6 Nights in Maine - Last week of August
 

We are from Minnesota and planning a 6 day trip to the coast of Maine with our two adult daughters (20 and 24). We are very interested in the coastal areas, lighthouses, fun towns and quiet spots. Definitely interested in exploring Acadia National Park.

We're assuming we would fly into Portland and possibly stay there at least the first night. We would like to change lodging at most three times. We're assuming we might travel up the coast and end at Bar Harbor for possibly the last 2-3 nights?

Would one typically then drive back to Portland to fly out? Bangor?

Appreciate and recommendations!

From Minneapolis there are connections in and out of both Portland and Bangor, so you could do it south-to-north or vice versa. Check the one-way car rental rates before booking your air tickets, however, because depending on your dates it could be twice as expensive driving one way than the other, or driving one-way instead of returning to the pickup location.

If you're traveling at the height of tourist season, July-August, you need to book lodging a.s.a.p.

A typical itinerary might be something in the Ogunquit/Kennebunkport area for the beach....but you could also get a bit of beach time by staying in Portland and driving out to Cape Elizabeth or down to Ocean Park. After that, Acadia/ Bar Harbor for the park and "rocky coast"(as opposed to sandy beach). Mid-stop would be the Camden/Rockland area which is touristy in summer but has many less-touristy neighborhood villages (but summer rentals are mostly all booked up by the end of May.)

So, I'm thinking now that (based on the feedback) to look at:

Portland for 2 days (including the first day in)
- explore Cape Elizabeth or Kennebunkport the first afternoon
evening.
- Spend time in Portland area day 2

Day 3 - Rockland area for 1 night

Day 4, 5, 6 - Bar Harbor area (hiking at Acadia). Not sure we would (or our two young adult daughters want to hike every day), but seems like a lot to do in the area.

Would it be better to do an afternoon and following day in Portland and do two days in the Rockland area??

A few years ago we stayed in Kennebunk (2 nights), Camden (2) and Bar Harbor (3) in August. Oh my gosh, fantastic trip!

In Camden we walked all around, saw the Farnsworth museum, and went up to Cadillac mountain. Bar harbor, went all around Acadia on the park buses.

Would go back in two minutes. It's absolutely beautiful - and it wasn't humid, either.

We're not hikers, more walkers, so you'd have even more to do.