsworth and pick up Coastal Route 1N there.

If you have plenty of time, instead of taking the Maine Turnpike (95), from Freeport you can take Coastal Route 1 up along the coast. Very scenic, but we wouldn't encourage it on summer weekends. Wiscasset is a particular bottleneck. Rockport and Camden are nice stopping-off places. Continue on Coastal Route 1 to Ellsworth, where you'll have to jog over 1/1A/3 for a few blocks through Ellsworth to pick up Coastal 1N again.

OK, from Coastal Route 1 in Ellsworth (we'll get to Route 9 later). Continue on 1N until the road splits in Milbridge, where you can either take 1 or 1A. We usually stay on 1A, which is a bit shorter and goes along the coast. Both merge back together up the road a bit, so it really doesn't matter. Follow Coastal Route 1 north through Machias (pronounced mutch-eye'-us) and East Machias to Whiting. At Whiting, turn right onto 189 and follow it 13 miles into Lubec, right to the bridge onto Campobello. You'll have to stop at Canadian Customs once over the bridge.

Let's go back to Bangor, for those who went that way. From 95N, take the 395/1A exit toward Ellsworth/Acadia. Turn left onto Route 46 (Kidder Hill Rd) in Holden, then right onto Route 9 (The Airline, as it's called locally) in Eddington. Follow the Airline about 50 miles north to a right turn onto Route 192 in Wesley. Follow 192 for 20 miles into Machias. Make a left at the first stop, then merge onto Coastal Route 1 north. Follow 1 north about 15 miles to Whiting, right onto 189 (as above) another 13 miles into Lubec and to the bridge.

Once on Campobello, follow RT 774 out of Customs several miles to the first "T" intersection. Bear right to stay on 774. From there, we're 7 miles north on 774 (which becomes Lighthouse Rd. when it crosses Head Harbour Wharf Road). Once on Some indicators that you're getting close will be Family Fisheries restaurant on the left (3 mi from us), Head Harbour Wharf Road on the right, then two blue houses on the right. Our driveway is the second one past the blue houses, 200 yards on the right. There's a blue #130 sign on a birch tree at the entrance.