These 3 Road Trips In Maine Will Lead You To Places You’ll Never Forget
Maine is such a beautiful place to live, and one of our very favorite ways to explore is a good, old-fashioned road trip. Happily, the Pine Tree State is full of amazing natural wonders and attractions, all of which are just begging to be explored! So before you search for “day trips near me in Maine” take a look at these three excursions we’ve put together, each of which is located in a different region of the state. One explores the state’s best breweries; another, Maine’s most winsome waterfalls; while the third trip takes aim at Maine’s picturesque lighthouses off the coast. Are you ready for an epic road trip adventure in the Pine Tree State? Let’s go!
This trio of epic road trip adventures kicks off with a bang! Start by having your designated driver pull into The Black Bear Brewing Company in Orono. This place is family run and located at 19 Mill Street, Orono, ME, 04473. Check out the weekly brewer's choice special or try out a variety of 5 ounce samples.
Next head down the road to Brewer and check out Blank Canvas Brewery for some creative expression on their walls. Visit their official Facebook page to learn more.
Next up is the Penobscot Bay Brewery in Winterport. Check out what they have on tap, as well as their wines. Learn more about both the brewery and Winterport Wine at their website, here.
Next you're headed to Sedgwick for a stop at Strong Brewing Company. Try a Localmotive, Bale O' Hay IPA, The Maineac, or the Soulpatch Porter while you're there! Learn more about this Maine brewery online at their website.
And, last up is a stop at Atlantic Brewing Company in Bar Harbor. This is one of the oldest brewers in Maine and their expertise at English Style Ales is evident. Peruse the full list of options ahead of time at their website.
And, now, tell your designated driver to take a break. The trip is over and you can sit back and enjoy Bar Harbor together.
This trip is perfect for those who have only a day and are more keen on a leisurely trip than one that means hours in the car. The first stop is a quickie and really more of a from-afar viewing opportunity. Boon Island is the location of a particularly grisly story of a shipwreck that's long been the subject of lore and legends. Because you can't actually visit the island without a private boat through dangerous waters, you'll be in York for this stop.
Next we'll brighten the mood by heading to lovely Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick. Nubble Light was built in 1879 and is the southernmost of our lighthouses. The name refers to the rocky island on which it sits, just off shore. It flashes red every six seconds, and is visible for 13 miles. Electricity didn't come to Cape Neddick until 1938. Before then, the extremely cold wind caused numerous problems to the flow of oil to the light's lamp. For the best view, head to the end of Nubble Rd. in York. There is a park with a clear view of the Nubble just off shore.
Next, head North to famous Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth. Portland Head is Maine's oldest lighthouse. Completed in January 1791, the original tower stood at 72 feet and was made of rubblestone and lime. It is also known for its ties to Maine's dear poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was here that he wrote his beloved poem, "The Lighthouse." If you get an early start, the sunrises at this lighthouse are sublime.
Wait! While you're at Portland Headlight, stop at the Bite Into Maine truck for, what many consider to be, the best lobster roll on the coast! Check them out here.
Stick around Cape Elizabeth for a trip to Cape Elizabeth Light. Cape Elizabeth Light is Maine's most powerful! Cape Elizabeth Light's history begins in 1828 when two stone towers were in operation very near each other. In 1874 the two stone towers were replaced with 65 foot cast iron towers and were fitted with second-order fresnel lenses. In 1924 the Two Lights western tower was decommissioned. Today Cape Elizabeth's light is a four million candlepower flashing white light visible for 27 miles.
The final destination brings you into closer to Portland with a stop at Portland Breakwater Light, more commonly known as "Bug Light." It was built in 1875 and was modeled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates of ancient Athens. The six Corinthian columns originally held up a fourth-order fresnel lens with a red beam.
Today, the lens has been removed and it's more of a historic site than a helpful light. Curious to learn about more Maine lighthouses? We've got you covered!
This lovely little road trip cruises past several must-visit cascades in the Pine Tree State, starting with Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park. These Bear River-sourced falls are comprised of two impressive drops. The first is a 30' drop over a granite ledge into a gorge. The second is just below the first and features another 30' drop.
A half-hour drive from Screw Auger Falls will take you to Dunn Falls, which features two main sections - an upper falls and a lower falls. Many people feel the lower is the most impressive, but both are with the hike it takes to reach them.
