maine to alabama road trip

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This was the first big road trip my family has done in three years. Last trip was nearly every state west of the Mississippi River. Towards the end of June this year we left from Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Our first stop was to check on the house in Auburn and get some rest before leaving out early the next morning. We took 65 north to Cave City, Ky. and spent the night at The Sleep Inn. They have an indoor pool and good hot breakfast. We visited Mammoth Cave the next day. I had booked two tours, the whole family would do the Domes & Dripstones Tour and then the children could do the Trog tour alone. We have five kids between nine and twelve and the Trog tour caps out at thirteen years old. So this was probably the last chance for one of them to go on this tour that is kids only and visits parts of the cave adults don't get to see. This was the highlight of the trip for the kids on day 2 and is a true spelunking adventure. They talked about it the entire trip. My wife and I loved the Domes & Dripstones tour and we also hiked around the park while the kids were doing their tour which lasted three hours. We hiked the Cedar Sink Trail and met them at the Historic Entrance. We hiked another trail with the kids that was nearly all uphill and went to the original supposed entrance to Mammoth Cave before it collapsed. When we left Mammoth Cave we drove through back roads to The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP. It had just closed but we were still able to see his birth cabin from the front entrance; Maybe next time. We drove all the way to Dayton, Ohio that night and got a hotel around midnight in Miamisburg.

The next day we drove to Cuyahoga National Park and spent the day there. We hiked The Ledges and the trail to Brandywine Falls, had lunch in Peninsula at Fisher's, which was great. We watched the train and then went to the Boston Store Visitor Center and also saw the towlock that was preserved from the original canal that forms the backbone of this NP. The weather was great and we got out late afternoon. We drove to Erie and had dinner and then drove out to Presque Isle SP. We let the kids run on the beach for awhile and took pictures of the lighthouse. After Erie we continued driving to Niagara. I got a ticket in New York for speeding but it was reduced to -- my cooler was blocking a portion of my license plate. Still a fine and court costs! We got to Niagara Falls after dark and the kids got to see the falls lit up. We stayed an hour and got a hotel in Buffalo.

The next morning we went back to Niagara and did the Maid Of the Mist Tour and the Observation Tower. This was thoroughly enjoyable and a bucket list item checked off. We bought souvenirs and drove on through the Adirondacks to Shroon Lake and had dinner. This was the longest day of driving. We made it to Burlington, Vermont around 1am with the kids all asleep. We got the Baymont Inn at Essex for the night. The kids swam in the indoor pool and waterslide the next morning while I did laundry.

We were back on the road by mid morning. It started pouring on us in The White Mountains in NH and we didn't get to see much. It didn't let up til we got to Augusta, Maine and spent the night at a Comfort Inn. The next day we saw Steven King's house in Bangor and drove all the way to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. This was my first time in Maine.

We arrived on a Monday and stayed in Acadia for two nights. We literally got the last campsite in the whole NP. We set up tents at Blackwoods campground and had dinner in Bar Harbor. We did everything in the NP the next few days, The Bubbles, Cadillac Mtn, Jordan Pond, Seawall, we hiked the Beehive Trail, which was another highlight. We had dinner in Bar Harbor again and hiked the shore path into town. We let the kids get whoopie pies and did laundry again after two nights tent camping in the rain. We drove all over Mt. Dessert Island and were enjoying the park so much we stayed another two days and got a hotel at Bar Harbor Motel. This turned out to be a great alternative to the $400 rooms we saw elsewhere on 4th of July weekend. They had an outdoor pool and the hot breakfast and room was very good for $150 a night. We had pizza at Rosalie's, phenomenal, and let the kids get ice cream. Our last day in Maine was spent back in Acadia, actually everyday was spent in Acadia but we went back to see the roaring cave and hike the Cadillac Mtn Trail. We took the scenic drive from Bar Harbor to Camden upon leaving and followed the coast all the way to Augusta. We got a room in Providence, Rhode Island around one in the morning with all the kids asleep again.

The next day was an easy drive to Philly on I-95. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express midtown in Philly, had a cheesesteak for dinner at Sonny's and went to see the 4th of July fireworks at Penn's Landing. The walk from our hotel was about a mile each way. The fireworks were fun, the kids went to the pool afterwords while my wife rested. The next day we walked to Independence National Historic Park and did the tour of Independence Hall. We saw the Liberty Bell and took pictures then got back on the road. It took us two hours to get to Lancaster, PA. I stopped in the visitor center and they gave me a great map of the Amish countryside. We had lunch in Intercourse and bought cheese and jellies from a family that was selling out of their house. We spent the afternoon driving around the countryside and then made are way towards Maryland, West VA and finally got a hotel just outside Shenandoah NP.

The next morning we did laundry and a mile down the road was Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP so we stopped in there while the laundry was going. We spent the whole day at Shenandoah NP hiking. We did a portion of the AT and hiked the Dark Hollow Trail down to the falls. Shenandoah is over a hundred miles in length and has some wonderful overlooks but driving through the park was slow. We got rained on a few times but still managed to see a few bears and lots of deer. It was another long night of driving. We made it as far as Abingdon, Va. and got a hotel at the Super 8. Our last day was in Great Smokey Mtns NP. We got there pretty early and went straight to the Visitor Center in Pigeon Forge. We got maps and hiked the Laurel Falls Trail. The kids played in the waterfalls and we all had a good time. We drove up Newfound Gap and then to Clingman's Dome. This was an unexpected stop so we didn't have all day here and promised the kids we would come back soon and tent camp here for a few days. We left the park on the North Carolina side and hiked another trail to try and see some more bears but only saw deer and turkey. We had dinner in Cherokee, NC and made our way down the Blue Ridge Parkway the wrong way and had to go back to Cherokee on back roads. We stopped in Tallulah, Georgia around seven pm and looked at the Tallulah Gorge SP camping options and drove around for a few minutes. This SP was on our list for a future trip which will probably come sooner than later after stopping here. It was beautiful and we look forward to hiking the gorge. We just drove on to Auburn that night. We have two dogs which we'd kenneled for two weeks and everyone was excited to see them.

It turned out to be a great road trip although we didn't get to tent camp as much as we had wanted to or had on our last big trip. The driving stretches were just too long with the amount of time we spent each place we went. Most of the long driving was done at night and we just let the kids sleep in the truck until I got too tired to drive anymore. Acadia NP was mine and my wife's favorite and would rank up their with Yellowstone and Glacier after having been to twenty or so of the big national parks. There is a lot to see and do. I had three weeks off work and my wife and kids were out of school for the summer so we didn't get as much time in each place as I would have liked but we now know we want to go back and spend more time in Bar Harbor and Maine and the Adirondacks. My wife wants to do another Shenandoah trip too. We like tent camping but also like the advantages of having a shower and pool for the kids, not too mention the hot breakfast. We learned that if we got a better hotel that had a hot breakfast with nicer rooms and a pool that the kids were happier and we actually saved money by not having to buy breakfast somewhere else which would have cost another $30 or so a day. Plus the hot showers really make a difference after hiking and being outside all day. We are all looking forward to the next trip.

Thank you for the excellent and detailed report. I enjoy reading your report. Mammoth Cave and Penn's Landing on July 4th are interesting. Acadia NP sounds appealing. You have a well planned road trip.

Excellent trip report. Thanks so much for posting!!

We too love the national parks. Just did GSMNP in August.

I remember your epic trip from last time (if I recall correctly, your praise for Theodore Roosevelt NP was one of those seminal comments that paved the way for my trip there this year) and this one looks no less epic. Good info for that Acadia trip that I hope to have one of these days. Thanks for the good read!

Sounds like you packed a lot into a great road trip! We were in Acadia this past spring and it also is one of my favorite parks (& I love the western N.P.s)! SO many trails and that combo of ocean & mountains, pine trees and cliffs... not to mention seafood in Bar Harbor. AHHH!

I'm impressed with all that driving with 5 kids... kudos to you all!

Your kids are so lucky to have all these great memories with their family. I'll look up your TR from the western trip.

Thanks for the comments and glad to hear you made it to Teddy Roosevelt ScottinPTC. We really enjoyed that park as well and look forward to another trip there someday to see the North Unit.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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The driving distance from Alabama (AL) to Maine (ME) is:

1,424 miles / 2 292 km, map of driving directions from alabama to maine.

View a map with driving directions using your preferred map provider: Google Maps , Bing Maps , or MapQuest .

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Driving distance from Alabama to Maine

The total driving distance from Alabama to Maine is 1,424 miles or 2 292 kilometers .

Your trip begins in the state of Alabama. It ends in the state of Maine.

If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from Alabama to Maine so you can see when you'll arrive at your destination.

You can also calculate the cost of driving from Alabama to Maine based on current local fuel prices and an estimate of your car's best gas mileage.

Since this is a long drive, you might want to stop halfway and stay overnight in a hotel. You can find the city that is halfway between Alabama and Maine .

Planning to fly a plane instead? You might be more interested in calculating the straight line distance to fly from Alabama to Maine .

Alabama (AL)

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The Best Alabama Road Trip Itinerary for Your Next Adventure

January 19, 2022

Are you ready to learn the truth about the most misunderstood state in the US? This Alabama road trip itinerary will open your eyes, melt your heart and, quite possibly, change your life. 

Too much to promise for a simple driving itinerary? Allow me to explain…

See also 101 interesting facts about Alabama

Table of Contents

Your Perfect Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

Disclosure  – This project took place through a partnership with Alabama Tourism Department and America As You Like It. As ever, as always, we kept the right to write what we like. There’s really no point otherwise! Also, we use some affiliate links. That means that if you book or buy through some of these links then we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We still only recommend products and services we use ourselves. Again, no point otherwise!

Alabama Road Trip Map

White sands at sunset, dolphins in waves.

Space rocket launches and cavernous caves.

Mountains with lookouts, long trails of tears. 

Carnival, Mardi Gras, parties with cheers.

Writerly stories that reach through the age.

From Gatsby to Mockingbird, turning the page. 

Then footsteps and missteps, bombing and rage.

Forgiveness. 

Non-violence. A bus stop. A change?

Drive Alabama, a culture exchange.

Alabama’s beautiful beaches…

Why You Should Visit Alabama

Alabama isn’t one of those states that people know well. Even among friends and fellow travel writers, I heard question after incredulous question. Why are you going to Alabama? What is there to do in Alabama? And even, more than once, is it worth going to Alabama?!

Well, where should I start? With the white sand beaches, award-wining eco credentials and dolphins dipping at sunset? The rust and russet rolling peaks of the Appalachian mountains? The heartbreaking and heart-fixing stories of the civil rights movement through household names like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King?

Perhaps we’ll curl up with a good book? Choose from Truman Capote, Fiztgerald and Gatsby and Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Or party all year in Mobile, home to the oldest Mardi Gras in America.

Would the world’s biggest space museum blast your interest? Or how about some shrimp & grits, ribs in smoky barbecue sauce and a slice of pecan pie?

Yes, this Alabama road trip will sweep you through the Yellowhammer State in either seven, ten or fourteen days. But leave your prejudices at home.

Above all else, Alabama invites you to explore with an open mind.

Feeling overwhelmed with your travel plans? Check out our Travel Toolbox ©  and Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©.  They contain all the resources you need to get everything done, easily and with a side of sass.

Waking up excited every day!

How to Use This Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

There are many ways, obviously, to plan a road trip through Alabama but the highlights remain the same. This loop runs from New Orleans to New Orleans but other good ideas for Alabama road trips involve either driving in a loop from Atlanta, Georgia, or driving south to north from New Orleans to Tennessee. For international visitors, it’s easier to fly into one of the other states and then cross the state line.

7, 10 or 14 Nights in Alabama?

If you stay one night in each of the main places here, that makes a 7 day Alabama road trip itinerary. However, to do it this way, you have to move and pack fast. I would strongly recommend expanding it to make a 10 day road trip itinerary, and I’ve indicated in each section where and why you should spend extra time in a place. To craft a full 14 day or two week Alabama road trip itinerary, I would take your time with this one, then stop off in Monroeville for the night and make excursions to Selma and the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Muscle Shoals too.

Facing the Past

A road trip through Alabama brings up some big topics amid the great hospitality and sense of joy and fun, which is why it’s such a powerful thing to do. Alabama is not alone with this, at all, but the iconic moments relating to genocide, slavery, racism and colonialism that took place here leave Alabama with a unique historical footprint. It’s hard to serve the topics well within the framework of a travel itinerary, so please rest assured that I will be back with more in-depth articles and context through individual articles later.

Sorting out Logistics

Each section has an introduction as to why you should visit that part of Alabama followed by a fact box that details things like drive times, where to stay, where to sleep and so on. If ever you get lost, head to the table of contents or Alabama road trip map here.  

And don’t forget the Road Trip Planner & Toolkit© to help you plan an amazing trip!

Alabama Itinerary Overview

Here are the key stops on a 7 day Alabama road trip itinerary. The pace is pretty full on, so if you can, I’d suggest you extend this to either 10 days or two weeks to really make the most of things. I’ve added in where and how I would make those changes in the sections below.

• New Orleans
• Appalachian Mountains
• Monroeville

Gulf Shores

Carnival in Mobile: the longest running one in the US

The first thing to know about Mobile is how to pronounce it. Mo-beeeeel. Not Mo-baisle as in crocodile.

With that out of the way, you’re ready to enjoy one of the most colourful cities in the world: Mobile.

Often described as New Orleans’ little sister, on account of its wrought iron railings and love for carnival, Mobile, while smaller, actually came first. Named the capital of French Louisiana in 1702, a full fifteen years before New Orleans came into being, today’s Mobile oozes charm and speakeasy atmosphere on Dauphin Street, a mix of theatre, restaurants and bars beneath wrought iron railings and pastel painted facades.

Honestly, I’d recommend a visit for that street alone but Mobile has other tricks up its golden beaded sleeve.

Exploring a submarine in Alabama…

History in Mobile

The History Museum of Mobile gives a good introduction to the state’s history, including the often overlooked Native American struggles, along with some harrowing depictions of the realities of the slave trade. The sections are short but powerful and manageable for young children.

Just a short drive from speakeasy Downtown, you’ll find a mighty contrast at the Battleship Memorial Park. Enthusiasts could spend an entire day here, exploring the depths of a retired submarine, staring at the wings of a B-52 and then scaling the ladders of the Battleship USS Alabama. Retired service personnel offer anecdotes about living on top of a nuclear warhead deep below the sea for 90 days at a time and the entire setup gives an insight into the reality behind the most powerful military in the world.

Carnival in Mobile

Finally, we can’t talk about Mobile without talking about Carnival and the mystic societies. To say that Mardi Gras here is a big deal is to massively underplay the concept of big deals. It’s huge. Ginormous. Gigantic. Heck, someone throw a thesaurus over here fast, we need to talk about Carnival in Mobile!

It’s the longest running Mardi Gras in America, and if you can’t make the real deal in Spring, don’t despair. The Carnival museum will welcome you with fire breathing dragon floats, jewel-studded dresses that need ball bearings to help them travel along the floor, dinner pieces that would rival royalty and a glimpse into a secret world of striped pyjamas, kings, queens and the Excelsior band.

On Dauphin Street in Mobile…

Practical Tips for Mobile

Dauphin Street is a fun street to walk along and, with the right shoes, it’s possible to walk from there to the history museum and carnival museum. In fact, the walk is half the fun.

For the Battleship Memorial Park, however, you will need to drive. Parking on site is easy once you get there. Enjoy!

Why is Alabama called the Yellowhammer State?

First of all, let me spare you some embarrassment. Yellowhammer is nothing to do with industry or communism. It’s the name of a bird. Legend has it that a group of soldiers from Huntsville wore yellow trimmed clothes during the Civil War. They were nicknamed the yellowhammers and soon the term referred to anyone from Alabama. The yellowhammer now is the official state bird.

It’s just over two hours from New Orleans to Mobile on straight, main roads.

Where to Stay

• Mobile’s Riverview Plaza lives a short and colourful walk from both the atmospheric part of Downtown and the museum district. It pierces the sky like a magnified needle, offering great sunrise views across the industrial side of Mobile and its waterway. Both self-parking and valet parking are available but don’t worry too much about breakfast. It’s only a short walk to the inimitable Mo’Bay Beignets.

How Many Nights

We squeezed by with one night but to really enjoy and appreciate the museums, it would be a gift to have more time. Probably one and a half days here is ample, which my involve two nights depending on what time you need to arrive and leave.

Where to Eat

• Wintzell’s Oyster House – a no frills, welcoming oyster bar with fried green tomatoes, crab claw baskets and award-winning seafood gumbo.
• Mo’Bay Beignets – Mobile’s favourite coffee bar, bright and white Mo’Bay serves sugar dusted beignets with signature hot sauces that include butterscotch, cinnamon and gingerbread.
• Roosters – casual spot for South American inspired food. Worth a visit to see the size of the hot sauce counter!
• Noble South – highly recommended gourmet spot for Southern food like Shrimp & Grits
• The Mobile Carnival Museum – glittering gowns, dinner invitations, floats and mystic history.
• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park – clamber among a real submarine, battleship and fighter planes and start to understand the might of America’s military.
• Dauphin Street – atmospheric architecture and ambiance.
• The History Museum of Mobile and Fort Conde – a walk through how we got to where we are.
• Beignets at Mo’Bay Beignets – sugar dusted tradition.

Inside Tips

• I’d really recommend taking a tour around the Carnival Museum if possible. It’s such a huge part of life here that it’s good to be able to ask questions and dig a little deeper into the culture and tradition surrounding these magnificent parties. 

Montgomery. Cruel history and inspiring history all in one city.

Montgomery. It’s probably not a name that many people know, yet a few square miles in this state capital contain name upon name that all the world knows. Martin Luther King. Rosa Parks. Gatsby and his greatness.

What’s even more remarkable is how close together these places are. And that they represent but a drop in the wider Montgomery ocean.

