Fodor's Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire: with the Best Fall Foliage Drives & Scenic Road Trips
Whether you want to eat lobster in Maine, climb New Hampshire's White Mountains, or go...
Classic townscapes, rocky shorelines punctuated by sandy beaches, and picturesque downtowns draw vacationing New Englanders to Maine like a magnet. Counting all its nooks, crannies, and crags, Maine's coast would stretch for thousands of miles if you could pull it straight. The Southern Coast is the most visited section, stretching north from Kittery to just outside Portland, but don't let that stop you from heading farther "Down East" (this nautical term is Maine-speak for "up the coast"), where you'll be rewarded with the majestic mountains and rugged coastline of popular Acadia National Park. Slow down to explore the museums, galleries, and shops in the larger towns and cities, like Portland, and the antiques and curio shops and harborside lobster shacks in the smaller towns and fish...
Read MoreClassic townscapes, rocky shorelines punctuated by sandy beaches, and picturesque downtowns draw vacationing New Englanders to Maine like a magnet. Counting all its nooks, crannies, and crags, Maine's coast would stretch for thousands of miles if you could pull it straight. The Southern Coast is the most visited section, stretching north from Kittery to just outside Portland, but don't let that stop you from heading farther "Down East" (this nautical term is Maine-speak for "up the coast"), where you'll be rewarded with the majestic mountains and rugged coastline of popular Acadia National Park. Slow down to explore the museums, galleries, and shops in the larger towns and cities, like Portland, and the antiques and curio shops and harborside lobster shacks in the smaller towns and fishing villages. Despite the cold North Atlantic waters, beachgoers enjoy miles of sandy—or, more frequently, rocky—beaches, with sweeping views of lighthouses, forested islands, and the wide-open sea. The most visited areas in inland Maine are the Western Lakes and Mountains—stretching west and north from the New Hampshire border—and the North Woods—extending north from central Maine. This area attracts skiers, hikers, campers, canoeists, anglers, and other outdoors enthusiasts.
Find a Hotel
Top Destinations
Top Destinations

Portland

The Southern Coast

Western Lakes and Mountains

Penobscot Bay

Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island

The Mid-Coast Region

The North Woods

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport

Bar Harbor

Camden

Blue Hill Peninsula

Way Down East

Side Trips From Portland

Rangeley

Bethel

Greenville

Rockland

Millinocket

Sebago Lake Area

Wells

Schoodic Peninsula

Acadia National Park

York Harbor

Biddeford

Ogunquit

York Beach

York Village

Bridgton

Lubec

Kingfield

Damariscotta

Wiscasset

Bath

Bangor

Belfast

Sedgwick, Brooklin, and Brooksville

Deer Isle Village

Blue Hill

Pemaquid Point

Monhegan Island

Boothbay

Kittery

Bass Harbor

Eastport

Brunswick

Castine

Thomaston

Searsport

Stonington

Port Clyde

Tenants Harbor

Bucksport

Isle au Haut

Lincolnville

Northeast Harbor

Cape Neddick

Rockport

Old Orchard Beach

Center Lovell

Southwest Harbor

Somesville

Jonesport and Beals Island

Machias

Portland

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport

Bar Harbor

Camden

Bethel

Rangeley

Greenville

Rockland

Millinocket

Sebago Lake Area

Wells

York Harbor

Biddeford

Bridgton

York Beach

York Village

Ogunquit

Damariscotta

Wiscasset

Kingfield

Lubec

Deer Isle Village

Belfast

Bath

Blue Hill

Sedgwick, Brooklin, and Brooksville

Bangor

Pemaquid Point

Boothbay

Kittery

Bass Harbor

Eastport

Brunswick

Stonington

Castine

Searsport

Thomaston

Northeast Harbor

Lincolnville

Tenants Harbor

Port Clyde

Bucksport

Isle au Haut

Ellsworth

Yarmouth

Center Lovell

Rockport

Hancock Area

Freeport

Waldoboro

Machias

Jonesport and Beals Island

Southwest Harbor

Somesville

Cape Neddick

Old Orchard Beach

The Southern Coast

Western Lakes and Mountains

Penobscot Bay

Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island

The Mid-Coast Region

The North Woods

Blue Hill Peninsula

Way Down East

Side Trips From Portland

Schoodic Peninsula

Milbridge Area

Scarborough, Prout's Neck, and Cape Elizabeth

Boothbay Harbor

Schoodic Peninsula
All Destinations
Expand All Collapse All
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
Recent Forum Posts
Recent Forum Posts
-
B
Need some advice for Maine mid-Sept.
Bjordan49 started Jan 2, 2023 |Last reply Jan 5, 2023 6 replies 439 views -
F
Maine Coast in Off Season (April 2023)
FourRosies started Nov 8, 2022 |Last reply Nov 18, 2022 6 replies 656 views
Guidebooks
Guidebooks
Our worldwide travel correspondents bring you the best and most up-to-date coverage of over 7,500 global destinations.
Shop NowFodor's Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire: with the Best Fall Foliage Drives & Scenic Road Trips
Whether you want to eat lobster in Maine, climb New Hampshire's White Mountains, or go...
Fodor's Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire
Ready to experience Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire? The experts at Fodor's are here to...
Fodor's New England
Written by locals, Fodor's New England is the perfect guidebook for those looking for...
Fodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa
Whether you want to hike through the jaw-dropping scenery of Acadia, see rare wildlife and...
Fodor's Inside Portland
With its fascinating history, incomparable culinary landscape, and blossoming art scene,...