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Towns & Cities in Maine

Towns & Cities in Maine

From charming main streets to Portland’s buzzing culinary scene, cities in Maine offer surprise after surprise. Whether it’s natural splendor, handmade crafts, or unique cuisine, you’ll find something to do, see and savor in every corner of the state.

Maine Regions to Explore:

Aroostook County – DownEast & Acadia Towns – Greater Portland & Casco Bay – The Kennebec Valley

Maine’s Lakes Mountains – Maine’s MidCoast Islands

Places to Visit in Aroostook County

Caribou

There is plenty do to in Caribou! Enjoy 28-miles of multi-purpose trails at Aroostook Valley Trail, or go hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge in nearby…

Fort Fairfield

Fort Fairfield is a charming, Norman Rockwell-painting kind of a town. Spanning the Aroostook River with New Brunswick, Canada, right next door, Fort Fairfield is home to the Maine Potato Blossom…

Fort Kent

Sitting atop Maine in a bend of the St. John River, Fort Kent is a great place for playing outdoors or jumping off for a quick visit to neighboring Canada.…

Houlton

Houlton, the Shiretown of Aroostook County, was once a boomtown. At the turn of the 20th century, Houlton was jumping with agriculture, forestry and railroads, bringing in cash and immigrants. Come…

Madawaska

Madawaska, Maine, the state’s northern-most town at very top of Aroostook County, has been tied to the St. John River for centuries. The Acadians – French settlers of early Nova…

Presque Isle

Presque Isle is the largest city in Aroostook County, Maine’s gigantic, northernmost county. Home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the city’s weather is warm and humid in summer, cold…

Van Buren

Van Buren, part of the St. John Valley Cultureway, is surrounded by the vast, rolling hills of the St. John Valley in Aroostook County, Maine’s largest, northernmost county. Although named for…

Places to Visit in DownEast & Acadia

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of America’s favorite parks, and is situated on Mount Desert Island right on the gorgeous Frenchman’s Bay. Here you will find Cadillac…

Bucksport

Visitors and locals alike love Bucksport’s working waterfront and charming downtown – in fact, it was named USA Today’s #1 Seaside Small Town in 2021. In a lovely spot along…

Calais

In the far northeastern part of Maine, Calais sits along the St. Croix River – the international boundary between Maine and Canada – and there are three bridges into New…

Eastport

About as far “downeast” as you can get in Maine, the coastal city of Eastport is right across the bay from New Brunswick, Canada, and situated on Moose Island, between…

Ellsworth

The picturesque city of Ellsworth sits along the Union River, 40 minutes from Bangor and only half an hour’s drive from Bar Harbor. Ellsworth is the gateway to Acadia and…

Grand Lake Stream

Grand Lake Stream has been hallowed ground for sportsmen and women since the 1800s – seemingly endless lakes and streams surround the small community and fly fishing here is considered…

Lubec & Campobello Island

Lubec, Maine is the easternmost town in the U.S. and sits right across the bay from Canada, where over the bridge is Campobello Island where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once…

Machias

The little town of Machias is known for blueberries and rebellion. So, the blueberries make sense. Machias is smack in the middle of Maine’s blueberry belt (the state’s the world…

Milbridge

Milbridge is located on Narraguagus Bay and is the heart of wild blueberry country. The town is home to Jasper Wyman & Son, the nation’s leading grower, packer and marketer…

Stonington

The coastal towns of Stonington and Deer Isle, linked by bridges to the mainland, are bastions of lobster and stone. For generations, Stonington has hosted a giant lobster fleet –…

Winter Harbor

To get to Winter Harbor, Maine, a small fishing town in the DownEast & Acadia region, you have to take the scenic route. Literally. The Schoodic National Scenic Byway meanders along the rockbound…

Places to visit in Greater Portland & Casco Bay

Cape Elizabeth

Cape Elizabeth is a leafy, genteel town near Portland that hugs the shore of Casco Bay. For visitors, it’s also a place of history and lighthouses, great cycling and shoreside…

Falmouth

Falmouth is a delightful community just north of Portland, on Casco Bay. Although right outside the city, the town has a peaceful vibe, surrounded by plenty of nature to enjoy.…

Freeport

When many travelers think ‘Freeport, Maine’ one thing comes to mind. “Freeport, Maine Shopping.” That’s hardly a surprise. Stores seem to flow down Freeport’s Main Street, swirling away from the…

