If you’re looking for the perfect nature escape, Maine is certain to be high on your list. Characterized by gorgeous landscapes, picturesque hillsides, and lush green forests, the Pine Tree State truly lives up to its name. Whether you seek peaceful camping grounds or a cozy seaside vacation home on the New England coast, Maine has it all.
Prospective homebuyers with a passion for outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, biking, watersports, snow skiing, and rock climbing will be pleased to find all of these and more in Maine. Rocky beaches often host fabulous state parks, and some even include a historic lighthouse for the best sightseeing on the water. Public parks take up a huge portion of Maine and are easily accessible to residents in every corner of the state.
Learn more about highly rated state and national parks to find out if Maine is a good fit for your interests and lifestyle.
1. Fort Knox
Google Rating: 4.8
Fort Knox Historic Site hosts one of the nation’s most well-preserved defense sites constructed in the mid-1800s. Visitors can participate in guided tours of the coastal defense construction or simply enjoy the pleasant views. A major attraction of Fort Knox is the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, featuring the tallest bridge observatory in the world that is accessible to the public. The fastest elevator in Maine takes guests 420 feet into the air so that they may enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the bay.
Located in Prospect, Maine, Fort Knox boasts a quiet escape with low crime and friendly locals. Garnering over 2,000 Google reviews, it’s easy to see how this unique venue is popular among history buffs, naturescape artists, and everyone in between. The park also features seasonal events for the whole family, including ghost tours and Shakespeare Under the Stars.
2. Popham Beach
Google Rating: 4.8
With over 1,600 Google reviews, Popham Beach State Park is a widely visited attraction year after year. The remote location, approximately 119 miles from Boston, boasts a low crime rate and quiet surroundings, making it perfect for a family trip or a peaceful vacation. Sparkling waters and bright sun rays make for ideal sunbathing, swimming, and surfing conditions. Located along the south side of the mouth of Kennebec River, the park is a rare gem among Maine’s natural areas for its long sandy beach.
Beachgoers may walk to Fox and Wood Islands during low tide but should be mindful to swim within their abilities and be vigilant for dangers such as rising tides and the occasional shark. Many shell collectors and birdwatchers may stroll along the coast year-round during park visiting hours from 9:00 AM to sunset.
3. Camden Hills
Google Rating: 4.7
If camping, hiking, and mountaintop vistas are your preferred vacation spot over beachfront destinations, Camden Hills State Park is the experience for you. Located 162 miles from Boston and just outside the charming New England harbor town of Camden, this serene campground boasts star-filled skies and gorgeous hillsides. Campers can hike or drive up Mount Battie for breathtaking views of the harbor, Penobscot Bay, and the nearby islands.
The park features light to moderate climbing in a range of hillside trails, making it the perfect place for novice hiking and seasoned trail runners. In the fall, travelers venture from all across New England to view the stunning foliage colors as the leaves scatter across the winding paths. Visitors may enjoy the campground facilities, which include hot showers, year-round. Winter camping is available by reservation, and there is a small fee for park access that helps staff maintain the park.
4. Sebago Lake
Google Rating: 4.6
Sebago Lake State Park, located in southern Maine in the town of Casco, offers such a wide range of activities that it may better be known as the state’s summertime playground for all ages. The park is on the shore of Maine’s deepest and second-largest lake. With 45 square miles of water to enjoy, including the Songo Lock, Sebago Lake is a true gem for all ages.
This natural lake was carved by glaciers during the Ice Age and refined by coursing rivers over time that have weathered the large granite basin to become a treasured archaeological wonder. Now, visitors may float, boat, fish, and camp around this beautiful work of nature.
This forested lakeside park is one of the most visited parks in the state for camping, biking, hiking, and watersports. Its relatively low crime rate contributes to its peaceful nature. Visitors can camp for a week or weekend and find endless adventures, from observing wildlife in the woodlands to cooling off in the gorgeous water.
5. Reid
Google Rating: 4.8
Also located in the southern region, Reid State Park in Georgetown is known for its rare sampling of two sandy shores and saltwater beaches. The long stretches of sand include the beaches of Mile and Half Mile, which serve as both surfing hubs and critical areas for shorebird species preservation. Visitors may walk up to the top of a rocky headland known as Griffith Head to soak in the panoramic seascape views and spot the lighthouses from afar. There are several islands as well, including Seguin Island, The Cuckolds, Southport, and Outer Head. Reid State Park is in a fairly remote area approximately 44 miles from Portland. Its relatively low crime rate and secluded location are perfect for a weekend getaway to catch a surf wave or spend some quiet time observing the shorebirds.
