Day Trips from Portland, Maine

1. Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is one of the top ten most visited parks in the United States. The park spans 47,000 acres, most of which are located on Mount Desert Island, off Maine’s Atlantic coast. With over 150 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads, and 27 miles of historic motor roads, Acadia spans varying terrain and offers something for the casual visitor, or the serious outdoor enthusiast. Ranger led programs include guided hiking or cycling tours and boat cruises, birding programs, hawk and falcon programs, and nighttime starry sky programs. The park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the east coast of the United States.

2. Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is the largest city on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. The name refers to the sandbar that connects the island to the mainland at low tide. The charming New England town is home to Acadia National Park, and is an easily walkable city great for exploring the shops, galleries and restaurants on foot. Take a walking tour with a certified Maine Guide to learn more about the town. The area’s Abbe Museum exhibits Native American artifacts and teaches guests about the cultural history of the region. Carriage trails throughout the island make for excellent cross country skiing in the winter.

3. Freeport

Freeport is best known as a shopping destination, a favorite of New Englanders seeking deals among the hundreds of brand-name outlets. The modern shops occupy 18th and 19th century buildings and homes along Route 1. Outside of shopping, visit the Freeport Historical Society and the Historic Pettengill Farm. The Wolfe’s Neck Center is an educational farm offering tours, classes, and kayak or bicycle rentals for use along their trails. The quirky Desert of Maine is among the most popular attractions. The unique sand dune formation was formed by an Ica Age glacier. Take a tour, enjoy the trails and visit the 18th century barn.

4. Bethel

Bethel sits just east of the Vermont border outside of the White Mountain National Forest. Named the most beautiful mountain town in Maine, Bethel offers year round opportunity for outdoor recreation. In the spring and summer months, enjoy fishing, canoeing and kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking or golf. Stroll through the walkable downtown area for shopping and dining. Once there’s snowfall, Bethel is among Maine’s best destinations for alpine or Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and après ski fun. Bethel is home to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, The Ski Museum of Maine, Maggie Ring’s Nature Park, and the Bethel Recreational Pathway for cyclists. The Appalachian Trail passes just north of Bethel on its way to Canada.

5. Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is located along the rocky Atlantic coast about one hour’s drive north of Portland. Over 200 artists make their home in Boothbay Harbor, and their work can be seen throughout town in local shops, galleries, and museums. Visit the Boothbay Region Art Foundation or visit during a Boothbay Art and Crafts Show, which takes place on summer weekends. The Maine State Aquarium is located in Boothbay Harbor. Here you can get up close to invertebrates at the touch tank, learn about the lifecycle of lobsters, and Atlantic sea life. The Boothbay Region Land Trust is home to over 35 miles of hiking trails, while the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offer a colorful outdoor space in which to relax.

Boothbay Harbor, ME

6. Bradbury Mountain

Maine’s Bradbury Mountain State Park is located just north of Portland and is open to visitors year round for outdoor recreation opportunities. The historic park was founded in 1939, making it one of the first five state parks in the nation. Park facilities include restrooms, drinking water, picnic areas and camping sites for tents or recreational vehicles. Trails range from easy to difficult, and several are open to cyclists, riders on horseback and skiers, as well as hikers. In the winter months, snowmobiles are allowed on the Switch Back Trail, Link Trail and Snowmobile Trail.

528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, ME 04069, Phone: 207-688-4712

7. Brunswick

Brunswick is a charming New England college town that’s been designated as a Main Street Community for its walkable downtown. Home to Bowdoin College, which was founded in 1794, Brunswick is brimming with history. Visit the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the underground railroad member who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Now a National Historic Landmark, the home and museum hosts “Tea with Harriet” each month. At the 1850’s Skolfield-Whittier House guided tours shed light on what upper middle class life was like in the 19th century. Among other attractions and activities, you can spend time at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art and its collection of over 20,000 objects, or attend one of the college’s many cultural events.

Brunswick, ME

8. Camden

Camden is a coastal town in central Maine, perfect for outdoor and ocean adventure. Located on Penobscot Bay, the deepwater Camden Harbor is home to several tall ships and schooners that offer cruises of the bay, sailing tours and fishing excursions. View the bay from the top of Mount Battie at the Camden Hills State Park. The 5,7000 acre park offers over 30 miles of hiking trails, and views of Lake Megunticook from the 800 foot tall Maiden Cliff. Beaches in the area include the freshwater Barret's Cove on Lake Megunticook, and Laite Beach which extends from a grassy park onto the rocky ocean shore. In downtown Camden, enjoy shopping for antiques, browsing upscale boutiques, and eating fresh seafood, especially lobster, straight from the working harbor.

9. Cape Elizabeth

The town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine is located south of Portland on the Atlantic coast. The area is home to the 90-acre Fort Williams Park where you’ll find the Portland Head Light. The 1791 lighthouse and award-winning museum, located in the former keeper’s quarters, are open year round. Enjoy the trails at the park, or visit the Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt, a trail system that spreads through town, surrounding the inland waterways. The 41-acre Two Lights State Park is home to twin lighthouses built in 1828. Although not open to the public, the site was made famous by Edward Hopper’s 1929 painting, Lighthouses at Two Lights.

Cape Elizabeth is an easy 20-minute day trip from Portland (8.5 miles via ME-77 N) or you can stay at the Inn by the Sea. The Lobster Shack at Two Lights is a great restaurant here.

10. Casco Bay Islands

Casco Bay Islands are visible from Portland, Maine, especially at night when the small towns and villages are lit up. To get to the islands, take the mailboat or a ferry from Portland, or board the Bailey Island Cruise to arrive at Cook’s Lobster House. Peaks Island is the most populous, yet perfect for exploring by bicycle. Visit the Fifth Maine Regiment Hall Museum and the Civil War Memorial. Chebeague Island is the largest and home to a 9-hole golf course. Explore the bay with a canoe or kayak tour, most of which include a trip to Hog Island’s Fort Gorges, built in 1858.

Portland, ME