Maine is a wonderful state to explore and no matter how much time you spend exploring this state, you’re sure to end your visit wanting to return. From its rocky coastline to its mountain peaks to its small towns and larger cities, there’s something for everyone in Maine.
While you’d need several weeks to explore every nook and cranny of Maine, this itinerary condenses it to one week in Maine. You’ll see the highlights, including Acadia National Park, but you still won’t be able to see it all.
One Week in Maine
I’ve visited Maine twice. The first was part of a longer 10 day New England road trip where I finished in Portland. I enjoyed Maine so much that I returned a few years later and spent a long weekend exploring Acadia National Park and as many of the small towns along the coast as I could. So while I haven’t done this exact Maine itinerary, it’s based on my own research and what I would recommend to traveler’s planning their first trip to Maine.
Day 1 – Hello, Maine
This itinerary starts (and ends) in Portland, Maine. While the Portland airport (PWM) is not large, it’s the largest airport in Maine so it’s where you’re likely to find the best flights.
I typically try to leave the first day of my itinerary flexible so it can accommodate any flight times, but with this itinerary, try to arrive in the morning or early afternoon. Once you arrive, you’ll want to pick up your rental car and start heading north. We’ll be flying out of Portland at the end of this itinerary, so don’t worry about not having time to explore Portland today.
Once you pick up your rental car, hop on the highway and head north. The plan for the next two days is Acadia National Park which sits just outside of Bar Harbor. You absolutely could plan to spend the night in Bar Harbor, but I’m a budget conscious traveler. Not too far away away is Bangor and I found hotels here to be more affordable than those in Bangor. So, for tonight, I recommend driving as far as Bangor and getting a hotel. But it’s your choice. If you have the time and money and would rather stay closer to the action in Bar Harbor, by all means, continue on to Bar Harbor.
Sleep: Bangor or Bar Harbor
Day 2 – Acadia National Park
Today it’s the first of two days at Acadia National Park. Get an early start because from Bangor, you’ll have about a one hour drive to the park.
For today, I recommend focusing your time around Park Loop Road, which forms a great sightseeing spine for some of the highlights of Acadia National Park. That said, Acadia can be busy so you want to take crowds into account while planning your day.
I recommend starting at the Beehive Trail, which is an adventurous trail with metal rungs and ladders drilled into the side of the mountain. As you climb up, you’ll get incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Maine coastline. The Beehive Trail is incredibly popular so don’t be surprised to find yourself sharing the trail with lots of other hikers. That’s why I recommend getting an early start to your day (and starting with the Beehive Trail).
After the Beehive Trail, focus your time on some of the top stops along Park Loop Road. While Schooner Head is behind you (and Park Loop Road is one way), it’s still one of my favorite stops and it’s worth backtracking at some point during the day. Thunder Hole is also great, but try to time your visit with high tide to get the full experience. The Otter Cliffs area is also full of some great views. And don’t miss Sand Cove, which is right near the Beehive Trail trailhead. It’s one of the few places along the coast that offers a sand beach.
You’ll eventually reach Jordan Pond and then it’s back to hiking. The exact hike you choose is up to you, but you have options ranging from easy to difficult hikes. For those wanting an easy hike, walk around Jordan Pond to get different views of the water and the surrounding mountains. For a great view, combine your loop around Jordan Pond with a trip up the South Bubble where you’ll be able to look out to the surrounding area. To make it an even more challenging hike, add in the Jordan Cliffs which includes plenty of rock scrambling that’s sure to give you a great quad workout.
Continue on Park Loop Road and head back to Bar Harbor for a late lunch/early dinner and some time to explore the town. Don’t stay up too late though. Tomorrow is what will hopefully be one of the best sunrises in the United States.
Regardless of where you stayed last night, I recommend spending tonight in Bar Harbor. It’s an early day for sunrise and eliminating that one hour drive before the sun comes up is always great.
Sleep: Bar Harbor
Day 3 – Acadia National Park
It’s another day at Acadia National Park and I recommend starting with sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. You’ll need a reservation, but this helps to prevent overcrowding at the top of the mountain.
You’ll drive up in the dark and find a parking spot. Then, head out onto the path to try to find a good spot for sunrise. You’re sure to share it with plenty of other people, but on a good day the sunrise is supposed to be one of the best. I was unlucky and fog rolled in and covered the mountain about 20 minutes before sunrise so I couldn’t see much of anything. Hopefully you’re luckier than I was.
After sunrise, head down the mountain, stopping at a few of the overlooks for even more views. If it’s a foggy morning, these pullouts along Cadillac Mountain Road may give you a better view than the top of the mountain (they certainly did for me). Then its on to some other areas of Acadia National Park. Park Loop Road is great, but there’s so much more to Acadia.
I recommend hiking to the fire tower at Beech Mountain which offers not only great mountain views but also some really nice views of Long Pond. Nearby is the Valley View Trail which is nice, but I think only becomes worth it if you are willing to add on the Beech Cliffs. The Beech Cliffs take the trail from easy to moderate, but offer the best views of the trail.
At Flying Mountain, you can hike to the top of the mountain, but for me, the highlight was the time spent at Valley Cove as I looped back to the trailhead. This remote beach is beautiful and if you can get it to yourself, it makes a great place to just sit and enjoy the view.
Down near Bass Harbor, you’ll find the Wonderland Trail and the Ship Harbor Trail. Both trails are nice and take you out to rocky coastlines, but if I had to choose, the Ship Harbor Trail is my favorite because it has just a little more variety. Nearby you’ll also have the Bass Harbor Lighthouse which is just ok. There are better lighthouses in Maine (and we’ll cover the best later in the week), so don’t stress if you can’t make it out here, but if you’re in the area, include a quick stop.