Historic Hot Dogs

Start with a slice of history by walking in the footsteps of Elvis, Martin Luther King and all the governors of Alabama at the historic, humble… Chris’ Hot Dogs store.  Founded in 1917, this low-lit, low nonsense eatery serves up a vintage idea of America, through hot dogs and hot sauce, snug booths and retro fonts and the mountains and mountains of napkins. (Trust me, you’ll need them all…)

From there, it’s a sprint up the hill to the Dexter Avenue Memorial Church, a red brick building overshadowed at first, by the view up the hill of the white dome and columns of Alabama’s State Capitol Building.

And here’s where we need a quick trip to the history books.

What You Need to Know About Alabama’s State Capitol Building

In 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first president of the Confederacy on the very steps of the capitol building. For us non-Americans, the Confederates were the side that fought against Abraham Lincoln’s northern Union states. Some say it was a fight against overtaxation and northern tyranny. More say it was a fight to keep slavery as the bedrock of the economy.

Fast forward to 1955 and a time when Alabama was among one of the most segregated states in America. A 42 year old woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat for a white man, resulting in arrest, protests, the Montgomery bus boycott and the rise to prominence of a truly great spokesman, one Martin Luther King.

He was also a preacher at the Dexter Avenue Memorial Church.

Martin Luther King’s Church

Today, the place has a modified name. The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church. Painted footprints mark the spot outside, symbolising the thousands who marched from Selma to Montgomery to campaign for fair voting rights. At the time, Governor George Wallace refused to accept the petition, vowing to extend segregation forever. At the 50 year anniversary, led by then President Barack Obama, Martin Luther King’s daughter walked up the steps to the Capitol and was received by the governor with tears and open arms. The original governor, Wallace, attended the church to beg forgiveness.

Wanda, a force of nature and our guide to the church, greets us there and invites us to stand on the tarmac. To walk in the footsteps of giants. And it’s from this point on that my professional interest melts into a blend of personal hope and shame.

African-American history is so brutal, so recent and so far from over. Yet progress came through campaign after campaign of powerful non-violence. And information in Montgomery arrives with a tsunami of human connection, hope and warm southern hospitality. It’s jarring and blurring and, for me, I would say, life changing. Forgive me, dear readers, for not expanding fully here. I need another article to do the subject justice. Subscribe or simply come back and watch this space.

That the church sits so close to the main government building seems a strange quirk of fate. So, too, the proximity of the Rosa Parks Museum near the stop where she boarded and the Freedom Riders Museum, in the original bus station attacked by a mob.

Hanging out with the costumes from the Great Gatsby at the Fitz Museum in Montgomery

Another Side of Montgomery

Away from the concrete and columns of Downtown Montgomery, the Cloverdale neighbourhood houses gardens galore. In one picturesque spot lives the Fitz Museum, marking the home of Zelda and F. Scott. Fitzgerald who lived here for a stint between 1931 and 1932.

It’s also guest house, with period Zelda and Scott suites upstairs, while manuscripts, photographs, cigarette holders and perfume bottles fill the rooms on the ground floor.

Further out again, surrounded by greenery, you’ll find the Alabama Shakespeare Festival housed in the Carolyn Blount Theatre. We caught a child-friendly performance of Cinderella but the theatre hosts a wide range of performances throughout the rest of the year.

Practical Tips for Montgomery

Bring plenty of tissues! Honestly, the stories and emotions that surround the monuments and people you will meet need time and space to sink in and breathe.

Beyond that, the Capitol Building, Chris’ Hot Dogs, and Dexter Avenue Church are in easy walking distance of one another. So, too are the Rosa Parks Museum and Freedom Riders Museum.

You will need to drive out to both the Fitz Museum and Alabama Shakespeare Festival so leave yourself plenty of time for those.

Oh, yes. And accept the mountains of napkins you will be given at Chris’s Hot Dogs. Believe me.

From Mobile to Montgomery, it’s a straightforward 2.5 hours on the road.

• Springhill Suites in Downtown Montgomery may win the prize for being the hotel I have spent the least actual time in, with our late night and early start. As with the other Springhill Suites, you’ll find parking, a grab and go breakfast buffet, shared laundry facilities and a convenient location.

Definitely more than one! Montgomery is a powerful, powerful place with many stories to tell. I believe you’d benefit from more time to put things into context and reflect, spacing out the time in each place mentioned. You could also consider visiting the new Legacy Museum: From Slavery to Incarceration and National Memorial for Peace and Justice.  This came highly recommended for adults but with question marks about its suitability for very young children.

• Chris’s Hot Dogs  – founded in 1917, this is the oldest family run restaurant in Alabama and has dished up hot dogs to Martin Luther King, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and every Alabama governor since it opened.
• Dreamland BBQ  – this Alabama franchise began life in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1958, after Big Daddy Bishop received a visitation from God. Try out their signature BBQ sauce and hickory-fired ribs.
• The Alabama State Capitol Building – where so many poignant events took place.
• The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church – where Dr Martin Luther King Jr preached, just steps from the State Capitol Building.
• The Rosa Parks Museum and the section of road where she was arrested.
• The Freedom Riders Museum – in the bus station where people continued non violent protest against segregation.
• The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum – former home to the author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott. Fitzgerald.
• The Alabama Shakespeare Festival – impressive and active theatre amid great greenery and grounds
• Check out the events schedule at the Freedom Riders Museum. People who took part in the civil rights struggle at the time sometimes attend to speak about their experiences.

Why is Alabama Called the Heart of Dixie?

So, there are a few layers to this. Alabama sits at the heart of a number of southern States who go (or used to go) by the name of Dixie. This dates back to the time when Louisiana printed bank notes with the French word for ten: dix. Dix (pronounced deece) became dixie as a general term for the southern states and an active PR campaign in the 1940s and 50s sought to make it Alabama’s official nickname.

So, what’s the problem? Well, those southern States largely formed the Confederacy, the losing side of the American Civil War, and the side that fought to continue the slave trade. Plus, the term Dixie was made popular through blackface minstrel shows.

As a result, it’s a term that some feel evokes a romantic idea of an era in which racism and slavery were celebrated.

Not everyone feels this way but it’s good to be aware of the controversy before you go.

Walking in Little River Canyon in the Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains

Nothing takes you right back to the present like nature. And somehow, she also manages to spirt you to the past and future as well.

The Appalachian Mountains may start life as far north as Newfoundland in Canada, but they tumble into Alabama with a soothing rise and fall that undulates with deep green in the summer and orange needled tapestries in autumn.

The Trail of Tears

But for all the beauty, there’s heartache to find here too. Look out for a series of landmarks that commemorate the lives lost between 1830 – 1850 when the US government forcibly removed Native Americans from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee to land west of the Mississippi in Oklahoma. Thousands died through starvation and exposure along the route which the Cherokee refer to as “the trail of tears.”

Little River Canyon National Preserve sits on the aptly named Lookout Mountain near the quirky town of Fort Payne and DeSoto State Park. It’s so hard to imagine today, but in 1838, US soldiers and local militia rounded up approximately 1100 Cherokee men, women and children, placed them in stockades and then marched them for 798 miles without adequate food and supplies.

Look out for the small plaques which invite you to reflect on this history.

Hiking & Driving Little River Canyon

In today’s world, though, friendly Park Rangers and a well stocked visitor’s centre make it an easy outdoor space to explore. Walking trails pass by landmarks like Little River Falls and, if you have the nerve, the skill and the right weather conditions, you can take to the rapids yourself.

A beautiful drive wiggles and weaves along the rim of the canyon , or so I’m reliably told. We arrived amid the twilight mist so rather than elegant hiking and staring out to the flame edged horizon, I yelped in and out of the car at each lookout point in a race against the darkness clouding the sky. Crow point overlook. Wolf creek overlook. I stood on each point in the shadows, wondering what lay below. Go, voyage during daylight and let me know what I missed!

Cathedral Caverns: one of the biggest cave systems in the world

Cathedral Caverns

Under normal circumstances, I’m not much of a cave person. Too many bad experiences with too much darkness and too many banged heads (or is that one head banged several times – Ed?)

But Cathedral Caverns really did live up to its name. It’s cavernous, possibly the third largest cave of its kind in the world, and the melting, melding display of stalactites and stalagmites in one section of the cavern really does resemble a cathedral (and in another beautiful moment, our tour guide was called Kavan. Seriously. Say it out loud…)

And for the first time in forever, as they say in Disney, it recalibrated my discomfort with darkness. Forty minutes into the cavern on well lit pathways and our Kavan switched off the lights. Complete, total darkness. Darkness I’ve not found anywhere else. At first fear, panic, dizziness, and a primitive need to protect baby Lab. Then, a kind of peace, a requirement to relinquish control, to stand in the moment, to trust a virtual stranger that everything would be fine.

When studded fairy lights punctured the darkness, the display was honestly magical.

Practical Tips for Exploring the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama

First of all, check out hiking checklist here.

Second of all, make a stop into one of the visitor centres or arrange to meet up with a Park Ranger. These are American parks so, in general, paths are well maintained and well signposted but they can still be dangerous.

Never assume that it’s safe to swim or dive in the water and learn about what to do if you see a bear.

You’ll find the small towns, like Mentone and Fort Payne, reasonably well stocked and beautifully quirky places to visit but if you need any specialist equipment or medication, make sure you have it before you set off.

In Little River Canyon, the walk past Little River Falls and back in a loop is easily manageable with young children. Enjoy!

Montgomery to Fort Payne is three hours but this can easily be longer. In good weather, you’ll likely want to stop and take photos through the scenic drive in Talladega National Forest. In bad weather, visibility will be lower and you’ll need to go slow on the fairly winding roads.

• Winston Place B&B l ooks like a museum from Gone with the Wind, set in an antebellum neoclassical mansion in the small town of Mentone. It’s no surprise that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places, with its white columns, spacious verandah and grand lawn out front. Inside, rooms keep the historic ambiance, with fireplaces, floral furniture, lace edged tablecloths and more. Yet you get all the modern comforts you’d expect, plus access to a washing machine. Breakfast is a full southern experience, with everything from pancakes to grits with fresh coffee.

If the weather is good and you love to hike, then you could spend days on end here. If you would just like a taste of the place and are likely to hit bad weather, then one night will work nicely.

• Vintage 1889 in Fort Payne – lunch on raspberry chicken and flatbread tomato pie in this quirky 125 year old historic Big Mill. Kids will love the life size fire engine that sticks out of the wall. Adults will love the antique trinkets, posters and memorabilia.
• Elevation Bistro in Mentone – chic and candlelit, Elevation Bistro serves top quality fare with locally sourced ingredients taking on far off dishes like French onion soup and sundried tomato and mozzarella balls.
• Hiking through forests and waterfalls in Little River Canyon.
• Touring one of the largest underground cave systems in the world at Cathedral Caverns State Park.
• Pausing at the Trail of Tears in remembrance of the Native Americans forced from this land.
• Driving along the edge of a canyon and perching on rocky outcrops on part of the Lookout Mountain Parkway.

Look out for Park Rangers in the beautiful State Parks. They are on duty to help out and are incredibly knowledgable about the local area. Look out for Kaleb, in particular, say hi from this article and check that he took the chair back to Winston Place B&B. He’ll know what it means ;-)

Looking at rockets in the Huntsville Space Center

Huntsville: Rocket City

Rocket City wants you to have a blast. Yes, it’s the city of dad jokes and home to the largest space museum on earth. If driving along Clinton Avenue and seeing the tip of a 36 storey Saturn V moon rocket rising into the sky like a spire doesn’t shiver your space timbers, then it’s quite possible that you have timbers that cannot be shivered.

As the site of America’s first ever satellite launch, Huntsville has quite the reputation as the tech powerhouse of Alabama. The city itself is expanding faster than expected and you’ll find over 100 different languages and dialects within the city limits.

Yet Huntsville also has time to slow down and play. Its 112 acres of Botanical Gardens offer nature’s answer to tech: transformed over Christmas into a Galaxy of Lights.

And if you haven’t yet had your fill of neoclassical southern mansions yet, then a ride through Huntsville’s historical district will give another glimpse into the architecture of another age.

Most of all, though, make sure you leave enough time to fully explore the space museum. Even if a tip like that is not really rocket science (boom!) it is out of this world (double boom!)

Practical Tips for Huntsville

Around a third of the exhibits at the space museum are outside, and some of the rides will be awkward if you’re wearing a skirt. Plan for that with your packing and when you get dressed in the morning!

From Mentone in the Appalachian Mountains to Huntsville is around one hour and a half, one of the shortest drives on this trip.

• The Springhill Suites from Marriott in Downtown Huntsville form a convenient base for catching your breath in between the Space Center and the next stop in Birmingham. Parking is on site, breakfast is a quick grab and go and you’ll find a self-operated laundry to catch up with what you need to do on your road trip.

Space enthusiasts should leave a whole day to explore US Space and Rocket Center, meaning that you need two nights if you want to see anything else.

• Rhythm on Monroe – a fun place to pick up a Honky Tonk Whiskey Woman cocktail, some stylish shrimp & grits or biscuits and gravy and a grilled cheese sandwich for the little ones.
• Stovehouse – a former factory now converted into a cool urban leisure area, with outdoor dining from a range of eateries, a children’s play area and music drifting into the night. Follow the sign that says no firearms and only moderate, not excessive, horsejackery.
• The US Space and Rocket Center with its moondust, real relics, interactive exhibits and gravity defying rides.
• Historic Huntsville – stroll or drive through this beautiful neighbourhood of period properties or else attend an event run by the Historic Huntsville Foundation.
• Huntsville Botanical Gardens   – 112 acres of earth education and greenery. We were in town for the festive extravaganza, the Galaxy of Lights night show.
• Leave yourself plenty of time for the US Space and Rocket Center. It’s the largest place of its kind on earth, and you’ll need at least half a day if not more.

Pit Stop in Decatur: Natural History and Big Bob’s BBQ

For another taste of life in Albama, make a stop in Decatur, just south of Huntsville.

A Local Landmark: Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ

Where to Eat: Big Bob’s

Big Bob Gibson’s is the only name in town, with a big smokehouse out back ready to barbecue just about any kind of meat. We arrived at lunchtime, amid a working, check-shirted crowd, with barely a table free.

Big Bob’s is famous for a number of things, most notably their white barbecue sauce, a mayonnaise based tangy sauce with paprika, mustard and a dash of garlic.

What to See: Alabama’s Biodiversity

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is an absolute must see for the kids but if you’re new to Alabama, I’d recommend a visit for adults as well. Through fresh and imaginative interactive exhibits, you can not only get up to speed with tides, gemstones and the latest on the solar system, but you get an appreciation of Alabama’s biodiversity as well.

For, somewhat surprisingly, Alabama is America’s Amazon , an area with more species than anywhere else in the country.

Get up close with turtles and alligators, learn more about Alabama’s complex cave systems and stand eye to eye with the local black bears (yes, bears!)

Finally, leave inspired by both the story and the mission of the place. The Cook began life as a collection of bugs in a pest control company. The owner used his collection to train new recruits. Over time, staff brought their children to see the collections and from there, the spark of an idea for a museum was born.

The museum has an ethos as well: life is amazing. The first gallery prompts you to “look closer” and it’s another way for Alabama to invite you to think a little deeper, reach higher and get more out of each and every single day.

Don’t miss the pecan pie at Big Bob’s.

Birmingham by name, Birmingham by nature. Unlike so many cities in the world, Birmingham was built by design and built without basing itself around a river. Instead, in the mid 19th century, a group of industrialists decided to create an industrial city in the middle of Alabama, using the railroad instead of the waterways to connect it to the world. And so they did.

The Vulcan Centre, high on a vertiginous plain that overlooks the city, offers an appropriately severe introduction to the city. First, there is the giant himself, Vulcan. Bare bottomed and wielding tools that use fire to bend metal, his presence is a cross between a threat and a welcome to residents and visitors alike.

Then, there is the Vulcan Center, an introduction to the place as much as the man, charting the arrival of workers, from the recently emancipated plantation workers to Italian and Jewish immigrants desperate to start a new life. The museum covers the construction of this behemoth sculpture (the foot stands taller than a man) and the uniting force of Baseball.

But it is for civil rights that most people know the name Birmingham, Alabama, and not, it is fair to say, for all the best reasons.

Birmingham Civil Rights Monuments

Clustered together, just half a mile from the historic Tutwiler hotel, lie a trinity of core Civil Rights landmarks. The erudite Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , the evocative Kelly Ingram Park and the heartbreaking story of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

It was within these walls on 15th September 1963 when four girls were preparing for Sunday school, that Ku Klux Klan terrorists bombed the church and stole their lives. The scripture they were studying at the time was this:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.

Practical Tips for Birmingham

In practical terms, Birmingham is an emotionally tough though important place to visit. The three core places are close together so it is just about possible to visit all three in one morning, as we did, but I would recommend you leave yourself more time.

The tour through the 16th Street Baptist church is incredibly powerful and it feels rude to rush it. The BCRI is self-guided and the amount of time you will need depends on how much of the history you already know.

While in theory, you can walk around the Kelly Ingram park in minutes, the reality is that I needed time with those sculptures to try to sift through my heavy thoughts and emotions. It’s not a place to rush through, any more than a war or holocaust memorial.

On that note, look out for graphic depictions of lynchings in the BCRI and a graphic description of the bombing in the 16th Street Baptist Church. It’s a personal parental choice but I feel that both could be absolutely terrifying for very young children. I distracted Rosa through the audiovisual parts so that she has an overview of that history but doesn’t suffer from nightmares from something she cannot unsee.

As with so many parts of this Alabama road trip itinerary, I will be writing more about these topics in separate articles. Stay tuned and watch this space.

It’s another short drive of only around 90 minutes from Huntsville to Birmingham, a little longer if you take the detour to Decatur.

• A designated National Historic Landmark, the grand Tutwiler Hotel is now owned and run as part of the Hampton Inn & Suites under the Hilton umbrella. It’s only a 4 minute drive from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and has valet parking on site. It also has a waffle maker on the breakfast buffet options…

One is possible, two is ideal, since you won’t want to rush through the 16th Street Baptist Church and BCRI.

