Many Road Trip USA dreams involve a coast-to-coast drive. Sure, cruising from the Atlantic to the Pacific should be on your list, but how about a north-to-south trip? Few road trips will expose the diversity, delight and wonderment like a drive on Interstate-95, “the Empire Interstate.”
I-95 is the longest north-south Interstate in the United States and the sixth-longest Interstate Highway overall. It passes through 15 states and the District of Columbia, from the top of Maine to the bottom of Florida – a distance of over 1,900 miles (1,927 exactly, according to most experts). It runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast and U.S. Highway 1. Though it is one of the oldest Interstates, it wasn’t officially completed until 2018, when the last gap was closed in central New Jersey. Only five of the 96 counties I-95 touches are classified as completely rural, as the road connects major population centers on its journey. Some of the cities served by I-95 include Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Fayetteville, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Newark, New York, Bridgeport, New Haven, Providence, Boston, Portsmouth and Portland.
A very ambitious traveler might try to bite off the entire route of I-95 in one chunk. Even though you could conceivably do this in a week or less, we wouldn’t advise it – you’d miss too much and see only superhighways and traffic along the way. We’d approach a journey on I-95 like a river cruise, using the highway itself as a guide and branching off for side trips and intermediate destinations. The Interstate will always be there, ready to whisk you from state-to-state. The joy will come in the discoveries along the way.
Here is a bite-sized chunk of the I-95 experience to consider.
Start your journey in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Best Western Braintree Inn, a property just a few miles from historic Boston, and fewer than 10 miles off I-95. The Boston metropolitan area holds interests for all, from the academic centers like Harvard University and MIT to the historic attractions like Faneuil Hall and the Boston Commons, plus museums, live theater, a great zoo and more. Treat yourself to a touristy meal at Legal Seafoods, a Boston tradition for decades. Visit Cheers Restaurant, formerly the Bull & Finch Pub, home to the fictional gang on the long-running sitcom. The only problem with visiting Boston is FOMO – fear of missing out.
Heading north out of Boston, you’ll cross into New Hampshire. I-95 becomes a toll road known as the Blue Star Turnpike or the New Hampshire Turnpike for a short stretch north of Seabrook around Portsmouth. I-95 only spends 16 miles in New Hampshire, the shortest of any state it crosses. Quickly, you’ll discover that you’ve crossed the border into Maine, where I-95 travels for 303 miles.
While you could drive the three hundred miles of I-95 into the heart of Maine, missing out on the side trips to the coast would be a shame. Maine has been a vacation destination of the well-heeled for centuries and still has spectacular, unspoiled coastlines ripe for exploration.
A must-visit in Maine is the city of Portland. The Best Western Merry Manor Inn in South Portland is a lovely and conveniently located property, just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown. Don’t miss Portland’s Old Port Historic District, which retains the look and feel of the 1800s, with history oozing from every brick and cobblestone. Throw a dart, and you’ll hit a fresh seafood restaurant. Drive to nearby Kennebunkport and see how the other half lives. Visit L.L. Bean’s flagship store in Freeport, just 12 miles away. Be sure to set a spending limit before stepping foot in the gigantic store, but feel free to drop in anytime – they’re open 24 hours, seven days a week. Portland is bursting with energy, art, architecture, cuisine and fun. It will be hard to leave, but you’ve got more I-95 to discover.
North of Portland, the highway moves inland from the coast and through some of the untamed beauty of central Maine. Soon, you’ll reach the northern end of I-95, approaching the Canadian border. We’d suggest setting up in Bangor at the Bangor Aviator Hotel, BW Premier Collection, a spectacular property attached by a skywalk to the Bangor International Airport. From this vantage point, you can plan day trips to the Maine coast or head in the opposite direction to explore one of the inland forests or parks. Perhaps you’d like to explore the Bangor City Forest, a piece of wilderness right in the middle of the city. Or see the Stephen King Home, a former residence of the great horror author. The creepy Victorian mansion is home to the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation and is not open for public tours, but it is in a tree-lined neighborhood you can walk through and explore.
That’s just one chunk of I-95. Other itineraries include the North Atlantic Coast (Manhattan to Hilton Head, South Carolina) and the South (Savannah, Georgia to Miami, Florida). Wherever you choose to go, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts will be there for you.