Start planning your next adventure with some of the best day trips in Maine, curated by Mainers.
Statewide
The Maine Oyster Trail
Whether you want to shuck, taste, learn from the experts or just grab and go, there’s no better way to appreciate the fresh reward of Maine oysters.
Land Trusts
Land trusts work with landowners to open private lands to the public to conserve land, protect wildlife, provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
Drive ME Historic Tours
Maine Preservation created historic mapped out tours to celebrate Maine’s bicentennial, featuring pre-statehood places and the people who forged early Maine.
Aroostook County
Maine's northernmost county is draped in sprawling forests and dotted with mountain peaks. Considering it's bigger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined, you'll run out of energy before you run out of hiking, mountain biking, ATV and cross-country ski trails.
Aroostook State Park Hiking
In northern Maine's Aroostook State Park, a few hours of spirited hiking will reward you with some great views.
Aroostook Valley Trail
Typical of The County - the massive home of the Allagash and the St. John - this 28.8-mile wonder is a tour through the backcountry.
Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge
The area, once overflown by Air Force bombers, now offers a wild and quiet place for wildlife watchers and birders alike.
DownEast & Acadia
Downwind from shipping ports like New York and Boston. And to the east. That's how you get DownEast. Defined by booming ocean, craggy coastline, and inland beauty, the region's natural wonder continues far beyond Acadia National Park, so we'd recommend you do the same.
Spring in Acadia National Park
Enjoy the fresh spring air and revel in the benefits of the less-crowded offseason at attractions and restaurants at Acadia National Park, one of the country's top 10 most-visited national parks.
Visit Holbrook Island Sanctuary
Visitors can walk along old roads and trails to discover the unique and varied ecosystems protected here for a truly unspoiled piece of Maine.
Deer Isle Tennis Preserve
Edgar M. Tennis Preserve on Deer Isle offers an easy-to-moderate, uncrowded hike through undisturbed forest and shore-hugging trails.
Greater Portland & Casco Bay
Art? Absolutely. Shows? Sure enough. Food? Really good food? Probably more than you can handle in one trip. So, plan two. Or three. Or however many it takes to get to know this culturally diverse corner of Maine.
Gilsland Farm Audubon Center
Just five minutes from Portland, immerse yourself in nature, with 65 acres of rolling lands and trails that extend through forest, meadow, orchard and salt marsh.
Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
The entire family will enjoy the museum’s state-of-the-art theater, science center, arts workshop and numerous exhibits geared toward infants, toddlers and teens.
36 Hours in Freeport
Known for being a favorite shopping destination in New England because of its brand-name outlets and local boutiques, Freeport is that and so much more.
The Kennebec Valley
The Kennebec Valley is a gift of the 170-mile Kennebec River that rolls, and sometimes rocks, from Moosehead Lake in the north to the Atlantic Ocean. Test your mettle on some rapids, cast a line, explore the Appalachian Trail, or just sit back and enjoy the waterfalls.
Rafting the Kennebec River
You’ve been stuck in your living room for waaay too long. Time to have fun in the wilds of Maine. It’s time to run the Kennebec—with a little help.
Colby Museum of Art
Considered one of the best academic museums in the country, with a focus on American and contemporary art, you can spend an entire day enjoying the museum’s many permanent collections.
Viles Arboretum
With 224 acres and six miles of trails, several botanical collections and local art, Viles Arboretum is a year-round destination for exploration, reflection, education and just plain fun.
Maine's Lakes & Mountains
Beginning just an hour from Portland and reaching to the Canadian border, Maine's Lakes & Mountains region is home to ten of the state's highest peaks, our largest ski resorts and plenty of opportunities to paddle, cast and cannonball.
Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary
Perched on the highest point of Lewiston, this wildlife preserve offers 450 acres of forested oasis including trails, wetlands and resting areas.
36 Hours in Rangeley
Among the picture-perfect western Maine mountains and pristine waterways is the Rangeley Lakes Region where you’ll discover a myriad of outdoor activities, whatever the season.
Pineland Farms
Pineland Farms in New Gloucester is a working farm and business campus that offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities and educational family fun.
Maine's MidCoast & Islands
Scale a mountain, turn your head and see islands punctuating the sparkling sea. Maine's MidCoast & Islands region specializes in breathtaking vistas, which is probably why some of America's greatest painters called this place home.
Forts
While visiting Maine’s MidCoast & Islands region may bring to mind charming villages and picturesque beaches, it is also home to historic forts that echo the days we read about in history books.
Owls Head Transportation Museum
Owls Head Transportation Museum houses over 150 antique automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, bicycles, engines and more.
36 Hours in Brunswick
A designated Main Street Community and the epitome of a college town, with the Androscoggin River to the north, Casco Bay to the south, and the Brunswick Town Mall — a greenspace with a seasonal farmers market and live music.
The Maine Beaches
Maine might be known for its dramatic and rugged coastline, but just one hour north of Boston and a stone's throw from Portland you'll find wide sandy beaches. There's nothing like a sun-soaked beach day. And there's no place quite like a Maine beach.
Biddeford & Saco Day Trip
The neighboring communities of Biddeford and Saco are divided by the Saco River but are perfect for a day of exploration.
Wells Reserve at Laudholm
The reserve spans 2,250 protected acres of field, salt marsh and beach. Take time to wind through a wooded trail, walk the open coastline or take part in a guided kayak tour.
36 Hours in Ogunquit
Ogunquit offers expansive sandy beaches, dramatic rocky cliffs and a charming harborside town — in addition to world-class dining and resort experiences.
The Maine Highlands
The highest peak. And the largest lake. Just two of the natural wonders you'll encounter in the Maine Highlands. And if you make your way to Baxter State Park, you'll probably be able to add a moose to that list.
Zillman Art Museum
Discover Zillman Art Museum, known for its modern and contemporary art, having just reopened its doors in downtown Bangor.
36 Hours in Bangor
Bangor is home to many of Maine’s unique attractions, from spots that inspired author Stephen King’s spooky-sensational books to a thriving arts, dining and shopping scene.
36 Hours in Greenville
Greenville is known for its proximity to Moosehead Lake, but there are plenty of additional natural wonders, activities, restaurants and lodging options, making it a great place for a getaway.