Day 1
Boston – Kennebunkport (90 miles)
Fly into Boston and collect your hire car before driving north up the coast to Kennebunkport, a classic Maine seaside town of clapboard houses, working harbours and sandy beaches. Settle into your hotel and spend the evening browsing the boutiques around Dock Square before dinner overlooking the harbour.
Day 2
Kennebunkport
A free day to enjoy Kennebunkport at your own pace. Walk or cycle the Kennebunkport Bridle Path, spend time on Goose Rocks Beach, or drive the coastal loop past Cape Porpoise and Goat Island Light. In the evening, book a table at one of the town's harbourside restaurants for a first taste of Maine lobster.
Day 3
Kennebunkport – Portland (25 miles)
A short drive north brings you to Portland, Maine's food capital. Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the cobbled streets of the Old Port district, with its independent shops, galleries and waterfront brewpubs.
Day 4
Portland
Spend today exploring further afield. Drive out to Cape Elizabeth to see Portland Head Light, one of America's most photographed lighthouses, and walk the coastal trails at Fort Williams Park. Back in the city, hop on a Casco Bay Lines ferry out to one of the Calendar Islands for the afternoon, then round off the day with dinner at one of Portland's well-regarded restaurants.
Day 5
Portland – Bar Harbor (180 miles)
Drive up the coast to Bar Harbor, gateway to Acadia National Park, for the first of two nights. Take an early evening stroll along the Bar Harbor Shore Path before dinner in town.
Day 6
Bar Harbor – Acadia National Park
Spend the day exploring Acadia. Drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road, taking in Sand Beach and the granite cliffs of Thunder Hole, and consider the hike or drive up Cadillac Mountain, from where much of the eastern United States watches the year's first sunrise (a separate vehicle reservation is needed for the Cadillac Summit Road in season). Stop at Jordan Pond House for its famous popovers with a view across the water to the Bubbles, before returning to Bar Harbor for a final evening of fresh Maine lobster.
Day 7
Bar Harbor – Millinocket (118 miles)
Leave the coast behind and drive inland to Millinocket, gateway to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. This is genuine North Woods country, so keep an eye out for moose along the way. Settle into your lodge or cabin for two nights, ready to explore the park.
Overnight: New England Outdoor Center
Day 8
Millinocket – Baxter State Park & Mount Katahdin – Millinocket (50 miles)
Spend the day in Baxter State Park, a vast wilderness of forest, lakes and mountains surrounding Katahdin. Depending on your day-use reservation, choose a hike suited to your ability, from an easy lakeside trail to a more demanding climb with mountain views, or simply drive the park's unpaved roads keeping an eye out for moose and black bear. Return to Millinocket for the evening.
Overnight: New England Outdoor Center
Day 9
Millinocket – Moosehead Lake – Waterville (155 miles)
Leave Baxter State Park behind and drive west through deep North Woods country to Greenville on the shores of Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest inland body of water. Pause to soak in the lakeside scenery or enjoy a morning coffee overlooking the water, before following the Kennebec Valley south to Waterville. Settle into your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring downtown's thriving arts scene at the Lockwood Gallery or strolling the riverside path to view Ticonic Falls.
Day 10
Waterville – Boothbay Harbour (58 miles)
Drive south towards Midcoast Maine and out onto the ocean peninsula to Boothbay Harbour, a classic maritime enclave built around a deep-water working harbour. Settle in for the night, then wander the historic wooden footbridge, visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, or book an afternoon boat cruise out into the bay in search of local seals and seabirds.
Day 11
Boothbay Harbour – Ogunquit (90 miles)
Follow the coast south into Southern Maine to the seaside village of Ogunquit. Spend the afternoon walking the famous Marginal Way, a cliffside path offering panoramic ocean views as it winds towards the lobster shacks of Perkins Cove, before enjoying an evening stroll along Ogunquit's vast sandy beach.
Day 12
Ogunquit – Boston – Fly Home (72 miles)
Enjoy a final breakfast on the southern coast before making the easy drive south across the state border into Massachusetts. Arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, return your hire car, and board your evening flight home.
Optionally, if you want to extend your time in this historic city, let us know and we can tailor make to your wishes.
