229 miles on US 209, I-84, MA 49 and MA 31. Cumulative distance: 2,046 miles.
STN Hop 7
The cumulative distance includes all the driving we did during our week in Massachusetts. Busy week. More on this later.
The trip from PA to MA was mostly on I-84. The only good thing about I-84 is that it isn’t I-95, which is even worse. But it is bumpy and busy. Not fun.
The 25 miles on US 209 is mostly through federal forest bordering the Delaware River and it is scenic. Plus, with commercial traffic excluded, we didn’t have to compete for space with 18-wheelers, which made it even more pleasant. The 20 miles at the other end, on MA 49 and MA 31, were not quite as scenic, but were pleasant enough. But the 180 miles in the middle, mostly on I-84, were thoroughly unpleasant and we were delayed for 30 minutes due to construction in Hartford. But we did, despite the ugliness of I-84, make it to Massachusetts unscathed and with our nerves mostly unfrayed.
Our site
If you recall, we shortened our stays in both GA and DC to get more time in MA. The beneficiary of this change was the Pine Acres Family Camping Resort in Oakham, MA. We spent an entire week there. We had stayed there once, probably 14 years ago, in a tent on July 4th weekend. We recall the experience vividly because Grace, who was then just a pup, got so freaked out by the fireworks that she clawed her way through the wall of the tent.
We were obviously in a different area this time, being in an RV, but we barely recognized the place. A lot of money has been poured into the facility in the intervening years and it is beautiful. Another new entry on our Top 10 Campgrounds list. Outstanding vistas, very attractive cabins, great landscaping, a very nice mini-golf course and spacious dog park. It is, I think, the only campground we have seen with a “Dog Beach” – a beach on Lake Dean that is reserved for dogs. It was too chilly to use it, but we appreciated the gesture.
Because it was early in the season, many of the facilities, including the General Store, were not yet open. But because it was school vacation week when we arrived, we were surrounded by families with children. But after Sunday they all went home and we were virtually alone in this very large campground.
Overall, we were very impressed with Pine Acres. It is not convenient to Boston, being at least 90 minutes away – and more than 2 hours when there is traffic, which is most of the time – but it is less than 30 minutes from Jett’s brother Ray. We will definitely consider staying here again.
Dog park
Terraced lakeside sites
Canoe dock
Lakeview cabins