A young girl plays in a puddle on a rock by the ocean coast
A young girl plays in a puddle on a rock by the ocean coast

To Acadia & Beyond

Starting in Chicago with Acadia National Park as our centerpiece, we mapped out a loop that took us through a mix of national parks, coastal beauty, and mountain towns. Our route included a stop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, camping in the woods of southeastern New Hampshire, a few unforgettable days in Acadia, a lakeside cabin in scenic Vermont, outdoor adventures in Lake Placid, and a final stop in Toronto before heading home. Below, I’ll share the highlights of our journey, family-friendly tips, and what we learned along the way to help you plan your own New England road school journey.

Logistics

Planning and organizing the journey.

18 days, 8 stays, 2,600 miles, 45+ travel hours

A Google Map of a road trip journey from Chicago to New England and back
A Google Map of a road trip journey from Chicago to New England and back
The Journey

Yes! This was a LOT. Since we have an EV, we had to plan many stops, which made for quick visits to cover ground.

Arguably the hardest part of it all. Here's how we prep, pack, and organize for our journeys.

Tips for Planning the Journey
The Itinerary

State by State

Explore each state with us by clicking below to visit our blog posts capturing details from our stays and experiences across the country.

a young girl standing on a rock in the woods of New Hampshire looking at the landscape beyonda young girl standing on a rock in the woods of New Hampshire looking at the landscape beyond
New Hampshire
Southeast: Farmington, Rye, Durham
A girl sitting in a shallow tide pool along the coast of Maine at Acadia National ParkA girl sitting in a shallow tide pool along the coast of Maine at Acadia National Park
Maine

Acadia National Park & Deer Isle

Three kids on a raft in the middle of a Vermont lake as their father looks on from a nearby canoe
Three kids on a raft in the middle of a Vermont lake as their father looks on from a nearby canoe
Two girls admire the landscape of Mirror Lake in Lake Placid in autumn
Two girls admire the landscape of Mirror Lake in Lake Placid in autumn
Vermont
Island Pond, Montpelier, Waterbury
New York

Lake Placid

Back to Journeys
Move. Play. Learn.

Where learning meets the open road—discover how our family is roadschooling across the U.S., connecting deeply with history, nature, and one another, and sharing what we learn along the way.

© 2025. All rights reserved.