The road trip is synonymous with American travel culture, and there’s no better place to explore the natural beauty of the United States by car than in the beautiful state of Maine. The Pine Tree State offers scenic vistas and activities for everyone, from rocky coastlines and sandy beaches to granite mountain peaks and wildlife.
In the northeast corner of mainland USA, many of the country’s most famed scenic highways originate here. You can easily begin your road trip across Maine from urban Portland, nearby Boston or even Canada.
Because this largely rural and geographically spread-out state does not offer a robust public transportation system, we recommend taking a road trip. While Subarus and pickup trucks are the unofficial vehicles around here, you don’t need four-wheel drive to get to most places in Maine unless it’s the middle of the winter and you’re looking for fresh powder to shred in the mountains.
As Mainers like to joke, “You can’t get here from there,” so be patient and don’t be afraid to get lost on the back roads. You never know when you might come across a moose, the perfect lobster roll or just a natural vista that will take your breath away.
1. Coastal Route 1 Maine
Best road trip for Maine coastline views
Kittery–Calais; 273 miles
US Route 1 extends down the Eastern Seaboard from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Florida, clocking in at 2390 miles in total. The historic route started as the Atlantic Highway, which was established in 1911 and stretched from Calais, Maine, to Miami.
Today, Route 1 offers one of Maine’s most scenic drives during the summer and fall months. Starting from Kittery, the two-lane highway follows the coastline up to Calais before swinging inland up to the Canadian border in Fort Kent. Most people take Route 1 from Kittery up to Ellsworth and head to Acadia National Park.
A road trip through Coastal Maine can be an ambitious day trip from Portland, and most prefer to take a leisurely weekend to enjoy the area’s many traditional coastal towns, beaches, seafood joints and family attractions.
Spend a night in Maine’s largest city and foodie hotspot, Portland. Drive north through Freeport and the Midcoast, stopping to purchase some flannel and duck boots at…
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