Maine in the Fall: Best Foliage Views + What to See and Do
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New England in the fall. It’s an iconic time of year for an iconic region. Last year I got an opportunity to visit Maine, one of the states of this iconic region in the fall, its iconic season. Timing can be tricky. Too early and the leaves won’t have changed colors yet. Too late and they will have already fallen off the trees. That perfect in-between time doesn’t last long and nailing it is difficult. Thankfully, I succeeded and can honestly say that Maine in the fall is one of the prettiest destinations out there!Maine Resources & Recommendations
- Accommodations– Find the best places to stay in Maine
- Skyscanner– Find the best prices on flights
| best prices on rental cars - Allianz Travel Insurance– Protect yourself and your trip. Get a free quote!
- Lonely Planet Guidebooks– The best (and my personal favorite) guidebooks out there. Get the Lonely Planet New England Travel Guide or the Lonely Planet New England’s Best Trips Travel Guide.
Maine In The Fall
Found this gem laying on a log when I was taking photos of Penobscot Bridge from the viewing area. Being from the South and finding this in Maine was both cool and comical!
The places I visited in Maine last fall were in the central coastal region in the triangle of Bangor to Rockland to Bar Harbor. For reference, I was there October 4-12 (2017), but unfortunately, you can’t depend on the leaves to always go by someone else’s travel dates. Fall arrives at different times and this was my second trip to Maine in this season, but my first to get the timing right to see the fall foliage in all of its glory.
So how are you supposed to time it? Luck, honestly. You can maybe research the previous few years to get a good idea, but in the end, it’s luck unless you can visit for 2-3 weeks. The window of time is usually the last week of September for an early fall to the second week of October with Columbus Day weekend serving as the typical peak time for fall foliage.
Now that we have the timing out of the way, let’s get to what to see and do!
Bangor
Stephen King Tour
Mr. King has been known to come out and greet his fans.
Didn’t know that you can take a Stephen King Tour in Bangor, Maine? Now you do! The wildly popular author is from Maine and has lived in Bangor for years. His house is totally him don’t you think?
Did we find Pennywise? 😱🤡
I took the tour in October 2017 shortly after It was released in theaters on September 8, 2017. Besides his house, you will see several film locations and learn a lot of the personal side of Stephen King. Spoiler Alert: He’s a good guy!
Pet Cemetery anyone?
TIP: Anything can happen while snapping photos of the Stephen King house. One tour group witnessed a red balloon appearing in one of the front windows-eerie! According to the story, Stephen says he wasn’t home and didn’t play the joke, but he liked it! For more details and to book the tour, click here.
Waterfront Park
Take a stroll through Waterfront Park while in Bangor. It makes for a beautiful walk, especially during the fall! From July to October, you can catch a concert at the outdoor amphitheater, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion.
Beautiful views of the Penobscot River
TIP: Great place for a picnic!
Location: 81 Railroad Street, Bangor, Maine 04401
Continuity of Community Sculpture
While you’re in Waterfront Park, make sure you see the Continuity of Community Sculpture. Relocated to the park a few years ago from Market West Square (where it had been for almost 40 years), it is 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
It is also a Moebius strip sculpture. A what? Yes, my thoughts exactly. A Moebius strip is a surface with only one side and one boundary. I’m not going to get into the math and physics of it all (because let’s be honest, I can’t), but you can read more about that here.
TIP: See the granite Sister City Memorial while you are there and learn about Bangor’s relationship with Harbin, China.
Location: Waterfront Pavilion Park
Prospect
Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory
Left: First visit to the bridge Right: Second visit
If you’ve read my blog or followed my Instagram at all, you know that I love bridges. So naturally, when we came across the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, I had to stop and explore. The first day I visited, it was so foggy but look at those gorgeous red plants!
Left: First visit Right: Second visit
Standing taller than the Statue of Liberty, it is the tallest public bridge observatory in the world and you can go to the top for 360-degree views!
Left: First visit Right: Second visit
So glad I decided to go back!
TIP: There are also picnic tables, grills and a covered area for events such as family reunions and small weddings.
Location: US-1, Stockton Springs, Maine 04981. I took photos from this viewpoint and this location.
Fort Knox State Park
Named for Major General Henry Knox, America’s first Secretary of War, Fort Knox is one of the best-preserved military fortifications on the coast of New England.
Maine went through several border disputes with the British Canadians and Bangor was invaded and taken over in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. So, in 1844, Fort Knox was established to protect against future invasions.
TIP: The grounds are open year round. The Fort is open May 1-October 31 from 9 am to sunset. Also in October, they have Fright at the Fort and the 2018 theme is Stephen King!
Location: 740 Fort Knox Road, Prospect, Maine 04981
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Camden
Downtown
Camden is a small town in Knox County, Maine (not too far from Fort Knox). Its population is around 5,000 but that triples during the summer months when tourists come to explore. I enjoyed just walking around the downtown area window shopping.
