The Best New York to Maine Road Trip: 8 Must-See Stops (By a Local!)
If you want to plan a road trip from New York to Maine, you are in the right place! I grew up exploring the northeast, so I can provide you with the best things to do on the road trip. Although you can drive straight through from New York to Maine, I recommend taking at least a few days to enjoy everything in between. And who likes driving over eight hours in a day anyways?!
Whether you want to spend two days or a week road-tripping to Maine, this guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip! It has everything you need to know about the best stops on a New York to Maine road trip.
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Things to Know About a New York to Maine Road Trip
Distance From New York to Maine
The distance between New York and Maine varies, depending on where you want to go in Maine. For this guide, I am going to assume you are driving from New York City to Acadia National Park. Without traffic, this drive is over eight hours, which is why I recommend breaking it up into at least a few days.
But let’s be honest, there will almost always be traffic, so it will likely take you longer. Because there are many beautiful places to visit between New York and Maine, you can make the road trip anywhere from two days to a week!
Time Need to Drive From New York to Maine
As I mentioned above, the drive from New York to Maine is over eight hours and can be daunting in one day since traffic will add more time to the road trip. I recommend taking the scenic route along the water and making the road trip a few days to give yourself time to stop at a few places in between.
But realistically, you can make the road trip from New York to Maine as long or short as you want because of all the places you can visit!
Getting From New York to Maine
Drive: If you want to plan a fun road trip, driving is the best option, of course, because you can stop at the many beautiful places along the way! The most direct route drives through Connecticut and Massachusetts to Maine, but I recommend driving along the coast through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The drive is beautiful, with many places to explore.
Train and Bus: If you would rather not deal with traffic or drive eight hours, you can take a train from New York City to Boston and then a Greyhound Bus from Boston to Bangor. Once in Bangor, you can hop onto another bus from Bangor to Bar Harbor.
Fly: Of course, if you want to skip the road trip altogether, you can fly out of New York City into Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, the closest airport to Acadia National Park.
Best Time to Plan a Road Trip
Because the northeast is a year-round destination, you can plan your road trip in any season! The best time in terms of weather is summer and fall.
Summer has beautiful warm temperatures, allowing you to enjoy many outdoor activities. Fall in the northeast is an incredible time for a road trip to chase the foliage. Summer and fall, however, are the busiest times to visit this area, so there will be crowds and traffic.
Winter is also a great time to visit to enjoy fun winter activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. And, of course, the winter has fewer crowds at the must-see attractions.
Where to Stay Between New York and Maine
If you are planning a multi-day road trip between New York and Maine, there are many places to stay! The areas that have the most accommodations are New York City, Newport, Boston, Portland, Camden, and Bar Harbor. These areas also have the most things to do, including attractions, restaurants, and tours.
New York to Maine Road Trip Itineraries
3-4-Day New York to Maine Road Trip
Day 1: NYC
Day 2: Boston
Day 3: Portland
Day 4: Acadia National Park
5-6-Day New York to Maine Road Trip
Day 1: NYC
Day 2: Newport
Day 3: Boston
Day 4: Portland
Day 5: Camden
Day 6: Acadia National Park
7-8-Day New York to Maine Road Trip
Day 1: NYC
Day 2: Mystic
Day 3: Newport
Day 4: Boston
Day 5: Kennebunkport
Day 6: Portland
Day 7: Camden
Day 8: Acadia National Park
The Best New York to Maine Road Trip Stops
There are too many beautiful areas between New York and Maine to include in one guide, so I will only include a few of my favorites!
New York City, New York
Of course, the first stop on your road trip should be New York City! If you have time, I highly recommend exploring the beautiful city. New York City is among the largest cities in the US and offers so much to do, including 270 skyscrapers and 6,000 high-rise buildings.
You could spend an entire week exploring everything the city offers, but you can see many must-see attractions in a day. You can spend your time exploring its museums, experiencing the Statue of Liberty, or walking through Times Square. New York City will make you feel small in the best way possible!
Here are some of the best things to do:
The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
One World Observatory
Empire State Building
Hudson Yards
Top of the Rock
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is one of the best places to make your first stop on your road trip, and you will quickly fall in love with this beautiful coastal town. Mystic was known as a shipbuilding center and is now known for being a scenic New England city.