• Blueprint on 3rd – absolutely gorgeous Brasserie with historical Sloss Furnaces as a backdrop, industrial Art Deco decor and a fabulous fresh cocktail list.
• Pizitz Food Hall – something of a local landmark within reach of the BCRI with black and white floor tiles and a range of modern global food stalls.
• The Vulcan Statue that towers over the city and the museum that tells its story.
• The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – an interpretive museum and research centre.
• Kelly Ingram Park – an outdoor park on the Civil Rights Trail with emotive sculptures.
• 16th Street Baptist Church – the site of an attack by the KKK which killed four young girls at Sunday school.

Try to time your visit to the Vulcan Center to align with sunset. It’s mesmerising to watch all the lights flicker into life across this impressive industrial city.

Monroe County Museum in Alabama

Monroeville and the Mockingbird

Between Birmingham and the coast lies a beautiful small town that seems somehow familiar. The layout of the streets. The shape of the courthouse. The song of the mockingbird?

Could this, could this just be Maycomb, Alabama, the fictional town from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird?

Why yes, Miss Maudie, it is.

Welcome to Monroeville, a small village and home to childhood friends Harper Lee and Truman Capote. And you can visit Monroe County Museum to learn more about them both.

The museum itself contains Capote’s blue glass souvenirs and crazy quilt coat, as well as a 1930s lawyer’s office, a home for Atticus Finch. But it’s the courtroom that stands out, as the original inspiration for both the book and the 1962 movie with Gregory Peck.

Practical Tips for Monroeville

The museum is small and you can easily zip in and out in between Birmingham and Gulf Shores on this Alabama Road Trip itinerary. But I really wish we’d stayed at least overnight.

Monroeville Main Street oozes with small town southern charm and you can follow a Mockingbird trail to piece together the likely Boo Radley house and school.

It’s a great place to visit with young children to introduce the concept of the justice system and with older ones to help them gain a deeper appreciation of the Mockingbird text.

• Read more about the town that inspired Maycomb here.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach bring a sense of lightness and hope to this Alabama Road Trip itinerary. Not just becuase days seem better at the beach and sunshine makes everyone feel better.

But because the place has managed to turn an environmental disaster into a success.

From Oil Disaster to Eco Success

In 2010, the largest marine oil spill in history took place as Deepwater Horizon slicked five million barrels of oil along the Gulf Coast after 11 people lost their lives on the rig. Traced back to reckless conduct on behalf of BP, the courts ordered the company to pay compensation to the tune of around 20 billion dollars.

When a slice of those funds arrived in Gulf Shores, a decision had to be made. Rebuild as normal? Or use the funds to truly rebuild better?

Landmark Eco Development

Gulf Shores decided to be bold and the result is one of the most genuinely eco-friendly resorts in the world. The Lodge by Hilton may not look as eco-pretty as you might expect but the credentials are sound. LEED Gold, SITES Platinum and FORTIFIED Commercial TM certification put the paperwork in order, making it the first building in the world to achieve that status.

Beyond that, the resort generates 110% of its electricity, meaning that it sells some back to the grid. It reuses water from air conditioning units, installed solar panels for power, made its windows bird strike friendly and developed amber lights that don’t disturb turtles. And more. The ins and outs of how this has been achieved deserves an article in its own right and believe me, I’ll be writing more about this.

Looking at Lake Shelby

Eco Pretty Eagle Cottages

And if you do want eco pretty, then Gulf Shores has that for you as well. We stayed in the stunning Eagle Cottages in Gulf State Park, overlooking the lapping shores of Lake Shelby. You’ll still see high rises if you lean forward and crane your neck. But sit back or cycle along the path and you could be miles from anywhere.

Eagle Cottages also have sustainability at the forefront of their mission, partnering with National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World initiative when it was in operation. From the cottages, you can attend lectures in the Learning Center and join a sustainability tour, as well as the more conventional hiking trips to learn about local plants and berries and track down bald eagles nesting.

Family friendly nature activities in Gulf State Park

Practical Tips for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

When we visited in December, it was easy to get around and warm enough to eat outside or stroll around on the dunes without jackets. However, no one was in the sea and you wouldn’t want to lie around sunbathing.

On the flip side, apparently when the sunshine comes, so do the crowds and then you need to plan a little more strategically.

The Wharf in Orange Beach is a good place for restaurants and shops, while Gulf State Park is a great place to connect with nature.

From Birmingham to Gulf Shores is five hours on the road, longer if you take the detour to Monroeville for To Kill a Mockingbird. The drive is beautiful by day but tougher going by night, with risks of deer collisions as well. Consider yourself advised!

• The gorgeous Eagle Cottages in Gulf State Park. These stand-alone villas have views across the water, bicycles to ride around the park and a delicious welcoming basket of cheese, cured meats and honey. They’re part of a bigger eco project in Gulf Shores and provide a sense of getting away from it all. More about them later!

With white sand beaches and the lapping shores of Lake Shelby from Eagle Cottages, you could easily spend a week here to relax and recharge. Sit on the verandah for bird watching. Cycle through Gulf Shores State Park. Scrunch your toes on the sand and swim if it’s warm enough… But if you only have time for one night, then don’t skip this place. Head there and embrace the time you have!

• Villaggio Grille on The Wharf in Orange Beach brings a quality touch to modern dining, with a range of Italian dishes.
• Foodcraft at The Lodge in Gulf State Park features traditional American dishes like shrimp & grits with locally sourced ingredients and a calming sea and sand view.
• The white sand, sea views and dolphins at sunset.
• Lake Shelby views from Eagle Cottages.
• Bald eagles nesting in Gulf State Park.
• Forward thinking eco credentials.
• Leisure activities at The Wharf, Orange Beach.
• Take a nature trail from Eagle Cottages and look out for nesting bald eagles.

Self-drive and DIY or use a tour operator?

To be honest, either would work when planning a road trip through Alabama. The roads are easy, the language is easy, the booking systems are easy. You can definitely plan the components by yourself based on this itinerary and take care of the whole thing.

That said, tour operators do offer certain advantages. First of all, they can access cheaper deals, particularly with flights and car hire. And second of all, they keep up to date with the travel news while you are away.

For this trip, America As You Like It managed to find cheaper flights and car hire than I did (and I am a pro at finding deals after a decade of professional travel.) They also followed the changes in Covid restrictions while we were away, which was a huge relief and freed me up from spending hours squinting at my phone and making sure that I was up to date.

So, particularly in Covid times, I would recommend using a tour operator. Check out the Alabama itineraries from America As You Like It here.

Top: Shrimp & Grits. Bottom: Biscuits & Gravy

What to Eat in Alabama

An entire article awaits, but for now, here are the highlights:

• Shrimp & grits
• Beignets in Mobile
• White BBQ Sauce at Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue
• Biscuits and gravy
• Fried green tomatoes
• Make your own waffles at a breakfast station
• Chicory coffee

Meeting Dorothy from the Freedom Riders Museum. People risked their lives to make travel through Alabama safe… Her message now is to come!

When to Visit Alabama

There’s never a bad time to visit Alabama but as the state has different regions (the tech north, cotton middle and swampy south) the best time of year depends on what you want to do. To help get your bearings, Alabama borders Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi. The highest point is Cheaha Mountain in Cheaha State Park.

The beaches in the south are hottest (and busiest) during June to September but pleasant to visit in December, though outdoor pools and a swim in the sea is pretty much out. The Appalachian mountains can be enjoyed year round with few extremes, but check the details if you wish to go rafting or spot certain wildlife. Lookout mountain looks stunning with autumn foliage.

For the civil rights sightseeing, both spring and autumn work well and winter is possible with a warm coat, hat and gloves.

Flights to Alabama

Alabama has a number of airports but the big international hubs lie just outside the state. We travelled in and out of New Orleans (MSY), driving a loop through the state of Alabama. You can follow the same approach from Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) or Nashville, Tennessee (BNA.)

A fun route for an Alabama Road Trip looks to be from New Orleans to Nashville or vice versa. However, bear in mind that you will have to pay a supplementary fee if you do not return your hire car to the same place you picked it up.

I’d always recommend looking for flights and routes on Skyscanner and also checking with a tour operator as they can sometimes access deals that consumers can’t. In our case, we used America As You Like It as a partner of this project.

Safety While Driving in Alabama

It’s pretty safe to drive in Alabama. Roads are in excellent condition, well signposted and with frequent fuel stations and rest breaks. Parking is easy since most places have their own car parks and even the winding roads in the mountains are missing some of the tight and fright-filled hairpin turns you’ll find in older European villages.

You do have to be careful driving at night away from the main roads, though, as deer can cause considerable damage on impact. We were generally advised to drive by day for this reason.  Plus, it’s more fun to see the landscapes change as you drive on by.

Is Alabama Safe for People of Colour?

Given Alabama’s prominent and painful very recent past, I was asked this question several times both before I set off and while we were on the road. Since the three of us all have pale skin, we can’t answer that question from a personal perspective.

But I did ask people we met along the way, which obviously is a limited sample. Everyone I spoke to, whether Black or White, seemed horrified by the question and confident that people of colour would receive just as warm a welcome as those with white skin.

No one said it was perfect, though. “No different to anywhere else in America,” was the general gist. “We can do better,” was the other.

To get some modern context, Alabama’s population currently stands at around 74% White & 24% Black, with the remaining 1-2% consisting of American Indian and Asian according to the 2010 Alabama census.

If you are worried about this, it may be worth you reading this article from the Yellowhammer news.

You can wear almost anything you like in Alabama…

What to Wear in Alabama

In general, Alabama has a fairly relaxed dress code for its residents and visitors, unless you’re talking about Mardi Gras when costumes matter a lot. The weather varies enormously, though, both throughout the year and throughout the state.

The south is sticky and tropical for most of the year, cooling off a little in December – February. Whereas, Birmingham and further north can get bitingly cold in winter, as can the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains. But you won’t find yourself hemmed in with snow as in Alaska.

Overall, I’d recommend packing a pair of long jeans and trousers, a combination of long and short sleeved tops, a sweater, blazer or jacket, hiking shoes and going out shoes and one or two dresses if that’s your thing.

What to Pack for Alabama

Whenever you travel anywhere, check out our Travel Toolbox © and ultimate travel packing list. And for an Alabama Road Trip, of course it makes sense to consult our list of road trip essentials here.  Beyond that, I’ll highlight the following:

• Reusable water bottle and travel cutlery to cut down on plastic.
• A travel adapter like this if your appliances are not from the US. 
• Sat Nav or an in car phone holder if you plan on using your phone for navigation. 
• Some plastic bags for rubbish. 
• Some road trip snacks (although food is very easy to come by on the road.)
• Comfy shoes for making the most of the important museums, trails and Downtown areas. 
• An open mind. Cheesy but true ;-)
• And, erm, stretchy waistbands. Food is tasty, plentiful and not all that light!

More on Travel in the United States

We love a good road trip through America. It’s such a fascinating country to drive through with so many different landscapes, stories, peoples and cultures.

Check out our American road trip itineraries:

• Your two week road trip from New Orleans
• A fly-drive itinerary for the west coast in Florida
• Driving Massachusetts: road trips from Boston
• Your perfect road trip through Alabama

Read more about Alabama here:

• Meet the real Maycomb from Harper Lee’s Mockingbird
• 101 Interesting facts about Alabama
• The beach in Alabama that is changing the world. Seriously.

And our useful prep guides here:

• The Travel Toolbox ©
• The international travel checklist you can print and download
• Your printable road trip checklist  PDF
• Our Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©

Bookmark this road trip Alabama itinerary on Pinterest for later… 

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Alabama Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Chris Muras

Every adventure starts with a single step. And then another, and another, until you find yourself somewhere new and undiscovered. That’s the journey of a writer. You never know where the next word will take you. Hopefully, together, we can experience some amazing new adventures at OnlyInYourState.

More by this Author

Alabama is a fascinating state with small-town charm and big-city attractions. And there is no better way to get to know the state than with a road trip. Whether you spend a day in Muscle Shoals and then hop over the Tennessee River to Florence to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rosenbaum House or your idea of the best road trips in Alabama includes an epic trek across the entire state to see every waterfall, here are a few interesting Alabama road trip ideas you can add to your bucket list.

1-Day Road Trip In Alabama

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• Route : Huntsville > Decatur > Birmingham > Mobile > Fairhope > Gulf Shores
• Distance : 426 miles
• Trip Time : 7 hours driving time

• Route : Tuscumbia > Mooresville > Houston > Selma > Gulf Shores > Mobile > Moundville
• Distance : 725 miles
• Trip Time : 13.5 hours driving time

• Route : Valley Grande > Clio > Opp > Camden > Silas
• Distance : 367 miles
• Trip Time : 7.5 hours driving time

• Route : Selma > Kinston > Gulf Shores > Camden > Demopolis > Birmingham

• Route : Hoover > Gadsden > Fort Payne > Piney Branch Falls > Grove Oak > Pinson > Hoover
• Distance : 315 miles
• Trip Time : 6 hours driving time

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• Route : Gulf Shores > Foley > Magnolia Springs > Fairhope > Daphne > Dauphin Island
• Distance : 88 miles
• Trip Time : 2 hours driving time

• Route : Bankhead National Forest > Oak Mountain State Park > Birmingham Botanical Gardens > Palisades Park > Cheaha State Park > Noccalula Falls Park & Campground > Little River Canyon National Preserve
• Distance : 307 miles
• Trip Time : 6.5 hours driving time

• Route : Huntsville > Cullman > Birmingham > Montgomery > Andalusia > Theodore
• Distance : 438 miles

• Route : Huntsville > Birmingham > Montevallo > Montgomery > Foley > Gulf Shores
• Distance : 397 miles

• Route : Gadsden > Woodville > Scottsboro > Bridgeport > Little River Canyon National Preserve > Delta > Gadsden
• Distance : 297 miles

• Route : Fort Payne > Eufaula > Greenville, > Monroeville > Mountain Brook > Tuscumbia > Mooresville > Fort Payne
• Distance : 832 miles
• Trip Time : 15 hours driving time

Whether your ideal getaway is traveling to beautiful beaches in the Gulf of Mexico, a few small towns filled to the brim with southern hospitality, or you love national memorials, history museums, or even some famous Alabama BBQ, there is a road trip with your name on it in Alabama. Of all these Alabama road trip ideas we’ve featured here, which one do you see yourself doing first? What do you consider to be the best road trips in Alabama? Be sure to tell us all about the best Alabama road trips you’ve been on.

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List . Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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More alabama road trips, what are some other popular road trips to take in alabama.

With so many amazing attractions and destinations to explore, its no wonder there is such an abundance of amazing road trips to take in Alabama. We've organized our favorite Alabama road trips by theme so you can find the perfect itinerary the next time you hit the road!

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Beach Road Trips The Best Beach Road Trip In Alabama Along The Gulf Coast Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway: Best Alabama Road Trip This Road Trip Leads To The Best Alabama Beach Towns The Hidden Beaches In Alabama Road Trip

Hiking/Camping Road Trips Best Hiking And Camping Road Trip In Alabama This Road Trip Takes You To 5 Of Alabama's Most Underrated State Parks AL The State Park Road Trip To Take In Alabama This Fall Road Trip Map Of Alabama's 6 Most Incredible Caves Take This Road Trip To The Best Alabama Caves And Waterfalls

Waterfall Road Trips The 2-Hour Waterfall Road Trip In Alabama To Take This Summer Road Trip To The Largest Waterfall In Alabama The Waterfall Road Trip In Alabama You’ll Want To Take This Alabama Waterfall Loop Takes You To 7 Beautiful Waterfalls

Hidden Gem Road Trips This Road Trip Will Take You To Alabama's Best-Kept Secrets This Alabama Road Trip Will Take You To 7 Spectacular Hidden Gems Alabama's Hidden Gems Road Trip Leads To 6 Little-Known Places Your Ultimate Road Trip To 8 Hidden Gems In Alabama Take This Rural Road Trip To Alabama's Best Hidden Gems This Road Trip Will Take You To Alabama's Most Underrated Attractions

Road Trips to Attractions Take This Bargain Hunters Road Trip In Alabama For Best Thrift Stores This Road Trip Will Take You To Alabama's Best Antique Stores Take This Road Trip To Alabama's Most Enchanting Castles Take This Dinosaur-Themed Road Trip In Alabama This Road Trip Will Take You To 8 Of Alabama's Best Movie Sets This Alabama Road Trip Leads To 7 Iconic Landmarks This Road Trip Will Take You To Alabama's Most Unique Roadside Attractions This Road Trip Will Take You To Alabama's Best Thrift Shops This Road Trip Will Lead You To 8 Of Alabama's Top Tourist Attractions The Road Trip That Leads To Alabama's Most Defining Places

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15+ Amazing Stops To Make For An Awesome Alabama Road Trip

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Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops  for your road trip in Alabama whether you are just passing through Alabama on a longer visit to the  Southern USA or are spending the entire time on an Alabama road trip. In Northern Alabama, you must visit Rocket City Huntsville as well as some of the other small cities. As you go through Central Alabama, you will visit Birmingham Alabama and Montgomery Alabama. Finally there is coastal Alabama with its international flair and beautiful white sand beaches. There’s no doubt that the beautiful state of Alabama has something for everyone.

Alabama Road Trip

There’s no two ways about it – getting around Alabama is easiest by car. Hence, you can create your own standalone Alabama road trip or include it as part of a larger southern USA road trip. The conditions are great for road trips in Alabama – the roads are in great condition and there are plenty of roadside service stops if you need fuel or food.

Along with my suggestions for an Alabama road trip, I have included some fellow travel writers ideas and suggestions for what to do in Alabama, too. 

Alabama Road Trip Ideas

Are you thinking about an Alabama road trip as part of a larger Southern USA road trip ? Plenty of people I know have created a southern USA road trip that included the state of Alabama so I have broken this Alabama road trip guide into sections for Northern Alabama, Central Alabama and Coastal Alabama. You can work the section of Alabama that you will be near into your own personalised road trip adventure.

Here are some examples of nearby big cities and their distance from places in Alabama:

• New Orleans to Mobile is a 3 hour drive.
• Both Chattanooga and Nashville in Tennessee is a 2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Both Memphis Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia are a 3 1/2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Atlanta Georgia is also a 2 or 3 hour drive to Birmingham or Montgomery, respectively.

Continuing an Alabama Road Trip to New Orleans

In Mobile I met visitors from Lithuania who were combining a visit to the   theme parks in Orlando Florida with a Louisiana Mississippi Alabama road trip.

After Mobile, they were heading to the casinos in Biloxi Mississippi and then party central, New Orleans. How is that for a fun road trip for adults? 

One of the most memorable places to visit on a road trip in the US south is Coastal Mississippi. Calling itself  the “ Secret Coast, ” Coastal Mississippi is located between New Orleans and Mobile Alabama and below the I-10 interstate highway along the luscious US Gulf Coast, and is well worth discovering its secrets —whether for an detour scenic drive off I-10 or a one week vacation getaway. Some strongly suggested things to do in Coastal Mississippi include seeking sun and sport on USA’s largest man made beach, sampling scrumptious seafood and coastal cuisine, and savoring scintillating sunsets (and sunrises).   The Coastal Mississippi beach between Henderson Point and Biloxi is 26 miles long and 200 feet wide and most of it is undeveloped with unobstructed water views and free parking right along the sand. Take advantage of it!   Anywhere along the water in Coastal Mississippi is the perfect place to witness phenomenal sunsets. Coastal Mississippi restaurants with James Beard honored chefs include Vestige in Ocean Springs , White Pillars in Biloxi , and Doe’s Eat Place at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi. Countless other coastal Mississippi adventures await you. Make sure to spend time in the sweet small beach towns of Ocean Springs and Bay St Louis , visit amazing attractions like the brand new Mississippi Aquarium and fantastic museums—including Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art , INFINITY Science Center , Walter Anderson Museum of Art , and Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum —and paddle and explore an abundance of nature areas—including Gulf Islands National Seashore barrier islands , several bayous, and Biloxi Bay.   – by Charles McCool at McCool Travel

Blue sky and sea, and white sand in coastal Mississippi very similar to coastal Alabama (Image credit: Charles McCool)

Road Trip Alabama

I decided to road trip Alabama in its entirely from the Northern Alabama to Coastal Alabama. Although I had people question whether there would be enough interesting sites to road trip Alabama for two weeks, I found  myself wishing I had even more time! 

When you road trip Alabama you realize how much there is to see in the state sandwiched between the mountains of Northern Alabama and the white sand beaches of Coastal Alabama.

Road trips in Alabama take you through quirky small towns, big cities and farmland.  You will sample plenty of delicious food, meet friendly people and learn some fascinating history. 

A sign showing where the Civil War prison in Montgomery Alabama was located.

Why did I decide to road trip Alabama? After all, the news was full off the religious right’s assault on women’s rights in Alabama (to the horror of more liberal Alabamians ) . Yes, there are liberals in Alabama!

On the other hand, an Alabama road trip promised history, great food and quirky attractions – definitely my interests. So I dropped my son off in Rocket City Huntsville for his two weeks at the camps run at the NASA Space Center before I ventured off on my Alabama road trips.

I spent 8 days driving from Huntsville to Mobile in coastal Alabama and then looped back up to Northern Alabama. It took me 2 days to visit Birmingham Alabama, 3 days to visit Montgomery Alabama and 3 days in coastal Alabama.

I would suggest a minimum of 3 days in Huntsville and Northern Alabama too.  Although this itinerary covers the four biggest cities in the state of Alabama, I would encourage you to branch out and visit some of the smaller cities and towns nearby.

Alabama Road Signs

And, of particular note are the amusing Alabama road signs. You really get a flavor for the state by the unique Alabama road signs. Sorry for the picture quality – my trusty navigator/assistant photographer/son is still honing his craft.

Various Alabama road signs you come across as your road trip Alabama

Just a small selection of the Alabama road signs that caught my attention. Technically the giant cross is not a road sign but I have never seen such a huge church on the side of an interstate. 

Apparently, the “Go To Church or the Devil Will Get You” sign is famous in Alabama. The owner took it down, but there was an outcry, and he replaced it. As one person said to me, you see that sign and you know you are in Central Alabama.

The signs for personal injury lawyer Alexander Shunnarah signs are everywhere in Alabama and it’s become a meme in its own right. 

The ubiquitous Shunnarah Alabama road signs have elevated him to meme-status.

Yeah, there really was a drug dealer feeding a squirrel meth in Alabama to make it more vicious. The police released it into the wild when the drug dealer got arrested. So there is some poor Meth Squirrel out there in Alabama detoxing in the wild. 

What To Do in Northern Alabama

I have to say Northern Alabama surprised me. I had no idea it was so mountainous! Coming in from Atlanta into Huntsville, we had a brief period where my SatNav refused to work because we had no WiFi. My son learned how to read a paper map which I assured him was a useful life skill. 

Momentary panic when the SatNav refuses to work in the mountains of Northern Alabama.

Rocket City Huntsville

Our first destination in Alabama was Huntsville – nicknamed Rocket City because of the NASA headquarters.

Two of the biggest attraction in Alabama are in the Rocket City Huntsville. Huntsville is a quirky cool city in Northern Alabama with all of the attractions of a major American city but with a better quality of life.

At the number one spot there is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center . Not only is it a museum, but the NASA space center runs weekly programs for school children during the summer.

My son signed up for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge and loved his two weeks there. So  much so that he is now going to his third Space Camp.

The NASA US space center has a great museum as well as well-run summer camps for kids.

Even if you are not a science person, there’s plenty to do in Rocket City Huntsville. The Number 3 most visited attraction in Alabama is the Huntsville Botanical Center .

The Huntsville Botanical Center is a great place to visit with kids.

There are also plenty of other museum, historical sites and shopping areas to keep you occupied. The city also has a burgeoning craft brewery scene as well as many great restaurants. After all, those well-paid scientists need somewhere to spend their money!

What Else is There in Northern Alabama?

Northern Alabama has several small towns to visit as well as a lot of outdoors activities.. As you know, I’m a city girl. Besides, I was being bitten alive by mosquitos everywhere in Alabama.

I skipped a lot of the nature stuff because I feared venturing further into a mosquito lair. I know the rest of my family would have loved  activities like hiking along the Natchez Trace , checking out the bioluminescent glowworms at Dismals Canyon and a cave tour of the gigantic   Cathedral Caverns .

The small towns I visited were all easy day trips from Huntsville and make great road trips in Alabama.

In Florence Alabama , I went to see where musical legends like Cher and the Rolling Stones created history at Muscle Shoals Recording Studio , the birthplace of Helen Keller at Ivy Green  and the Rosenbaum House , the only Frank Lloyd house in Alabama. 

The charming town of Florence Alabama is host to many interesting tourist sites.

My son loved Decatur Alabama  for the fantastic Cook Museum of Natural Science and the Point Mallard Park . Decatur has a long history from the very beginning of Alabama history through the Civil War. 

Scottsboro is home to a shopper’s paradise at the Unclaimed Baggage Center which has warehouses full of stuff that unlucky airline passengers have lost.

Scottsboro also has a sad historical connection as the place where the so-called Scottsboro Boys (9 African American teenagers) were falsely accused of raping two white women. This story and that of the subsequent trials is told a the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center .

Nearby Lake Guntersville is the largest lake in Alabama and great for all types of water sports. If you want to experience more of Lake Guntersville, head to Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park .

The Unclaimed Baggage Centre is one of the road trips in Alabama you can take.

Practicalities for Northern Alabama  

With so many visitors to the NASA space center, Huntsville has both an airport as well as a wide choice of hotels. I stayed at several hotels in Huntsville Alabama during the 8 days I spent in the city because I wanted to see what the different options were.

Like many cities in the USA, Huntsville is pretty spread out. You have hotels in the historic downtown area, near the NASA Space Center as well as newer areas of the city.

I did regret that I did not stay at the super cool GunRunner Hotel in Florence Alabama . It’s a car warehouse conversion which would be totally in keeping with any stylish hotel in any major international city like London or New York. 

Huntsville to Birmingham

How far is Huntsville from Birmingham? A little over 100 miles. 

Getting from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL is a super easy drive of a little over 2 hours. Once you get to Decatur Alabama, you can go straight along Interstate 65-S to Birmingham for most of the 100 miles.

Pitstop:  Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman Alabama

If you are into quirky roadside attractions on your way from Huntsville to Birmingham, check out the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman Alabama. About an hour from Huntsville, take exit 308 from I-65S for a short distance to reach the Ave Maria Grotto.

At the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, a German Benedictine monk has created stone miniature replicas of world-famous Catholic religious places of worship on a 4 acre park.

We are talking everything from Jerusalem to the Shrine at Lourdes . This grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

For good measure, he threw in some secular places like the leaning Tower of Pisa. By the way, the monk only visit about 6 of the 125+ places he created in stone so it’s not necessarily that accurate. On the other hand, the dedication needed to achieve something like the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman is pretty extraordinary.

The Ave Maria Grotto is an easy stop to take a break and stretch your legs on your way from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL. The address for the Ave Maria Grotto is 1600 St Bernard Drive SE, Cullman AL 25055. It is open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s days.

What To Do in Central Alabama

Central Alabama covers a wide swathe of the state. The city of Birmingham is considered north central in the state and the city of Montgomery is south central. You find Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, in west central Alabama.

Visit Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham Alabama is the largest city in Alabama. If you visit Birmingham Alabama with kids, the Birmingham Zoo is the second most visited attraction in Alabama.

Visit the historical highlights of Birmingham and also the district that was a key player in the Civil Rights Movement . I took a civil rights tour of Birmingham which included the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park .

When you visit Birmingham Alabama, you must visit the Civil Rights Institute.

I stayed at a fabulous boutique hotel in downtown, Elyton Hotel, which has got a great location near many restaurants and the Alabama Theatre, an iconic showplace since 1927. Birmingham even has a craft beer scene that you can tour .

If you are looking to visit Birmingham Alabama directly, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport is only a few miles from the city.

Here’s another perspective on Birmingham, Alabama:

The Deep South is unlike any other part of the U.S. – and that’s exactly why we loved our Deep South road trip through it. One of our favorite stops along the way was Birmingham, Alabama, a surprisingly hip and hipster town that was the site of many important (and tragic) events in America’s past. There’s so much to learn about in Birmingham, and the Vulcan Museum and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) a re both absolute must-sees. The Vulcan Museum is home to the world’s largest cast-iron statue, and the exhibits next door illustrate the city’s founding and its rise as a major geopolitical center of the South. The BCRI is the most comprehensive museum on the Civil Rights Movement, covering everything from desegregation to the Civil Rights Act, as well as present-day immigration and human rights issues around the world. Birmingham is also underrated as a foodie destination, and every meal we had there was delicious. Head to Crestline Bagels in the suburb of Mountain Brook for the perfect bagel, downtown’s Brick and Tin for gourmet sandwiches, and Delta Blues Hot Tamales in Five Points South for a local twist on Mexican cuisine (with great vegetarian options).

– by Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor of Passions and Places

Street art in Birmingham Alabama seen on a Southern USA road trip (photo credit: Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor)

Detour: Birmingham to Tuscaloosa

Birmingham to Tuscaloosa is an easy 1 hour drive over a 58 mile route on interstate driving. Dominated by the University of Alabama campus and its football sporting prowess, Tuscaloosa is a pilgrimage stop for college football fans.

Best known for its college football team, the University of Alabama’s (UA) Crimson Tide, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a lot to do on an open weekend or off-season. From exploring downtown to checking out the museums and more, it’s easy to experience all T-town offers. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the UA campus to learn more about its history. While there, check out the Alabama Museum of Natural History and view the Hodges Meteorite , the only one to hit a person, among other exhibits. Don’t overlook The Sarah Moody Gallery of Art that’s focused on contemporary art. Relax and recharge at Hotel Capstone , located nearby. The Riverwalk is a serene journey along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River. The 4.5-mile paved path is well lit and both pet- and family-friendly, providing plenty of places for rest, play and picnicking. Also along The Riverwalk is the Tuscaloosa River Market that hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday. Hotel Indigo is also on the Riverwalk. Not only is downtown filled with eateries and shops and Embassy Suites but also sites along Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail that highlights 1964 “Bloody Tuesday.” On the edge of downtown is Capitol Park , a reminder when Tuscaloosa served as the state capitol from 1826 to 1846. Some remains of the structure still stand after a fire in the 1920s. Tuscaloosa’s next-door neighbor, Northport, is home to Kentuck Art Center and the annual Kentuck Arts Festival . The center is open year-round and has exhibits, working artists’ studios, classes and more. It’s worth the drive to Moundville Archaeological Park , about 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa. On the 326-acre site, it preserves 29 earthen mounds created over 800 years ago by Mississippian people. – by Apryl Chapman Thomas of Southern Hospitality Magazine

The ruins of the old Alabama capitol can be found in Capitol Park Tuscaloosa (Image credit: April Chapman Thomas)

Birmingham to Montgomery

How far is Birmingham from Montgomery? A relatively short 92 miles.

Getting from Birmingham to Montgomery is likewise very easy on the interstate. The drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery will take close to two hours.

Pitstop: Peach Park, Clanton Alabama

On the drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery AL, you simply have to stop in Clanton Alabama on Interstate 65-S (exit 212). You know Clanton from a distance because of the water tower shaped like a peach. 

The peach water tower at Clanton in central Alabama.

Stop by Peach Park which has a barbecue restaurant, bakery and ice cream store. This is definitely the place to try peach cobbler and peach ice cream.

Once again you are about an hour on the road from Birmingham to Alabama, so Clanton makes a great pit stop.

Visit Montgomery Alabama

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, you realise that the city has been witness to so much that is uniquely American – Westward expansion, slavery, the Civil War, the Jim Crow Era, Civil Rights Movement, country music and literary greatness.

Check out Old Alabama Town , a living history  museum, if you want to see how hard and scrappy life in the Mississippi Territory was. 

Among the civil rights venues to visit are the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr was a pastor and the Rosa Parks Museum dedicated to the woman whose refusal to give up her bus seat made history.

Alabama was one of the first states to secede from the Union. Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederacy in front of the Alabama State House . The First White House of the Confederacy was also located in Montgomery Alabama.

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, the Alabama state house is an imposing structure in downtown.

The aftermath of the Civil War and the Jim Crow Era are graphically illustrated at The Legacy Museum which looks at the mistreatment of African Americans in the USA from lynching to chain gangs to mass incarceration.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to the 4000+ African Americans who were lynched between 1877 and 1950.

A moving sculpture at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

In terms of the arts, you have the Hank Williams Museum , a pioneer of country music. In addition, the former home of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald is now the Fitzgerald Museum.

Although the couple were only in residence for one year, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote one of his greatest works, Tender is the Night, at this location.

Montgomery isn’t all government and historical attractions though. There’s a great food scene and nascent craft beer scene. 

In Montgomery I stayed at a couple of different places. I could not pass up staying at the Fitzgerald Museum which has rooms through AirBnB but I also chose to stay in a Marriott for the simple convenience of being downtown.

If you are looking to visit Montgomery Alabama directly, the Montgomery Regional Airport is 10 miles from the city.

More insight on what to do in Montgomery Alabama from a fellow travel blogger:

Montgomery, Alabama is an important stop in the South for anyone looking to connect to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. This is the city where Rosa Parks, the African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the subsequent Montogomery Bus Boycott . Important sites in Montgomery to see include the Dexter Parsonage Museum , the house where the Reverend Martine Luther King Jr. lived during his time in Montgomery. You will also want to stop by the Civil Rights Memorial, the Freedom Rides Museum , and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church . Lovers of American literature should make sure to plan a visit to the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum , while American country and folk music lovers should head to the Hank Williams Museum and the Hank Williams Memorial and Gravesite. While in Montgomery, make sure to go to Cahawba House , where you can load up on an authentic Southern breakfast, including some of the best biscuits and gravy in all of the South! For dinner, head to Central , where you can enjoy a modern twist on Southern food. Don’t skip the roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon while you’re here! Both restaurants are locally owned, and you’ll never forget your time at either. If you plan on staying overnight, check into the comfy-yet-elegant Rennaisance Montgomery Hotel & Spa. When you’re done with Montgomery, there are tons of things to do nearby. You can head to Selma, Tuskeegee, or Birmingham to see more of what Alabama has to offer! – by Stephanie Craig at History Fan Girl

Alabama Road Trips From Montgomery Alabama

If you would like to learn more about Civil Rights issues in the USA, you need to check out these two shorter Alabama road trip ides from Montgomery.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas:  Selma Alabama

Selma is only 50 miles (about an hour drive) from Montgomery but is an important part of American civil rights history.

The Selma to Montgomery march by Martin Luther King Jr and other civili rights leader helped with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They chose Selma because the town had 57% African Americans of which only 3% had voting rights. 

At Selma, you can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge where Alabama state troopers stopped the marchers on their first attempt. The vicious beating of African Americans by the state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge (named after a Confederate Army General and KKK Grand Dragon) brought the Civil Rights issues to the forefront of the national consciousness. Near the bridge is the National Voting Rights Museum . 

An exhibit of Klu Klux Klan items that terrorised African American communities after the Civil War.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas: Tuskegee Alabama

I did not have time to visit Tuskegee Alabama which is only a 45 minute drive from Montgomery Alabama (in the opposite direction to Selma).

I met a nice couple at Dexter Avenue Church who were doing the Civil Rights trail in Montgomery and then going to Tuskegee and finally Selma in one day. I was super impressed with their hustle because all of the museums close at 5pm so they would be packing a lot into that day.

Tuskegee is home to several interesting museums.

• There is the  George Washington Carver Museum  dedicated to George Washington Carver who was an African American scientist who encouraged the planting of alternative crops like peanuts and legumes to avoid the soil depletion caused by the growing cotton.
• There is also the home of Booker T. Washington, the Oaks which is operated by the National Park Service. Washington was an African-American educator who advocated education as a response to the Jim Crow Laws of his time.  Sort of like the Michele Obama ‘When they go low, we go high” response of his time.
• Another great museum is the Tuskegee History Center,  a history museum which tells the story of all the local peoples including Native Americans, African Americans and European Americans.

