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The Maine Coast: Portland to Acadia – Route Guide

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Portland Head Light Maine — The Maine Coast: Portland to Acadia
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lighthouses, lobster pounds and the first national park east of the Mississippi: Portland's working waterfront cooks better than cities five times its size, windjammers heel out of Camden, and Acadia stacks pink granite over a spruce-dark sea. Watch dawn from Cadillac Mountain. First light in America, then eat your body weight in lobster rolls without shame.

The Maine Coast: Portland to Acadia is a 220 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 3–6 days; the plan below is the 4-day version for September, built from 219 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

3–6
days
220km
distance
4
Stops
219
curated stops

Plan your own version → 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Portland→ 90 kmBoothbay Harbor→ 50 kmCamden→ 80 kmBar Harbor & Acadia

What you'll see

Portland Head Light
You will see a classic red-and-white tower standing tall against the coastal sky.
Portland
Ram Island Light
Ram Island Light shines brightly, marking the harbor entrance from its offshore station.
Boothbay Harbor
Mt. Battie
Drive or hike to the summit for sweeping views of Penobscot Bay.
Camden
Cadillac Mountain
You will see panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding islands from the summit.
Bar Harbor & Acadia
Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
Explore interactive farms, stores, and a mini planetarium with children.
Portland
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Stroll through vibrant gardens where native plants flourish in serene coastal settings.
Boothbay Harbor
The Center Green
Relax in one of Camden's tranquil urban parks.
Camden
Abbe Museum
Discover the culture of Maine's Native American tribes through exhibits.
Bar Harbor & Acadia

Choose your length

3-day plan19 stops · 8.4 h transit6.3 stops/day · 2.8 h transit/daySee the full plan →4-day plan25 stops · 9.2 h transit6.2 stops/day · 2.3 h transit/daySee the full plan →6-day plan39 stops · 9.0 h transit6.5 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: June, July, August, September

Lobster boats land daily, windjammers sail out of Camden, and Cadillac Mountain catches America's first sunrise — reserve the summit drive in season.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →