Overview
The spine of this trip is Route 1, which runs through every coastal town from Kittery (on the New Hampshire border) north through Ellsworth, where you cut south on Route 3 across the Thompson Island bridge onto Mount Desert Island. The whole route is beautiful and slow: in July and August, Route 1 through Scarborough and Wells can turn a 45-minute drive into 90 minutes. For the southern leg, use the Maine Turnpike (I-95) between Wells and Portland to save time. Once you're north of Brunswick, I-95 ends and Route 1 is your only option. Flying into Portland International Jetport (PWM) puts you 20 minutes from Freeport, 45 minutes from Kennebunkport, and about 3 hours from Bar Harbor, making it the cleanest starting point for the full route. This is the Maine Travel Guide's most-requested itinerary for a reason: it covers the four flavors of the Maine coast in a single logical drive.
Day 1, Southern Coast: Kittery to Kennebunkport (about 40 miles)
Cross the Piscataqua River into Kittery on I-95 and take Exit 1 to pick up Route 1 north. Kittery has a strip of outlets worth a fast look if that's your thing, but the first real stop is Ogunquit, about 18 miles up the road. Park near the Perkins Cove drawbridge and walk the 1.25-mile Marginal Way, a cliffside footpath along the ocean that ends back in town above the lobster harbor. Perkins Cove has several lobster pounds where you can eat at outdoor tables with water right below you. Prices are not cheap at $28 to $36 per lobster roll (estimate), but few settings on the coast beat it. The full The Maine Beaches region runs from Kittery through Old Orchard Beach, and the southern end of that stretch is the most polished.
From Ogunquit, it is 20 minutes north to Kennebunkport on Route 1 and Route 9. Drive Ocean Avenue from Dock Square out to the Walker's Point viewing area to see the Bush family compound on its rocky ledge, then backtrack and take Route 9 east toward Goose Rocks Beach, a quieter three-quarter-mile stretch that locals use when the main beaches fill. Overnight in Kennebunkport or Kennebunk: sea-captain inns near Dock Square run $200 to $400 per night in summer (estimate), and the neighboring town of Kennebunk has cheaper motel options along Route 1. Book at least two months ahead for July and August.
Day 2, Portland (35 miles north of Kennebunkport)
Portland is 45 minutes north of Kennebunkport on I-95 (Exit 44). The Old Port runs about half a mile along Exchange and Fore Streets, with restaurants, coffee spots, and small shops in restored 19th-century brick. Becky's Diner at 390 Commercial Street opens early and draws a strong local breakfast crowd: expect a 15-minute wait on summer weekends. For lunch, The Highroller Lobster Co. on Exchange Street does a flight of three lobster rolls in different preparations for around $35 to $45 (estimate). It is one of the better ways to understand how different lobster preparations taste side by side. For lobster and seafood in general, the Portland waterfront gives you more choice per block than almost anywhere else on the Maine coast.
After lunch, take Route 77 south about 15 minutes to Cape Elizabeth for Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park. The lighthouse was commissioned under President Washington and first lit in 1791. The park is free, parking is free, and the walk around the outer rocks takes about 30 minutes. Back in Portland, Casco Bay Lines at 56 Commercial Street runs regular ferry service to Peaks Island: the round trip runs around $8 to $10 per person (estimate), and the island is a straightforward 90-minute bike loop or short walk from the dock. Plan dinner back in Portland and call it an early night.
Day 3, Freeport, Brunswick, and Boothbay Harbor (about 75 miles)
Drive 20 minutes north on I-95 (Exit 22) to Freeport and walk the L.L.Bean flagship, which never closes and takes up most of downtown. It is worth 30 minutes regardless of shopping plans. From there, take Route 1 north through Brunswick, then turn south on Route 27 for the 40-minute drive down the Boothbay Peninsula to Boothbay Harbor. The detour adds significant time but the working harbor at the end is the real MidCoast: lobster boats, whale-watch vessels, and a footbridge over the water to the far side of town. Cap'n Fish's Cruises at 42 Commercial Street runs puffin and whale watching trips from late May through August, typically $40 to $60 per person (estimate). Book ahead: the morning puffin departures are their most popular trips and they fill several days out in peak season.
On the drive back from Boothbay, take Route 130 south to Pemaquid Point before rejoining Route 1. Pemaquid Point Light stands on a sloped granite ledge where the rock formations are worth the walk regardless of the lighthouse. The keeper's cottage houses a small museum. The detour adds about 45 minutes but the point is one of the most dramatic spots on the whole coast. Overnight in Boothbay Harbor or push another 45 minutes north to Rockland.
Day 4, Camden and Rockland (about 45 miles north of Boothbay Harbor)
Camden is about an hour north of Boothbay on Route 1. The harbor sits at the foot of the Camden Hills, with working lobster boats and classic two-masted windjammers sharing the same anchorage. Schooner Appledore II at 18 Bay View Street runs two-hour sails out across Penobscot Bay: tickets run roughly $45 to $55 per person (estimate), and the view of the Camden Hills from offshore on a clear day is one of the better payoffs on this whole road trip. You can also drive or hike the Mount Battie Auto Road, which climbs 800 feet above town and gives a 360-degree view over the bay and out to the islands. The summit parking fee is around $5 (estimate).