Montgomery to Mobile

Driving the 170 miles from Montgomery to Mobile takes about 3 hours. Once again most of the time and miles from Montgomery AL to Mobile AL  are spent on Interstate 65-S.

Detour: Monroeville, Alabama

If you feel like doing a short detour on the way from Montgomery to Mobile, get of I-65S at Exit 93 for the half-hour drive to Monroeville . Famous as the hometown of Harper Lee who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, Monroeville has a small museum dedicated to the book/movie at its Courthouse. 

What to do in Coastal Alabama

I had a tour guide describe Mobile Alabama as the ‘red-headed stepchild of Alabama’ – a description that made me laugh. I can see why the rest of Alabama thinks Mobile is a little different but to be fair, so is Huntsville.

Huntsville and Mobile were also my two favorite places in Alabama but I have always been a fan of quirky. I found Central Alabama way too religious and finding decent coffee was a challenge. 

Settled by the French and the first capitol of French Louisiana, Mobile reminds me of New Orleans with its architecture and laid-back style.

Mobile Alabama would also like you to know that they were the first city to celebrate Mardi Gras in the USA . There’s a Mardi Gras Museum  to tour and  Mardi Gras is still celebrated in family -friendly style in the city. 

Mobile has lots of historic neighborhoods and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. Take a food tour of Mobile if you are a foodie – you won’t be disappointed.

Kids will love visiting the USS Alabama , a former Navy battleship at Battleship park. 

When you visit Mobile Alabama, you discover there are lots of parks like this one, Battlefield Park.

Near Mobile, there is Bayou Le Batre made famous as the place Forrest Gump had his shrimp boat. There is also Dauphin Island , a barrier island with glorious beaches and an Audubon Bird Sanctuary . How can you not love a place that bills itself as the sunset capitol of Alabama?

Bayou Le Batre is famous for building ships and its fishing trade.

Take the Mobile Bay Ferry from Dauphin Island back onto the mainland at Fort Morgan, Alabama for one of the best Alabama scenic drives you will come across. I looped back up to Mobile on scenic route 98 but you can go further along for more coastal Alabama.

Detour:  Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Keep going along Coastal Alabama and you get Gulf Shores and Orange Beach which will fill anyone’s idea of fun in the sun and sand.

You simply have to get out onto the water in the Gulf of Mexico For example, you can take a Bay cruise , a dolphin and eco-tour , or a sunset sailing cruise .

Here’s insight specifically into Orange Beach from a colleague:

With white powder sands and clear, calm waters, Orange Beach holds obvious appeal. But the Gulf of Mexico is just the beginning: this community is one of the south’s most well-rounded beach destinations. In-between swimming and sunbathing, you’ll also find expansive parks, hands-on art workshops and restaurants fit for foodies. When you can tear yourself away from the beach, Gulf State Park should be one of your first stops. The park holds miles of boardwalks and other trails for walking and biking, plus a lake perfect for fishing or paddling. Head just outside the park, and you’ll find several spots perfect for dolphin-watching. Join a guided cruise or day trip to Fort Morgan and look for dolphins just off-shore. When you’ve had enough nature and worked up an appetite, head to one of the area’s many restaurants. As you’d expect, fresh seafood is prominent on menus (and absolutely delicious) but you’ll also find classic southern favorites like biscuits, gumbo and bread pudding. The best part about this area is that it’s perfect no matter who you’re traveling with. It’s popular with families but can also make a romantic getaway or plan a fabulous girls trip to Orange Beach . This is one spot you won’t want to miss if you’re planning a southern roadtrip! – by Becky Pokora of SightDOING Gulf State Park at Orange Beach, coastal Alabama (Image credit: Becky Pokora)

In Mobile I stayed at the historic Battle House Renaissance Hotel and Spa. It’s got a great location walkable to most of Mobile’s sites. In addition to the spa, there is also a rooftop pool and tennis courts.

If you are looking to visit coastal Alabama directly, the Mobile Regional Airport is located on the Gulf Coast and 13 miles from Mobile, itself.

Updated: March 2021

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SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE! 

Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops for your road trip in Alabama. #alabama #roadtrip #southernusa

Are you thinking about an Alabama road trip as part of a larger Southern USA road trip? Great idea. Alabama offers mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Pus you’ll find great food and hospitable people! Check out this Alabama itinerary for your road trip. #alabama #roadtrip #southernusa #itinerary

We were helped by Huntsville CVB on our visit to Northern Alabama in the form of 3 nights stay at the Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville as well as free admission to several of the area’s sites. We did not otherwise receive compensation of any form, monetary or otherwise, from any of the products, services, hotels   etc mentioned in this article.

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A Road Trip to Maine Itinerary You’ll Want to Steal

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: September 18, 2023

Categories North America

Planning a road trip to Maine? If so then THIS is the Maine road trip itinerary for you! After all, I’ve been to Maine countless times and want to share all of my amazing, expert advice with you.

In this way, I hope to make the entire trip planning process a whole hell of a lot easier for you. You know, so that you can actually enjoy your Maine road trip and not stress out about where to go, what to do, and how to get around.

Because believe it or not, Maine is easily one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever been to, which is why I’ve been countless times and definitely plan on returning ASAP – once I have the cash to do so.

So, if you love picturesque lighthouses, fresh steamed lobster, stunning coastal drives, and exquisite national parks, then a road trip to Maine will be the perfect trip for you.

However, enough chitty chat. You’re a busy human with tons of uber-important things to do. So, let’s swan dive into my beyond awesome expert tips that will help you plan just one of the many Maine road trips to come.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

If you’re booking a trip right now then I IMPLORE you to get travel insurance – even if it’s not from me. 

After all, this past year has been a wild ride and I don’t want you to lose money because government regulations have changed. 

Truth be told though, I’ve never traveled without travel insurance and don’t think you should either – especially since I think we’ve all had plans drastically change because of the pandemic. 

Therefore, find an insurance agency that covers travel changes related to COVID-19, like my two all-time faves World Nomads and Safety Wing . You can also read more about which policy is right for you in my full review here .

🕒 In a hurry and haven’t planned your road trip to Maine yet? Book this self guided driving tour of Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor . It is a fun way to explore the area on your own! ⛰️

How To Get To Maine For Your Road Trip To Maine

Since I live in New York, I normally just drive to Maine. However, if you’re from out of town and want to fly into Maine, then you could always fly into Portland International Jetport.

It’s pretty convenient since it’s only about two miles from downtown Portland and services flights from all over the world. Upon arrival, I’d absolutely rent a car since you obviously can’t do a road trip to Maine without one!

However, if you want to visit Portland for a few days and then rent a car, you could always take the route #5 bus to downtown Portland and then rent a car once you’ve experienced some of the fun things to do in Portland .

Pro Tip: You could also try flying into Boston Logan International Airport. It’s way bigger than Portland and is a major travel hub both internationally and domestically.

Therefore, you could probably find a cheap flight to Boston and then just drive to Maine from there since it’s only about an hour and a half drive from there to the Maine border.

But, if you’re not really interested in flying, you could always try:

Amtrak trains from all over the US travel directly to multiple train stations throughout Maine. So, this is definitely an option if you don’t really feel like flying. Just do your research first since train travel in the US can be really expensive.

I mean, a one-way, coach ticket from Newark to Portland starts at $63 per person and takes 9.5 hours. So, you could definitely end spending more money on a train ticket than on a flight.

Two different bus companies operate throughout Maine and have routes that go into and out of the state. Of the two, Concord Coach Lines is more local with routes from Maine that stop in major cities in New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Tickets start as low as $79.00 one way and $158.00 round trip. In contrast, Greyhound runs buses into and out of Maine from most major cities across the country, with one-way tickets from Boston to Portland starting at as little as $16 per person.

How To Get Around During Your Road Trip To Maine

Since you’re planning a Maine road trip, you’ll obviously need a car while you’re here. Luckily for you, Portland International Jetport is pretty small. Therefore, it will be really easy for you to get to Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, or Budget Car Rental to actually rent a car before you start your Maine road trip itinerary.

Yeah, they have a fleet of more than 200 cars that are all located inside the consolidated car rental atrium that is protected from the elements (i.e. rain and snow) inside the airport’s new parking garage. It’s also literally steps away from the terminal so you’ll have zero problems finding a car rental.

When choosing a car though, you’ll want to make sure that it gets good gas mileage and that the interior is super roomy. This way, you can relax and be supremely comfy during your road trip to Maine.

Now, in terms of cost, you should on average expect to pay $409 to rent a car for a week and $149 to rent a car for the weekend. Anything significantly more expensive than this is probably not something you need to invest in.

When To See Fall Foliage in Maine

Since my family and I would routinely visit Maine every October throughout my childhood, I know all too well that many people like to road trip to Maine to see fall foliage.

So, if you want to see fall foliage while you’re here, the best time to visit Maine is between late September and mid-October (Columbus Day Weekend is the perfect time to visit and is when my family used to go).

Generally speaking, this is when fall foliage is at its most stunning. Although this time frame can vary by elevation and latitude since some high-elevation, more northern areas across Maine enjoy peak fall foliage in late September.

And if you want even more expert advice on visiting Maine this fall, then check out my ultimate guide to fall in Maine now!

The Ultimate Road Trip to Maine Itinerary

1. ogunquit.

More likely than not, when you start your Maine road trip itinerary, you’ll probably be near the state’s southernmost point. So let’s start our road trip to Maine there!

And what better place to begin the best road trip in Maine than in a place whose name literally means “beautiful place by the sea” in Native American, Abenaki?

Plus, plenty of people seem to agree with this description since Ogunquit is easily one of the most popular summer tourist destinations in all of Maine.

Which makes sense since the beach here is stunning, the sea air is refreshing, the cocktails are delicious … I’m seriously thinking about moving there permanently right now!

That’s why, Ogunquit is definitely one of the best beach towns in Maine , and now you too will get a chance to experience the awesomeness for yourself!

Because while you’re here, you can see a show at Ogunquit Playhouse, walk along the scenic Marginal Way walking path (it’s only around 1,25 miles long), or visit the quaint fishing village of Perkins Cove.

Other Things To Do In Ogunquit

Ogunquit museum of american art.

If local art is what floats your boat (nautical pun intended!) then the Ogunquit Museum of American Art is the place for you! There are over 3000 individual pieces of art on display throughout this museum. And honestly, I’m not all that surprised, seeing as they first opened in 1953!

Paintings, sculptures, and photographs aplenty are all permanently on display in this deliberately American-focused museum.

Before you leave, be sure to explore their 3-acre sculpture park, complete with 18 small gardens that will delight your eyes and help you relax as you take in all the culture and artistry. A walk in the park that makes you feel smart and creative? Sign me up!

Take A Scenic Cruise Along The Coast

The sea looks great, but Ogunquit looks even better from the water!

So, hop onto a boat and treat yourself to a tour of the coast: learn about the history of the town, see the historic lighthouses which make this great American state so famous, and find out something new about the world of lobsters and lobster fishing. It’s a Maine tradition!

Because whether you’re sipping cocktails on a luxury yacht, or enjoying the simpler life by gently sailing by on a rustic wooden sailboat, a scenic cruise will make your visit to Ogunquit and your super awesome Maine road trip complete!

What To Eat In Ogunquit

Barnacle billy’s.

It’s time to grab some of that famous Maine lobster during your road trip to Maine! And Barnacle Billy’s is the place to do that since it’s famed for its luxurious lobster dishes – in addition to plenty of other fresh fish dishes too – that you can order along with a delicious bowl of clam chowder.  

So, whether you decide to dine indoors or out on the sundeck, the stunning ocean views will be the perfect accompaniment to your meal!

Wait, am I eating a ray gun? Nope! This is place serves delicious urban Thai food. So, put some kick into your food by ordering some of their spicy and exotic dishes!  

And although they do have Thai staples like green curry and fried rice, do try some of their house specials, especially the crispy duck with orange sauce. There are also plenty of vegan and gluten-free dishes here too!

Where To Stay In Ogunquit

The grand hotel (ogunquit).

⭐️ Rating: 8.9/10 (581 Reviews) Price: $101 per night 📍Location: 276 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

If you want to live the high-life for a hot minute then the Grand Hotel will help you to relax in style! Because on top of having a spacious room with a private balcony, you’ll also enjoy access to an indoor heated pool and an outdoor jacuzzi for maximum pampering!

“Location was perfect, room was spacious and clean! One of the nicest rooms I’ve ever stayed in. Entire property was super clean. Price was very reasonable. Small balcony with chairs off the bedroom, wish I would have had more time to enjoy them. Will definitely stay here when I return to Ogunquit! Well done!!” Kim ( read more reviews now! )

There’s also plenty of deck space here for an evening drink outside at this well-located hotel, which sits less than a mile away from the Ogunquit Museum of Modern Art!

Wells Moody Motel (Wells)

⭐️ Rating: 8.6/10 (626 Reviews) Price: $89 per night 📍Location: 119 Post Road, Wells, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Just up the highway from Ogunquit, the Wells Moody Motel offers guests all the friendly and exceptional service you could hope to receive during a Maine road trip.

“We were greeted in the office very warmly. check in was easy. First impression of the Motel was it was very cute. property was well taken care of. We pulled around to our room there was a cute little porch in front. went into the room and it was very clean! T he bed and pillows very comfortable. The bathroom was very clean. The 2 rooms we were in looked like they had maybe been recently updated. very pleased with our stay.” Michelle ( read more reviews now! )

They offer bright and well-equipped rooms that will make you feel right at home. The beds here are also super comfy, and include access to an on-site, outdoor pool!

2. Kennebunkport

It’s time to head further north to iconic Kennebunkport – at least if you to make this Maine Road Trip truly epic. Because if you want beaches, Kennebunkport has got em’! So, be sure to give both Goose Rocks Beach and Arundel Beach a try!

And you know people love them since this coastal town has been offering visitors professional levels of hospitality since the 1800s. So, they’re obviously pretty dang good at it by now!

Because with stunning sea views, sandy summer beaches, historic churches (St. Anne’s Episcopal Church dates all the way back to 1887 and features stunning architecture), and beautiful fall foliage, Kennebunkport is truly one of the best romantic getaways in Maine .

It’s even magical when it’s covered in snow! That’s why there’s really no time of year when this place doesn’t look like it belongs on a postcard!

Things To Do In Kennebunkport:

Visit the goat island lighthouse.

If you head over to Cape Porpoise, you’ll find this nearly two-hundred-year-old landmark of New England standing proudly by the shore on its own little island.

Legend has it that this ancient watchtower used to be a lookout point for Secret Service agents of George H.W. Bush, WAY back in ye olde 1993. I know, that’s not that long ago. But it’s still history, y’all!

Check Out The Seashore Trolley Museum

This is one of my favorite things to do in Kennebunkport Maine ! There are over 250 antique streetcars, buses, and other vehicles all collected together in one place. And they don’t all just sit there either!

Because every 45 minutes you can board one of these vintage trolleys, take a ride around the museum, and experience what it really felt like to travel in the early 1900s!

What To Eat In Kennebunkport

Alisson’s restaurant.

When planning a road trip to Maine, food is of the utmost importance. And thankfully, you can get almost anything you want, at Alisson’s Restaurant!

There’s a huge amount of generously portioned pub food available, including lobster mac ’n’ cheese, steak and shrimp salad, mussels, clams, tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, and of course, blueberry pie!

And since Alisson’s is also a pub, there’s a large selection of cocktails, wines, tequilas, and whiskeys to help you party the night away!

Rococo Artisan Ice Cream

Time to satisfy that sweet tooth! And in addition to all the crowd-pleasing, traditional flavors, Rococo also specializes in creating unique – yet tasty – varieties of ice cream.

I mean, have you ever had Goat Cheese ice cream? How about Garam Masala? Or Banana Red Hot? Now’s the time to try them out and be adventurous!

Where To Stay In Kennebunkport

The breakwater inn and spa (kennebunkport).

⭐️ Rating: 7.2/10 (21 Reviews) Price: $199 per night 📍Location: 127-133 Ocean Avenue PO Box 560C, Kennebunkport, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

This historic Victorian-era property is a charming Maine guest house. It has all the trappings of a comfortable night’s rest, with the added bonus of a spa, a fitness center, free wi-fi (obvs), continental breakfast, and bike rentals for getting your fitness on while you sight-see!

The in-house restaurant also provides guests with great views of the ocean, which goes well with the Breakwater Inn’s nautical theme!

The Lodge at Turbat’s Creek  (Kennebunkport)

⭐️ Rating: 8.9/10 (176 Reviews) Price: $199 per night 📍Location: 7 Turbat’s Creek Road, Kennebunkport, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

The Lodge at Turbat’s Creek is well situated, friendly, and extremely comfortable. The furnishings are also high quality, the breakfast is very generous, and you can meet other travelers out in the garden, pool, and restaurant areas. Perfect for a well-deserved pit stop during your road trip to Maine!

3. Portland

Portland is easily one of my favorite places to visit in Maine. So much so that I’ve been there at least 15 different times!

Because this hipster paradise has it all: the cobblestone streets of the Old Port area, the historic beauty of Victorian mansions, the amazing art of the Portland Museum of Art, the inventiveness of craft beer breweries, and even its very own observatory for all y’all science geeks!

But, one of the best things about Portland is that while it is a city, it still has tons of green spaces and expansive natural areas that allow you to enjoy all the natural beauty of Maine. Yup, it really is the best of both worlds!

I mean, you can easily go from vibrant nightlife and culture to strolling along the Eastern Promenade, breathing in the sea air. You could also take scenic photos at nearby Bug Light or walk along the breakwater to ever awesome Spring Point Ledge Light (it’s tucked away inside a college campus).

Or, you could head over to Cape Elizabeth and do a bit of lighthouse spotting! Wait, Kelly, is that a sport? Well, it is now since Maine is famous for its lighthouses, with over 150 lining the Northeast, with plenty of them being in Portland.

Pro Tip: While you’re in Portland, definitely do a day trip to Cape Elizabeth. There are a ton of great parks here and this is also where you can see Portland Head Light and Cape Elizabeth Light!

