Region
Maine
Pick one coast base plus one interior base; skip the rest unless you have 10+ days.
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More
Key facts · United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 9Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- New England ↗Major interstates (I-90, I-95, I-93) use cashless tolling; rental cars often charge via plate billing or transponder. Some state routes may still accept cash.
- New England ↗Many coastal inns, ferries and restaurants run Memorial Day–Labor Day only; confirm before booking off-season.
Maine is two trips in one state: a rocky coast of harbour towns and lighthouses, and a forested interior of lakes and mountains. Driving between them eats a day, so most visitors should choose a coast base (Portland, Camden, Bar Harbor) and add an interior stop only with a week or more. A car is effectively required outside Portland and the Amtrak Downeaster corridor.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Greater PortlandRegion
Food, Old Port, ferry and train links; best base without a car.
- Lakes and MountainsRegion
Bethel, Rangeley, Carrabassett Valley; ski and lake country.
Day trip
- Southern CoastRegion
Outlet shopping at Kittery and Freeport; easy stop off I-95.
Augusta, Waterville, Skowhegan; canoe and rail-trail country.
- HighlandsRegion
Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin; the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.
- AroostookRegion
Far north potato and border country; only worth it if you are crossing to New Brunswick.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Portland 3, day-trip the Southern Coast and Freeport
- 5 nights
- Portland 2 + Mid Coast 2 + Bar Harbor 1 (rushed for Acadia)
- 7 nights
- Portland 2 + Mid Coast 2 + Bar Harbor 3
- 10 nights
- Portland 2 + Mid Coast 2 + Bar Harbor 3 + Lakes and Mountains 3
- Moose on the road at dawn and dusk are the main driving risk; many stretches are signed.
- Black ice on hilly roads from October to April.
- Cell coverage is patchy north and east of Bangor; download offline maps.
- Coastal water stays around 15 °C (59 °F) in summer — cold-water shock and rip currents are real risks.Coastal water stays around 59 °F (15 °C) in summer — cold-water shock and rip currents are real risks.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport | Portland | 30 min | unknown | Outlet stores; Amtrak Downeaster also stops here. |
| Kittery | Portland | 60 min | unknown | Outlet cluster on the New Hampshire border; combine with a Portsmouth stop. |
| Camden | Portland | 105 min | unknown | Concord Coach Lines runs the coastal route; driving is faster. |
| Bar Harbor / Acadia | Portland | 180 min | unknown | Too far as a day trip; sleep on Mount Desert Island instead. |
Bags between cities
Not a common service in Maine; plan to carry luggage between bases by car.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | – | – | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern coast (Portland, Kittery)I-95 corridor and the southwest coast | cold | cold | ok | ok | best | best | best | best | best | ok | cool | cold |
| Down East and the northBar Harbor, Bangor, Aroostook | cold | cold | cold | cool | ok | best | best | best | ok | cool | cold | cold |
- Southern coast (Portland, Kittery)
- Mildest part of the state; summer highs near 27 °C (81 °F), winter highs around 1–3 °C (34–37 °F).Mildest part of the state; summer highs near 81 °F (27 °C), winter highs around 34–37 °F (1–3 °C).
- Down East and the north
- Shorter season, earlier frost; snow and nor'easters can run November to late March.
July and August are peak coast crowds and peak prices; late September to mid-October gives fall foliage with cooler, quieter roads. Winter is for skiing and snowmobiling, not the coast.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston (Logan, BOS) | Portland | Amtrak Downeaster from North Station, or drive I-95 | ~2 h 30 by train, ~2 h by car | The Downeaster is the only Amtrak route in Maine; it also serves Wells, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Freeport and Brunswick. |
| Boston (Logan, BOS) | Bangor | Concord Coach Lines express from South Station or Logan | ~4 h 30 | Stops in Portland; the bus is the practical no-car option to Bangor. |
| New York | Portland | Fly to Portland International Jetport (PWM), or train/bus via Boston | ~1 h 20 flying | Direct flights to Portland and Bangor run from most northeastern cities. |
| Yarmouth, Nova Scotia | Bar Harbor | Bay Ferries high-speed catamaran | ~3 h 30 crossing | Seasonal; check the sailing calendar before booking a Down East leg around it. |
Regional passes
Amtrak Downeaster
buyUse it for Boston–Portland–Freeport–Brunswick; it does not reach the Mid Coast or Acadia.
Concord Coach Lines
buyCovers the coast (Portland, Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Waldoboro, Rockland, Camden, Belfast) and the I-95 corridor to Bangor and Orono.
Rental car
buyThe only way to see the coast properly; reserve months ahead for July–August.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Lobster, steamed with drawn butter | Statewide, from lobster pounds to high-end rooms | Bibs and claw crackers come with it; lobster rolls are the quicker version. |
| Clam bake | Coastal towns | Steamer clams, mussels, lobster, potatoes, onions and corn steamed over seaweed. |
| Maine shrimp | Coastal restaurants | Small boreal red shrimp, in season November to March. |
| Oysters (Pemaquid, Sheepscot) | Mid Coast raw bars | Named for the rivers they grow in. |
| Wild blueberry pie | Statewide | The state's official dessert; wild berries are smaller and sharper than supermarket ones. |
| Whoopie pie | Bakeries and general stores | Cream filling between two chocolate cakes. |
| Indian pudding | Older diners and traditional restaurants | Cornmeal, milk and spice; often served with vanilla ice cream. |
Go next
New England
Drive or train south through New Hampshire
Maine is the northern end of a New England loop.
Boston
Amtrak Downeaster ~2 h 30 to North Station
The main gateway for flights and onward trains.
Massachusetts
plannedI-95 south
Combine with the Boston area.
Connecticut
plannedI-95 south via Massachusetts
Long drive; better as a separate leg.
New York
Fly from Portland, or train via Boston
Open-jaw tickets work well: fly into Boston, out of Portland.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 4 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 30 min to 3 h
- Nights suggested
- 3–10 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (all zones)
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
- officialVisit Maine — official state tourism site
- officialMaine state government
- officialAmtrak Downeaster
- officialConcord Coach Lines
- officialBay Ferries
- secondaryWikivoyage: Maine, revision 5281921 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Maine
Loading…
Was this useful?