RT 4 Vermont and NH With RV: Is Route 4 In Vermont Scenic?
RV travel can be exciting. Think of all the great places you can go, the great people you will meet and to top it off, the great scenery that brightens your traveling day. Not all roads bring all three of these travel experiences but some do and RT 4 in Vermont may be one of them.
The old towns are about as scenic as the road is. With 19 miles of the 66-mile east-west route, this highway is expressway quality and will also provide a great ride as you tour the historic areas of Vermont. It can be called a very scenic road as you see more than just beautiful nature
To learn more about this road and how beautiful it is to drive, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can plan a trip down this highway when you are in the area. It looks to be a great road to drive.
Vermont Route 4 With an RV
First off, you may be confused a little bit as this road is labeled not only Vermont Route 4 but also US Route 4 or US 4. This is so you do not get confused and think you are on the wrong road.
It is a good highway to drive as 19 miles of it was rebuilt to join a new East-West highway but that project was shelved. You can experience 4 lanes during this almost 20-mile stretch.
The hardest part to drive will be Killington. That is the local ski mountain and you will have some steep roads to drive in this area. Other than that, the road should be smooth sailing and filled with historic towns as well as beautiful scenery.
Be reassured, that the hills in this area are not Rocky Mountain steep. They have some elevation to them but you may not find them too difficult to go up or down. How difficult and steep they are to drive will be up to you to determine.
Vermont Route 4 Conditions
When you get to Rutland, you will have to make a little jog to the north or south, depending on your travel direction, to continue driving Route 4 in this state. But the condition of that jog and the whole state-wide highway will also depend.
It is hard to say how g the road conditions will be as those will depend on weather conditions, accidents, or if there were some slides or not. For the most part, this is a very good road to drive, and those RV owners that have driven it, do not have a lot of complaints.
They enjoyed their time and some were not scared of the rolling hills or some of the steeper hills that they had to go over. They also say that Route 4 is one of the better roads to travel in the state.
If you want current conditions for your travel time, then just click this link. That website should provide you with all the current road conditions. Since these change every day, it is good to use that link just before you get to the highway.
Is Route 4 in Vermont Scenic?
From the images we have seen, the answer to this question is- yes, it is.d It may not be as grand as driving through the Rocky Mountains or along the California coast highway (101) but it is a very beautiful road to travel.
Quechee Gorge Bridge will take you over the Quechee Gorge and if you enjoy fast-flowing water, then this is a must-see stop for you. Not far from this bridge is the Quechee Covered Bridge.
This goes over the Quechee River but you may not be able to drive your RV over it. You may have to stop and walk across or unhook your car and drive across it. The former action is preferred as the bridge is only 70 feet long.
Along the route are many covered bridges as well as fairly famous farms including Sleepy Hollow Farm. Just watch out for photographers. Then you have a variety of historic towns you will drive through.
The old buildings are very nice to look at and can take you back to simpler times.
What River Runs Along Route 4 in Vermont?
On the west side of Rutland, Route 4 usually goes beside the Castleton River. But both the river and the road wind their way through the state so it is not a complete side by side trip. Castleton Rd is also known as 4A and is the business highway that takes you into downtown Rutland.
On the northern side of Rutland, When Highway 4 turns off from Highway 7, you will see the Mendon Brook for a few miles. This river and highway have turned eastward again once it splits from Highway 7.
A few more miles down the highway you will see Mendon Brook wind back to be beside Highway 4. Near Sherburne Center, you will see the Ottauquechee come near the highway. Route 4 follows this river to Quechee and Dewey’s Pond.
Then when Route 4 crosses Interstate 89, it follows the White River. There are several rivers after this one that Highway 4 interacts with till it reaches the end of the state.
RT 4 NH
Once this road leaves Vermont, the scenery does not end. But it may be a little harder to follow as it joins with other highways like NH 10. These two highways remain the same until Highway 10 joins I-89 and Route 4 continues into Lebanon.
The Highway turns south first,m then east then south as it winds its way through this state. As we said earlier, it is harder to follow as it joins so many other highways running through this state. At one point it joins Highway 3 before joining I-93, I-393, Highway 202, and more.
While the route is not as clear as it is in Vermont, you should still see some great sites as well as some very historical cities and other historical landmarks. This continues till Highway 4 terminates just south of the Maine State line.
Outside the cities, you should see some great scenery including some pretty picnic spots where you can take a break from driving and relax.
Checking Route 4 Vermont Closures
The link we gave you earlier should provide you with this information. But if it doesn’t a quick call to the Vermont State Highway Patrol should get you the information you seek.
There are always travel advisories put out for those travelers who want to use this highway to get to their destinations. Or you can contact the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s website and see what current road conditions are closing the road. Just click here to get to that website.
Another option is a website called Navbug. It provides you with the current road closures and other road conditions along this highway. Just click here to get to it.
A quick internet search will result in a variety of websites that track the road conditions and other problems that take place along Route 4 in Vermont. You can do the same if you want to drive through New Hampshire along this road as well.
You can try some driving apps if you want but they may not be as accurate as these websites.
Where Does US Route 4 Start And End?
If you are traveling east or starting in the east, then this highway starts and ends near the Maine border. According to Wikipedia, the highway starts its westerly run and ends its easterly run at the following location:
US 4 terminates just south of the Maine state line at the final southbound interchange with I-95, where the turnpike splits to merge with I-95 south, and NH 16 continues south to end at the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, providing access to I-95 north and US 1 Bypass. (source)
On the western side, this highway begins and ends in East Greenbush, New York. The highway runs for a total of 253 miles as it covers all or parts of 3 states.
While in New York, this highway runs north and south only turning east to west in Vermont. It will wind its way through both Vermont and New Hampshire so it may seem like it is going in all directions.
You will find the specific start/end of this highway where US 9 and 20 connect.
Some Additional Words
Smaller highways can surprise you. Not only in the area of top road conditions but also in beauty and places to see. Route 4 is a historical highway and if you love history or scenic drives, this is the road for you to take.
The hills are okay and may not be as steep as some people reported. You will also travel through some great cities that were and are the backbone of the country.