If you want, you can even check out my list of the best lighthouses in Portland Maine if you’re interested!

Things To Do In Portland

Visit the victoria mansion museum.

Fancy a blast from the past? This 1860s Italianate palace is one of the best historic homes to visit in Portland Maine. The elaborate frescoes, the intricately detailed carpets, and the period-piece furniture will have you falling in love with the good ol’ days.

See, you don’t really need a time machine to find out just how lush and OTT they used to have it back in the day – just come and see Victoria Mansion!

Take The Ferry Out To Peaks Island And Rent A bike

If you’re looking for cute streets and lush wilderness in which to ride around and feel the wind in your hair, just hop onto the big yellow Casco Bay Lines ferry and take the 20-minute trip out to Peaks Island. Here you can rent a bike (or a golf cart if you’d prefer not to have to do too much peddling) and take in the many MANY gorgeous views of the ocean!

What To Eat In Portland

Duckfat friteshack.

You heard me! If you want the crispiest, tastiest, LARGEST portion of fries in the state of Maine, make sure you stop by the Duckfat Friteshack.

These hand-cut fries can be a quick snack or their own full meal, depending on your appetite. Each portion comes with your choice of two of the Friteshack’s dips – truffle ketchup is my personal fave!

The Holy Donut

Ok, so following this Maine road trip itinerary may not be the healthiest choice for your figure, but we’re here to have fun, y’all!

And eating at The Holy Donut is one of the best things to do in Portland Maine, period! These donuts are big enough to share (if you’re feeling generous), so tuck into a sea salt and chocolate donut (highly recommended) as fast as you can!

Where To Stay In Portland

Inn at st john portland (in-town, portland).

⭐️ Rating: 8.4/10 (989 Reviews) Price: $149 per night 📍Location: 939 Congress Street, Portland, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Located right in the heart of Portland and never too far from anything you could want to see, this cozy and colorful inn will leave you feeling fresh and ready for a fun day of sightseeing. The Inn at St John Portland In-Town is also pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends along for the ride!

Portland Harbor Hotel (Portland)

⭐️ Rating: 8.5/10 (766 Reviews) Price: $179 per night 📍Location: 468 Fore Street, Portland, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

With a restaurant, fitness center, free bike use, flat-screen TVs, and wi-fi all conveniently tucked away inside the Old Port district, this hotel ticks off a lot of boxes! And for those looking for a splash of luxury during their Maine road trip itinerary, this is definitely of the best places to stay in Portland Maine!

4. Waldoboro

Waldoboro is one of those towns that you will definitely drive through during your road trip to Maine. It is known for its three lakes and has a rich and thriving fishing and agricultural history. 

Take your pick of Duckpuddle Pond to Damariscotta Lake or Pemaquid Pond and spend a relaxing summer day swimming, fishing, or watching a gorgeous sunset. 

For more outdoor fun hit the trails at the Goose River Peace Corps Preserve and Pond. Or take refuge from the elements and head over to the Waldoboro Historical Society and learn more about this quaint New England town.

Things to do in Waldoboro

Visit fawcett’s antique toy museum.

This quirky museum is right on Atlantic Highway and it is worth a stop if you are just driving through town. Every surface is covered with memorabilia as far back as the 1920s and 1930s. 

Owl’s Head Transportation Museum

Even though Waldoboro is known for its lakes, this museum isn’t focused on boats but on other types of transportation. On display are antique cars, trains, and motorcycles. 

What To Eat In Waldoboro

Moody’s diner.

You can’t miss Moody’s Diner if you are on Route 1 driving through Waldoboro during your road trip to Maine. It is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving the local community since 1927. Classic diner fare is on the menu but watch out for the blueberry pie or whoopie pies for an extra special Maine treat. 

Odd Alewives Farm and Brewery

Just behind Moody’s is the Odd Alewives Farm and Brewery. Odd Alewives uses ingredients from their own land and other local farms. There is plenty of seating on the premises and they even have a fire pit to roast marshmallows and make smores. Their beer is also great to pair with pizza that they also make on-site in a brick oven.  

Where To Stay In Waldoboro

Friendship harbor historic home (friendship).

⭐️ Rating: 8.3/10 (3 Reviews) Price: $236 per night 📍Location: Waldoboro, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

This Victorian Harbor House is right on the water and has its own dock. Literally, in 15 seconds you’ll be in the water! It may be from the 1800s but it is newly renovated with modern amenities plus it is near enough to town but still quiet.

The owners live nearby and their sons can drop off lobster that they catch themselves. Without a doubt you’ll get the full Maine experience! 

Damariscotta Lakefront Retreat (Newcastle)

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (18 Reviews) Price: $636 per night 📍Location: Nobleboro, Maine, United States of America Details: Read more on Vrbo!

If you are craving a quiet retreat away while on your road trip in Maine, this cabin is just the ticket. It is steps away from Damariscotta Lake where you can go swimming or you can spend your days relaxing on the deck and doing nothing. Hey, it’s your vacation and you can do you! 

5. Rockland

Just a couple of hours further up the highway from its half-namesake on the mid-coast of Maine, Rockland has all the charm of many other New England coastal towns.

But, it’s much less busy than Portland -and other more southern towns – since it’s a bit further away from Boston. In fact, if you’re planning a road trip to Maine during the off-season, that’ll be the perfect time to visit this jewel of the east coast!

See, Rockland’s local economy moved away from fishing in the 1990s, and began to focus more on catering to the increasing amounts of tourists coming to stay.

As a result, the downtown area is now full of boutiques, cute little restaurants, museums, and other assorted historical buildings. No wonder their nickname is Vacationland!

And some of the best things to do in Rockland include a stop at the Support Puffin Project Outpost in town, a visit to the Maine Center for Contemporary Art, a quiet walk along the Rockland Harbor Trail, a visit to the historic Olson House, and a cruise aboard a vintage Windjammer.

Things To Do In Rockland

Visit the farnsworth art museum.

Good news everyone! Rockland has its very own regional art museum, and it’s pretty dang good!

In total, there are 15,000 different paintings, sculptures, and other works of art collected here, with several exhibitions going on continuously throughout the year, covering everything from local artistic contributors to world-famous American artists.

Come and see what they’ve got for yourself – there’s even a cute little library!

Walk Along The Breakwater to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Not only is this activity totally free, but the walk is wonderfully scenic and culminates in a stop at an enchanting lighthouse from 1902. Just be careful since the breakwater is extremely uneven.

However, if you visit during the summer, you’ll be able to explore the interior of the lighthouse after walking 7/8th of a mile out there!

What To Eat In Rockland

Archer’s on the pier.

For the best in locally owned and locally prepared Rockland food, Archer’s on the Pier is your Maine (get it?) port of call! There’s all the usual amazing seafood options – lobster for days, yo! – as well as steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and pasta. Depending on when you dine, you might even get treated to some live local jazz music!

Cafe Miranda

It’s chowdah time people! Fresh, creamy, delicious seafood chowdah, and lots of it! The portion sizes here are also HUGE, so come hungry! Whether you go for the chowder, or would rather have a hotdog, a sammie, or a salad, prepare to feel full when you leave!

Trust me, enjoying a meal at Cafe Miranda with its quirky array of pink flamingos (I’m not even joking) is one of my fave things to do here.

Where To Stay In Rockland

The craignair inn by the sea (spruce head).

⭐️ Rating: 9.4/10 (26 Reviews) Price: $164 per night 📍Location: 5 Third Street, Spruce Head, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

At the end of a long dead-end road lies a beacon of rest and relaxation. Just south of Rockland, the Craignair Inn by the Sea is like something out of a storybook.

Seriously, picturesque doesn’t even cover it! The owners are also super friendly and accommodating, the beds are soft and warm, and the rooms are well equipped and spacious. Get yourself here now!

Trade Winds Inn (Rockland)

⭐️ Rating: 7.7/10 (647 Reviews) Price: $107 per night 📍Location: 2 Park Drive, Rockland, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

To truly get a taste of coastal Maine, make sure you try out this boardwalk-style hotel. It sits right on the banks of Rockland Harbor and has just the right balance of antique and modern facilities. The bar area is casual and comfy while the indoor pool and fitness center are both first class. Need I say more?

Up, up, up the coast we go! Because Camden is our next stop on this Maine road trip itinerary. And residents of Camden love to be “where the mountains meet the sea”, and I am here to tell you that that is accurate!

After all, Camden lies right at the foot of Camden Hills State Park, meaning visitors can enjoy the vibrance of the harbor town community while still being able to escape into the sprawling wilderness of natural New England.

So, whether you want to exercise your body or your mind – or your tastebuds – Camden will have something for you!

Pro Tip : If you’re short on time when planning your road trip to Maine (and who isn’t) you can combine a trip to Camden with a stay in Rockland.

I mean, Camden is only about twenty minutes down the road from Rockland so you could EASILY do a day trip here. I also personally preferred Rockland to Camden but, hey, that’s just me.

Things To Do In Camden

Camden hills state park.

As I said before, Camden is right next door to this State Park. And with 30 miles of hiking, biking – and in the winter months, skiing – trails available, you can lose yourself for hours in this lush oasis of greenery.

And if you’re feeling truly adventurous, you can hike up to the top of the 1,384 foot tall Mount Megunticook, for some of the best views of Penobscot Bay as you conquer one of the best hikes in Maine !

Picnic at Megunticook Lake

Pack up your picnic basket and travel just a few miles north of Camden Harbor to find this highly Instagrammable slice of the quiet life! Because Megunticook Lake has tons of designated picnic areas for you to use that come complete with grills and tables.

Plus, if you fancy a swim, the lake itself has a floating diving platform for you to use, as well as a shallow area for younger swimmers!

What To Eat In Camden

Fresh & Co – This family-owned local business is the place to go for fresh, down-to-earth meals. Fresh & Co primarily focuses on sustainability, with extra care given to the ingredients and the flavors of their dishes. They also showcase local artwork on their walls. It’s truly a deep dive into Camden local life!

40 Paper – French, Spanish, Italian, and Mediterranean influences all come together in this former mill from the civil war! But don’t worry: while the dishes may be very European, the ingredients are all fresh from Maine since 40 Paper works with local farmers and fishermen to bring you the best of the catch!

Where To Stay In Camden

Cedar crest inn (camden).

If you’re looking for great service and great value, Cedar Crest Inn will provide! Located just to the south of downtown Camden, this seasonal motel has an outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, and comfortable rooms.

There’s also an outdoor play area for those traveling with young children!

Elms of Camden (Camden)

⭐️ Rating: 9.3/10 (63 Reviews) Price: $186 per night 📍Location: 84 Elm Street, Camden, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Elms of Camden features cozy and luxurious rooms that all come with a complimentary, multi-course breakfast that is served to you fresh, every single morning. Why yes, I will take another helping of pancakes, thanks for asking!

“Gary and James are gracious, thoughtful hosts, taking pride in their commitance. they obviously love it and so do their” Nicholla ( read more reviews now! )

The hosts here are also all about hospitality, and will work extra hard to make sure your Maine road trip is the best ever!

7. Acadia National Park

Meet Acadia National Park. It is the only national park in all of New England but comes fully outfitted with 47,000 acres of land. 158 miles of hiking trails. 1,100 different species of plants, and over 400 different species of animals. Oh, and a casual 20 mountains for you to climb.

Like the notorious Cadillac Mountain, which is the perfect place to go to see the very first sunrise in the United States. However, if you don’t feel like climbing all the way to the top, you can always drive up and just do the easy, 0.5-mile loop trail around the summit.

Not surprisingly, Acadia is easily one of the top 10 most visited national parks in the United States and it’s one of the last stops on our road trip to Maine!

And what a stop it is. Once you cross the bridge onto Mount Desert Island, you’ll feel like you’re really getting back to nature as you head towards the forests, lakes and hills of Acadia National Park. So, stretch your legs and enjoy all that this amazing stop on your Maine road trip itinerary has to offer!

Things to do in Acadia National Park

I do believe i mentioned the hiking trails….

As with many State Parks, Acadia National Park has hiking trails for all levels of expertise and challenge. Beginners and casual walkers can enjoy the Jordan Pond Nature Trail, or see panoramic views on the Cadillac Summit path.

For a good afternoon hike though, visitors can try the Ship Harbor Nature Trail, or head over to Bar Island to explore its beautiful forests (though only at low tide – make sure you keep your eye on the time or you’ll be trapped)!

And If you’re feeling more adventurous, the Great Head Trail will take you out to the Sea Cliffs on the east side of Sand Beach. Otherwise, if “hiking” is basically your unofficial middle name, then Precipice Trail awaits you!

It’s one of the best hikes in Acadia National Park and features small obstacles like an almost vertical 1,000-foot climb at one point. Erm, if you need me, I’ll be in the bar ….

Take A Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

Sure, you could hike. Or would you rather have the gorgeous natural scenery roll gently by you as you pretend to be Queen of All you Survey in your very own horse-drawn carriage? Yeah, I’d opt for the latter too.

So, If you feel like I do, then make your way down to Wildwood Stables on the southeast side of the island and you can do exactly that! Daily carriage tours are provided here from May through October and follow along roads originally constructed by John D. Rockefeller in the early to mid-1900s!

And if you really want to have the Maine road trip of a lifetime and you lead an enviable lifestyle, you can bring your own horses with you and ride with them instead!

What to eat in Acadia National Park

Do you ever wish for the purrr-fect breakfast? Well, that’s what you’ll find at 2 Cats in Bar Harbor! Their creative homemade breakfast combinations feature everything from pancakes and bagels to tofu scramble and granola.

Plus, you’ll get baked biscuits and strawberry butter with pretty much every order! Yup, now that’s what I call a Maine road trip winner.

Jordan Pond House Restaurant

Believe it or not, there’s actually a restaurant INSIDE Acadia National Park. It overlooks Jordan Pond and is great place to go for some pop-overs, chowdah, and a fresh Maine lobstah roll.

Where To Stay In Acadia National Park

Acadia inn (bar harbor).

⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (1090 Reviews) Price: $134 per night 📍Location: 98 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

This stylish and well-maintained hotel comes with an outdoor pool – complete with hot tub – a complimentary breakfast buffet, flat-screen TVs, and wi-fi.

“Excellent location about a mile from downtown Bar Harbor. It’s an easy walk to town, so you don’t need to drive and stress about parking. Also very close to Acadia and all the top attractions. Bed was very comfortable and the room was clean, good water pressure in the shower, convenient grab and go breakfast, and a hot tub to top it off. I’d definitely stay here again.” Justin ( read more reviews now! )

But most importantly, it lies connected to a trail that leads directly into Acadia National Park itself! Just grab yourself a good night’s sleep, fill up on their tasty breakfast, step out the door, and start walking. It’s that simple!

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel (Bar Harbor)

⭐️ Rating: 9.1/10 (631 Reviews) Price: $189 per night 📍Location: 269 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

With its location right in the center of downtown Bar Harbor, you’ll be well connected to both Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor’s sprawling coastal beaches.

But, you might be tempted to just stay indoors since the rooms here are super comfortable and well furnished, with modern fixtures amongst period decor.

“Location is great . Furniture and setting is so nice . Parking is comfortable and large of space.” Gerardo ( read more reviews now! )

Heck, there’s even an indoor pool and fitness center just in case you want to get your fitness-related swerve on. It’s honestly one of the more luxurious places to stay during your road trip to Maine!

8. Bar Harbor

This not-so-secret coastal town is a not-so-secret stop on our Maine road trip itinerary. And that’s basically because Bar Harbor is known as the gateway to everybody’s favorite…Acadia National Park.

So, if you’re short on time, You could always do a day trip and experience all that Bar Harbor has to offer as part of your trip to Acadia.

Because honestly, there really is a ton to do in this picturesque coastal town, besides visiting nearby Acadia National Park of course. I mean, if you’re at least a semi-morning person, you could get up before dawn and walk the length of the beautiful Shore Path.

It was originally built in 1880, is about a 1/2 mile long, starts at the town pier and Agamont Park, and offers you stunning views of the surrounding, Porcupine Islands.

Afterward, explore the Wild Gardens of Acadia, which are truly stunning to behold and home to over 200+ incredible plant species. Next, check out the Abbe Museum, which is a full on, Smithsonian institution that educated visitors about Native American history and culture in Maine.

And if that’s still not enough fun stuff for you to do during your road trip to Maine, then you could always visit other local attrations like the George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, the College of the Atlantic Gardens, and the Mount Desert Oceanarium.

Pro Tip: Wanna get out of the country and explore Canada? If so then hop aboard the high-speed CAT Ferry and take it all the way to Canada! The journey lasts about 3.5 hours and will drop you off in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Once here, you can enjoy the beauty of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and admire the Halifax Public Gardens of the Halifax Citadel National Site,

What to Eat in Bar Harbor

Ben and bill’s chocolate emporium.

Fudge? Check. Ice cream? Check. Candies? Oh yeah! Plus, pretty much everything on offer here is homemade and guaranteed to send your tastebuds spinning. And, FYI, I mean that in the best possible way.  

And with over 70 different flavors of ice cream and gelato available, you’ll feel like a kid in a … well, you know what I mean!

The Barnacle

Stuff your face silly at this amazing Bar Harbor restaurant, which is known for its delicious cocktails. Personally, though, I love their oysters and their next-level awesome pesto pasta.

CIAO Food/Drink

This place is equal parts popular and small. So yeah, you’ll probably have to wait to get inside. But once you’re across the threshold, your patience will be rewarded with delicious French lobster rolls, pork belly tacos, and fried cauliflower.

The portions are also on the small-ish side so definitely order a few things.

Where to Stay in Bar Harbor (see above for more recs)

The inn on mount desert (bar harbor).

⭐️ Rating: 9.3/10 (913 Reviews) Price: $199 per night 📍Location: 68 Mt. Dessert Street, Bar Harbor, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

This charming family-owned inn has a modern but relaxed feel about it that everyone will love. Rooms here are also well-priced at around $150 per night and include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee-making facilities, minifridges, and more.

