Does anyone know what areas of Massachusetts have great backroads or country roads for some nice cruising?
One road that used to be pretty good was following old Route 1.If you start where it joins I-95 in Topsfield,you can go clear up to the Canadian border if you like.We used to run from there to the Kittery Trading Post and back.Hardly any traffic,great scenery,only a few traffic lights,stop in the Agawam Diner(old style aluminum) for a bite to eat,hit some antique shops in Newburyport,drive along the ocean in New Hampshire.A little bit of heaven;especially in an open car in nice weather.Do it during the week in summer though as the traffic is pretty heavy around Salisbury and Hampton Beach on the weekends.
Where's your starting point? Western Mass. is pretty much loaded with them. I like Rts. 9, 112, 7, 2. Actually I like em all as long as it ain't winter.
Definitely check out the Mohawk Trail...Rte 2 as you go further west in good weather even autumn days are apt to take you back, in time.
Western Mass. is full of these kinds of roads and some lead into southern Vermont. During foliage time especially these are great roads to cruise on. I'm fortunate to live on one of the prettiest and I get to drive it every day. Rt.2 west out of Greenfield is called the Mohawk Trail and it's a windy mountain road that is fun to drive. Rt.112 in Shelburne Falls is a nice ride as well as Rt.143 that goes thru Peru and Hinsdale. There are lots of secondary roads off of these that are good too.
One road General Gow and I were discussing is rt 105 from Halifax down to Marion, which would be an excellent road to take for the Gathering of the Faithful later this Fall. Another great cruise is out to Glocester and Rockport on rt 127. Stop at the wooden pedestrian walkway in Goose Cove that I designed (shameless plug). And of course there is always Cape Cod out to Provincetown and Truro.
youch. that's a tough one! dunno if I would want to try that one during the summer. maybe spring and fall. way too many crazy drivers out there. even the smaller roads have gotten packed with traffic as of late. maybe a neat cruise with the rods, but the pucker factor of dodging traffic and pedestrians would not make it relaxing for me
i dont know, 6a on the cape isnt so bad during the week. and in addition to jay's suggestion based on our conversation about rt 105, i would just google map dover, sherborn, medfield, holliston, etc. there is a nice network of roads through those towns that i can drive with my eyes closed, but couldnt possibly explain. mmm, roads. i need to wander...
From you guys and research, it seems like Mohawk Trail is one sweet road to roll on! I'll be checking it as soon as I can/it gets nicer out. Too bad it has to be on the OTHER side of the state. Naturally...
Agreed but with all the great roads in New Hampshire I have never thought of it as a beach front drive. But Maine is just a beautiful scenic ocean drive that I hope to do again.
You might get this twice The Gathering of the Faithful has moved a couple of miles North on Rte. 105 to Plum Corner, Rochester Mass. Oct 18--Rain Date Oct 19. See you there.
Rte 2 west to rte 7 then pick up rte 9 to 100 is a nice loop around i ride it on my bike some evenings just to relax , also a putt up to northfield mass on a weekend evening is a must cause they still have an old fasioned drive in movie theatre there ,
Wow!!! Those are names I haven't heard for a few seasons. My mom was from Shelburn Falls. It is beautiful in that neck of the woods. I wish I were there.
It's amazing when you get out that way - Western MA - you see towns that you've never even heard of. Charlemont, Heath, Hawley, Florida, etc. Drive out Route 2. There're some nice places out there. The Charlemont Inn has a great little Pub, and it's a historic Inn. Pete
RT 3a to my shop in Woburn....LOL only kidding man- get past RT 495 anf take any side road off of it. Get up Rt 2 and there is some nice stuff driving along once you get past Fitchburg and the 'cities'. Out in Orange they do skydiving too so if its a nice day yu can see 'em jumping.
Just got back in from my favorite one...... Shrewsbury center (where I live) down route 140 north up too westminster/fitchburg. You go by the wachusett resevoir, Mt wachusetts, pass a couple of pubs too --- nice stretch of road without all the typical holes and bridge gaps you often see, then you can catch rte 2 west or blaze back on 190 which was re-done last year ....any local guys want to take a cruise let me know....Also.....I have done the cruise up through rte 2 to rte 7 (catch that in williamstown) and go north up to Bennington, VT to Hemmings......thats a good time and a great ride! we were kicking around a club poker run up to Bennington VT, but I think it will happen next year.....
rt 105 down in southern MA is a great cruising road, lots of roads on the sides of farm land in rochester where you can open up the carb (or carbs) a bit, you'll only come across a handful of oncoming cars the whole time out there!
Whenever I would head home to Bass River from Boston I would always take 3a to 6a not too much traffic till the Sagamore Bridge then always pretty clear to brewster then on down to ptown.How is the new flyover in Sagamore? Mike
RT 105 from Middleboro to Rochester on Oct 18th will take you right to the "New England Speed Meeting" AKA "the Gathering of the Faithful." Don't be fooled into thinking that the "keepers of the flame" show on RT 6 in marion, is formerly the "gathering." They want you to believe that, but they're just "wanna bees"
The new flyover in Sagamore is a dream come true for the locals. No more being held captive by the summer traffic. It's a much saner merge getting over the bridge, too.
I might be a Texas boy, but I would have given anything to have my Buick up on 6a on the Cape. For a foreigner, I thought it was beautiful.
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