7 Best Small Towns in Maine to Visit in 2024

Maine is the most northerly U.S. state on the East Coast. It shares a border with Canada to the north and west, New Hampshire to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. It is an ideal location for anyone looking for a weekend trip in the autumn of 2024 since the state has some of the most stunning landscapes and changing foliage. While most think of Vermont and Massachusetts when considering viewing fall colors, Maine has just as much to offer and a more remote environment in which to appreciate it.

Maine is home to a national park and 32 state parks. All of these parks mean that much of the state is under some form of government protection and preservation that is available to be viewed and experienced by tourists and locals. From Katahdin Woods to Acadia National Park and Waters National Monument to Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, guests will never run out of sites to visit while traveling through Maine. But nature isn’t all this state has to offer since it is also home to several small towns with welcoming locals, excellent food, and so much more.

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport has a reputation for being one of the most unique and historically rich towns in the state of Maine. As the furthest northern state on the East Coast, Maine has rather mild summers and slightly more intense winters than most of the eastern states. But Kennebunkport’s location on the Atlantic Ocean gives it a slightly more moderate winter, with average temperatures hovering around 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The town’s history goes back almost 11,000 years, with native tribes hunting and traveling the land for ages and European trappers and fishers arriving in or around the area sometime in the 1600s.

Beaver Pond and Little River are two of the loveliest locations in Kennebunkport, with access to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean not far away. These spots are also pretty close to Goose Rocks Beach. This beach is a favorite spot for vacationers and residents alike to soak up the sun and play on the pristine shorelines. A few minutes away is Sandy Pines Campground, which is the perfect place to enjoy a weekend in the woods. They offer more luxurious camping experiences with their glamping tents and more secluded options with their hideaway huts.

Anyone who enjoys exploring small islands is sure to love this place, too. There are several small islands off Kennebunkport’s coast, with the southern area having the best options for visitors. Stage Island Preserve is a lovely place to visit for a day, being a small half-mile island best known for its soft sand. Cape Porpoise Lobster Company serves fresh seafood dishes just a few minutes away from the islands, so anyone out exploring all that Kennebunkport’s nature has to offer is sure to enjoy a finely cooked meal at the end of their travels. For anyone traveling to Kennebunkport in 2024, the Summer Concert Series is offering live music at the local library until September.

Rockport

Rockport is another beautiful coastal town in Maine, about two hours north of Kennebunkport. Although it was officially incorporated in 1891, European settlers arrived as early as 1769 and established a presence in the area. The region was well-known as a major producer of lime and even supplied more of the material to aid in rebuilding the White House after the War of 1812. Perhaps most notable, though, is its reputation as ranking as one of Forbes's most beautiful US towns back in 2008, which is something that stands true to this day.

One of the community’s most famous cultural icons was Andre the Seal. In 1961, Harry Goodridge adopted a young Harbor Seal and named him Andre. He quickly became a town favorite and people from out of town soon started visiting just to see the guy. Today, there’s a statue of him in the town harbor, and several forms of media, including a book and movie, have been written about his story. The statue is definitely a site worth visiting to get a full appreciation of the community’s culture.

In 2024, Rockport will host its Rockport Garden Club Holly Berry Fair on December 7th and 8th. In previous years, the festival was a place to sell and buy novelty items such as scarves, mittens, and other adorable items. The Aldermere Farm Ocean Trail is the perfect nature path that is just under a mile long and offers exquisite views of the coast. Not far from the trail is American Flatbread, a wonderful restaurant that offers great, healthy flatbreads, including cheese and herbs and the medicine wheel.

Stonington

Stonington is yet another coastal town on Maine’s East Coast, approximately two hours east of Rockport. It is the smaller of two areas on one of Maine’s most beautiful islands, Deer Isle, just a few miles from shore. Today, the small island is home to several smaller islands, including the Deer Isle Thorofare Lighthouse. However, some 5,000 years ago, native tribes like the Maliseet and Passamaquoddy called them their home and sustained themselves largely by fishing and trapping sea creatures.

