DH and I will fly into PWM Sept 24 and return to PWM to meet friends Oct 2. Between these dates we plan to visit Acadia NP and the Bay of Fundy. I will reserve lodging for these stops (recommendations welcome!) But the rest of the days we would prefer to just wander and stop whenever we see something interesting. At this time of year would we be able to do this without advance hotel/motel reservations?

Thanks for any thoughts about this.

You'll be fine at that time of year, the leaf peepers won't be showing up til the following week. Reservations in late Sept are only necessary if you have your heart set on a certain hotel or inn.

It is VERY difficult to just "drop in" to hotels at that time of year in New England. We call it "leaf peeper" season. People come from all over to see the leaves in full fall glory. I would recommend reservations. I understand the joy of just "go as you will" but we got caught once with visitors from out of town. If you are willing to stay in a "divey" place you can take your chances, but ....

I disagree, and I've been there maybe 10 of the last 20 Septembers. First of all, the coast of Maine is not "leaf peeping" central and that's what she's inquiring about...the coast. Secondly I don't see many truly "divey" places along the coast. Yes there are well-worn motor inns and inns that have been open for 150 years...but they are usually clean and pleasant. Some people expect these lodgings, which are only open & busy for 4 months a year, to be constantly upgraded and renovated like a year-round Marriott...but that's more about expectations.

We had trouble getting reservations for that weekend in the Camden area. We ended up in Lincolnville. The Maine Organic Farmers Common Ground Fair is in Unity ME (middle of nowhere inland). We were looking for budget lodging. This fair draws thousands.

I would suggest reservations for the weekend but you probably don't need reservations for week nights.

Thank you all very much for the insights. I'm thinking we'll play it a bit loose - any accommodations will do us fine for a night. But we'll watch out for things like the big fair that might cause things to book up.

I would do plenty of research (lots of threads here just search the forums for coastal Maine) and have a good idea of where you're headed and maybe a list of some desirable accomodations in those areas. "Exploring" Maine can be tricky, as you actually see very little through much of "Coastal Route One" and you have to get off Route 1 and wander down the peninsulas to hit the lighthouses, lobstering towns, piers, seaside restaurants etc. And lodgings.

Gosh, I can second every single word of what clarkgriswold just wrote in both posts.

It is hard for people in other parts of the country to believe that many people in New England want their hotels/motels/inns to be worn around the edges. That doesn't mean lumpy beds, but a place that looks too new is suspect. You want somewhere that you could have gone when you were a kid.

This is changing now as people from Away invade the Northeast, so you need, as he said, to have good idea of what you want and locate it before you get there rather than hoping to find it on the road.

Thanks, Ackislander and clarkgriswold! I'll do my homework. NE sounds charming, and we're looking forward to experiencing some of it.