When you’re finished exploring, head to your hotel. I’d recommend staying in Bar Harbor for just one more night.
Sleep: Bar Harbor
Day 4 – Bar Harbor
It’s half way through your one week in Maine, but I’m going to suggest staying one more day in the area. Rather than continuing to explore Acadia National Park, take your time and wander through Bar Harbor. Yes, it’s a tourist town that is supported by tourists visiting Acadia National Park, but there’s a lot more than just Acadia National Park.
Unfortunately for me, I ran out of time on my trip and just didn’t get to spend a lot of time in Bar Harbor. I drove through the town and it was enough to pique my interest and wish I had scheduled just a few more hours so I could see what this town was all about. The downtown is filled with shops and restaurants and looks like a great place to explore on foot.
Tonight, you could again stay in Bar Harbor, or you could head back to Bangor for the evening. Tomorrow we’ll be heading down along the coast, so if you want to get a start on that, it’s another option.
Sleep: Traveler’s Choice
Day 5 – Coastal Maine
Today we start making our way back to Portland. By the end of the day, we want to end up in Portland, but we’re going to take our time getting there. Rather than taking the interstate and driving along the main highway, head along the coast. You should get nice views and great small towns. You’ll pass through Camden, Rockland, Brunswick, Freeport, and even more. Many of these towns are small so you don’t need a lot of time, but with only one day, you’ll have to pick and choose to be strategic with your time.
This is one area where I had hoped to have more information and specific recommendations. It was built into my own itinerary, but I had to scrap my plans. About halfway between Bangor and Camden, I popped a tire. My rental car didn’t have a spare tire so the next several hours were spent dealing with tow trucks and rental car companies. My mini road trip along the coast had to be scrapped and is now waiting for another trip.
I did manage to get a little time in Freeport the next day which is a cute little town. There’s some fun shops, but the real draw for many is the LL Bean flagship store which is 22,000 square feet of every outdoor item you could ever want.
When you reach Portland, settle into a hotel for the night before your final full day in Maine.
Sleep: Portland
Day 6 – Portland and Cape Elizabeth
It’s the last full day of your one week in Maine and it’s all about Portland and the surrounding area. Let’s make the day count.
In my opinion, one of the best things you can do in Portland is to get out on the water. The simplest way to do this is to take the Mail Boat Cruise, which is a scheduled ferry service connecting the small islands in Casco Bay. The company that runs this ferry realized how scenic it was and allows tourists to buy a ticket just to ride along and see the views. You won’t be able to get off on any of the islands, but the views are great even from the boat.
After your cruise, take some time exploring the Old Port. During my trip, it started torrentially pouring in the afternoon so my walk through the Old Port got cut a bit short, which is unfortunate. But there’s some great restaurants and plenty of shopping.
If you still have time, I recommend heading to Cape Elizabeth to see the Portland Head Lighthouse. This lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in the United States, and it’s easy to see why. The area around is beautiful, so take your photos, but also take a walk and enjoy a great end to your trip.
Sleep: Portland
Day 7 – Goodbye, Maine
That’s a wrap on one week in Maine. Head to the airport, return your rental car, and catch your flight home.
Modifications to This Itinerary
Let’s say you don’t have exactly one week in Maine. Here’s what I recommend.
With More Time
With even more time, I recommend adding time to coastal Maine. You could easily add an extra day stopping in some additional towns along the way. Beyond that, there’s even more to explore at Acadia National Park. I’d recommend looking at Schoodic Point or Isle Au Haut.
With Less Time
It’s never fun to have to make cuts to your itinerary and I think it’s difficult to pair down this itinerary. So, I’d recommend looking at my itinerary for five days in Maine for inspiration instead.
When to Visit Maine
Maine is best visited from May through October as this is when the top sights at Acadia National Park are open. During the winter months, you can still visit Acadia National Park, but some roads close and the hiking can become dangerous.
In summer, you’ll have the warmest weather, but you can also expect a decent amount of tourists. In many places, as it gets later in the season, crowds thin out, but this is New England which is famous for its fall foliage. In late September and October, you can expect big crowds who come not just to see Acadia National Park, but also to see all the bright fall colors.
I’ve visited Maine twice. The first time was at the end of October and while there was a bit of fall foliage, most of the trees had dropped their leaves. On my second visit, I headed to Acadia National Park in mid September. The weather was great, but the trees hadn’t started changing colors yet. If fall foliage is important to you, I recommend looking at visiting in early to mid-October. That said, there’s no guarantee when you’ll get peak colors as it changes slightly every year based on weather.
Final Thoughts
One week in Maine is a fantastic way to get a taste of what this state has to offer. You won’t see all of Maine, but you’ll get a great mix of nature, small towns, and its largest city. In my opinion, this is the best introduction to Maine you could ask for.
Continue Your Adventure
Acadia National Park: Tackle the popular Beehive Trail or simply hike around Jordan Pond. While much of Acadia National Park is rocky, here’s my favorite easy hikes. For non-hikers, check out the best stops along Park Loop Road. Loop the highlights of Acadia together in this one day itinerary or if you have more time, try my two day itinerary.
More in Maine: Visit the city of Portland where you can get out on the water on a Mail Boat Cruise. Nearby is Cape Elizabeth with its gorgeous lighthouse.
More in New England: Maine is just the beginning of adventures in New England. In Rhode Island, tour the over the top mansions in Newport. In Connecticut, visit the historic fishing village of Mystic or one of its many state parks. Take a quick detour through New York to visit Albany. And don’t miss out on Stowe, Vermont – it’s a favorite among many travelers.
More Itineraries: For the perfect road trip through New England, check out this 10 day itinerary. Or if you have less time, try one of my seven day New England itineraries. With less time, try this itinerary for 5 days in Maine.