Roadtrip with RVshare Newark to Burlington

Take the opportunity to see the natural wonders offered in this country by expanding your road trip from Newark to Burlington to include four national parks. These parks display the same amazing sights that greeted the original colonists. To experience these wonders, follow this Newark to Burlington road trip itinerary. Along the way, stop at some state parks to enjoy developed facilities that match the surrounding environment. Contrast these stops with visits to the incredible cities that populate the Northeast and Midwest of the country.

Nearby National Parks

Shenandoah National Park

To reach Shenandoah National Park from Newark and the New Jersey coastline, travel 297 miles southwest into the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The 196,000-acre park features high ridges; deep, tree-shaded valleys; rivers; lakes; and an incredible display of natural forests. Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails take visitors to overlooks where the woods reach the horizon, providing the illusion of an unending canopy. Under these hardwood trees, roaring streams full of fish dash among boulders to reach the rivers forming deeper in the valleys. Anglers often find themselves walking beside babbling brooks to find their source in springs or small lakes.

New River Gorge National Park

After your introduction to America’s wonders at Shenandoah National Park, travel 300 miles west through the Blue Ridge Mountains to visit New River Gorge National Park on your Newark to Burlington road trip. The New River is by no means new. It is the oldest river in the eastern states — so old that it carved an immense gorge through the solid granite floor over millennia. The deep cut is reminiscent of the more famous gorges out west, like the Columbia River Gorge or Grand Canyon. The hills are covered with hardwood forests interspersed with pine. The fishing is excellent, not only in the New River but in the tributaries as well. Hiking trails lead to overlooks that provide incredible panoramic views. 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 252 miles north of New River Gorge, is another nature preserve but with a difference. The Cuyahoga River runs between Akron and Cleveland in Ohio, two densely populated urban areas. The park runs beside the river, providing 125 miles of hiking trails that lead to over 100 waterfalls. Cuyahoga is somewhat developed with a train system that travels along a bank above the river, enabling everyone to see the park’s beauty. Fishing is permitted in select locations in the river to satisfy the angling urge while protecting the waterfalls.

Acadia National Park

After visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park drive 586 miles through Buffalo, New York, to reach Burlington, Vermont. Do not stop in Burlington. Instead, extend your Newark to Burlington RV road trip by driving 257 miles east to visit Acadia National Park. Set on the rugged coast of Maine, this park protects ocean shores, mountain peaks, lakes, and an incredible carpet of forests. Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the East Coast, sits within the boundaries of this park. Hiking trails lead to the top of the mountain and along the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The park is famous for its angling opportunities in streams and lakes, like Jordan Pond. 

Nearby State Parks

Stephens State Park

Located 46 miles west of Newark and along your route to Shenandoah National Park, Stephens State Park provides a camping experience that includes the historically significant Morris Canal. The Musconetcong River dashes through the park, curling around boulders and rubbing against granite rock banks as it plunges toward the Atlantic. The angling in the pools from the banks of this river continuously yields impressive catches of brown, brook, and rainbow trout. Hiking trails running alongside the river lead to several excellent picnicking areas.

Burton Island State Park  

Burton Island State Park, 33 miles north of Burlington, is an interesting addition to this Newark to Burlington road trip. As Lake Champlain surrounds the park, your RV can only reach it via a 10-minute ferry ride that runs from Kill Kare State Park. Once at the park, you will find several miles of hiking trails leading to excellent angling spots, picnic locations, and observation platforms. The park staff holds organized events. There is a café, camp store, and museum in the park.

Bradbury Mountain State Park

Located just 21 miles north of Arcadia National Park, Bradbury Mountain State Park provides a campground from which to explore Acadia and the surrounding towns. Though Bradbury Mountain is only 500 feet high, the stony peak offers an incredible view of the forests protected by the 730-acre park. It is open year-round with multi-use trails that support hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers.

Along the Way

Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters

Begin your Newark to Burlington RV road trip by driving 18 miles north to see Dey Mansion. The home served as George Washington’s headquarters during three months of the Revolutionary War. Today, it is a historic house mansion listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places. When you walk through the front door, you are transported back to Colonial America. Dey Mansion staff members host tours that include lectures and exhibits on the lives of American Colonists before and during the Revolution.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

While visiting the area around Cuyahoga Valley National Park, stop in Akron, OH, to stop by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Within the multiple facilities that make up the Hall of Fame are exhibits on players and coaches who were honored by the organization. Staff members provide tours with explanations on the accomplishments of these men, many of whom played the game in trying circumstances and, after retiring from football, went on the serve their communities and neighborhoods.

Portland Observatory

On your way to Acadia National Park, stop at the Portland Observatory in Portland, Maine. The 86-foot tower is an example of American capitalistic ingenuity. In 1807, Captain Lemuel Moody ordered the tower's construction to provide advanced notice to ship owners of the imminent arrival of their ship and cargo. With a powerful telescope, Moody identified ships that were still 30 miles out of port. For a yearly fee of $5, Moody sent notice to the ship owners, which vastly improved the rotation speed of ships into and out of the port. Today, visitors that climb to the observation room get a fantastic view of Portland, Portland Harbor, and beyond to the sea.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Paterson, New Jersey

In Paterson, NJ, there is a mix of interesting memorials and museums covering everything from waterfalls to castles and museums. Drop in to see the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Lambert Castle and the Paterson Museum. While you are in the city, take the time to clean your tanks at one of the local dump stations. To stay a night or two, register at one of the many campgrounds in the area.

Albany, New York

When you pass through Albany, NY, on your way to Burlington, VT, take the time to visit the city’s incredible array of specialty shops. Albany has always been a hub of entrepreneurial activity as these shops demonstrate. As a sample of the shops available, try Hippies, Witches, and Gypsies, a shop specializing in incense, herbs, and essential oils. At Wit’s End Giftique, you can find gifts for any special occasion. Try the Fort Orange General Store for those personal gifts like candles, coffee, or tea towels. While you are here, take advantage of Albany’s dump stations, or stay a night at one of the campgrounds in the area.

Montpelier, Vermont

For its size, Montpelier, VT, features an incredible array of restaurants. Though there are chain restaurants, like J. Morgan’s Steakhouse and the Mad Taco, in town, the most charming restaurants are family eateries only found in Montpelier. Try the halibut or spicy duck fries at Oakes and Evelyn or the bruschetta at Sarducci’s for palate-pleasing meals. For a barbecue meal, visit the Prohibition Pig, and order the barbecue pork. While you are here, take advantage of the dump stations and the numerous campgrounds that Vermont offers.

Find Adventure from Newark to Burlington

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Newark to Burlington, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Newark or Burlington.