Rockland is 10 minutes south of Camden on Route 1, and it is easy to drive through without stopping, but that would be a mistake. The Farnsworth Art Museum on Museum Street holds one of the strongest Wyeth collections anywhere, with work by Andrew, N.C., and Jamie Wyeth. Admission is around $16 to $20 (estimate). If island time appeals, the Maine State Ferry Service runs from Rockland to Vinalhaven and North Haven: the crossing is about 75 minutes each way and both islands have lobster pounds and little else, which is the point. Overnight in Camden or Rockland, where summer inn rates typically run $150 to $300 per night (estimate).
Day 5, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (about 2 hours north of Rockland)
Take Route 1 north from Rockland through Belfast and Bucksport to Ellsworth, then Route 3 south across the Thompson Island bridge to Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is another 20 minutes past the bridge. This is the start of the full Acadia National Park itinerary if you want to add a second or third day here. A single day covers the basics: drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road from Bar Harbor through Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff, then up Cadillac Mountain. The Cadillac Summit Road requires a timed vehicle reservation from late May through late October, available at recreation.gov. Book at least two days ahead or 90 days ahead for peak-season sunrise slots, which disappear fast. Sand Beach is the park's main swimming area, but the ocean here runs 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit even in August, so most people wade rather than swim.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. at 1 West Street departs on 3- to 4-hour whale watching trips targeting humpback and finback whales in the Gulf of Maine, typically running $60 to $75 per person (estimate). June through October is the main season, with July and September seeing the most consistent sightings. Book your boat in the morning and use the afternoon for Jordan Pond (the popovers at the Jordan Pond House are a standard stop, roughly $6 to $9 estimate each) or a walk on the carriage roads. Bar Harbor restaurants fill by 6 p.m. on summer evenings: eat early or have a reservation.
Where to Stay
Spread overnight stops to keep daily drives reasonable: Kennebunkport or Ogunquit for night 1, Portland for nights 2 and 3, Boothbay Harbor or Rockland for night 4, and Bar Harbor for night 5. Bar Harbor lodging in July and August books out months ahead, sometimes by January for the following summer. Budget lodging does not really exist in Bar Harbor at peak: expect $200 to $400 per night for most properties. Portland has more range, with a spectrum from downtown boutique hotels to chain options near the jetport at $120 to $250 (estimate). If you need help picking a base by region, the 3 Days in Maine itinerary covers a condensed version of the Portland-to-Acadia leg with lodging priorities called out.
Book These Ahead
Four reservations to lock in before you leave home. First, the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road timed-entry ticket at recreation.gov: the 90-day-ahead release sells out quickly for July weekends. Second, Bar Harbor lodging, full stop. Third, your whale watch or puffin tour out of Boothbay Harbor or Bar Harbor: both Cap'n Fish's Cruises and Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. fill for summer morning departures, and the puffin boats in particular go early. Fourth, any windjammer or schooner sailing out of Camden, where multi-night trips book out by spring. Day-of availability exists, but counting on it in summer on the Maine coast is a losing bet.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Maine coast road trip take?
Five full days is the minimum to do this route without feeling like you're just driving. A week gives you more time in Acadia and room to add a half-day on a MidCoast island. If you only have three days, skip the southern coast and start in Portland: the drive from PWM to Bar Harbor and back is already a solid short trip.
Do I need a car for a Maine coast road trip?
Yes. There is no practical public transit connecting coastal towns. Distances between stops are too long to cover on foot or by bike between destinations, and the peninsulas that hold Boothbay Harbor, Pemaquid, and Deer Isle require their own detours off Route 1. Inside Acadia, the free Island Explorer shuttle runs late June through mid-October and covers the main trailheads and Bar Harbor well enough that you can park once and leave the car.
What is the best time of year for this road trip?
Late June through early September for the full experience: open restaurants and tour operators, warm enough for the southern beaches, and active whale watching. Late September through mid-October gives you fall foliage and lighter traffic on Route 1, though some seasonal businesses close after Labor Day. July and August are the most crowded months, with Route 1 traffic adding 30 to 60 minutes to some legs and lodging at peak prices.
What does the Maine coast road trip cost for two people?
Budget roughly $200 to $400 per night for lodging in summer, $25 to $45 per person per seafood meal, and $8 to $15 for the Acadia park entrance fee (the America the Beautiful annual pass at $80 pays for itself if you visit any other national parks that year). Add another $75 to $100 for fuel driving the full route. A 5-day trip for two people typically runs $2,000 to $3,500 total (estimate), depending heavily on lodging choices and how many boat tours you add.
Can I do this trip in reverse, starting from Acadia?
Yes, and there is a case for it: fly into Bangor International (BGR), which is about an hour from Bar Harbor and has fewer connecting options than Portland but gets you into Acadia faster. Drive the coast south toward Portland and fly out of PWM. The itinerary reads exactly the same in reverse, and you avoid the heaviest summer Route 1 traffic on the front end when you are freshest.