Fall was really showing off here in Camden!
Location: Camden, Maine 04843
Camden Public Library
The views from the gazebo are beautiful…
Location: 55 Main Street, Camden, Maine 04843
Spanish-American War Memorial
Between downtown and the library is the Spanish-American War Memorial.
The memorial pays tribute to all of the men who volunteered to fight against Spain in 1898.
Location: Harbor Park on Main Street, Camden, Maine 04843. See the map coordinates here.
Civil War Soldier’s Monument
Location: Harbor Park on Main Street, Camden, Maine 04843
Clock Tower
A park right beside the church offers beautiful fall scenery
Location: 29 Chestnut Street, Camden, Maine 04843
Opera House
The 500-seat Camden Opera House was built in 1894 and at the time was the tallest building in Camden. The first town meeting was also held here in 1895.
Today, the Opera House is home to Camden’s municipal offices and hosts a variety of events including the Camden International Film Festival.
Location: 29 Elm Street, Camden, Maine 04843
Ellsworth Area
Buttermilk Road
Buttermilk Road was a completely random surprise. My cousin lives in Ellsworth and while I was visiting, we went to her friend’s house. One of the roads we took was Buttermilk and I was thoroughly blown away by its beauty!
And yes, I put the car in park to take these photos. The road wasn’t busy so it allowed for this luxury. Please, don’t photograph and drive! 😉
See what I mean? Just beautiful…AND you can get the best damn lob-stah too! How is this not a win-win situation? 😜
Location: Click for the exact location of Buttermilk Road.
Southwest Harbor
Seawall Campground
On the island of Mount Desert in Southwest Harbor is Seawall Campground. You can actually drive a long stretch of it and get out at different places. The campground is open May-October and features four different campsites along with drive-up sites for RVs and walk-in tent only campsites as well.
Seawall Campground is part of Acadia National Park
Location: 668 Seawall Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679 and I took my photos here.
Mount Desert (Somesville)
Somesville Library Association
On our drive back, along Highway 102 from Southwest Harbor to Ellsworth, we went through Somesville in Mount Desert, Maine. Somesville was the earliest village in Mount Desert settled by Abraham Somes (the first settler on Mount Desert Island), hence its name.
There are two locations right across the street from each other that are so “New England” and quite beautiful in the fall. One was the above view right by the Somesville Library Association. I loved the mums against the backdrop of the water!
Location: 116 Main Street, Mount Desert, Maine 04660. Click for exact map location.
Somesville Selectmen’s Building & Bridge
The second “so New England” location is across the street at the Somesville Selectmen’s Building & Bridge. I don’t think I could have asked for or made up a more picturesque scene if I tried!
TIP: Go down by the water for this view!
Location: 2 Oak Hill Road, Mount Desert, Maine 04660 (right across the street from the Library Association). This is the address for the building and bridge, but the location where I took the photo is up the road a bit.
Acadia National Park
Park Loop Road
A highlight of Maine, especially in the fall, is Acadia National Park and one its main attractions is driving Park Loop Road. It will show you some of the best views the park has to offer!
Location: Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park, Maine
Sand Beach
I felt like I was looking at water in the Caribbean…not water in Maine!
TIP: Get there earlier in the day as the parking lot is small and gets crowded fast. There is a shuttle bus that has pickup and drop-off service every 30 minutes during regular season hours. Also, there are changing rooms/restrooms by the parking lot.
Location: Acadia National Park, Maine (via Park Loop Road on the other side of the park entrance on the northeastern side of Mount Desert Island).
Cadillac Mountain
On a really clear day, you might even be able to see over 100 miles away which could include Mount Katahdin (Maine’s highest mountain) to the north and Nova Scotia (Canadian province) to the east.
Showing my feelings for this gorgeous view! Photo by Alison Northington
TIP: Much like what happens with the access road to Moraine Lake in Canada, the park will sometimes close the access road to Cadillac Mountain when there is high traffic causing congestion. Sunrise and morning times (think cruise ship passengers) are very popular. To avoid this, try going in the afternoon.
Location: Find the spot of the mountain itself and where to turn off Park Loop Road for access.
Bar Harbor
Downtown
Bar Harbor, the popular port city for Maine, is a quaint town with a small population of 5,394. It is known to tourists as the access city for Acadia National Park. If you visit by cruise ship, you will come through Bar Harbor; however, if you drive in, please be sure not to miss it!
Walk up and down Main Street and see Agamont Park, eat some great food and shop all the shops. My favorite was The Christmas Vacation Shop!
If you prefer not to walk around or are unable, there are carriage rides!
TIP: A good time to visit is mid-morning as the cruise ship crowd is already in the park. Later afternoon tends to be more congested when they are returning to the area to finish up their shopping before returning to the ship.
Location: Downtown Main Street, Bar Habor, Maine 04609
Where to Eat
Food in Maine is amazing…really. It goes beyond lob-stah! For a complete guide on where to eat, read my Guide to Maine-ly Eating. It offers many options from Bangor to Bar Harbor!
