Where where you in Newport? I was in the Walmart parking lot. Walmart was great to allow their parking lot to be turned into a festival atmosphere.
Totally agree with your thoughts about return trip. Vermont not able to handle that kind of mass movement of traffic. Found 91 to be a horrible road with like you said few exits and minimal if any services along the interstate itself. The few parking lots along the route turned into a large public toilets.....in the woods. Ok for us guys but felt sorry for some of the ladies.
Agree, worst traffic I have ever seen or been in. Same here just over 12 hours to get home, really closer to 14 if I account for some naps I had to take once into NY state. Same experience the first 3-4 hours were horrendous.