“Had the feel of a BnB much more than a hotel. Delicious homemade breakfast including omelets to order as well as homemade muffins and bread. EXTREMELY CLEAN. Short drive to Acadia Natl Park!” Macayla ( read more reviews now! )

As a guest, you’ll also enjoy a delicious, daily breakfast as well as access to a private balcony with harbor or garden views.

Full disclosure, this is a supremely quiet, extremely tiny town along the Northern coast of Maine. So yes, this stop on your road trip to Maine will be pretty chill and mainly for people who love the great outdoors.

But it’s a wonderful, sleepy little fishing village that was first founded in 1826 along the Machias.

Today though, you can make your way through one of the area’s many awe-inspiring hiking trails, including Bog Brook Cove, Cutler Bold Coast Trail (it’s an amazing hidden gem that you shouldn’t miss), and the trails within the Western Head Preserve.

However, because you’re so far North, you could easily cross the border into Canada and check out the Bay of Fundy since the border with Canada is only about an hour and fifteen minutes away. If you want to drive all the way to Nova Scotia though, it’ll be about a 6-hour drive, so be prepared.

Things to do in Cutler

Hike or bike on through the cutler coast public reserved land.

This 12,334-acre wilderness area is brimming over with expansive blueberry barrens, pristine woodlands, and peatlands that feature jaw-droppingly beautiful cliffside views of the Bay of Fundy. There are also a ton of remote campsites here where you can really channel your inner Bear Grylls if you so desire.

Little River Lighthouse

Take a scenic walk to this quaint AF lighthouse, do a guided tour of the facility to learn about its fascinating history, and – if you’re lucky – spend the night for a truly memorable stay in Cutler.

Go On A Cruise With The Bold Coast Charter Company

Go on an amazing boat ride to Machias Seal Island. While you’re here, you can marvel at the single biggest puffin colony in all of Maine.

What to Eat/Where to Stay in Cutler (there are a distinct lack of options here)

For food, you can enjoy some delicious local fare at Heen’s Restaurant. Otherwise, you can venture into either Jonesboro and Machias for a wider selection of good eats.

The Bluebird Motel (East Machias)

⭐️ Rating: 8.4/10 (252 Reviews) Price: $99 per night 📍Location: 231 Dublin Street, Machias, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Yeah, there aren’t a ton of places to spend the night in Cutler. However, the rooms at the Bluebird Motel are well-priced (less than $100 per night) and consistently given great reviews by guests since they have everything you need for a comfy stay.

10. Rangeley Lake (An Inland Stop For Anyone With A Bit Of Extra Time)

If you have an extra day or two to spare, then here’s another great spot to add to your Maine road trip itinerary! It’s located in western Maine, a mere 40 miles from the New Hampshire border.

Because the Rangeley Lakes region is a picturesque, expansive area that is filled with stunning natural beauty. It also includes a grand total of six different lakes, like Rangeley Lake itself.

This idyllic rural destination also has a large number of green spaces and waterways for visitors to enjoy, perfect for spending time getting back into nature, and enjoying all the comforts that a small-town vacation can bring.

And if you’re a fan of seaplanes, then you’re in luck because Rangeley Lake is a designated water landing zone for seaplanes. Therefore, you might find yourself watching one of these bad boys speeding down and coming to a steady stop on the surface of the water!

Things To Do In Rangeley Lake

Rangeley lake state park.

Almost 90 acres of land makes up this state park. It also sits on a section of the Appalachian Trail that runs along Saddleback Mountain and is a popular place to rent a kayak and get yourself out onto that crystal clear water!

However, If you’re more of a landlubber like me, then there are plenty of trails for hiking, camping, and picnicking areas, as well as spots for viewing tons of amazing wildlife. There are also plenty of opportunities for fishing since the waters here are full of trout and salmon.

Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum

If you’re more of a city person, and the idea of actually catching a fish yourself sounds like a total nightmare, then you can always just learn more about such outdoor pursuits right here!

Situated at the most northwestern point of Rangeley Lake, in the village of Oquossoc (yes, you read that right), this museum introduces visitors to the past, present, and, in some cases, future of outdoor sports!

Yup, this small, but delightful, museum is packed full of information that spans thousands of years of sporting history, from the Native American experience all the way to President Eisenhower’s 1955 visit, making this the perfect place to visit during any road trip to Maine.

What To Eat In Rangeley Lake

The red onion.

This place serves all of the home-cooked Italian food you could ask for! So, expect to find pizza, pasta, spaghetti, burgers, wraps, meatloaf, salad, and even steak! Yup, just an all-around cute, family-owned place that was first pulled into position by horses back in the early 1900s.

Since then, they’ve enjoyed a stable little spot in between City Cove and Haley Pond, where they’ve managed to expand and add a few more amenities, including the main dining area and bar!

Classic Provisions

This is another family-owned and operated store that also has a breakfast and lunch menu for anyone who wants to take a load off and enjoy the atmosphere of a cozy restaurant.

Everything here is seasonal, and the owners are proud to provide meals made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. And if you like a dish enough, you can always buy the ingredients off the shelves and make it yourself once you get home!

Where To Stay In Rangeley Lake

Rangeley saddleback inn (rangeley).

Just down the road from the above eateries is the Rangeley Saddleback Inn . This warm and welcoming hotel comes with its own indoor saltwater pool, hot tub, fire pits, and barbecue grill. There are also several pet-friendly rooms for anyone traveling with their best good boys and girls!

Rangeley Town & Lake (Rangeley)

⭐️ Rating: 8.3/10 (460 Reviews) Price: $185 per night 📍Location: 2668 Main Street, Rangeley, ME Details: Read more on booking.com now!

Rangeley Town & Lake motel is perfect for those looking for affordable yet comfortable accommodations during their road trip to Maine. Everything about this place says “feel at home”, from the wood-paneled walls to the cozy furnishings and décor.

“The room over looked the lake. There were chairs to sit and visit neighbors on the open walkway. The open field had ducks running around and going to the lake. The bed was comfortable. The room was equipped to allow a longer stay and next time we will.” Gregory (read more reviews)

The view of the lake is also excellent, and the location is within walking distance of everything you might want to see or need!

Road Trip To Maine FAQ

What is the best month to go to maine.

September is the best time to visit Maine. This is because the crowds have left after the Labor day holidays so the touristy locations are not very crowded. Accommodation is also so much cheaper during this time because the demand has dropped considerably.

The weather on the other hand is still great. It hasn’t got chilly yet and you can see the start of the fall foliage before the next season’s crowds head in. In fact, the weather is still warm enough to even head out for a swim if you are in one of the coastal towns of Maine .

What Is The Best Time To Visit Maine For Lobsters?

Lobsters are available all year round in Maine so you really can’t miss them irrespective when you head to this gorgeous state. The largest catches of lobster however are caught between June and December.

How Many Days Do You Require For A Road Trip To Maine?

Honestly, there is just so much to see in Maine. It is hard to just narrow down on a few spots. A 10 -15 day trip however will strike a great balance between seeing a lot of Maine and getting some relaxation done edgewise.

What Is The Cheapest Month To Travel In Maine?

If you want a budget trip and you want good weather, then I highly recommend heading to Maine in the shoulder season which is between mid September and mid October. This avoids the Labor day crowds.

This is the time you will find the lowest rates on travel, accommodation, rentals and tours. So make the best of it!

Map of the Best Road Road Trip to Maine

Additional Resources You’ll Love

• 13 Best Breweries in Portland Maine
• 10 Amazing Scenic Drives in Maine
• 15 Best Things to do in Bar Harbor Maine
• 15 Best Things to do in Boothbay Harbor
• Best Things to do in Portland Maine
• Best New York to Los Angeles Road Trip

Well, there you have it! That just about wraps up my tips for planning an amazing road trip to Maine!

Tell me, did your fave stop on your maine road trip itinerary make the cut if not then let me know in the comments below so i can check it out., and if you found this post helpful, be sure to join our email list and pin this post now so that you can read it again later.

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The Ultimate Maine Road Trip Itinerary

June 26, 2020 //  by  Follow Me Away //   3 Comments

Trying to plan the perfect Maine road trip? Look no further! We’re here to help make the process a little less stressful!

It is one of the best road trips in the USA and should totally be on your bucket list!

Maine has so much to offer: from scenic roads to iconic lighthouses, famous lobster shacks, breathtaking trees alongside winding drives, fun cities, and some national parks, you won’t be disappointed with any stop you add to your Maine road trip itinerary. 

We are listing some of our favorite and “must-see” stops for a Maine road trip below. Victoria actually grew up exploring Maine and New England by RV, so we hope that you enjoy this itinerary!

Keep your personal timeline in mind as you get the car ready to go! You’re in for an amazing adventure.

The Ultimate Maine Road trip Itinerary

Getting to maine .

When starting your Maine road trip, we recommend flying into the Boston Logan International Airport. This airport is large and therefore a huge hub for many Airlines such as Delta, Cape Air, Southwest, American, United, and more. 

Because this airport is a hub, it also has a variety of cities to depart from, including, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta Fort Lauderdale, Vegas, and more! So no matter where you are coming from, you will find a well-priced flight here at Boston Logan International Airport. 

If you want to fly into somewhere else, however, you can also consider flying into Portland (Portland, Maine, of course!), through their Portland International Jetport! We just suggest Boston Logan International because it is close to the border of the state and easier to rent cars from for Maine road trip! 

Getting Around During Your Maine Road Trip 

To begin your Maine road trip, you’ll need a car! So make sure to stop by the Rental Car Center serving Boston Logan after you land. Airport terminals run every 5-6 minutes and will take you straight to the RCC where you can rent out a vehicle.

Here you can rent from Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, Alamo, BOS, Thrifty, and Advantage! Just make sure to get a car that has some room and good gas mileage so you are comfortable and prepared for all your adventures of a road trip to Maine. 

Don’t forget to check out our Detailed Road Trip Packing List so you don’t forget any essentials for your trip!

When to See Fall Foliage in Maine 

We know that the fall foliage in New England is spectacular: people come from all over to see the leaves change, and Maine has some of the bright orange, yellow and red hues across their Maples, Oaks, Elms and Birch trees. 

Many people travel to Maine during late September to see the fall foliage. The September to October weather also is perfect timing for touring the coast and witnessing these hues act as a stake contrast of the blue waters of the nearby oceans, lakes, and rivers! So make sure to keep this in mind when you’re planning a date for your Maine road trip!

Stop 1: Rest and Relax at Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit, Maine is a must stop for your Maine road trip because it truly is a beautiful place by the sea! With miles of sandy beaches, a scenic coast, art galleries, fun shopping, and dining adventures, this place ranks as one of the best vacation spots! 

Perkins Cove is a small fishing village that is great for shopping and restaurants! There are also a variety of tours from boat harbors that you can visit here! Marginal Way is a 1.25-mile coastal walking path that connects Perkins Village to Ogunquit, so this is a great science route to walk. 

There is also some great theater here, so you can check out the Ogunquit Playhouse or the Museum of American Art if you’re interested! Or if you want to do something beyond the beach and small towns, make sure to check our some events: local food and wine tastings are popular and fall-themed events are dependent on the time of year you visit! 

Where to Stay in Ogunquit Beach

Mid-Range: Ogunquit River Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Ogunquit Tides . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 2: Continue to Relax in Kennebunkport 

Kennebunkport is a coastal town in southern Maine that is famous for it’s long, sandy beaches. You must check this location out during your Maine road trip if you’re interested in stopping by Goose Rocks Beach as well as Arundel Beach.  This is truly one of the best things to do in Maine!

The Seashore Trolley Museum is also a neat and niche place that displays a huge collection of streetcars, and many people like checking out St. Ann’e Episcopal Church since it dates back to 1887 and its rustic stone architecture contrasted with its grass fields are breathtaking. 

Cape Porpoise is also a nearby lobster-fishing village that sits in a harbor and is well known for its local seafood. From most restaurants and galleries here, you can also view the 1833 Goat Island Lighthouse! 

Where to Stay in Kennebunkport

Mid-Range: Lodge at Kennebunk.  Check Rates: Booking.com

High Range-Range: The Boathouse. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 3: Make sure to Visit Cape Elizabeth for Iconic Lighthouses

A Genteel town, Cape Elizabeth is another stop you have to spend some time during your Maine road trip This place of history and coastlines and parks hugs the Casco Bay , making ripe for adventure! 

Many tourists love to explore this area by bike and cross the Casco Bay Bridge to get to the Cape Elizabeth’s coast. But the hardest decision to make when visiting here comes down to visiting lighthouses: there are so many! Portland Headlight, Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse, and Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse  are active and great views. 

Williams Par k has great trails to explore old batteries, but more importantly, Two Lights State Park is set on a rocky shoreline where you can view twin lighthouses that are close by. This place is perfect for lunch alongside the crashing waves, but you can also check out Crescent Bech State Park!

Where to Stay Near Cape Elizabeth 

Mid-Range: The Francis Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Inn by the Sea . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 4: Spend some time in Portland, Maine (not Oregon!) 

Set on the peninsula extending into Casco Bay , Portland is a great city to stop in during your Maine road trip, and it’s close to Cape Elizabeth!  The Old Port features fishing wharves, warehouses, restaurants, and unique Indie shops that are great for exploring. 

Fort Willams Park is fantastic for visiting a rocky coast, as the seaside park is coastal and has an old fort and views of lighthouses! The Portland Head Lighthouse is also super cool to check out. 

If you’re looking for something more “indoors” to do, you can check out the Portland Museum of Art, but we highly recommend visiting Peaks Island , where there are more beaches and a really cool Fifth Maine Regiment Museum ! 

Where to stay near Portland 

Mid-Range: Hampton Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Portland Harbor Hotel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 5: Enjoy the Water in Waldoboro 

Waldoboro is a cute, quaint town in Maine that is perfect for any Maine road trip itinerary. Well known for its lakes, this place thrives off of its agricultural and fishing legacy. 

We recommend checking out all the lake and pond wonders Waldoboro has! From Damariscotta Lake to Pemaquid Pond and Duckpuddle Pond , these bodies of waters are perfect for evenings that you want to fish, relax, boat, and watch sunsets! 

We also think the Waldoboro Historical Society is a cute museum to check out! And the Goose River Peace Corps Preserve and Pond are just fantastic for exploring trails and greenery! Make sure to take in the scenery at Waldoboro! 

Where to Stay Near Waldoboro

Mid-Range: Claddagh Motel and Suites. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Ledges by the Bay . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 6: Check out Rockland and it’s cute Bay and Harbor

Rockland , Maine is a popular tourist spot, so you must add it to your Maine road trip itinerary. Rockland is known as mid-coast Maine and is beautifully famous because the mountains and sea converge here right on Rockland Harbor and Penobscot Bay . 

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is a highlight of the town, and there are plenty of tours you can take that lets you travel around Penobscot Bay. 

There are also amazing restaurants and shops to check out here, such as Rustica — a great Italian place– and Jess’ Market . Many tourists love renting bikes to explore the small-time and highly recommend looking at great festivals that might be going on when you visit: Rockland is famous for its Summer Solstice Festival! 

Where to Stay Near Rockland

Mid-Range: Glen Cove Inn & Suites. Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range : Strawberry Hill Seaside Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 7: You Must See the East Coast’s Acadia National Park 

Would you really be on a Maine road trip without stopping by and witnessing Acadia National Park in all of its glory? Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre recreation area on Maine’s Mount Desert. 

Known for its foods, rocky beaches, and breathtaking granite, there are some must-sees here. Cadillac Mountain is the tallest point on the East coast for example. It’s known for its sweeping panoramic views. 

But also make sure to check out Sand Beach , where the quiet cove is super relaxing, or even Jordan Pond where there are some beautiful trails with nearby mountains and lakes! We recommend ensuring that you check out the Bubble Mountain hike though, and Mount Desert Island! 

Where to stay near Acadia

Low-Range: Acadia Pines Motel. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Anchorage Motel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 8: Spend some Time In Bar Harbor 

This bayside town is close to Acadia and is a popular getaway or stops for tourists which is why we’re listing it on your Maine road trip itinerary! You can view this town from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

Many people stop by here because it is so close to Acadia, but while here make sure to check out the Ocean Trail, Schoodic Peninsula, and Frenchman Bay . 

The Criterion Theatre is also a cool place for an evening in, or exploring Village Green , a small historical town with lots to explore! The College of the Atlantic Gardens is also quaint and quiet if you’re looking for something a bit different to explore!

Where to stay in Bar Harbor

Mid-Range: Moseley Cottage Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Bar Harbor Grand Hotel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 9: Take a trip on a ferry to Nova Scotia 

Although Nova Scotia is technically a province in eastern Canada and not a part of Maine, you have to add it to your Maine road trip! Thankfully you can take the CAT ferry from Bar Harbor for a day trip to Nova! 

Some of the top sights you’ll want to visit in Nova during your trip include the Cape Breton Highlands National Park where you can take trails through mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and coastlines. The Kejimkujik National Park is similar to Cape Breton as well! 

Or you can explore the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Halifax Public Gardens of the Halifax Citadel National Site. And if you’re feeling REALLY adventurous, off the coast of Sable Island there are tons of shipwrecks to explore if you want to go diving or snorkeling! Just watch for the high tides Nova is famous for! 

Where to Stay in Nova Scotia

Low-Range: Hillside Landing B&B. Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Residence Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

We are so excited you’ve chosen o embark on a Maine road trip, as it is truly a gorgeous state with unforgettable coastlines. After your day trip to Nova, you can head back to Boston or Portland to go ahead and fly home! But as we’ve mentioned, this guide only touches the surface of what Maine has to offer. If you want to know more or have more time to explore, check out some other stops as well. Either way, we know you’ll have fun!

With More Time: 

There is truly so much to do in Maine, so if you are traveling with a bit more time, or for a longer period of time, we are adding a few more stops you might want to stop and explore during your Maine road trip! These stops are super popular as well but are a bit further out of the “loop” during your traveling adventures. They will take more time to get to, but definitely check them out if you have that extra time!

Visit Chimney Pond Via Mount Katahdin

To climb Mount Katahdin during your extended Maine road trip, we suggest taking the Chimney Pond Trail. This trail is 6.3 miles and is considered a “moderate” hike, but is well known for the lake and views it offers.