PIN IT!
I hope this guide not only helps you with the well-known areas but also presents you with some off-the-beaten-trail discoveries and most importantly, helps you see the beautiful foliage of Maine in the fall!
Photo by Alison Northington
Have you been to Maine in the fall? When were you there? I would love to hear about your trip and when you were able to catch the beauty of the fall leaves!
‘Til next time…
Trimm Travels,
Love the Fall scene at Somesville Selectmen’s Building & Bridge. But I think you have to go deeper into the woods to really get the iconic shots of New England Fall!
Hi Carol-there are certainly iconic ones in the depths of the woods I’m sure…but they are also right on the surface too like Selectmen’s Building. Thanks for reading! 🙂
My first trip to the USA back in 2010 was a road trip around New England in the fall and I spent a good part of that in Maine. I love that state. Its so pretty and will never forget the changing colours of the leaves. I love reading the places you went to on here, sure brought back some good memories. Love your photos as well. Stunning. Keep on smiling (and traveling!)
Hi Danik-Thank you so much for the compliments on my photography. Like you, I love Maine! You picked a great area of the US for your first road trip! Thanks for reading! 🙂
The timing of the Fall foliage is so tricky! I am going through the same thing for my trip to Japan for the Cherry Blossom season. I did some research of previous years and am hoping my guestimate will work in my favor. I’ve never visited Maine and would love to visit the Stephen King Tour!! That sounds so fun especially during the Halloween month.
Hi Candy-first off, I’m SO jealous of your trip to Japan period, but especially in Cherry Blossom season! That is an ULTIMATE bucket list item of mine! And yes, it is so tricky! I remember my parents had to try 3 times before they timed it right to get to see them bloom in Washington DC! Maine is beautiful in the fall-definitely try to visit it then! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I have always wanted to go to Maine and it looks especially beautiful in the fall. Loved your photos of the quintessential New England scene at Somesville Selectmen’s Building & Bridge. It would be fun to visit Stephen King’s house to see if anything spooky happens! Great list – – I will keep it on hand for when I finally get there.
Hi Cindy-Thank you, I’m so glad you like the photos and the post. Definitely try to get to Maine…it’s so gorgeous especially in the fall! The Stephen King house and tour is really cool, you’d enjoy it I think! Thanks for reading! 🙂
You made me laugh when I saw Pennywise’s arm emerging from that drain. Stephen King seems an all round good guy, and I love that he’s so approachable too. I’ve made it to Massachussetts for leaf peeping before, but not Maine, so that’s a really good excuse to return. That looks exactly my kind of road trip too; you found plenty of things to explore, and those colours are just stunning. I love that there’s such a big celebration of fall. It’s my favourite season, and we just don’t have the same attitude to it here in the UK. A couple of years back we were in Tennessee, and enjoying the big pumpkin displays everywhere.
Hi Bernie-Haha! Yep, the Pennywise arm was our guide’s thing. It was mostly for the photo ops but I enjoyed it! Yes, definitely return to the US for a fall trip in Maine. We celebrate fall just about everywhere in the US as you could see in Massachusetts and Tennessee. We celebrate it a lot in here in Alabama too. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Lucky you that you got the timing right, and good thing you went last year and not this year!!! Fall colors have STILL not arrived on the East Coast this year, mostly because of the buckets of rain we got this summer.
My family took a trip to Maine when I was just a few years old. My parents always talk about how much they loved that trip; apparently, we stayed in some little cottage surrounded by wild blueberry bushes that you could pick the blueberries right off of. But I don’t remember it, so I really need to plan my own trip up there one day! I’d especially like to explore Acadia and Bar Harbor!
Hi Maggie, oh wow they still haven’t arrived? Yikes! My cousin says it’s already snowed/snowing in Maine right now! And yes, they do blueberry and apple picking a lot! You definitely need to plan a trip back to explore Acadia and Bar Harbor! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Ah, this post makes me SO happy! I’ve had it on my bucket list to visit the East Coast during the fall but there are so many places to go, I wasn’t sure what to plan on my itinerary. I’m hoping to go next October so I bookmarked this post for later. Thank you! Your photos look so beautiful.
Hi Melissa-thank you! Yes, definitely go to Maine if you visit the East Coast and/or New England. Maine in October is beautiful if you can time it right for the fall colors. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Maine is a riot of colours during Fall and this comes across so vibrantly in your pictures. Though the spectrum of colours that wash Maine is the primary attraction especially in Fall, I can see the range of experiences which seem to be a complete indulgence for the senses. But what really piqued me was the Stephen King tour. Being an avid fan of his, this is something I would do first thing when I hit Maine. Your post is an excellent guide for people heading out there.
Hi Sandy-Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and yes, if you are a Stephen King fan you MUST do the tour. It’s pretty cool!! Thanks for reading! 🙂