I usually go to the Maine coast the weekend after Columbus Day. The weather is still usually pretty nice, hotel prices have dropped but most places are still open, and it is pleasantly uncrowded. Well this year we can't go that weekend. So I was wondering how crowded it actually is on Columbus Day weekend, or the weekend before (that would be Oct 4th). I really don't want to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, not be able to find parking, etc. On the other hand, if I don't go one of those weekends I may not be able to go until Nov and it will be pretty cold by then. So those of you who either live there or frequent the area at this time of year - what's your advice?

anyone?

We're going for a week over the Columbus Day weekend. Have been many times. I don't find driving the Maine coast as bad as NH and VT on that weekend. We've had our Maine accommodations for a long time, but I'm sure you can find something.

My advice is to GO.

my rather limited experience is that traffic tends to be bad coming and going, on major highways (like the New Hampshire toll, for example), but once you are AT someplace its not so bad. There are lots of towns along the coast, and the traffic kind of spreads out.

My advice is also to go...if the fall is anything like the summer has been in New England, tourism is down, presumably because of gas prices, which is bad news for the merchants but good news for the visitors. Plus, in my opinion, Maine is always a treat whether crowded, rainy--or not.