Maine is bigger than most visitors expect: more than 3,000 miles of tidal coastline, thousands of lakes and a north woods the size of several states. Where you go decides what kind of trip you get. After three decades running Maine’s resource guide, these are the places we recommend, organized by region so you can see what fits.
The best places to visit in Maine are Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Portland, Camden, Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, Moosehead Lake, Baxter State Park and Katahdin, and the mountains around Rangeley and Bethel. First-timers should start with the coast, and anyone who wants wilderness should head north. Each region is covered below.
Best Places by Type of Trip
- First-time visitors: Portland, the Midcoast and Acadia. See our one-week Maine road trip itinerary.
- Families: Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit and Portland. See Maine with kids.
- Couples and getaways: Kennebunkport, Camden and Rockland
- Hikers: Katahdin, Acadia and the Bold Coast. See our best hikes in Maine.
- Wildlife: Moosehead Lake and the north woods. See where to see moose in Maine.
- Fall foliage: the western mountains and Baxter. See the prettiest fall foliage towns in Maine.
- Off the beaten path: Monhegan, the Bold Coast and Aroostook. See our hidden gems in Maine.
Southern Maine Coast
The southern coast is the easiest part of Maine to reach, with long beaches, lobster shacks and classic seaside towns. See our southern Maine guide for the whole region.
Ogunquit
Ogunquit has a three-mile beach and the Marginal Way cliff walk. It is one of the best places in Maine for a beach trip with family. See our Ogunquit guide.
Kennebunkport
Dock Square, galleries, seafood and the beaches of Kennebunk make this the classic southern Maine getaway. See our Kennebunk guide and things to do in Kennebunkport.
York
York pairs a beach with Nubble Light, one of the most recognizable lighthouses in Maine. It is the farthest of the southern towns and the closest to New Hampshire. See our best lighthouses in Maine.
Old Orchard Beach
A long sand beach with a pier, arcade and amusement park, which makes it the easiest beach day with kids. See our Old Orchard Beach guide and the best beaches in Maine.
Portland and Casco Bay
Portland
Portland is the best base in Maine for day trips, with beaches, lighthouses and working harbor towns all within a couple of hours. Portland Head Light, in nearby Cape Elizabeth, is the state’s oldest lighthouse. See our Portland guide and day trips from Portland.
Peaks Island
You reach Peaks Island by ferry from downtown Portland, so it feels like a real escape without a long trip. Rent a bike and ride the loop around the island.
Freeport
Shopping is the draw, starting with L.L.Bean’s flagship store, but there is good coastline nearby too. See our Freeport guide.
Midcoast Maine
The Midcoast is where many visitors fall for Maine: working harbors, islands and long peninsulas. Our Midcoast guide covers the whole stretch.
Camden
Camden has a harbor full of windjammers and the Camden Hills behind it. The short climb up Mount Battie gives a sweeping view over Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay. See our Camden guide and things to do in Camden.
Rockland
Rockland has the Farnsworth museum, a working harbor and good restaurants, and its nearly mile-long granite breakwater leads to a lighthouse. It is also the ferry port for Vinalhaven. See our Rockland guide.
Boothbay Harbor
Boat tours, a walkable waterfront and seafood make Boothbay Harbor an easy favorite. See our Boothbay Harbor guide.
Pemaquid Point
Pemaquid Point Light sits atop dramatic striated rock ledges and is the lighthouse on the Maine state quarter. See our Pemaquid Point lighthouse guide.
Monhegan Island
Monhegan is a car-free island that rewards every visit differently, with changing light, birds and a rotating art scene. Book the ferry early, because the boats fill. See our Monhegan Island guide and the best islands in Maine.
Acadia and Downeast Maine
Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor
Acadia is the best place in Maine for coastal scenery: the Precipice and Beehive trails, the flat Ocean Path along the shore, Bass Harbor Head Light at sunset, and Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the US to see sunrise for much of the year. Acadia charges an entrance fee, and Bar Harbor is the gateway town. See our Bar Harbor guide and best hikes in Maine.
