Enny Sulivan
Dog Friendly Road Trips East Coast – Ever since I moved to the East Coast, I’ve wanted to do a road trip from New York to Maine. It is a popular summer destination, perfect for escaping the intense heat of the city. This summer I finally took a 5 day road trip from New York to Maine with my boyfriend and our dog. I was really impressed with the calm weather and the beautiful surroundings.
With its beautiful coastline, charming lighthouses, and some of the best seafood in the world, Maine is truly magical. When my boyfriend and I started planning our road trip, we decided we wanted to take our dog Chewie with us. We never expected that everywhere we go would be pet friendly.
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My road trip focused on dog friendly activities and accommodations. But I recommend everything you did, even for people who are not traveling with a dog. Read about the best cities to stop and my favorite sights.
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The perfect road trip always requires flexibility. Plan your perfect summer vacation with what you learn during your road trip from New York to Maine.
Click here to see a list of our favorite restaurants where we stop along the coast. This post is full of cool lobster spots, street food, and hidden coffee gems. All places listed are pet friendly.
It was Chewie’s first vacation and of course he wanted to see all the big tourist attractions. His favorite was Head Light House in Portland, where he had many pets.
Finding the best route for your road trip is always the first step. I like to walk long distances. I skipped New York, traveled to 11 countries, and finally went to the Big Apple stick. There I learned that the long way is the best way. The best part of a road trip is taking the time to admire the small highways along the coast and refuel at lobster stands and cute coffee shops along the way.
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My first instinct when traveling is to go go go go. Get up early, stay ahead of the curve, and try everything to mark everything. This was something I had to fight tooth and nail while I was in Maine. Nothing kills you faster than rushing out of a road trip. Therefore, on the first day, it is recommended to relax and not put too much pressure on the calendar.
On Day 1, we set Providence, Rhode Island as our first destination from New York City. This long road trip seemed like the perfect opportunity to stop in some cities in the Northeast that I hadn’t had the chance to see until now. Providence seems like a great place to stretch our legs and eat a bite.
We left New York around 11 am and arrived in Providence a few hours later, just in time for lunch. From there we took a short detour and drove around Boston. Boston is one of my favorite cities in the country, and I take any excuse to visit it. My friend Ryan has actually never been and it was a great teaser for a trip we are planning later this year.
A big unexpected stop on the way from New York to Maine was in Salem, Massachusetts. To be honest, when I was younger I was completely obsessed with the idea of becoming a witch. Growing up I used to watch shows like:
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We parked right next to the Hexenhaus (unfortunately it was closed when we arrived) and got to know the town center very little. If I could go back in time, I would stop driving through Boston and try to visit the witch’s house by 5 p.m. But that’s the thing about being spontaneous.
I researched Salem around October, and it is booming as a tourist destination during the Halloween season. But even in the middle of summer, Salem knows how to optimize his witch story. There are many shops and restaurants to cater for even the smallest taste.
When we started our road trip from New York to Maine, we decided to be flexible about where we would stay our first night. We understand that traffic in the city can be ugly. We wanted to take our time and travel, so we didn’t know where we would end up. If you’re like me, this can make you a little nervous. I recommend you just go with the flow and see what happens.
We leave Salem and set our GPS in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a small town just outside the border with Maine. At this time we recommend that you take the most direct route to Portsmouth. If you are not too tired, go to Old Orchard Beach. It’s just a few hours north of Salem.
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During our trip, we discovered that pet friendly accommodations were heavily booked. Keep this in mind when traveling with your dog. We spent the night at the Ramada Inn on a small, pet-friendly street not far from Old Orchard Beach. Of course, if you are not traveling with your pet, accommodation is easier.
However, all Ramada Inns are pet friendly and the hotel was perfect for a good night’s sleep and shower. We stayed right off the freeway in Saco. We were given a few bottles of wine and pizza in our hotel room. The first night of our trip could not have gone better.
I got into the California beach girl vibe at Old Orchard Beach. It’s Maine’s dreamiest little beach town.
One of the only real beach towns I encountered on my road trip from New York to Maine was Old Orchard Beach. This is the perfect place to start the second day of your road trip. It’s like a little Coney Island, but with beautiful weather and beautiful beaches.
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Get up as early as possible on your second day and spend a few hours exploring this beach town. If you are traveling with pets, you should be aware that the beaches are only dog friendly at times other than 10am and 5pm.
Although the pier does not open until 11 a.m., there were many shops and restaurants on Old Orchard Street. During July and August, theme park rides are at 11 a.m. on weekends and noon on weekdays. Be sure to grab coffee and tea at Green Mountain before you leave.
The small pier at Old Orchard Beach makes this coast a little more attractive than the others.
No claims were open before we left, but since we brought our dog with us, it wasn’t worth the wait.
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The East Coast is full of lighthouses to explore, but Maine has some of the best. From Old Orchard Beach, drive to Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth. This is one of the most popular lighthouses in Maine.
Expect to spend at least 1-2 hours exploring the area around this beautiful tourist attraction. If you want to eat mindfully, there are picnic tables and food vendors. We were looking to eat lobster in Portland so we just walked around the grounds.
The only thing you have to pay here is parking, which costs $7 an hour for a minimum of two hours. There is also a nice little gift shop, so be sure to check it out. Yes, you can also bring your dog here, as long as it is always kept on a leash. Who knew Maine was so dog friendly? Maybe it was the same for everyone but me.
Once you leave here, you’re not far from downtown Portland. Why not stop for lunch? If you are not traveling with your dog, you can also ride the trolley. I often travel to cities where I automatically want to live, and Portland is one of them.
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In hindsight, if we could add another day to our trip, Portland would be a great place to stop. If your hours are flexible, there are a few things to keep in mind. I definitely plan to go back and spend more time in Portland.
Although I could not ride the trolley, I was able to take many photos.
The Marshall Point Lighthouse was my favorite stop on our road trip from New York to Maine. You certainly have to go out of your way to get here, but it’s worth it. Yes, it is small and located in a very closed area of Port Clyde. But don’t let that stop you from skipping it.
Why do I love this lamp so much? Maybe it’s because it’s dog friendly. Or maybe it was because the weather was perfect, or because there was no one around. (We arrived around 4pm.) Maybe it was because there were a number of narrow bridges.