Just a hop, skip and a jump down Andover road (that's the technical term for "ten minutes") are The Cataracts. The snow melt is currently making this pretty impressive, so it'll be worth the stop. Together, the individual falls total about 100' and you'll enjoy swimming and sliding around when it's warm enough.
About 45 minutes Northeast, and visible from Route 17 scenic highway, is Coos Canyon, one of Maine's most majestic waterfalls. In the summer you can wade in the waters, jump in or stay dry with a picnic in the connected park. If the springtime warm weather hasn't shown up by the time you do this trip, do not fear! You can easily pull over to simply take a look if you want to make this one a quick stop.
Last up for this truncated waterfalls trip through Western Maine is beautiful Angel Falls. The impressive, brilliantly blue waterfall is located about 30 minutes north of Coos Canyon. The 90' plunging falls come from the Mountain Brook and take about 30 minutes to reach on the (almost) mile-long trail.
Now that you've enjoyed a sampling of Maine's waterfalls, why not spend the rest of the weekend at a camp in the Rangeley area? On your head up there, stop for lunch at The Shed BBQ, a must-visit BBQ joint in the Pine Tree State. Try the pulled-pork sliders, or get a little spicy, and order the ribs. Either way, expect to leave in a very happy food coma.
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Address: Black Bear Brewing, 193 Exchange St, Bangor, ME 04401, USA
Address: Blank Canvas Brewery, 46 Betton St, Brewer, ME 04412, USA
Address: Penobscot Bay Brewery, 279 Main St, Winterport, ME 04496, USA
Address: Strong Brewing Company, 7 Rope Ferry Rd, Sedgwick, ME 04676, USA
Address: Atlantic Brewing Company, 15 Knox Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
Address: Boon Island, Maine, USA
Address: Nubble Lighthouse, Sohier Park Rd, York, ME 03909, USA
Address: Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, USA
Address: Bite into Maine, 1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, USA
Address: Two Lights Lighthouse, 15 2 Lights Terrace, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, USA
Address: Bug Light, S Portland Greenbelt Pathway, South Portland, ME 04106, USA
Address: Screw Auger Falls, North Oxford, ME 04261, USA
Address: Dunn Falls, North Oxford, ME 04261, USA
Address: The Cataracts, North Oxford, ME 04261, USA
Address: Coos Canyon, Byron, ME 04275, USA
Address: Angel Falls, West Central Franklin, ME 04275, USA
Address: The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, 7501 MS-57, Ocean Springs, MS 39565, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
day trips near me in Maine
July 30, 2021
Sarah
How do I learn about more day trips near me in Maine?
Wondering about epic day trips in the Pine Tree State? You've come to the right place! And the good news is, at just 320 miles long and 210 miles wide, no matter where in Maine you're located, you're pretty much guaranteed to be close to an amazing road trip adventure! We've compiled our very best road trips in this article; all are amazing adventures that belong on any Mainer's bucket list. From exploring the state's most scenic byways and towns, to enjoying the best of the fall foliage in the autumn, to checking out Maine's creepiest locales, you're bound to find an adventure on this list that really speaks to you!
What are some fun roadside attractions in Maine?
While you're on the road, you're bound to unearth some cool attractions that are unique to the Pine Trees State. In addition to Maine’s beautiful scenery and landscape, there are some truly amazing roadside attractions. For starters, there’s Lenny the Moose, a 1,700 pound milk chocolate moose that has been turning heads at the Len Libby chocolate store 1997. And if you’re into larger-than-life attractions, the L.L. Bean Bootmobile is truly a sight to see. It’s like the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, but a giant boot. Oh, and don't miss Wild Blueberry Land in Columbia Falls. Not only is this an epic roadside attraction, it's also a fun day trip destination, with mini golf and a bakery/gift shop that's housed in a giant blueberry, and has pretty much every blueberry creation you could dream of.
Are there many waterfalls in Maine?
Maine, like the rest of New England, is home to an abundance of picture-perfect waterfalls. The most famous? Moxie Falls. With a spectacular, 90-foot drop, Moxie Falls is Maine's highest and most easily accessible waterfall. It's also one of the most beautiful places in all of New England. You'll visit many of them on the above waterfall road trip that we mapped out for you. If you're looking for more, our Ultimate Waterfall Road Trip is sure to satisfy your desire to go waterfall chasing in Maine!
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Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