The Bold Coast (Cutler)
The Bold Coast Trail in Cutler is the finest coastal hiking in Maine, with cliff scenery and almost no other hikers. See our Bold Coast hiking guide.
Lubec and West Quoddy Head
Lubec is the gateway to the easternmost point of the lower 48, marked by the candy-striped West Quoddy Head Light. See things to do in Lubec.
Campobello Island and Eastport
Campobello is a cross-border day trip with the FDR estate and coastal scenery. Bring a passport. See our Campobello Island guide and our full Downeast Maine guide.
Western Mountains and Lakes
Western Maine is lakes, mountains and ski country. Our western Maine guide covers the region.
Rangeley
The Rangeley Lakes are a chain of big lakes with lake views, fly fishing and quiet mountain trails, plus Angel Falls and Smalls Falls nearby. See our Rangeley guide, and Moosehead versus Rangeley if you are choosing between the two lake regions.
Bethel and Grafton Notch
Bethel is a four-season mountain town near Sunday River and Grafton Notch State Park, where Screw Auger Falls is one of Maine’s easiest and prettiest waterfalls. See our Bethel guide and best waterfalls in Maine.
Sugarloaf and the Carrabassett Valley
Sugarloaf is one of Maine’s two big ski mountains, and in summer the Carrabassett Valley has the Rattlesnake Pool swimming hole. See Sunday River versus Sugarloaf and our skiing guide.
Tumbledown Mountain (Weld)
Tumbledown is the best hike in the western mountains, a loop to an alpine pond below granite cliffs, with far fewer crowds than Acadia. See our best hikes in Maine and best lakes in Maine.
Moosehead Lake and the North Woods
Moosehead Lake and Greenville
Moosehead is Maine’s largest lake and the most reliable moose-watching region in the state, especially at Lazy Tom Bog near Rockwood. See our Moosehead Lake guide and things to do at Moosehead Lake.
Jackman and the Moose River
Jackman is quieter than Greenville, with a lot of good habitat along the Moose River and the classic Moose River Bow Trip. See our Jackman guide.
The Forks and Bingham
The Kennebec River country around The Forks and Bingham has whitewater rafting, winter snowmobiling and the trail to Moxie Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Maine. See our Bingham guide and snowmobiling the Forks.
Baxter and Katahdin
Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin
Katahdin is Maine’s highest peak at 5,268 feet and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Baxter requires advance parking reservations and has day-use quotas, so plan ahead with our Baxter State Park guide.
Katahdin Woods and Waters
The least visited national monument in the Northeast, with wilderness intact and an eastern view of Katahdin few people see. See our Katahdin Woods and Waters guide.
Millinocket
Millinocket is the gateway town for Baxter and the monument, with lodging and outfitters. See our Millinocket guide.
Aroostook County
Maine’s vast northern county is lightly traveled and heavily wooded, which is exactly why some visitors love it. See our Aroostook County guide.
Best Places to Visit in Maine: FAQ
What is the number one place to visit in Maine?
Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor is the most famous, and the coast from Portland to Camden is the best all-round choice for a first trip. Which is best depends on whether you want scenery, towns or wilderness.
What is the prettiest part of Maine?
The Midcoast and Acadia are the most scenic along the coast, and the Rangeley and Bethel mountains are the prettiest inland. See our most beautiful towns in Maine.
Should I visit the Maine coast or the mountains?
The coast is better for towns, beaches and lobster, and the mountains are better for hiking, lakes and fall color. Our Maine coast versus mountains comparison goes through the trade-offs.
What is the best time of year to visit Maine?
Summer for the coast and early fall for foliage and fewer crowds. See our guide to the best time to visit Maine.
How many days do you need in Maine?
A long weekend covers one region, and a week covers the coast from Portland to Acadia. See our one-week itinerary, or driving up from Boston.
See also our best things to do in Maine. More Maine guides: Best Coastal Towns · Best Small Towns · Best Islands · Best Lighthouses · Best Kayaking · Best Cabins · Hidden Gems
Planning a visit? See our Fort Knox hours, tickets and observatory guide.
Curious who is from here? See our list of famous people from Maine.
Planning a visit? See our guide to things to do in Portland, Maine.