Top Scenic Road Trips in Maine
The road trip is synonymous with American travel culture, and there’s no better place to explore the natural beauty of the United States by car than in the beautiful state of Maine.
The Pine Tree State offers scenic vistas and activities for everyone, from rocky coastlines and sandy beaches to granite mountain peaks and wildlife.
Nestled in the northeast corner of mainland USA, many of the country’s most famed scenic highways originate here. Starting your road trip across Maine from urban Portland or even Canada is quite convenient.
Because this largely rural and geographically spread-out state does not offer a robust public transportation system, a road trip is the ideal way to see all it has to offer. While Subarus and pickup trucks are the unofficial vehicles around here, you don’t need a four-wheel drive to get to most places in Maine unless it’s the middle of winter and you’re looking for fresh powder to shred in the mountains.
As Mainers like to joke, “You can’t get here from there,” so be patient and don’t be afraid to get lost on the back roads. You never know when you might come across a moose, the perfect lobster roll, or just a natural vista that will take your breath away.
1. Coastal Route 1 Maine
Best road trip for Maine coastline views
Kittery–Calais; 273 miles
US Route 1 extends down the Eastern Seaboard from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Florida, clocking in at 2390 miles in total. The historic route started as the Atlantic Highway, which was established in 1911.
Today, Route 1 offers one of Maine’s most scenic drives during the summer and fall months. Starting from Kittery, the two-lane highway follows the coastline up to Calais before swinging inland up to the Canadian border in Fort Kent. Most people take Route 1 from Kittery up to Ellsworth and head to Acadia National Park.
A road trip through Coastal Maine can be an ambitious day trip from Portland, but most prefer to take a leisurely weekend to enjoy the area’s traditional coastal towns, beaches, seafood joints, and attractions.
Spend a night in Maine’s largest city and foodie hotspot, Portland. Drive north through Freeport and the Midcoast, stopping to purchase some local goods and visit the Farnsworth Museum of Art in Rockland. Enjoy lunch by the water in Kennebunkport.
Continue your drive north toward Ellsworth, where you can take a detour to breathtaking Acadia National Park. If you venture beyond Acadia, you’ll discover one of the most beautiful parts of the state: the Bold Coast. A drive through Downeast Maine will bring you through small towns and working waterfronts.
From here, you can continue your drive up to Fort Kent and cross the border to Canada or head back south.
Detour: If you have more time, explore the many islands off the coast of Rockland to experience New England’s traditional seafaring communities.
2. Maine’s Route 302
Best road trip for fall foliage
Portland–Fryeburg; 53 miles
The drive from Portland to Fryeburg on Route 302 is especially beautiful during the fall months when the leaves start changing color.
Start your day with breakfast in Portland. Grab coffee and donuts and walk along Portland’s working waterfront, one of the few left in the country where you can still see catches of lobster and fish being hauled in throughout the day. Portland’s historic Old Port district is full of charming boutiques and restaurants perfect for breakfast.
After a few hours in Portland, hop in your car and take Route 302 west. You’ll pass through Windham and the Lake Region area, where you’ll begin to find more pine trees and farmland than people.
If you’re traveling during the summer months, stop at Sebago Lake State Park for a refreshing dip in Maine’s deepest and second-largest lake.
In Naples, you’ll cross the Causeway over Long Lake. If you’re hungry, grab lunch at local cafes or take a scenic tour of Long Lake aboard a paddle wheeler.
Continue north toward Bridgton. During the winter months, Pleasant Mountain is open for both day and night skiing, and hiking during the summer is also rewarding. Less than 45 minutes from Bridgton, you’ll enter the picturesque town of Fryeburg.
Planning tip: A short drive from Fryeburg lies the gateway to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, North Conway, which makes for a great weekend trip.
3. Route 2 in Maine
Best road trip for farmland and mountains
Bar Harbor–Gilead; 192 miles
Route 2 is part of a cross-continental highway from Washington to Maine that crosses the border into Canada. Whether you’re completing the full 3600-mile Great Northern Road Trip or just a scenic day trip from the coast, Route 2 provides plenty of great views as you wind through farmland, small towns, and mountains.
Begin your journey in Bar Harbor, where you can spend a few days exploring Acadia National Park before heading to Maine’s third-largest city, Bangor. This is the hometown of world-famous writer Stephen King, and you can grab a selfie at his house before continuing east through small towns.
Stop in the college town of Farmington for a lunch break before continuing your journey through the western mountains of Maine. Newry, Bethel, and Gilead are all picturesque New England towns surrounded by forested granite peaks. Hikers can enjoy nearby trails or hit the slopes at Sunday River during the snowy months.
4. Schoodic National Scenic Byway
Best road trip for uncrowded coastal views
Hancock–Birch Harbor; 315 miles
Many people don’t realize that Acadia National Park is more than just Mount Desert Island. A small portion is located on the Schoodic Peninsula, which offers acres of unspoiled and uncrowded nature. If you want to avoid the crowds on Cadillac Mountain or in Bar Harbor, take the Schoodic National Scenic Byway to a remote part of the national park.
The Scenic Byway runs along Route 1 from Hancock to Gouldsboro, where you’ll take a right turn onto Route 186, proceeding along Schoodic Peninsula through small fishing villages.
The Schoodic District of Acadia National Park contains 7 miles of hiking trails, including the popular Schoodic Head Trail. The peninsula is also home to countless other hiking trails in the Frenchman Bay Conservancy.
Local tip: The peninsula and surrounding islands are also fantastic places to explore by kayak or canoe.
5. Maine Island Trail
Best “road” trip … by boat
Kittery–Eastport; 294 miles
The pleasures of road trips in Maine aren’t limited to cars. For a unique experience, buy or rent a boat and navigate the 375-mile recreational waterway trail that follows the coast of Maine from York County to Washington County.
Founded in 1988, the Maine Island Trail connects more than 200 wild islands with mainland camping sites. The trail and many of the islands are maintained with the help of thousands of volunteers.
In the greater Portland area, many of the islands in Casco Bay can be accessed easily by sea kayak, making it a perfect weekend getaway. For a longer trip, you’ll want a motorboat or sailboat, as Maine’s open water can be challenging for novice navigators.
