Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Travel Guides
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Book Now
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2022. Read More
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture + Design
    • Like a Local
    • Travel To
    • 50 Years of Travel + Leisure
  • Travel Guides

    Travel Guides

    See All Travel Guides
    • Mexico City
    • Maui
    • Charleston
    • Tulum
    • New York City
    • London
    • Paris
    • Iceland
    • Los Cabos
    • See More Travel Guides
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to resume sailing out of the U.S. on or around July 4.
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • Travel + Leisure GO
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals + Events
    • Bus and Train Travel
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • Get Outside
    • Wanderlust
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • See All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • A Spirited Occasion
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes
Book Now

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Fall Vacations
  4. The 12 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Maine

The 12 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Maine

By Molly McArdle June 25, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Trail in Rockland Maine
Credit: Getty Images
As New England’s largest state, Maine is almost as big as the rest of the region put together. And with the lowest population density among them, that means the state has a lot of trees (about 90 percent is forested) and not a lot of people.

Peak foliage usually occurs during the first two weeks of October, spreading from north to south. Though Vermont and New Hampshire draw more tourists from New York and Boston, Maine offers a special something to those who make the trip: the dramatic contrast of rock and sea and foliage. Plus, fall is the most plentiful time of the year for lobster.

With thousands of miles of scenic, uncrowded roads, over 12 million acres of forest, dozens of food and cultural festivals, and countless outdoor activities, Maine is often at its best in the fall.

There’s a land- (or sea-) scape for everyone, whether you want to watch the leaves change by a quiet lake, a coastal village, or the undisturbed mountains (and moose) of the state’s great forests. Many state and national parks offer guided tours geared toward foliage hunters, and outdoor outfitters across Maine provide different ways to interact with the natural world. (Whitewater rafting, anyone?)

Oh, and at the end of the day—however you decide to spend it—there’s steamed shellfish and cold beer waiting for you. View beautiful fall photos of Maine.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor Acadia National Park in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

A former Gilded Age hot spot, this charming seaside village on Mount Desert Island sits conveniently beside Acadia National Park. Watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain (the first place it becomes visible in the U.S.), take a ride (by bike or by horse) along the park’s beautifully groomed carriage roads, and drive along Acadia’s stunning park loop road. Get your lobster at Thurston’s Lobster Pound, perched on a bluff above Bass Harbor, and on the way back stop at both the Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden for breathtaking vistas.

Where to stay:

The historic Bar Harbor Inn & Spa has the best view in town (even if you go just for a drink), and the cozy Acacia House Inn, just a few blocks from downtown, offers both beautiful rooms and delicious breakfasts.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park Mount Katahdin in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

Not for the faint of heart, Baxter State Park offers visitors over 200,000 acres of wilderness and the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. It’s also your best bet for a moose sighting. There’s a ton of hiking for walkers of all skill-levels, and the extraordinarily affordable canoe and kayak rentals ($1 per hour or $8 per day) offers yet another way to see the forest change color all around you.

Where to stay:

Open for camping until October 15, bring your sleeping bag. (The closest town, Millinocket, is at least 30 minutes from the park entrance.) South Branch Pond Campground is one of the prettiest of the bunch, and it offers tent sites, lean-tos, and a bunkhouse.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bethel

Bethel Bridge in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

A year-round destination (the popular Sunday River Ski Resort is just five miles away), Bethel offers visitors easy access to Grafton Notch State Park and a host of delicious restaurants. In the park, there are easy—and spectacular—walks to Screw Auger Falls, Gulf Hagas (also known as the “Grand Canyon of the East”), Mother Walker Falls, and Moose Cave along Route 26. On the way back, check out the Instagram-worthy Sunday River Covered Bridge. Pack sandwiches from the Good Food Store to bring with you and relax with a meal at 22 Broad Street on your return.

Where to stay:

Bethel is rich in B&Bs. Try the Holidae House Bed & Breakfast, the Mill Hill Inn, or Bethel Hill Bed & Breakfast. For a hotel feel (and golf course access), the Bethel Inn Resort is also within walking distance of downtown.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blue Hill

Blue Hill Inn in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

Tucked between Blue Hill Harbor and Blue Hill Mountain, this seaside village has a single, flashing traffic light. A former shipbuilding center, it’s now a destination for those who want a low key, but incredibly scenic, escape. Try high tea at the Harbor House before dinner at Arborvine downtown. Shop local at Rackliffe Pottery and Blue Hill Books.

Where to stay:

Blue Hill Inn serves up killer Maine blueberry pancakes along with afternoon treats and evening hors d’oeuvres in the garden. The Farmhouse Inn pairs charming rooms with a small plates restaurant.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Camden

Camden Harbour in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

With its harbor full of sailboats, this “Jewel of the Coast” has plenty to do on land and on sea. Climb Mount Battie for a stupendous view of the coast (and the surrounding leaves), or try a boat tour (Schooner Surprise and Schooner Olad are both good options) to see the mountain from water. Camden has great, seafood-centric eating: try Natalie’s for an elegant dinner and Fresh for a more casual feel.

Where to stay:

The Hartstone Inn & Hideaway has set up a superb bed and breakfast (and restaurant) in a historic Victorian mansion, and the Lord Camden Inn boast views of the water in addition to a spa and art gallery.

