Maine is beautiful. With it’s long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, its mountains, and everything in between, I find it hard to believe there’s an ugly place in Maine. In the midst of all this beauty, you’ll also find Acadia National Park and the city of Portland.
Let’s plan your trip!
Acadia National Park
Much of Maine is beautiful, but a lot of people tend to hyper focus on Acadia National Park. With rocky coastlines, mountain peaks, and forest views, there’s a lot to see and do in this park. Whether you’re looking for a scenic drive, an easy hike, or an itinerary template, I have a lot of information to help you start planning your trip.
Portland
Portland is the most populous city in Maine. It may have less than 100,000 residents, but there’s still a lot to do. Whether you get out on the water (which I highly recommend) or take your time strolling its historic Old Port, you’re sure to find things to do.
Cape Elizabeth
Located just outside Portland, you’ll find a beautiful park. There’s rocky cliffs, walking paths, and the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. If you’re already planning a visit to Portland, you should definitely add in a stop at Cape Elizabeth.
Itineraries
Are you inspired to visit Maine? Start planning your trip with one of these great itineraries?
When to Visit
Maine is part of New England and classically, it seems like everyone wants to visit New England during the fall. Don’t get me wrong, the fall colors are beautiful. Plus you have the added bonus of decent weather. However, you may have larger crowds because other people also want to do that classic fall New England Road Trip. Note that peak fall foliage changes every year, but in general, aim for around mid October.
Summer is another very popular time to visit. Expect big crowds, the hottest weather, and high prices.
Winters are cold and you’ll want to think twice about some outdoor sights (unless you are explicitly planning a trip with snow). It’s still possible to visit, but expect cold temperatures. The benefit is crowds (and prices) can be significantly lower. Though if you plan on visiting Acadia National Park, note that certain areas of the park close and some hikes can become very dangerous.
I’ve visited Maine twice. The first was at the very end of October and I was a bit too late for peak fall foliage. I just stuck to Portland on that trip, so crowds didn’t feel crazy. On my second trip, I visited in mid September. It was too early for fall foliage, but there were still plenty of people visiting.
My recommendation: If you’re set on seeing fall foliage, try to aim for early to mid October. If you want good weather with less people (though still plenty of other visitors), aim for mid September.
Extend Your Trip
Want to keep traveling around the United States? Consider adding on more of New England. The states are small and the driving distances are short.
In Connecticut, visit Mystic Seaport, one of its great state parks, or explore the city of Hartford. In Massachusetts, you can explore Boston, the Berkshires, or Cape Cod. New York is of course home to New York City, but you’ll also find so much more upstate. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States but it’s got some great cities like Providence and Newport. Vermont is my favorite state in New England for its beautiful views and cute small towns. I haven’t spent a lot of time in New Hampshire, but you can hike through the White Mountains or drive the Kancamagus Highway on your visit.