7 Best Towns in Maine to Visit in 2024

Maine is a beautiful state in New England with so many unique features like being the northernmost state in New England and the largest. The state is also famous for its lobster, vast coastline, numerous lighthouses, and some of the country’s top attractions like Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. Most of these incredible offerings and attractions can be accessed easily in the towns spread across the state, and these towns also come with interesting histories and delectable cuisines to complement them. From the touristy town of Bar Harbor to the picturesque coastal gem of Ogunquit, here are the best towns in Maine to visit in 2024. 

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is as scenic as they come, and in summer, the town is an outdoor paradise for locals and visitors alike. The town's harbor is a popular yachting destination in Maine, with various sail yachts floating on the charming waters. A good way to spend time here is to stroll around the harbor to capture its postcard-perfect beauty and admire the sailboats. From the harbor, one can embark on sailing tours to explore the waters and also watch whales. The town is also home to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where greenery and colorful flora dominate the scene. Visitors can walk along the gardens, where views of the coast complement its scenic beauty, and Giant Trolls made of wood along its heavily forested areas make the experience sensational. Afterward, relax at the Boothbay Opera House to watch intriguing performances and plays. 

Rockport

Rockport is a beautiful town beside Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine where visitors will be met with sights of yachts sitting pretty on the shimmering turquoise-blue waters of Rockport harbor. From the harbor, visitors can hike the Aldemere Farm Ocean Trail to Rockport Marine Park to see the famous Andre the Seal statue, dedicated to a seal named Andre that made Rockport its summer home. The park also features picnic tables, benches, a boat launch ramp, and more scenic harbor views. A little more hike brings visitors to the Beech Hill Preserve, a 295-acre conservation property, which features the summit of Beach Hill at 533 feet above sea level. 

Cape Elizabeth

Cape Elizabeth is a small charming town on a cape extending into the Atlantic Ocean.. This picturesque town has two state parks - Crescent Beach and Two Lights State Parks. Crescent Beach is one mile long and offers opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. The Two Lights State Park on the other hand is named after the twin lighthouses at the end of Twin Light Road. While the lighthouses are not accessible to tourists, the views alone are epic. The Two Lights State Park also sits on a rocky headland, where views of Casco Bay and the scintillating aquamarine waters of the ocean crashing onto the rocky shores are visible from picnic benches. 

Cape Elizabeth also features the 90-acre Fort Williams Park which is home to a maritime museum and the Portland Head Lighthouse - the oldest lighthouse in Maine. 

Camden

Camden is a beautiful coastal town that’s also known as the Jewel of the Maine Coast. With a population of approximately 5,000, the town is quite small but when summer arrives, people from all over the state and around the country flock in to enjoy ocean vibes, delicious seafood, shopping, and exciting outdoor adventures. The town is home to a couple of attractions like the Camden State Hill Park which features hiking trails and enchanting views of Penobscot Bay, and even Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on a clear day. 

The town also features a harbor where visitors can walk around and enjoy views of sailboats and the open sea. More attractions in Camden include - a ski resort known as Camden Snow Bowl, the 66-acre Merryspring Nature Center, and the Penobscot Bay Marine Museum which offers exhibitions on local shipbuilding and the general history of Camden. 

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is a quaint coastal gem town in southern Maine where the scenery and atmosphere feel dreamy. Typical of coastal towns, there is always a beach or beaches to explore, and Goose Rock Beach is a notable one in Kennebunkport. On this beach, miles of soft white sands offer a playground for activities like picnics, strolling, and sunbathing, while the ocean is great for swimming. For more water sports, the town also features the Kennebunkport River which is great for kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing. 

Visitors to Kennebunkport between May and November must also check out the Seashore Trolley Museum which features an extensive collection of Omni cars, trolleys, street cars, and trains from different parts of the world. Before leaving, be sure to visit Walker’s Point Estate - the summer retreat home of the Bush Family. 

Ogunquit

Ogunquit is a quintessential, coastal town where beauty, magic, and happiness abound, thanks to its picturesque atmosphere defined by beaches, and the turquoise-blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ogunquit Beach, one of the town’s famous town attractions, is a great start in this town as it features soft white sands and water which is ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Next, visitors are invited to hike the 1.25-mile Marginal Way coastal trail, where views of the Atlantic Ocean can be seen unobstructed. This trail begins from the downtown shopping area to Perkins Cove - a bustling spot filled with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. For art and history lovers, the town hosts the Ogunquit Museum of American Art which is open from April to November for tourists and features works of 19th-century artists. 

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is easily one of the best towns in Maine due to its proximity to the famed Acadia National Park, which makes it a gateway town of the park. As a result, the town is always jammed with tourists during summer and fall as they troop into the park to hike its over 120 miles of trails. Visitors to this town will also have easy access to the numerous lakes, mountains, forests, meadows, and beaches in the massive park. Plus, the Cadillac Mountain frames the town and the national park, making it a great destination for mountain climbing as well. Since it's a coastal town, several maritime tours are available to see its coves, dolphins, and smaller island settlements nearby. Visitors will also enjoy exploring Bar Harbor’s downtown area which is lined with shops, restaurants, and bakeries, down to the lively waterfront, where one can walk across a natural gravel land bridge to Bar Island, albeit at low tide. Do not miss out on the Bar Harbor Ice Cream, one of the best in the United States. 

In Conclusion

Maine is a coastal, scenic state where life is slow-paced, and the atmosphere is inviting enough for any visitor to extend a stay here. The small towns in this state are full of New England charm, captivating coastal scenery, and full of friendly locals. Whether visitors are looking for where to vacation, live, or retire, these towns in Maine have all the boxes ticked and a visit to any of them will clear any doubts.