5 of 12

6 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Forks

Kennebec River And Raft in The Forks Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

A major hub for whitewater rafting, the Forks is the perfect spot for those who want to see the leaves change with a paddle in hand. Local outfitters have raft trips for all skill levels, but for the most adventurous, the Upper Kennebec Gorge has up to class IV rapids. For hikers, check out nearby Moxie Falls, one of the state’s highest waterfalls, dropping from a height of nearly 90 feet. Whatever your mode of transportation, grab a beer at day’s end at the Kennebec River Brewery.

Where to stay:

The excellent Inn by the River provides the most conventional lodging in the Forks, but two boating companies—Three Rivers Whitewater and Northern Outdoors—provide several options for accommodations.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rockwood

Moosehead Lake near Rockwood Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

On the shores of Moosehead Lake, Rockwood is the perfect base to visit the area’s natural wonders. An angler’s dream: trout, bass, and salmon fishing is available on the lake and fly-fishing on the Kennebec River. Moosehead Lake Golf provides a shuttle from Rockwood to Mount Kineo for golfers and hikers alike from Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekends. The Bridle Trail is great for beginners, while the Indian Trail is more challenging: both are well worth it for the spectacular view at the summit.

Where to stay:

The lakeside Birches Resort was first built as a hunting and fishing lodge in the 1930s and retains all its L.L. Bean-esque charm. Maynard’s is another equally charming and rustic option, with a wrap-around porch decorated with antlers and furnished with rocking chairs.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport at Cape Porpoise Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

Yes, it’s where the Bush family summers—but whatever your politics, you can appreciate their good taste in Maine travel. A town full of beautiful walks, gorgeous architecture, and delicious food, there’s a lot to enjoy. Take a stroll along Parson’s Way, get a taste of the local fishing industry with Rugosa Lobster Tours, and snap a picture in front of the Summer Street “Wedding Cake House.” Grab a lobster roll at Nunan’s Lobster Hut and a cone at Rococo for lunch, and try local- and organic-inspired dinner at Bandaloop.

Where to stay:

There are many splendid options in Kennebunkport, whether you are looking for something on the grand scale (try the Tides Beach Club, Nonatum Resort, or Kennebunkport Inn) or something more intimate (try the Captain Lord Mansion or the 1802 House Bed & Breakfast).

8 of 12

9 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lubec

Lubec West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

The easternmost town in the United States, Lubec is also a great jumping off point for Quoddy Head State Park, one of Maine’s most photographed sites. In town, explore Monica’s Chocolates for something sweet and the Lubec Brewing Company for something cold. Explore the coast on a whale watching tour, and try the McCurdy Smokehouse Museum for something more quirky.

Where to stay:

Peacock House Bed & Breakfast is located in an 1860 house built by a British sea captain for his bride, and is as charming its origin story.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Monhegan Island

Monhegan Island Harbor Side in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

Ten miles from the mainland, this tiny island (it’s a half-mile wide and under two miles long) feels both intimate and expansive. There are no paved roads (and no cars either), but many beautiful trails along the coast and quiet paths past the island’s many artist studios. (It’s why Monhegan also earned the nickname “Artists Island.” Stroll past the charming Monhegan Lighthouse and check out the tiny Monhegan Museum of Art and History housed inside, then sample a craft beer at Monhegan Brewing Company.

Where to stay:

Sitting atop Monhegan Harbor, the Island Inn offers 32 rooms and suites in a picture-perfect clapboard and shingled 1816 building. For weekly rentals, try the John Sterling Harbor House.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rangeley

Rangeley Along State Road 17 in Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

The heart of the Rangeley Lakes region, the town of Rangeley is just 30 miles east of the New Hampshire border. Get on the water with the Rangeley Region Lakes Cruises & Kayaking and out on the trails of nearby Bald and Saddleback mountains. Small Falls and Height of Land are both accessible by car and provide gorgeous views, from high and low. Remember to eat: Forks in the Air won’t disappoint.

Where to stay:

Downtown, the taxidermy and plaid-filled Rangeley Inn & Tavern continues a tradition of hospitality more than a century old. Just outside of Rangeley, the Highland Heath House welcomes visitors in a log home located in an alpine meadow above the lake.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rockland

Trail in Rockland Maine
Credit: Getty Images

What to do:

Home to the annual Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland is a great place to eat. Claws has Maine’s famous crustacean down pat, while the Home Kitchen Café serves up a breakfast you won’t easily forget. And with cultural institutions like the Farnsworth Art Museum (not to mention the Maine Lighthouse Museum), there’s a lot more to do besides. Nearby Birch Point Beach State Park is a great place to see trees right up against a half-moon sandy shore.

Where to stay:

Berry Manor Inn has converted a former 19th-century mansion into a B&B famous for its Victorian décor, pie baking, and singing toy hamsters. Relax on the LimeRock Inn’s wraparound porch in Rockland’s Historic District.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Molly McArdle

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 Bar Harbor
    2 of 12 Baxter State Park
    3 of 12 Bethel
    4 of 12 Blue Hill
    5 of 12 Camden
    6 of 12 The Forks
    7 of 12 Rockwood
    8 of 12 Kennebunkport
    9 of 12 Lubec
    10 of 12 Monhegan Island
    11 of 12 Rangeley
    12 of 12 Rockland

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel + Leisure Wine this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    MeredithTravel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Travel + Leisure. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

    View image

    The 12 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Maine
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.