Stonington prides itself in being a working community on a small island paradise that values its community and cherishes artistic expression. Visitors can get a taste of this amazing artistic beauty by checking out the town’s Deet Isle Artisan Market on August 22nd, 2024, and the Special Exhibit: Perfect Pairings - Artists in Collaboration, held until September 1st, 2024. It’s important to note that Deer Isle and Stonington share these events, but just keep in mind that the details of each event can be found by visiting the DIAA Gallery at 15 Main Street in Deer Isle Village.

For those planning to spend a day or two, which is certainly recommended, the Aragosta at Goose Cove is the place to stay. It is a charming spot that overlooks the sea and Barred Island to the east and offers a luxurious experience immersed in 21 acres of Maine’s natural beauty. Guests should plan a trip to the nearby Mark Island, a small island that’s home to plenty of wilderness scenery, and The Mark Island Light, also known as the Deer Isle Thorofare Lighthouse. The Island Heritage Trust works hard to preserve this site and even has records of different lighthouse keepers and some old photographs.

Greenville

Around three hours northwest of Stonington and Deer Isle is the inland town of Greenville. This town is one of the largest communities on the shores of Moosehead Lake, a large lake in central Maine. Moosehead Lake is certainly the main attraction, with most tourists choosing to stay in Greenville while checking out the area, thanks to its convenient location right along the coast of the lake and its size, being the largest town along the lake.

August and September 2024 are busy months for this small town, with the Katahdin Cruises and Moosehead Marine Museum hosting several cruises and historical tours. The cruise will take guests on tours of the lake, with the Sugar Island tours being particularly famous. The Katahdin, also known as the Kate, is a historic steamboat that was later converted to diesel fuel and stands as one of the most important parts of the town’s history. This lovely white and green wooden ship only costs around $50.00 to ride for a three-hour tour and is perfect for families who want to immerse themselves in small-town history.

Moosehead Lake is by far the largest and most popular spot, but Lower Wilson Pond is another fun place to visit while in the neighborhood. For anyone who enjoys a day out fishing, Lower Wilson Pond has a large variety of fish, including Brook Trout, Salmon, and several other types. Anyone who enjoys boating on the water should book a trip with Allagash Canoe Trips. They host several trips per year, with the last trip of 2024 scheduled for September 15-21. It begins on Eagle Lake and traverses other naturally stunning locations, like Allagash Falls.

Damariscotta

Damariscotta is a lovely little town approximately two and a half hours south of Greenville and just a few minutes from the seashore. The Damariscotta River flows along the town’s border to the west, and Pemaquid Pond sits to the east, making it a city rich in natural beauty. The region was once home to the Wawenock Abenaki native tribe, who lived there for thousands of years before Europeans arrived in the 1600s. In 1631, the neighboring community of Pemaquid was granted as part of the Plymouth colony, and settlers later moved to the modern location of Damariscotta around 1640.

One of the most unique features of the town is the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site. This 11-acre state park offers excellent hiking trails, like access to the main trailhead that takes travelers along the coast of Damariscotta River. It also grants access to Round Top Farm, which is the headquarters for Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust and a popular spot for music and the arts. It was once a dairy farm, which explains not only the name but its naturally stunning beauty. Perhaps the most important part of this gorgeous park is impressively large oyster shell piles, also known as middens. These middens date back to when the native tribes lived and hunted in the region and left these shells behind, with some of the middens dating back 2,500 years.

Moving across town to Pemaquid Pond is the Doyle Preserve. The trails at this park are typically accessible for folks of all ages and fitness levels and afford some stunning views of Maine’s wildlife. This includes local foxes, woodpeckers, and red squirrels. A few miles south of this nature preserve is the Lake Pemaquid Campground, which is perfect for outdoor lovers hoping to spend a few days in town. They have tent campgrounds but also welcome RV campers and have amazing activities, including fishing and boating. Anyone looking for a hearty breakfast at a small-town diner should start their day at the Barn Door Baking Company.

