The Ultimate Maine Road Trip Guide: Routes, Food & Expert Planning

1. The Classic Coast: U.S. Route 1

• Best For: First-timers, lighthouse lovers, and seafood fanatics.
• The Route: Kittery/Portland to Bar Harbor. If you are driving from the south you would start in Kittery. If you are driving from any other direction or flying, I might suggest starting this route in Portland.
• Details: This is the Maine road trip you’ve seen on postcards. You’ll hop from one charming town to the next, with the ocean in your sights most of the time. On the southern coast you will pass through sandy beaches in places like Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, or Scarborough and then spend some time in Maine’s biggest city, the foodie paradise of Portland. As you head north, the coast gets more rugged and rocky. Explore the coastal gems of Rockland and Belfast, before using Bar Harbor as your gateway to the stunning Acadia National Park or just a great downtown area experience.
• Top sights: Portland Head Light (Cape Elizabeth), the Rockland Breakwater (Rockland), and Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. 
• What towns should you stop in? I have highlighted 4 potential stopping points either for checking out further or staying the night. Of course, there are many other towns along this path that you could spend hours or days exploring. The 4 locations along this route are Portland, Rockland, Belfast, and Bar Harbor. In each of these you will find multiple lodging options and plenty of dining variety. For activities, these coastal cities have water recreation, including whale-watching tours, sailing, ferry rides, and fishing, in addition to arts and cultural options such as museums, shops, and shows.

2. Western Lakes & Mountains: U.S. Route 2

• Best For: Fall foliage, stunning vistas, and escaping the crowds.
• The Route: Bethel to Bangor
• Details: When Mainers want to “get away,” this is often where they go. This trip swaps salty air for the scent of pine and balsam fir. See mountains, trees for miles and have unlimited opportunity for hiking, biking, skiing, ATVing, and leaf-peeping. Just north of Bethel you will find Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls just a short walk from the road – a beautiful area of rocks, streams, and waterfalls. As you travel east, you will come through Rumford, Wilton, and Farmington, all areas which are worth stopping in to explore their industrial histories and the other shops and restaurants catering to travelers. Beyond that you will pass through Skowhegan (which has an awesome gear lending library for anyone wanting to do outdoor recreation) and Newport, on your way to Bangor. In Bangor, there is much to explore and see including some popular spots like the Paul Bunyan statue or Stephen King’s house (yes, there are really bats and spooky creatures built into the fences and visible from the sidewalk).
• What towns should you stop in? The stops along this Maine road trip route are: Bethel, Farmington, Skowhegan, and Bangor. All of these have downtown areas that are charming and walkable. Besides Bangor, these other stops may have more limited dining options to suit your tastes, but there are lodging accommodations and enough activities and places to explore if you decide to stop for the night. You will find plenty of managed hiking trails and camping sites along this route, as well as winter recreational options, depending on the season you are in.

3. Maine World Tour: Towns Named After Countries

This Maine road trip highlights towns that were named after foreign countries. We created a route so you can pass through most of them and cross it off your bucket list or unique stops to make across Maine.

• China
  • China, Maine, was originally the Town of Harlem, in 1818 China was incorporated as an official town. When China was incorporated as a town, Maine was still a territory of the Massachusetts Commonwealth. Originally, China was going to be named “Bloomville,” but another town had taken Bloomville, and the representative for China ended up picking the name China after his favorite hymn of the same name. 
  • Thing to see: South China Sign Post
• Poland
  • Poland got its name in a way very similar to China. Moses Emery, one of the area’s earliest settlers and a representative of the area’s general court, incorporated the town in 1795 and was able to choose the name for the town. He chose Poland’s name because his favorite hymn was named “Poland.” Poland is also home to the famous water company “Poland Spring.” 
  • Thing to do: Mr. Drew Exotic Animal Education Center
• Peru
  • When Maine towns started developing, the colonies in South America started to break away from Spain. The spirit of liberty and freedom was very strong during this period of history, and when Peru liberated itself from Spanish rule and declared itself a country in 1821, the town of Peru changed its name to that of the country to show its solidarity with the country.
  • Thing to do: Thurston Family Farm
• Mexico
  • Mexico and Peru share similar stories behind their names, like China and Poland. Mexico was previously known as “Township Number 1” in Massachusetts and was purchased by Colonel Jonathan Holman and associates from the Committee for Sale of Eastern Lands. The township was previously called Holmanstown; however, Mexico would change its name to that of the country to show its solidarity with the country during 1820-1821, when Mexico fought for its independence from Spain.
  • Thing to do: Hoodwinked
• Norway
  • Norway got its name from a clerical typo, not from the country itself or a hymn with the same name. Norway was originally known as “Rustfield” and was incorporated in 1797; it was not home to any Norwegian settlers. Norway was supposed to be named “Norage,” but there was a clerical error that stuck around for over two centuries, resulting in the name of Norway.
  • Thing to see: The McLaughlin Foundation Garden & Horticulture Center
• Sweden
  • The town didn’t get its name through a clerical error, hymn, or solidarity for the country, rather, the reasons are lost to time. The best idea people have as to how Sweden got its name comes from either honor or respect for the country, or due to its geographical location being close to the town of Norway, the way the two countries are close to one another.
  • Thing to see: Not technically in Sweden but nearby is the Historic Hemlock Covered Bridge 
• Denmark
  • It is widely believed that the town of Denmark got its name in 1807 (also when the town was incorporated) to show solidarity with the country of Denmark after its capital city of Copenhagen was attacked by England that same year.
  • Thing to do: Denmark Arts Center
• Lebanon
  • Lebanon was named after the biblical location of Lebanon and was incorporated in 1767. It includes the villages of Center Lebanon, West Lebanon, North Lebanon, East Lebanon, and South Lebanon. Lebanon, Maine, is also Maine’s 23rd town! 
  • Thing to do: Skydive New England

*Not everything is mentioned: Not every town named after another country or city from another country is on this list; we aimed to provide a curated list of activities going through the towns in Maine named after countries around the world.