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MAINE
DRIVING ROUTES
| Southern Coast |
Southern Maine Coast Tour
From Sanford, take Route 202 east through Alfred to Hollis.
In Hollis, take Route 35 north to Standish and head west on Route 25
through Cornish and Kezar Falls. In Porter, take Route 160 south to
Limerick, then head south on Route 11 through Newfield to Emery Mills.
Continue on Route 11/109 back to Sanford. This tour is roughly 85 miles.
Click here for a map.
Maine Publicity Bureau fall foliage tour |
| Greater Portland |
Free Port Foliage Tour
The North Loop Trail at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in
Freeport presents an exceptionally bright yellow display
that normally
peaks in mid-October. Click here for a printable map.
Maine Department of Conservation
Pownal Foliage Tour
Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal provides views
of surrounding forests and Casco Bay's Calendar Islands.
The foliage color peaks usually occur in late September
to mid-October. The park is a popular place to observe
migrating hawks in September. Click here for a printable
map.
Maine Department of Conservation
Saco Foliage Tour
The park trails at Ferry Beach State Park in Saco offer
a view of the park's tupelo or blackgum trees which
are uncommon in Maine. The tupelo trees turn a bright
crimson and normally reach peak coloration in late September
or early October.
Maine Department of Conservation
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| Midcoast |
Coastal Tour
This tour begins in the village of Wiscasset and proceeds north along Route 1 through Newcastle, Nobleboro, Thomaston and Rockland. Continue north on Route 1 to picturesque Camden, where travelers can drive to the summit of Mount Battie to view Penobscot Bay. From Camden, head north on Route 1 through Lincolnville and Belfast before turning onto Route 3 west and heading toward Route 220 in Liberty. Take Route 220 south to Route 17 west. Turn left at Route 218 in Whitefield, which winds its way back to Wiscasset. The tour is roughly 120 miles.
American Automobile Association of Maine auto tour |
| Downeast/Acadia |
The Acadia Scenic Byway
Route 3 on Mount Desert Island; part of this route is within Acadia National
Park. You have to pay a $10 car toll for this part of the route. The entire
driving loop is 40 miles long.
Maine State Scenic Byway, All American Road (Federal National Scenic Byway
Program) Schoodic Scenic Byway
Route: Take Route 1 from Ellsworth to Hancock. The 29-mile Scenic Byway begins
in Hancock, continues on Route 1 to West Gouldsboro, where it turns right
on Route 186. Route 186 loops through Winter Harbor, through the Schoodic
part of Acadia National Park, and back up the peninsula to Prospect Harbor
Light.
Maine State Scenic Byway, National Scenic Byway
Route 182
From Franklin to Cherryfield, this 12-mile route takes in blueberry barrens,
granite coastlines, and turnouts for access to lakes and ponds.
Maine State Scenic Highway
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| Western
Lakes & Mountains |
Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway
Route: From Auburn, take Route 4 north to Livermore, then
Route 108 north to Rumford. Cross the Androscoggin River to connect
to Route 17. Take Route 17 north to Byron. The 35-mile scenic byway
begins in Byron. Route 17 goes into the middle of the Rangeley Lakes,
to Oquossoc. Go right on Route 4 along the lake; continue on Route
4 southeast to Madrid.
Maine State Scenic Byway, National Scenic Byway Route 26
From Bethel, travel north on Route 2 to Newry. Go north
on Route 26. The 14-mile scenic byway begins near North Newry and
goes along the Bear River valley which carves its way through the
foothills of the White Mountains. Route 26 goes by Grafton Notch State
Park and passes turnouts to several scenic waterfalls.
Maine State Scenic Byway
Western Maine/White Mountains tour
This scenic two-state loop begins in Bethel and goes
through Grafton Notch State Park in New Hampshire's high country.
From Bethel, head north toward Newry and through Upton on Route 26
before crossing over into New Hampshire. Drive toward Errol, N.H.,
then turn south onto Route 16. At Intervale, N.H., head east on Route
16A to Fryeburg, then go north on Route 113 through Evans Notch. This
road will bring drivers back to Route 2 just west of Bethel.
American Automobile Association of Maine auto tour |
| Kennebec
Region |
Old Canada Road Scenic Byway
Route 201: The scenic byway begins just north of Skowhegan
in Lakewood and runs 78 miles, primarily along the Kennebec River,
through Moscow, the Forks (where the Kennebec meets the Dead River)
and Jackman through to the Canadian Border.
Maine State Scenic Byway, National Scenic Byway Route 27
This route goes through the Carrabassett Valley. Starting
in Kingfield, take Routes 16 and 17 north, passing the Sugarloaf ski
resort and Bigelow Mountain range. At Stratton, continue on Route
27, through Eustis, following the Dead River. The 47-mile-long scenic
byway finishes in Coburn Gore just before the Canadian border.
Maine State Scenic Byway
Central Maine/Moosehead Lake tour
This 235-mile tour begins in Waterville.
Take Interstate 95 to Route 201 north and drive all the way to Jackman,
near the Canadian border. Once in Jackman, turn east on Routes 6/15,
which run along Long Pond and Brassua Lake to Moosehead, Maine's largest
lake. The road turns south at Rockwood and runs along Moosehead's west
shore to Greenville. From there, continue south on Routes 6/15 to Guilford
and turn onto Route 23. Route 23 goes south through Dexter, where it
meets Route 7. Take Route 7 to Interstate 95 in Newport, then head south
to return to Waterville.
American Automobile Association of Maine auto tour
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| Katahdin/Moosehead |
Baxter State Park Tour
This inland tour begins in Millinocket and covers 135 miles
of Maine's backwoods. Head west out of Millinocket on Route 157 and
follow signs to the park. Once at Baxter, take a side trip to the
Roaring Brook Campground and drive a mile or two up the road for a
great view of Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain. Return south to
the main park boundary road and resume touring through the park, heading
north to the Matagamon gate. From there head east on Grand Lake Road
toward Shin Pond and Route 159. Take Route 159 to Patten, then take
Route 11 south to Sherman and Interstate 95, finishing the loop.
American Automobile Association of Maine auto tour |
| Aroostook |
Route 11
From Fort Kent to Portage Lake, this 37-mile route offers
views of grassland, meadows, lakes and rivers.
Maine State Scenic Byway
Route 1
South of Houlton, the 7.9 scenic byway runs along Route
1 from the Weston-Orient line to the Danforth-Weston line, and gives
views of the western mountain region of New Brunswick and Grand Lake.
Maine State Scenic Byway
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