Ready to hit the road in your RV or trailer? Looking for a great destination?
If you like rugged coastline, vast open spaces, great food and friendly people, you’ll love Maine!
Nicknamed “Vacationland” (the license plate even says so), Maine draws visitors from all over the world – and with good reason. Let’s hit the Maine spots and get you started on a fantastic RV itinerary from Travel-More Trailer Sales in Ottawa.
What’s the Maine Thing?
Maine offers a multitude of outdoor adventures, from its rugged coastline and maritime pleasures (lobstah, anyone?!) to vast wilderness and some of the lushest forests on the continent. If your dream of the Atlantic and New England includes a lighthouse, great seafood, quaint villages and picturesque byways, you can’t go wrong in Maine.
It’s hard to name just one highlight in Maine, but Acadia National Park is most certainly right up there. Drawing more than two million visitors each year, this national treasure is Maine’s biggest tourist attraction – and with good reason. Stark cliffs rising from the Atlantic Ocean set the dramatic scene, combining with a wooded interior containing trails for hiking, birding and appreciation of the natural beauty here. Bar Harbor is the town to see in this region, with plenty of shops and restaurants for all tastes. Plan ahead, as the park gets crowded in the summer months and again at leaf peeping season in the fall.
From Acadia to the southwest, Maine’s jagged coastline is dotted with charming towns and villages. Be sure to indulge in the local seafood, with lobsters (of course) atop the list, but also scallops, clams, fish and more. LL Bean’s flagship is in Freeport, more of a campus really, and its main store is open 24 hours a day (monogrammed tote bag and a canoe paddle at 3am? You can get that here!) – along with a host of outlet stores.
Just a bit down the coast is Portland, Maine’s largest city and a bidding culinary capital. Hop a ferry here for the nearby islands or take a tour on a working lobster boat. Out on the coast is the Portland Head Light, one of many iconic lighthouses in Maine. Further down are some fantastic beaches, including Scarborough, York, Wells, Ogunquit, and of course the Canadian favourite Old Orchard Beach. Don’t miss charming Kennebunkport in southern Maine, home to the Bush family compound, along with its shops, eateries and amazing coastal scenery.
Maine isn’t only about the coast, though. Inland Maine has massive amounts of natural goodness to enjoy, from hiking and canoeing to beautiful RV drives to amazing lakes and rivers with wildlife such as moose, deer, bears and more. Sebago Lake is a highlight, as are Mount Katahdin and the Kennebec. Plan your RV route and you can hit a number of wonderful places on your way to or from the coast.
Maine Basics: How to Get There, When to Go, Etc.
Maine is a lovely locale all year round. But if you’re making the trip out from Ottawa, Eastern Ontario or the Outaouais, you’ll want to make the most of your time and your timing.
If there’s one time of year to “avoid” (or at least plan around) in Maine and New England, that would be what the locals call “Mud Season.” You’re familiar with winter melts and watery starts to spring, so it will come as no surprise that Maine is pretty similar in the early spring. March and April still see the trees barren of leaves (except for the evergreens, of course) and a somewhat ‘bleak’ look to certain areas. Temperatures are still on the cool side, but at least the crowds are sparse – you’ll practically have the place to yourself in many areas.
Things start to get decidedly spring-like in Maine around May, and while temperatures can remain on the cool side (highs in the mid-60s), it’s a good time if you’re looking to beat the crowds. Both start to rise in June, while July and August are peak summer season. Maine’s many beaches are ideal for summer sun-soaking. Meanwhile the lobster are in plentiful supply and peak, sweet flavour.
September in Maine sees a drop in temperatures and crowds as the kids go back to school. Depending on the year, fall colours start to appear in northern Maine around mid-September, with the rest of the state usually seeing vibrant autumn from late September into October. The colours can disappear quickly, though, with autumn winds and storms coming in. Timing your visit can be a little tricky, but stay in touch with social media and sites like https://www.jeff-foliage.com/, however, and you’ll have a better idea of what the colours are doing.
From late October onwards, things can get a little dreary again, but the crowds are sparse and once again you can have an entire coastline to yourself.
If you’re RVing in Maine during peak season, you’ll want to book ahead at some of the more popular campgrounds and RV parks. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are particularly prone to crowds, so reservations are pretty much mandatory. Autumn will see another burst, but not as much as the peak of July-August.
Where Else in the Region to RV?
You can also combine Maine with nearby destinations. To the north you have New Brunswick, meaning Maine is doable in conjunction with Canada’s Maritimes. Quebec City is also on a popular loop with Maine destinations. To the south and west are New Hampshire, connecting you to New England with options such as Boston, the White Mountains, Vermont, Cape Cod and much more.
Before you head out on the open road, be sure to have all your gear up to date and your RV equipped and ready to roll. Give us a call or stop by to talk about RV maintenance. Travel-More Trailer Sales is your Ottawa RV headquarters.