Islands of Casco Bay

You can see them just off-shore from Portland, their lights twinkling off the water. They’re the Islands of Casco Bay, some with small towns and villages that have stood for…

Portland

Portland, along Casco Bay, Maine, is the heart of the region with award-winning restaurants, Maine-made shopping, concerts and arts. Portland’s airport is close by, as are many sandy beaches, so you could…

Scarborough

Scarborough is in the Greater Portland region, but feels a thousand miles away from city life. Long sandy beaches and dunes and acres of marshland are the primary features of…

South Portland

South Portland, across the harbor from Portland, was built on fishing, shipping and shipbuilding. To get to know it, it’s best to start on the water. Things to Do in…

Westbrook

The City of Westbrook is just outside of Portland and is considered part of Greater Portland. The Presumpscot River is the heart of the city – and great for canoeing…

Yarmouth

While only a few minutes from Portland, Yarmouth, Maine feels very different from the city. The only time the charming town ever seems busy is during the Yarmouth Clam Festival each July…

Places to Visit in Maine’s Lakes & Mountains

Bethel

Bethel, Maine, is a classic New England village, with a walkable downtown and delightful lodging and dining options, all within minutes of some of the state’s best outdoor recreation. Hailed…

Bridgton & Harrison

The towns of Bridgton and Harrison, Maine capture a perfect slice of lakeside beauty. The White Mountains, including the breathtaking Mount Washington, rise above them, and the forests blanket the…

Eustis & Stratton

The tiny town of Eustis and the nearby village of Stratton are located on the High Peaks Scenic Byway in the northeast corner of Franklin County. Stratton is situated near 20,300-acre Flagstaff…

Farmington

Farmington is a lively college town, tucked into the woody foothills of Maine’s western mountains. It’s also a perfect gateway if you’re looking for some outdoor fun. Things to Do…

Fryeburg

Most times, Fryeburg, Maine, is a quiet little western Maine town, tucked beside the Saco River and home to Fryeburg Academy, one of the oldest private boarding and day schools…

Jay, Livermore & Livermore Falls

Located on the edge of Maine’s western mountains, the communities of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls are the gateway to several ski areas and outdoor recreation sites. The towns are…

Kingfield & Carrabassett Valley

The small town of Kingfield is big on character, charm and beauty. Situated near Sugarloaf Mountain, the home to one of the largest ski areas east of the Rockies, it…

Lewiston & Auburn

The Twin Cities or “L/A,” as Lewiston and Auburn are called by locals, are north of Portland, Maine in the Maine Lakes and Mountains region. They are split by the…

Naples

Naples, Maine is nestled in the heart of Maine’s Lakes and Mountains region, surrounded by three large ponds and both Long Lake and Sebago Lake. People have come to Naples…

Norway & South Paris

This pair of communities in Maine’s western Maine foothills was built on farming, railroads and industry. Today, they’re centers of outdoor fun with growing and revitalized downtowns. Norway once boasted…

Rangeley Lakes

Rangeley, the charming town situated on the shores of Rangeley Lake, nestled in the heart of the vast Rangeley Lakes region, is the perfect place to hear the loons calling…

Rumford & River Valley

Maine’s River Valley, located in the state’s Lakes & Mountains region, is home to a multitude of small, friendly towns offering their own unique history, local businesses and outdoor experiences. Among…

Places to Visit in Maine’s MidCoast & Islands

Bath & Phippsburg

Ships have been very good for Bath and Phippsburg. Bath is still called the City of Ships and the heritage of shipbuilding and shipping have left this town with neighborhoods…

Belfast

Belfast, Maine is a little city on a gentle hill above the Passagassawaukeag River (Puh-sag-gus-uh-WAH-keg, Passy to the locals) and is a lively, year round hub of Maine art, hiking…

Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor & Southport

The cheerful and welcoming harbor communities of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are bound by a long and vibrant maritime heritage. Many of Maine’s boatbuilders are found here still and the…

Brunswick & Topsham

Brunswick, Maine, a designated Main Street Community, is a quintessential college town in Midcoast Maine with a convenient Amtrak Station located steps from downtown. Bowdoin College, founded in 1794, sits in the…

Camden, Rockport & Lincolnville

The towns of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville are located in the heart of coastal Maine along Penobscot Bay. Rockport and Camden have working harbors full of fishing boats, schooners and…

Damariscotta & Newcastle

They’ve known about oysters for a long time in the Damariscotta region. A long, long time. At the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site, you can visit the once-vast heaps, or middens, of…

