We are lucky in Enfield and Hartford County to have several New England weekend road trip destinations within driving distance. Of course, those trips feel a lot easier when you’re driving a vehicle designed for family travel. Comfort, cargo space, entertainment features, and technology are crucial when you’re spending hours together in the car.

The Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Durango are capable vehicles the Artioli team recommends most often for family road trips, and for good reason. Here are our road trip recommendations and why each vehicle earns its place on these particular trips. 

Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic has long been one of Connecticut’s favorite family destinations. Between the aquarium, waterfront restaurants, and small-town charm, it’s the perfect weekend escape without needing to travel too far from home.

The Chrysler Pacifica is well-suited for trips like these. The spacious interior gives everyone room to stretch, while available rear-seat entertainment helps keep kids occupied during the drive. Parents also appreciate how easy the Pacifica makes loading bags, snacks, and strollers thanks to its sliding side doors and flexible cargo space.

Lake George, New York

For families who love outdoor adventures, Lake George offers camping, boating, hiking, and beautiful scenery just a few hours from Connecticut.

The Dodge Durango is especially well-suited for trips like these. With available all-wheel drive and impressive towing capability, the Durango gives families the freedom to bring along boats, trailers, bikes, or extra gear without feeling limited.

More importantly, it gives drivers confidence on longer drives and changing road conditions throughout New England.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod packing is its own sport. By the time you’ve loaded beach chairs, a cooler, luggage, and enough towels for a small army, space runs out fast. 

That’s where thoughtful interior space becomes most valuable. The Chrysler Pacifica’s available Stow ’n Go® seating system gives families the flexibility to adapt the cabin however they need. Whether it’s extra cargo room for beach gear or additional passenger seating for extended family, the Pacifica makes it easier to pack for the weekend without sacrificing comfort.

The White Mountains, New Hampshire

The drive to the White Mountains is full of scenic overlooks, small towns, and winding roads through the notches that make getting there an experience in itself.

Both the Pacifica and Durango offer cabin comfort that is ideal for longer drives. Features like comfortable seating, advanced driver-assist technology, smartphone connectivity, and quiet cabins help families relax throughout the drive.

Driver-assist features and solid connectivity mean parents aren’t white-knuckling it while kids are asking for snacks in the back. 

Six Flags New England

Six Flags is close enough to not feel like a road trip, until you’re driving home with tired kids at 9pm. 

The Pacifica is a natural fit for days like this. The sliding doors make loading and unloading in a crowded parking lot a lot easier, and once everyone’s back inside, tri-zone climate control, plenty of charging ports, and available rear-seat entertainment do the work of keeping the peace on the drive home. 

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington has a lot going for it: Lake Champlain, good food, a walkable downtown, and enough outdoor space to keep kids happy for a full weekend. It’s also a long enough drive that fuel efficiency comes into consideration. 

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a popular choice for a trip like this. It runs on electric power for shorter stretches and transitions to gas seamlessly on longer highway segments, so you’re not constantly recalculating stops around a fuel gauge. Round trip from Enfield to Burlington is roughly 5 hours of driving, which the Pacifica Hybrid’s range and efficiency handles with ease.

The Berkshires, Massachusetts

The Berkshires are an easy drive from Enfield and a reliable weekend reset for families who want hiking, fresh air, and a slower pace. The Durango handles these roads well, staying composed on winding back roads, comfortable on the highway stretches, and capable enough that unpredictable New England weather doesn’t change your plans. 

Find the Right Fit at Artioli in Enfield

If you’re weighing the Pacifica against the Durango, or just trying to figure out which trim makes sense for your family, the team at Artioli Chrysler Dodge Ram in Enfield can walk you through the options for new and used models. Come tour both vehicles, or schedule a test drive before the summer weekends fill up.