Overnight docking for 4 days/nights
 

Hi there,
We are new to this site. We also have never been to Lake Winnipesaukee, but have heard so many wonderful things about this lake, that we want to come up for a long weekend and sleep on our boat at dockside. We are looking for a dock with shore power. We have a 28ft'r with a 3.8 draft. Can anyone direct me as to the best place to stay? We are coming up from North Jersey, and are flexible - sometime in late June - early August. Can anyone tell us what part of the lake we should first stay on? Thanks for any help.
Kathy & Steve

Anyplace on the lake is beautiful I would call around to the marinas for availability. I am at Shep Browns Boat Basin I would call them. They are great.

I Agree
 

You need to call around and decide what part of the lake you want to stay on. Shep Browns, like robmac said, is in Meredith and very central as far as being on the water.

There are a ton of other marina's on the lake too but check them all. And do a little research. For instance, Shep's is in Meredith and centrally located, yet Meredith Marine (also obviously in Meredith) isn't as central because it's at the tip of Meredith Bay.

A good map of Winnipesaukee will show the marinas and their locations.

Good luck!!

There was a new post in the classifieds over the weekend for a boating club, probalbly worth checking out, they may be able to accomadate you.

www.AmericanBoatClubNH.com

Good Luck

You could try West Alton Marina
 

they will rent out empty docks during the season. It's not as centrally located as Meredith, but it's on a great part of the lake, and Meredith makes for a nice ride. Easy access to the broads.

West Alton Marina
 

One plus for checking out West Alton is that this marina is located at the southern end of the lake and would make your trip from NJ at least 45 minutes less than to Meredith. I come up from Clifton, NJ. If you need good routes and will be towing your boat, just ask the folks on the forum.

It is not faster to hit up 93 and come in from exit 20 or 23? Rather than going straight through Boston?

Check google maps. It's about the same travel time from 93 to Meredith as to Alton. Actually 5 minutes less.

My Route
 

This probably belongs in the "Getting There" section, but my route from NJ to the lakes region is...

• Garden State Parkway (corrected-okay to tow boat)
• Rt. 287 (Tappan Zee Bridge)
• Rt. 684 to Brewster
• Rt. 84 all the way to the Mass. Pike (Long haul)
• Rt. 90 (Mass Pike)
• Rt. 290
• Rt. 495 (advice given to take Rt. 3 from here)
• Rt. 93 (straight shot to Exit 20-May take 106 from Concord to Gilford for more scenery)

From Asbury Park on the Jersey shore to Gilford..About 6.5-7 hrs. with stops

495 to rt 3 would be a little shorter.

Shortest route from Jersey
 

CateP, The shortest route for you (I travel up from Howell almost every weekend) Is GSP to the turnpike, over GW Bridge follow 95 to New Haven and 91 to 84 in Hartford. 84 to Mass pike exit 290 to 495, Rt 3 (Everett TPK) to 93. This way is 40 miles shorter than the route you take and you avoid 84 west of Hartford which is hilly and curvy. Of course you will have a few tense moments after the GW Bridge. For towing it is best to take the Tappan Zee to 95. I also leave at 230 in the morning and with one stop make it in 5-1/2 hours later I'm having breakfast at Georges. By 9:30 I'm on the island

Ahh.Nice to "meet" you, NJ neighbor. I think the key to your route is the time you leave. Lower CT on 95 and 91 can be a nightmare and it's white knuckle driving all the way. My route is showing an extra 25 miles and I'll take that over the wild and wooly 95.

You can tow boats on the Garden State Parkway.

The route that Cate outlined is more or less the way I go to PA and have been since 1987. I usually shortcut 684 with the Saw Mill.

Tappan Zee is better than the GW both ways 8 times out of 10. Especially if you are towing a boat!

I agree that 495 to 3 to 93 is generally quicker, unless there is an accident in downtown Manchester. Towing a boat, however, I would probably just stay on 495 to 93.

I often go right by 290 on 90 east and go directly to 495 north. Much nicer ride with a boat in tow and not much longer (if it even is longer). Towing through Worscester can be exciting.

If you ever have a little time to kill and want to skip CT traffic entirely while enjoying a beautiful ride. Stay on 684 north when it turns into NY route 22 north. You can take 22 all the way to 90 and then head east. Adds 60 to 90 minutes to the trip, but it's stress-free and lovely.

You can also stay on 22 until you reach 7 east which becomes 9 east when you hit VT and NH. Route 9 will take you all the way to Concord NH and is a very nice ride as well. These roads are mostly posted at 55 so they are not that much slower than the highway. You do go through towns though.

And from Hartford
 

You can also head north on I91 to Brattleboro VT and then pick up NH9 to Concord. Misses the Mass Traffic on 290/495/rt3/93.

Also a pretty ride, but NH9 does have a steep hill or two between Brattleboro & Keene.

Merritt Parkway
 

You couldn't pay me enough to take the GW Bridge and 95 to 91 on my trip up, and I'm only 15 minutes from the Bridge. I take the Garden State Parkway to the NY Thruway, Tappan Zee, 287 and then the Merritt Parkway up to 91 in Meriden. Take 91 to 84 in East Hartford and then 84 to the Mass Pike. If it's not rush hour, I do go thru Worcester on 290 and then 495 to the Everett Tpke. Then 93 to 393 in Concord, Route 4 to Chichester taking the back road shortcut at the light by the Hess station. Then 28 to 11 at the Alton Circle. This trip is 305 miles from Clifton and takes me 5 hours and 15 minutes with 1 pit stop in CT. Of course the Merritt Pkway is out if you are towing a boat, but it cuts 11 miles off the 684 to 84 route and NO TRUCKS! I hate the Danbury to West Hartford section of 84.

Kathy - sent you a PM.

Place to keep boat
 

Kathy & Steve,

Lakeport Landing has transient slips for people to keep their boats temporarily. They also have a gas dock with some of the least expensive gas on the lake.

Good Luck,
Bill

Lake Winni
 

West Alton Marine rents overnighters with shorepower and water and cable TV. I dont know how much they charge for transients. And no Issues with your size boat as they take up to 40 footers. give diedre a call @ 6038757788

:D