Because it is a small city, it tends to be less crowded than other cities, but it does not lack things to do! You can explore the downtown area, walk in the Mystic Seaport, or visit the Mystic Aquarium. Mystic is the perfect place to experience a city with the quintessential New England charm!
Here are some of the best things to do:
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Aquarium
Mystic Museum of Art
Williams Beach Park
Mystic River Park
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a stunning city near the ocean, holds so much history, and is not too far from Mystic. One of the best things to do year-round is to explore the Newport Mansions and walk through the Gilded Age. Many of the mansions are museums that you can explore inside, too!
If you want to enjoy a scenic walk near the Newport Mansions, you can walk the 3.5-mile cliff walk along the ocean. If you are looking for a unique experience in the winter, you can get cozy in one of the igloos at Gurney’s, where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks! Newport is truly a beautiful place to visit year-round!
Here are some of the best things to do:
The Breakers
Marble House
Rosecliff
Cliff Walk
Fort Adams State Park
Castle Hill Lighthouse
Brenton Point State Park
Boston, Massachusetts
A road trip from New York to Maine would not be complete without a stop in Boston! If you love history and beautiful cities, Boston is for you. Boston is a historic city, offering many things to do, including historical sites, museums, parks, and delicious food.
Although you can spend a week experiencing everything it offers, you can see many must-see sights in one day. I recommend spending at least one full day in Boston if you have time!
Here are some of the best things to do:
Freedom Trail
Paul Revere House
Old State House
Boston Common and Public Gardens
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
North End
USS Constitution and Museum
Museum of Fine Arts
Kennebunkport, Maine
Between Boston and Portland lives a small fishing town named Kennebunkport. It is one of the most popular summer destinations on the coast of Maine because it offers beautiful sandy beaches, whale watching, and cruises around the harbor. Whether you want to enjoy a delicious seafood meal by the ocean or go whale watching, you will love your time in Kennebunkport.
Here are some of the best things to do:
Seashore Trolly Museum
Lobster Tours
Goat Island Lighthouse
Whale Watching
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city between Boston and Acadia National Park. It sits along the coast of Maine and offers many things to do. If you are a lighthouse lover, Portland is the perfect place to stop on your road trip to Acadia National Park!
Portland has five lighthouses within a short drive from downtown. And if you do not like lighthouses, do not fret! Portland has delicious food and a cute downtown area you can explore.
Here are some of the best things to do:
Portland Head Light
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Bug Light
Two Lights State Park
Portland Museum of Art
Peaks Island
Camden, Maine
One of the last stops before Acadia National Park is one of Maine's most picturesque coastal towns. Camden is one of many beautiful towns along the coast, so if you have time, I recommend stopping at more, including Boothbay and Rockland.
Camden is a stunning coastal town in Midcoast Maine on Penobscot Bay that offers many things to do year-round. If you like mountains by the ocean, this is the perfect place to visit! You can shop in its downtown, sail on a cruise, hike in Camden Hills State Park, explore nearby lighthouses, or relax by the ocean. It has something to do for everyone!
Here are some of the best things to do:
Camden Hills State Park
Laite Memorial Beach
Megunticook Falls
Acadia National Park, Maine
And, of course, the last stop on your road trip from New York is Acadia National Park. Despite being located on Maine’s coast, the 49,000 acres of Acadia National Park are not known for the typical Maine attractions. Acadia National Park instead offers a uniqueness not found anywhere else in the state, which is one of the reasons it is in the most visited national parks every year despite being one of the smallest!
Acadia National Park offers coastal views, rocky beaches, dramatic cliffs, and beautiful mountain views and has activities for the entire family! Whether you want to drive to the tallest mountain for sunrise, walk along its rocky cliffs, spend a day at the beach, or hike around the park, there is something for everyone.
Here are some of the best things to do:
Thunder Hole
Sand Beach
Otter Cliffs
Cadillac Mountain
Jordan Pond
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
If you want to drive from New York to Maine, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to know about the best New York to Maine road trip itinerary!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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