Maine’s state parks protect some of its most beautiful coastline, mountains, and waterfalls. After three decades running Maine’s resource guide, these are the state parks we recommend most, from coastal beaches to the Katahdin wilderness.
Looking for the best water to visit? See our guide to the best lakes in Maine.
The best state parks in Maine are Camden Hills, Grafton Notch, Popham Beach, Reid, Baxter, Crescent Beach, and Quoddy Head. Camden Hills is the best on the coast, Grafton Notch the best in the mountains, and Baxter the best for wilderness. Each is covered below.
How we picked: we looked for parks that offer something you cannot get anywhere else in Maine, whether that is a signature view, a wild beach, a mountain notch or true wilderness, and we made sure the list covers the Midcoast, the western mountains, the North Woods and Downeast. Sebago Lake, Lily Bay and Cobscook Bay did not make this shortlist but are worth a look if you plan to camp.
Our quick picks:
- Best coastal view: Camden Hills
- Best mountain corridor and waterfalls: Grafton Notch
- Best wide sand beach: Popham Beach
- Best quiet beach: Reid
- Best wilderness: Baxter
- Best beach near Portland: Crescent Beach
- Easternmost point in the US: Quoddy Head
Most Maine state parks charge a small per-person day-use fee, paid at the entry booth or a self-service station. Bring cash, since not every booth takes cards, and check the current rates on the Bureau of Parks and Lands fee page before you go. Baxter State Park is run separately and is not covered by those fees.
1. Camden Hills State Park
Camden Hills State Park is the best state park on the Maine coast. Camden Hills rises straight from Penobscot Bay, and the drive or hike up Mount Battie delivers one of the finest coastal views in Maine. Miles of trails, a classic Midcoast setting. .
Beyond the Mount Battie view, the park’s trails climb Mount Megunticook and the ridges around it, and a campground inside the park makes it an easy overnight base. Camping at Maine state parks is booked online through CampWithME, so plan ahead for summer and fall. For more peaks, see our best hikes in Maine.
2. Grafton Notch State Park
Grafton Notch State Park is the best state park in the western mountains. Route 26 through Grafton Notch near Bethel passes Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls, and the trailhead for Old Speck – waterfalls, gorges, and mountain hiking in one dramatic corridor. .
The Appalachian Trail crosses the notch, and the climb up Old Speck, about 4,170 feet and one of Maine’s highest peaks, is the park’s big hike. If you only have an hour, the short walks to the waterfalls right off Route 26 are the easy win. See our Grafton Notch State Park guide for trail details. More falls are in our best waterfalls in Maine.
3. Popham Beach State Park
Popham Beach State Park is the best state park beach. A vast, wide expanse of sand at the mouth of the Kennebec, with sandbars, tide pools, and offshore islands. One of Maine’s most beautiful natural beaches. .
Popham sits where the Kennebec River meets the Atlantic, so the beach is wide, the tides are big and the currents can be strong, which makes it better for walking and exploring than for a casual swim. The sandbars and islands are tidal and can be cut off by cold, fast-moving water, and the park strongly discourages swimming out to the islands, so check the tide times and keep to the beach. Parking is limited, so on a summer weekend arrive early. For hours, fees, parking and pet rules, see our Popham Beach State Park guide.
4. Reid State Park
Reid State Park is the best state park for a quiet beach day. Near Georgetown, Reid offers dunes, over a mile of sand, a tidal lagoon, and far fewer crowds than southern Maine – wild, natural coastline. .
Reid has two main beaches, Mile Beach and Half Mile Beach, plus a rocky headland at Griffith Head that is worth the short walk. The water is cold even in August, so plan on walking, tide pools and sunbathing more than long swims. See also our best beaches in Maine.
5. Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park is the best state park for wilderness. Baxter’s 209,000 acres surround Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The ultimate Maine wilderness – but plan ahead, because Baxter has its own rules, limited parking at popular trailheads and its own camping reservations.
Baxter is managed by its own authority, so the Maine state park fees and pass do not apply there. Its rules, trail conditions and reservations are posted on the park’s official website, and Baxter Peak is listed at about 5,268 feet. For trip planning, see our Baxter State Park and Katahdin guide.
6. Crescent Beach State Park
Crescent Beach State Park is the best state park near Portland. In Cape Elizabeth minutes from Portland, Crescent Beach offers a sheltered sandy cove ideal for families and easy city day trips. .
Gentle surf and a protected cove make Crescent Beach one of the easier beach days for young kids. Because it is in Cape Elizabeth, it pairs well with the area’s lighthouses, covered in our best lighthouses in Maine. Like most coastal beaches, it is busiest on summer weekends.
7. Quoddy Head State Park
Quoddy Head State Park is the easternmost state park in the US. Home to the candy-striped West Quoddy Head Light and dramatic Bold Coast cliff trails, Quoddy Head marks the easternmost point of the United States.
Quoddy Head sits at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, where the tides are among the biggest in the country, so the shoreline looks very different at low and high tide. Tower and museum access can change from year to year, so check our West Quoddy Head Light guide before you go.
Best State Parks in Maine: FAQ
What is the best state park in Maine?
Camden Hills State Park is the best state park on the Maine coast, with the Mount Battie view over Penobscot Bay, while Baxter State Park is the best for wilderness, surrounding Mount Katahdin. Grafton Notch is the best in the western mountains.
Which Maine state park has the best beach?
Popham Beach State Park and Reid State Park have the best state-park beaches in Maine – both wide, natural, sandy beaches with far more space and scenery than the developed southern beaches. Crescent Beach is the best near Portland.
Do you need a reservation for Maine state parks?
Day use at most Maine state parks needs no reservation, just a small entry fee, but camping is booked in advance online through CampWithME, so book early for summer and fall weekends. Baxter State Park is the exception: it runs its own rules, has limited parking at popular Katahdin trailheads and takes its own camping reservations, so check the park’s official website before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Maine state parks?
Most Maine state parks charge a small per-person day-use fee, and rates vary by park and by whether you live in Maine. Check the official fee page before you go, since rates can change. Baxter State Park is not covered by those fees or the Maine State Park Pass.
Our details come from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and Baxter State Park websites, checked in October 2026. Rates, seasons and trail conditions change, so confirm before you go.
Keep Reading
Related: Thinking of a ceremony in a state park? Our Elope in Maine page covers the license steps and what Maine says about weddings in its parks.
See also our best hikes in Maine, best beaches, and best things to do in Maine. MaineGuide.com has been Maine’s resource guide since 1995.
More Maine guides: Most Beautiful Towns · Best Things to Do · Best Time to Visit · Prettiest Foliage Towns · Best Beaches · Best Coastal Towns · Best Lighthouses · Best Small Towns · Best Hikes · Most Charming Towns · Best Scenic Drives · Best Seafood · Best Islands · Best Waterfalls · Best Fall Activities · Best Wildlife Watching
Related: See our full Baxter State Park & Katahdin guide — reservations, Katahdin Trailhead Passes, camping, and hiking Maine’s highest peak.