NYC -> BOS: Coastal Route?

August 7, 2008 5:47 PM

NYC -> BOS via coastal route: where to stop on the way?

I'll be driving from NYC to Boston this Saturday, and will have time to do some stops along the way. The plan, as of now, is to gun it to New Haven, and then try to take the coastal route to Boston (probably Rte 1 to 138 to 24) -- where are some good, quirky, or beautiful places to stop on the way? We're into seafood (doesn't need to be fancy) and greasy spoons, but non-food suggestions are welcome, too.

posted by AwkwardPause to travel & transportation (6 comments total)

Flo's in Middletown (Newport) RI. On the beach- a great clam shack. Also stop at any Del's frozen lemonade stand or truck.
posted by Gungho at 6:01 PM on August 7, 2008

The Upriver Cafe in Westerly, RI is excellent. Turn right onto 1A when you cross the Pawcatuck River, then right again into the first parking lot.
posted by nicwolff at 6:03 PM on August 7, 2008

Crazy Burger in Narragansett, RI. (A little bit off 1)
posted by mkb at 6:03 PM on August 7, 2008

You will find endless diners, restaurants, and seafood places along the way. I wouldn't even know where to begin suggesting food...

However! Be sure to visit the Book Barn in Niantic. It's friggin' great. (The west Main St. location, not Downtown. Also you might want to avoid it if you're allergic to cats.) I don't think it's quite on Route 1, but it's not far and definitely worth the detour.

You may also enjoy Mystic Seaport and/or Mystic Aquarium further down Route 1.
posted by greenland at 6:07 PM on August 7, 2008

Peter Pots - West Kingston, RI
Fantastic Umbrella Factory - Charlestown, RI
The Mews - Wakefield, RI
The Ocean Mist - Matunuck, RI
Aunt Carries - Narragansett, RI
Dels Lemonade - Various...
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:20 PM on August 7, 2008

Rte 1 in CT has a lot of traffic lights and it's also not the most picturesque route in places. I might stay on 95 until you hit Guilford, CT. There are a bunch of clam shacks in Westbrook (Lenny and Joes is good) and might be a good time to stop for lunch.

I'd recommend a little detour once you hit Old Saybrook - take the Rte 154 loop off of Rte 1 and you'll see some beaches and eventually the road travels right alongside the water with beaches below. If you look back behind you you'll see the Castle Inn. You could take a quick detour into Fenwick and see the house where Katherine Hepburn spent the last years of her life (it's across a small pond) and get pretty close to a lighthouse. Getting back on 154 you can head towards Saybrook Point and play a round of minigolf if you need a break from driving. Then follow 154 back to 1, and merge with 95 to get across the CT River.

I second the Book Barn in Niantic, but once you get across the river you should take a right and follow Rte 156 to get there. 156 will eventually meet up with Rte 1 again which you can take to 95 to get across the Thames. (of course when I'm driving to Boston, I hop on 95 at Niantic and then take 395 if I want to hit the casinos, then 395 to the Mass Pike).

You can get back on Rte 1 after crossing the Thames and I would recommend driving through Mystic normally, but this weekend is the Mystic Art Festival and a lot of the streets will be blocked and detoured. However if you like arts and crafts, you could park and stroll around for a bit and then detour back to 95 to get around it.

RI seems to be well covered, so I'm out. I'll be traveling around this way on Saturday myself, so I'll wave to you when I see ya.
posted by FreezBoy at 6:58 AM on August 8, 2008