6. Two Lights
Google Rating: 4.7
Two Lights State Park, situated along the southern coast of Maine in Cape Elizabeth, encompasses 41acres of rocky terrain headlands. Approximately 94 miles from Boston, it is a popular spot for visitors in part because of its picturesque views that embody the popular mental image of the rocky East Coast. The cool breezes off the Atlantic make the park a pleasant temperature even on a hot summer afternoon.
The park was named after the twin Cape Elizabeth Lights, built in 1828 to be the first twin lighthouses in Maine. The eastern light is still active, while the western light went out of operation in 1924. The park is a well-loved picnic spot and popular location for clam bakes, barbecues, and festive gatherings. The park is family-friendly with little crime, enticing thousands to flock to its glistening shores every year.
7. Bradbury Mountain
Google Rating: 4.7
Located about 9 miles from New Gloucester and in between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn in a town called Pownal, Bradbury Mountain State Park is known for its abundant trail options. Campers come from all over the country to see and climb glacier-sculpted Bradbury Mountain and view the spectacular vistas. From mid-March to mid-May, park guests can witness the incredible hawk migration over the park.
A relatively low crime rate for the region also supports the quiet respite of a peaceful park vacation. Hundreds travel to Bradbury Mountain Park yearly to enjoy its unique attractions and serene views. As a bonus, Bradbury Mountain is the only state park in southern Maine to provide shared-use trails for mountain bikers, snowmobilers, and horseback riders through its entire 800 acres. Horseback riding to a mountainside picnic? Yes, please!
8. Owl’s Head
Google Rating: 4.8
As you make your way through this list, don’t overlook Owl’s Head State Park. Though its size may be deceiving, this park is a true gem for Maine scenery. Located in Owl’s Head, about 66 miles from Portland, the park’s main attraction is its white, thirty-foot brick lighthouse that stands atop a seventy-foot cliff over the Rockland Harbor in Penobscot Bay. This impressive structure poised 100 feet above sea level offers some of the most prominent seaside views in the state.
With a relatively low crime rate, the park is frequently visited by Maine residents and travelers alike. It is certainly smaller in size than other state parks, but the grand oceanside views and charming picnic areas make it a worthwhile stop on any journey.
9. Wolfe’s Neck Woods
Google Rating: 4.8
Located on Casco Bay on the southeastern side of Freeport and about 113 miles from the nearest big city of Bangor, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park occupies a narrow peninsula between the bay and the Harraseeket River. Varied ecosystems preserve and protect thousands of species in the white pine and hemlock forests, and salt marsh estuaries. Visitors can learn about the ospreys that nest on nearby Googins Island. Light and moderate trails offer a restorative hiking experience under the quiet canopy of oak trees with all the surrounding natural comforts.
Property crime here is slightly more prevalent than in other state parks but is still relatively low. Visitors should be mindful of their belongings and practice normal safety precautions while enjoying the park. There are many opportunities for family fun including picnicking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, and hiking.
10. Fort McClary
Google Rating: 4.7
Situated about 47 miles from Salem in Kittery Point, Maine, Fort McClary State Park is known primarily for its historical significance. The park holds a former defensive fortification of the U.S. military at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Visitors can learn about the structure’s 275-year history by visiting and touring the historic site. Outside of the fort, grassy hillsides offer the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor lunch with the family at any of the many picnic tables.
Acadia National Park
Maine offers only one officially designated national park. Acadia National Park is one of the top ten most-visited national parks in the country with more than 3.5 million visitors every year. It represents a uniquely secluded natural space with incredibly diverse landscaping from granite mountains to rocky coastlines and shaded, woody forests. It contains more than 158 miles of hiking trails over 47,000 acres of land.
The Wabanaki, comprised of the Maliseet, the Micmac, the Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes, have inhabited the land that made up the Acadia National Park for 12,000 years. Today, each of the tribes has a reservation and government headquarters within their territory in Maine.
Also located in Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the East Coast. At 1,530 feet (466 meters), it is the first place where the sun touches the Earth in the U.S. from October 7 to March 6. If you’re looking to be an early bird and view the sunrise, this is the place to make it happen.
All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, google ratings, and the number of google reviews.
Melanie Theriault is a writer, counselor, and lifelong learner. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Southwestern University, where she discovered her passion for fostering human connection through storytelling.
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