Castine

Castine is a charming little town about two hours northeast of Damariscotta and sits along the coast of Penobscot Bay and Bagaduce River. Castine’s history consists of diverse people groups, including the Tarrantine native tribe, the Dutch, the French, and later the British. The French were the first Europeans to settle in the area in the early 1600s. Later, the Dutch came to the region in 1674-1676, but the British later took over, and by 1713, Castine was a member of the British Empire.

As a historically significant town in Maine, it has many historic landmarks that are definitely worth visiting. The best places to see and experience the town's history are the Wilson Museum and John Perkins House. The John Perkins House is actually the first European home built in town and dates all the way back to 1763. It is still in excellent shape thanks to the care given to preserve it. However, the site also has a blacksmith shop, a pump house, and the town’s museum with all kinds of historical items from the town’s past. The pump house is home to the community’s old fire department, and the blacksmith shop is a unique immersive experience in the past.

The Starr and Virginia Lampson Preserve is a lovely nature site that has wonderful trails and is ideal for a bike ride or simple hike in Maine’s local nature. However, it is not the only nature trail in town. The Witherle Woods and Hatch Cove are great natural locations with trails, forests, and flowers. In particular, the Hatch Cove has some amazing flower beds and wonderful picnic areas. Dennett’s at the Warf is a great spot for fresh food, including a lobster roll, and for those hoping to spend the week, Castine Cottages is the best option in town by far.

Boothbay Harbor

Just over two hours south of Castine is the gorgeous community of Boothbay Harbor. Boothbay Harbor is more properly known as the Boothbay Harbor Region and traces its early European history to 1622 when some Plymouth Pilgrims traveled to the area to get more supplies. Later, more permanent settlers arrived in the form of Scotch-Irish, who mainly existed on subsistence farming. In later years, the town became a hub for shipbuilding and even served as a primary source of vessels for the navy during World War I and World War II.

Guests can enjoy Boothbay Harbor's stunning history on one of the trips organized by Red Cloak Tours. These beautiful tours include immersion into the town’s culture, education for visitors and locals on the town’s history, and sharing of some local legends and ghost stories. Those planning a trip to Boothbay Harbor in 2024 should consider visiting on or around October 12th so they can enjoy the Fall Foliage Festival. This is the 56th annual festival for the community and only costs $5.00 per person, so it is pretty accessible. And for those traveling with children under five, the event is free.

Those traveling with children should also check out The Maine State Aquarium, run by the Department of Marine Resources. This aquarium offers visitors an opportunity to explore the Gulf of Maine, which is home to over 3,000 different species of marine life and covers over 7,500 square miles of shoreline. Of course, the aquarium can’t house all of these fantastic creatures, but they do offer hands-on touch tanks and other exhibits that help guests learn all about the amazing wildlife of Maine. If tourists hope to stay a few days, Sprue Point Inn is an excellent option in town, offering luxurious rooms, a spa, and incredible dining experiences.

Experience Maine's Charm in 2024

Visiting Maine in 2024 is a wonderful choice, especially for those who enjoy lovely fall foliage. The coastal towns of Maine afford stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rocky shoreline. The people of Maine are known for their rugged lifestyle and independent nature, as well as their desire to preserve and maintain their culture and history. As such, guests can count on seeing plenty of open spaces of wilderness, historic landmarks, and more when visiting the most northerly state on the US East Coast.

Tourists won’t have to worry that their trip will be too rough, though, since many small towns offer welcoming spas and luxurious accommodations that are immersed in the surrounding natural beauty. Whether travelers hope to spend a few nights outdoors in the woods and mountains camping under the stars or hope to indulge in a romantic weekend away from all the noise of the city, Maine has a lot to offer.