declansdad
DIS Dad #639 New Brunswick, Canada
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2004
Last year, there wasn't any noticeable traffic at March Break. I think that the sagging dollar will make that the case again.
I can only speak to Bangor since we frequent it. I'm not so sure about Portland.
To get from Moncton to Bangor under normal driving conditions:
Via Woodstock, NB: 4 hr 41 min (480 km)
Via St. Stephen, NB: 4 hr 15 min (361 km)*
*Not taking into account the new highway between Saint John & St. Stephen which shaves off kilometres and time.
BTW, Googlemaps says it takes almost an hour longer to get from St. Stephen, NB to Bangor, ME than it actually does. We've timed this leg of the journey many, many times.
So, actual driving time is not a huge difference. I think it's a matter of preference.
The reason I recommend the St. Stephen route is not for the scenery (although it is beautiful) but for better weather, lack of traffic, and imo faster border crossings.
I keep an eye on the wait times out of interest and it seems like Houlton is always report some sort of delay even when Calais isn't. Also, at Houlton they rarely have more than 1 lane open. Here, the max lanes are always open. (Not true coming back into Canada, though, but they have more lanes going that way.) BTW, if you're ever looking for border wait times when entering the US, go here:
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp
So, in the end, it's up to you and it probably makes very little difference when all is said and done but I thought I'd give you a few things to consider. Might as well share my insight as a border townie.
I hate to disagree with you but our experience has been the exact opposite. We have never waited crossing at Houlton, summer or winter. Now I have never crossed at Calais in the winter but in the summer, we have waited between 1 and 2 hours at both crossings. Coming back hasn't been a problem, Canadian side has always had multiple lanes and they are very quick.
Has the new crossing opened yet because the St Stephen crossing is only two lanes and the Milltown is only 1?
My brother used both crossings last year travelling from Moncton and he said he made much better time using Houlton than Calais. Personally, I prefer going through Calais because you get to see more than trees but the highway between Calais and Bangor is more trecherous than the I95. It is also very hilly and has few passing lanes.