Georgetown & Arrowsic

The islands of Georgetown and Arrowsic sit side by side on the coast of MidCoast Maine, linked to the mainland by roads and bridges so close to each other and…

Harpswell

Harpswell is the definition of a Maine seacoast town – mainly because it’s got so much seacoast. This historic community is made up of long Harpswell Neck, several large islands…

Rockland, Thomaston & St. George Peninsula

Rockland, Maine is an industrious place. Says so right on the city seal. It was once known for building ships, making lime and carving out schooner loads of marble and…

Searsport

If you were an American deep-water sea captain back in the 19th century, chances are you came from Searsport, Maine. Nearly 300 captains sailed from this small town at the…

Wiscasset

The charming village of Wiscasset sits along the tidal waters of the Sheepscot River estuary, home to a vibrant waterfront community with a rich history and culture. Often called one…

Places to Visit in The Kennebec Valley

Augusta

The capital of Maine, the city of Augusta, is in the heart of the beautiful Kennebec Valley in Central Maine, just an hour from Portland. The powerful Kennebec River divides…

Gardiner

Gardiner is a vibrant riverside community that enjoys a rich heritage and is now a thriving arts hub in central Maine. Water Street is a glittering wonder of elaborate brick…

Hallowell

Hallowell is a historic village near Augusta, Maine’s capital, that sits on the banks of the Kennebec River. Though small, Hallowell is big on charm and character. Gorgeous 18th and…

Jackman

Tucked into Maine’s northwest timber country and minutes from the Quebec border, Jackman, Maine is a great spot for outdoor fun. And you can guess how pretty it is, since…

Monmouth & Winthrop

Monmouth and Winthrop are both located in the Winthrop Lakes Region in Central Maine which has long drawn visitors seeking to enjoy the quiet life among the woods and lakes.…

Madison

Madison, Maine rose to fame for the wealth of its manufacturing and papermaking mills. Today, it’s known as much for its tomatoes; millions of pounds a year are exported from…

Skowhegan

The town of Skowhegan, Maine, is located by the banks of the Kennebec River, once the heart of Maine’s logging industry, now a revitalized natural resource – the Kennebec is…

The Forks

The Forks in Maine is where the Dead River and the Kennebec River meet, and this intersection of two powerful rivers has created one of the best areas for whitewater…

Waterville

Waterville, Maine grew up on the banks of the Kennebec River, its rise powered by water and mills. Today, this brick-lined city on the river is a vibrant center of…

Places to Visit in The Maine Beaches

Biddeford & Saco

The neighboring cities of Biddeford and Saco were once industrial giants. The Saco River, which flows between the cities, powered enormous brick mills – including the largest cotton mill ever…

Kennebunk & Kennebunkport

Kennebunk and its close neighbor, Kennebunkport, are two of Maine’s favorite destinations. With numerous beaches to choose from, charming shopping along historic streets and some of Maine’s best dining, it’s…

Kittery

When many folks think of Kittery, they think of the Golden Mile. Or is it miles? That’s the stretch of outlet stores, including the Kittery Outlets, that hug Route 1. Savvy…

Ogunquit

The coastal town of Ogunquit entices visitors to its seaside cliff walk, fantastic shopping, and 3.5 miles of sandy beaches. Ogunquit Beach is frequently voted one of the country’s best beaches and…

Old Orchard Beach

If there’s one reason people come to Old Orchard Beach year after year, it’s because this town has something for everyone—families, seniors, and couples. For more than 170 years, this…

Sanford

Sanford is a small, pleasant city in Southern Maine, known for its historic buildings and scenic neighborhoods. Things to Do in Sanford One of the best ways to enjoy Sanford…

South Berwick

South Berwick, Maine is one of the oldest European-founded communities in Maine. Near the banks of the Salmon Falls River – and just across that river from New Hampshire –…

Waterboro & Lake Arrowhead

Much of the fun outdoors in Waterboro and the Lake Arrowhead community can be had on the water, here in this tranquil corner of southwestern Maine. Things to do in…

Wells

With seven miles of sandy beaches to explore – including Wells Beach, Moody Beach, Crescent Beach and Drake’s Island Beach – Wells, Maine, is a beachgoer’s dream. The long and…

York

York is a town with its mind firmly on the sea. Even the local mountain, stubby Mt. Agamenticus, was used by colonial mariners as a guide to navigation. York Beach…