We stayed in a nice AirBnB near the national park. It was pretty reasonably priced and convenient for our exploring. I’m sure you’ll have a great time!
Well…you can take the train but it’s NOT an easy thing. You have to get from the airport to where the train goes…and it’s Amtrak so not inexpensive.
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Not sure why you would head inland to Augusta…or go as far north as Bangor. I’d suggest staying nearer the coast. I would go from Portland to Camden area. So much to see and do there. Then head to Acadia.
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When you map it - it shows up the I95 through August and Bangor but i have read the comments about route 1.
Every time I write and you correct me, the Mrs. sees it - and that’s the important thing 
Agree about a more coastal route, especially for a first time visitor to Maine. One of my sons and some friends did a Maine trip last year. He flew into Boston and rented a car. Drove up the coast, hitting Kennebunkport, Portland, Freeport, Boothbay Harbor, maybe Camden but not sure, before heading to Acadia for hiking. They camped and did some biking on the trip too. Stayed in Airbnb’s as well. Great trip. Hope you and your wife have a great trip to Maine @tsbna44 !
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This is what I would do! And you will pass through charming Wiscasset…which is as charming a town as I’ve ever seen.
There is just so much more to see from rt 1 than from 95. You will be on 95 enough…take route one along the coast once you get past Portland.
@MaineLonghorn where is the best route to do this?
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@thumper1 My sister and I actually stayed in Wiscasset on a trip with my kids many years ago. Red’s Eats was cool, and the whole coastal area is lovely and interesting.
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We’re enjoying Maine right now from our cabin porch:
Arrived on Thursday and will stay through the end of October. We’ve been visiting/vacationing for the past 25 years or so and thought it was about time we called a piece of Maine “home.” The woods and the lakes are gorgeous wherever you go here. All the stops and itineraries suggested in this thread are wonderful—you can’t go wrong with any of them, but each will leave you wanting more. My suggestion: Wherever you go, slow (way, way) down, drink in the scenery (for hours) and fill your lungs (often) with the amazing smells of the outdoors. Maine is not so much a place to “do” as to “be.” There’s magic here.
Maine. The Way Life Should Be. 
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I agree with everyone else - for a first-time visit, stick to the coast. The bus idea is a good one. That’s what people who live in southern Maine do. We never drive to Boston anymore, because the bus is so cheap and simple. It takes you directly to Logan. I’ve never taken the train because it’s too much of a hassle, not to mention the extra cost.
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Rt 95 to Bangor, then Rt. 1A to Rt.3/Bar Harbor, is the FASTEST route, but not the most scenic by far. An alternative to following Rt.1 all the way is to follow R. 95 to Augusta, then heading east on Rt. 3. You pass over the Penobscot Narrows Bridge near Fort Knox, and get on Rt. 1 through Belfast, Searsport and Ellsworth.
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Bus is Concord Coach Lines. With that first night in Portland, you really could pick up car when you’re ready to leave Portland.
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You will have a great trip! Great 50th state. I have North Dakota and Idaho left.
Be realistic that first afternoon. You may want to stay between Kittery to Portland - Ogunquit is right there. Do not drive hours past it to turn around and come back the next day.
Landing at Logan at 2:40 puts you at the rental car center at Logan by 3:15, pulling out by 3:30 realistically even if you have express check out. With no traffic you are at the NH/Maine state line at 4:30. Check in somewhere and find dinner.
(Added - Was responding to earlier posts - looks like you ditched Bangor for Portland- good plan!)
Yep - at first we were gonna start North and work down - now Portland first.
Whether Porstmouth or Ogunquit, i’m sure we’ll find a cute little town. My wife liked the idea of the pedestrian bridge in Ogunquit. The good news is - wherever we end up, it will be great - and we can always go back.
ND was my 49th state - we did Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park and then drove through to the East…you’ll get there.
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This is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but consider visiting the Jackson Lab in Bar harbor. https://www.jax.org/
I went reluctantly went 20+ years ago my now spouse and it was quite interesting!
Jax Mice are apparently quite famous!
- The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit biomedical research institution founded in 1929 in Bar Harbor, Maine.
- Our mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.
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It’s been mentioned, but I want to add my recommendation for the Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor. I took a mental health day Friday and spent several hours there. Wow! It’s got so much. Manicured gardens, rough trails through the woods, a smooth path next to an ocean cove, a rhododendron garden in the woods, fountains, etc, etc. I’ve been there several times but not this time of year. My parents have been to gardens all over the world and my mom said this was one of the best she’d seen. Well worth a trip. Note that you have to buy tickets online ahead of time.
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Cool - we’re finalizing our agenda and I know Boothbay Harbor is on it - will make sure my wife takes a look.
We are back to - starting at Acadia and working our way down the coast.
Guess inland Maine will be another year - or skiing!!
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We just returned from Maine last week, it was pre season so not everything was open and the shuttle hadn’t started yet.
We also left from Boston and Boston traffic is horrible. But we had no trouble with parking in Acadia.
- Left Boston spent several hours in Salem, drove through York and did a short cliff walk, drove through Ogunquist and thought it looked cute and it had a playhouse that was showing the Cher show so we made a mental note on how to catch this show on our return. We briefly stopped at Kennybunkport and did the coast walk and saw an old church. We did make it to Portland by night.
- Spent the morning seeing lighthouses (They are fairly close together in Portland) and Saw the Victoria Mansion. On the afternoon we drove to Central Maine botanical gardens to see the trolls and we found the seeds.yey.
3.full day in Acadia
4 full day driving to Baxter State park and hiked to 3 waterfalls we did stop for a quick peek of Steven Kings house in Bangor.
5 We did the Bridge observation tower and fort knox then the afternoon in Acadia and saw the Bass Lighthouse.
6 we made our way back to Ogunquist and saw the amazing production of the Cher Show. Spent a night here. - Made our way back to Boston but went via Gloucester to get 1 more lighthouse and visit Hammond Castle.
We also did 1 day trip to Martha’s Vinyard.
Lighthouses we saw ….
East Chop lighthouse Oak Bluff Martha’s Vineyard
Gay head lighthouse Martha’s Vinyard
Edgerton Lighthouse Martha’s Vineyard
Eastern Point lighthouse Gloucester, MA
Lobster point lighthouse, Ogunquist
Derby Wharf light station, Salem MA
Scituate lighthouse, 30 mins south of Boston.
Prospect Harbor lighthouse ME
Bass Harbor Lighthouse ME
Permaquid point lighthouse
Nubble lighthouse
Cape Elizabeth lighthouse
Two lights state park
Portland Head lighthouse
Bug lighthouse
Ram island edge lighthouse
Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we do
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Wow, that’s a lot of lighthouses!
Note that June is not peak season in Acadia. For one reason, it can be cool and rainy in June. One year we took all three kids up there and it rained the entire week in June! I can recall that the sun peeked out on Wednesday afternoon so we drove up Cadillac Mountain to see the view. Otherwise, we did a lot of shopping and game playing. This June has been nicer than most, though.
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My kid (lives in NYC) is heading today for vacation in Camden, ME.
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I love Camden. One year, my mom and I got a B&B right around the corner from the main shopping area. That place closed due to COVID.
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