Photo: Michael Denning/Unsplash
Salt air, shingled fishing villages, and some of the best seafood in the country make a drive along Maine's coast one of America’s most layered and satisfying drives. Portland starts you off in a small city with a big food scene and quintessential New England charm.
The farther you get Down East, the more dramatic the scenery becomes: tidal coves and roadside lobster shacks around Wiscasset, low wooded hills backing Camden's harbor, and finally the long stretch of Penobscot Bay before Mount Desert Island rises ahead—all granite and spruce and Atlantic light.
Five days will have you moving along from highlight to highlight at a steady pace, but if you have a week or more, it's worth slowing down. There are plenty of stops that will make you want to linger.
Where to stop on a Maine road trip
Begin in Portland's Old Port, where the ever-evolving dining scene sets a high bar. Head to Duckfat for fries, Eventide Oyster Co. for the brown-butter lobster roll and whoopie pies, Tandem Coffee Roasters for caffeine and biscuits, Regards for global small plates, The Honey Paw or Oun Lido's for noodles, Fore Street for elegant wood-fired cooking, and Ocotillo for Tex-Mex staples—and that’s just to start. Stop by the Portland Head Lighthouse, the state's oldest, before leaving town.
Block out a few hours in Boothbay for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and its enormous wooden trolls, then head to Red’s Eats in Wiscasset for steamers and a lobster roll. (McLoons Lobster Shack in South Thomaston is another worthy contender if you prefer to drive a bit more before lunch.)
Pause in Camden to hike Maiden Cliff and rest for a night, or power through to reach your final destination.
Spend at least two nights near Acadia National Park, arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. Make the trek up Cadillac Mountain for the sunrise, then cycle the carriage roads at a pace that actually lets you appreciate the sights. Pop into Bar Harbor for Latin American fare at Havana or to Bernard for seafood at Thurston’s Lobster Pound. A refined meal at Aragosta is also worth a detour to Deer Isle if you can snag a reservation.
Where to stay during a Maine road trip
Courtesy of Under Canvas Acadia
Portland, Maine
Named for Portland’s most famous poet, The Longfellow Hotel is a design-forward boutique option that pairs Maine-crafted furniture with an understated Scandinavian sensibility.
Acadia National Park
Under Canvas Acadia puts you in a luxury tent just outside the park—close enough to make the Cadillac Mountain sunrise completely achievable.