The Chimney Pond Campgrounds are also part of the “backcountry” near Baxter State Park . Here you can rest and realz while having the closest access to other trails such as Hamlin Ridge and Saddle .  

Visit Oh My Gosh Corner/Carrabassett

Carrabassett Valley is located between the Bigelow Mountains and is known for its scenic routes of birches and rivers. Many people love to come here for skiing in the winter, as there is a bend in the Route known as “Oh My Gosh Corner.”  

From this corner, you can see Sugarloaf Mountain, is 163 trails trifling down its surface. The bend in this road is breathtaking: its north-facing mountain towers around the corner at a 4,237 summit along Carrabassett River . You don’t want to miss it during your Maine road trip.

Visit Moosehead Lake 

Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine, which means you have to stop and see it with your Maine itinerary! Situated in the Longfellow Mountains , this lake is surrounded by the Kennebec River.

Near Beaver Cove , the terrain slopes gently toward the water making it a perfect place to swim. The water clarity is great, temperatures fairly warm, and Mount Kineo is also close: here you can explore the 700-foot scenic cliffs in-between your lake day! 

Visit Rangeley Lake 

Fed by a variety of streams, Rangeley Lake is situated close to Rangeley , which was named one of the best winter towns inNew England. Its lake is over 6,000 arches and is super deep (149 feet!). But no matter what time of year you are taking your Maine road trip, you’ve got to stop here! 

Many people love to fish here, as the lake is known for its brook trout and salmon. Beyond the lake though, there is Rangeley Village with hotels, restaurants and shops, and the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society is a cute museum that exhibits the town’s history! 

Visit Sugarloaf Mountain 

Sugarloaf Mountain is a lovely mountain in Maine. Open from 8 a.m. until sunset, this natural landmark has geographical beauty and striking landscape views. After taking lifts to the top of Sugarloaf and exploring the park, you can check out the nearby towns. 

Visit Baxter State Park 

Our last suggestion for your Maine road trip itinerary includes Baxter State Park . This is a large wilderness area that has been permanently preserved and features a variety of trails (we highly recommend checking out the Knife Edge trail !), sights, and mountains. 

Mount Katahdin is Maine’s tallest peak and is located here. It is also a favorite hike amongst tourists! And Baxter Peak is also popular, although its trial is more difficult. If you’re feeling more “woodsy” too, you can explore the monuments and breathtaking sights of Katahdin Woods and Waters! 

And there you have it! A great Maine road trip itinerary that will take you around the state to experience national parks, iconic lighthouses, potent landscapes, and more. Make sure to drive safe and have TONS of fun during your Maine road trip– we promise it will be unforgettable! 

Reader Interactions

July 12, 2020 at 12:14 pm

What a wonderful trip through Maine. I have done some of it but would love to return to see the rest. It is a beautiful state with so many places to visit…One day…

October 14, 2022 at 8:39 pm

thanks for the good read. i am going solo as i promised to see Maine before i am 60 ill let you know how much i love it

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Monroeville: The "To Kill a Mockingbird" Experience

You've read the book or maybe you've seen the movie with Gregory Peck. Now experience <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em> and lots more firsthand on a visit to Monroeville.

Selma: Explore Small Town's Major Role in Civil War History

The 1820s town of Selma, situated on the banks of the Alabama River in west-central Alabama, is a place where the past reaches out to you like the branches of the town's moss-draped trees.

Childersburg and Sylacauga: Family Fun

Take your family to explore a cave that's 12 stories deep. Eleven miles away, amaze them as your car rolls uphill, seemly defying the law of gravity.

Eufaula: Picture Perfect and Pilgrimage Ready

Experience the state's oldest and largest tour of homes on the Eufaula Pilgrimage, which takes place each spring.

Tuscaloosa to Eutaw: Antiques and Antebellum Mansions

With gracious antebellum mansions, wonderful art galleries, scenic waterways, landmark universities, a haunted bridge and a treasure trove of antique shops, West Alabama offers the perfect road trip for lovers of antiquity, art and culture.

Abbeville: Yatta Abba Yella Fella Tour

Explore the small town made famous by Jimmy Rane, the Yella Fella.

Eastern Shore: Girlfriends Bay Getaway

Experience a girlfriends getaway on Alabama’s Eastern Shore where the charming small town of Fairhope offers boutiques, bistros, art and the highest rated Marriott spa in the world just down the road. As you cruise along Scenic Highway 98 to Fairhope, you’ll drive under canopies of oak trees draped with Spanish moss.

Foley and Elberta: Art, Antiques and Model Trains

Eight miles north of the white sand beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast sit two small towns rich in culture and heritage, Foley and Elberta.

Go for a Drive on the RTJ Golf Trail

In Alabama, you can go for a drive on the RTJ Golf Trail, but these driving skills don’t require a steering wheel.

Birmingham’s Five Points South: Walk to James Beard-recognized Restaurants

Birmingham is home to great neighborhoods that are filled with a spirit that comes alive when you walk down the streets and step inside the boutiques and quaint restaurants.

Decatur: Fun in the River City

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in North Alabama, Decatur is called “The River City” and is known for its great outdoor recreation.

Discover Dothan: The Heart of Alabama’s Wiregrass

Dothan is an ideal place for a fun and affordable family vacation. Symbols of a bygone era await your visit at a 135-acre park on the outskirts of town.

Florence: Alabama’s Renaissance City

Florence, the county seat of Lauderdale County, was surveyed in 1818 by Ferdinand Sannoner, an Italian native who named the city after Florence, Italy.

Gee’s Bend Pastimes to Patchwork Tour

Perhaps you’ve read about the women from Gee’s Bend in rural Wilcox County, who have been piecing together some of the world’s most beautiful patchwork quilts and passing their skills down for generations.

Rocking and Rolling on the Mountains: A Driving Tour Through Steele, Ashville and Springville

Take in Alabama's natural beauty driving through the mountains. Observe local artists' and listen to unique music at various bluegrass festivals.

Alabama’s Coastal Connection National Scenic Byway

Beautiful beaches, authentic downtowns, wildlife preserves, historic sites and the freshest of seafood are all yours to enjoy on Alabama’s Coastal Connection, a nationally designated scenic byway.

A Bicentennial Road Trip: Fort Mims to Horseshoe Bend

Follow the progression of the Creek Indian War through historic sites and battle reenactments.

Fort Payne: The View From Lookout Mountain

The largest city along the Alabama portion of the Lookout Mountain Parkway is Fort Payne.

Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Where Kids Drive the Fun Home

Some of the best family memories are made on a beach vacation. Ditching your regular routine and setting out for Alabama’s 32 miles of sandy seashore welcomes a bit of magic into your lives.

Famous Alabamians Hometown Heroes Road Trip

Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Hank Williams Sr. and George Washington Carver – these names rank among the most notable people in America.

Marion and Greensboro: Interesting People, Places and Food

Alabama’s Black Belt region, so named because of its rich black soil, cuts a swath across the state that encompasses 22 counties, including Hale and Perry.

Commemorating Birmingham ’63 in the Alabama Civil Rights District

Visiting Alabama’s Civil Rights District, where some of America’s most painful events took place, is a powerful and emotional experience you should not miss.

Rosa Parks, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Jesse Owens: A Centennial Road Trip

What do Rosa Parks, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Jesse Owens have in common? Besides the fact that each of them has a museum named in their honor, all three of these famous Alabamians were born in 1913, and each played a role in integration.

Tuscaloosa and Northport: A Feast of Art and Food

Tuscaloosa, the fifth largest city in Alabama, is home to the University of Alabama and the National Championship Crimson Tide football team. Northport’s charming downtown is a mecca for diners and shoppers, particularly during the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts each October.

Irondale, Hanceville & Cullman: A Pilgrimage for the Soul

Pilgrims of all faiths journey from far corners of the globe to nourish spirits and deepen understanding at the three Alabama locations. Each stop is an easy drive from major interstates, but you’ll feel transported to spiritual realms in your heart.

Moundville/Aliceville: Shark Teeth, POWs & the Lost Realm of the Black Warrior

This road trip takes you on a journey through history. Visit Moundville Archaeological Park, then return to Tuscaloosa to eat, shop and see the sights. Journey to hunt prehistoric shark teeth left 70 million years ago before visiting a museum in nearby Aliceville dedicated to one of the largest World War II German prison camps in America.

Henagar: The Sound of (Sacred Harp) Music

On this road trip, you will hear the sound so associated with the South of the Civil War period and see the town where Sacred Harp songs were recorded for the movie Cold Mountain.

Cullman: Alabama’s German Village

From its Native American and Civil War past to proud heritage as the site of an authentic 1870s German village, Cullman offers travelers plenty to see and do.

Wonder Falls & More: Gadsden, Attalla and Beyond

Take two days to explore the stunning scenic splendor of northeastern Alabama with visits to waterfalls in Gadsden and Fort Payne and the federally protected magnificence of Little River Canyon.

Outdoor Beach Adventure: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach

This road trip takes you to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast region for fishing, parasailing, hot air balloon rides, scuba diving and exciting dolphin cruises. Down along the Alabama coast, where 32 miles of sugar white sand beaches offer fun 365 days of the year, you’ll discover adventure at every turn – on land, by sea and in the air.

Pork, Blues and Inner Tubes: A Tour of Alabama Barbecue

In Alabama, barbecue is a culture all in itself. The state serves some of the nation’s best, with iconic and award-winning restaurants just about everywhere you look.

Mentone: A Mountaintop Treasure

Nestled among the woodlands atop the western brow of Lookout Mountain, the historic and scenic village of Mentone hosts antiques stores, arts and crafts shops, galleries and restaurants. The Lookout Mountain Parkway is known for its beautiful waterfalls and great white-water kayaking.

Lineville & Ashland: From Alabama’s Highest Point to Its Hills of Gold

On this road trip, you will start on a mountaintop at Cheaha State Park and travel down to the valley. Along the way you can ride horses, pan for gold and drive beautiful back roads to reach the small towns of Lineville and Ashland.

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Road Trip

Visitors to Tuskegee, located in Macon County in east-central Alabama, will discover a myriad of reasons why Lionel Richie is proud to call the small town where he grew up “home.”

Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Fresh Catch and Fairways

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is a destination that combines rest and relaxation with some of the best golfing and fishing around.

Historic House Museums of Mobile

From the grand Bragg-Mitchell Mansion to the simple Portier House, the historic house museums of Mobile are sure to provide a memorable experience for those who love history, architecture and a good story.

Athens’ Southern Splendor

From history and food to Southern hospitality, Athens has it all. Athens is a small city in North Alabama with a charming downtown square full of history.

Blount County: The Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama

Three of Alabama’s 11 covered bridges can be found in Blount County, nestled into the curves of both roads and rivers, making this county the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama.

Scottsboro: Claim the Treasures

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro is a treasure-trove of adventure. Here you can tour a quaint museum that chronicles the early history of the Civil Rights Movement in America, see the courthouse where the Scottsboro Boys Trials took place in the 1930s, and enjoy premier outdoor recreation, such as bird-watching, boating, camping, fishing and golfing.

Alabama's Historic State Capitals Tour

Alabama has had five state capitals, including St. Stephens, Huntsville, Cahawba, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery. Take a tour throughout the state discovering the history behind these important cities.

Your Island Getaway: Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island is the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway. A natural environment surrounded by the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this small barrier island is set apart by white sand beaches, walking trails, bountiful wildlife and lots of history.

Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys

Take a 110-mile journey through scenic northeastern Alabama to visit train depots and courthouses in Stevenson, Scottsboro, Decatur and Athens, where the saga of the Scottsboro Boys case played out over seven years.

Pike County: Art, Pioneers, Peanut Butter and More

There’s a lot to love about Pike County, which is just east of Alabama’s capital city and includes the cities of Troy and Brundidge. Discover an emerging arts scene, the pioneering spirit of the past, a top-ranked university, antiques, an annual peanut butter party and more.

Racing, Riding and Building America’s Wheels

From the first crank of an engine, America fell in love with the automobile. Throughout Alabama, testimonials to our devotion abound in museums, on racetracks and in manufacturing facilities.

Muscle Shoals Is Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven

Thanks to the critically acclaimed Muscle Shoals documentary, music lovers are finding their way to the small town in northwestern Alabama where some of the world’s greatest hits were recorded.

Create Your Own Classroom on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Discover a whole different state of learning along Alabama’s 32 miles of white sand and blue waterways. These waterfront classrooms offer core subjects to enrich any student’s curriculum.

Crave the Coast: A Gulf-Side Trip for Food Lovers

Next time you visit the pristine beaches of Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast, up the culinary ante with the delicious destinations and dishes the area has to offer.

Old Mill Towns of Alabama: Valley, Lanett and Beyond

Get ready to travel to the sites of several old mill towns, visit a Civil War fort that straddles the Alabama/Georgia line, explore birding sites and lakes and visit a town that honors sports hero Joe Louis, World Boxing Heavyweight Champion from 1937 to 1949.

Coasting Through History: Forts, Fishermen, Legends and Adventure Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Today, you can tour the forts that defended Mobile and walk beaches trod by swashbucklers and explorers. You can also learn the amazing stories of seafarers, farmers and fishermen who also make up the coast’s history.

Wetumpka: Land of Rumbling Waters

Nestled in the heart of Elmore County and wrapped in the flowing waters of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, Wetumpka holds many treasures often overlooked by visitors and passersby.

Elkmont: Goat Cheese Heaven

Elkmont is best known as the home of an internationally acclaimed goat cheese maker. It is also a place to explore Civil War history, pick, grin and dance the night away at an old railroad depot, or listen to country music by Nashville entertainers inside a little red caboose.

Opelika: Small City, BIG Impression

Folks who live in Opelika will tell you that their hometown is a special place, offering all the graces of Southern hospitality, history and culture with a mix of modern innovation, revitalization and progress.

Exploring Alabama’s Rural Studio

Smack in the middle of Alabama’s Black Belt stand multiple buildings, none of which look like they go together. But they do. All part of Auburn University’s Rural Studio, these homes, event centers, play structures and community buildings – some built using tires, wooden pallets or hay bales – comprise a philanthropic and educational effort by the university’s architecture department.

Alabama Beer Trail - Flight 1

Alabama’s burgeoning craft beer scene practically begs you to make a pilgrimage to some of the 29 breweries and brew pubs in the state.

It’s Showtime at Alabama’s Historic Theaters

The lights dim, the music swells, images and voices appear, and you are magically whisked away to another time, another place, another life. Alabama has nearly 20 theaters that were built before World War II, with 11 of them dating to 1930 or earlier.

Auburn-Opelika: A Center of Arts and Culture

On this road trip, you’re invited to step back in time to an old railroad town, visit art and history museums, and refuel with a glass of lemonade at an old-fashioned drugstore and soda fountain.

See & Sip at Alabama’s Wineries

Keeping step with Alabama's burgeoning craft beer industry and award-winning restaurants, vineyards around the state are producing homegrown vintages with distinctive flavors. The state currently boasts 14 vineyards and wineries, most of which rely on Alabama's only native grape, the muscadine.

Take Off on Alabama’s Aviation Road Trip

Point your compass to sites around Alabama where generations of creative minds dreamed of soaring high above the earth.

Over the Railroad and Through the Woods: A Historic Christmas in East Alabama

Christmastime in Alabama is truly an enjoyable experience, with many cities hosting parades, plays, garden tours and other special events throughout the holiday season. This is certainly true for the Auburn-Opelika area in East Alabama.

Metal & Might: Discover Alabama’s Iron & Steel Heritage

Pondering Alabama’s rich history often leads to thoughts of the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement or our literary legacy. But there’s another topic that deserves prime placement on that list: the founding and growth of the state’s iron and steel industries.

Meet Alabama’s Artisanal Cheesemakers

Get your camera ready for this Instagram-worthy tour through Alabama farmland to meet a few of the state’s top artisanal cheese producers. Throughout Alabama’s rich agricultural history, farmers have utilized the mild climate and fertile soil to create distinctive dairy products.

Take 20: Things to see and do in Alabama along Interstate 20

Interstate 20 dates back to the 1960s and is a major east–west transportation system that runs for more than 1,500 miles from Kent, Texas all the way to Columbia, South Carolina. In between, it travels through several states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama before crossing into Georgia. Such a lengthy and historic route beckons you to get off and explore all the attractions along the way. And what better place to do that than in Alabama?

Historic Churches Along Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail

On this road trip, you are invited to hit the Alabama Civil Rights Trail, visiting several historic cities and towns to get an inside look at one of the most significant symbols of the Civil Rights Movement — the black church.

Columbiana: More Than You Can Imagine

Unless you’re from around the Birmingham area, chances are you haven’t heard of Columbiana, but this charming town of fewer than 5,000 offers more than you can imagine and is well worth a day trip or a weekend stay.

Seeing Gadsden from the Inside

The Coosa River flows down from beautiful Lookout Mountain, offering fishing, camping and birdwatching along the shoreline of Neely Henry Lake. Stunning waterfalls capture your imagination at Noccalula Falls Park. A relaxing 36-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Course beckons you to grab your clubs and enjoy a round or two of golf. With so many opportunities for recreation surrounding it, one would think that Gadsden is all about the outdoors.

Road Tripping with the Kids in Alabama’s Capital City

When it comes to spring break and summer vacation, kids are always up for an adventure. And what better place to give them some adventure than in Alabama’s capital city. From the Alabama Cattlemen’s MOOseum and the Museum of Alabama to the Rosa Parks Museum and the Planetarium, Montgomery offers an abundance of things to see and do with children.

Andalusia: Where Art, History and Culture Abound

Whether big or small, almost every town has its claim to fame, and Andalusia, Alabama is no exception. Located in south-central Alabama in Covington County, this town of 9,000-plus is home to the World Championship Domino Tournament, lots of rich local history, engaging museums, and more.

Road Trip: Mountain Bike East Alabama

Whether you’re a beginner or old pro, you’re invited to pack up your gear and hit the open road toward East Alabama – we’ll show you all the best trails!

A Centennial Road Trip along the Bankhead Highway

Mention the name Bankhead and many would undoubtedly think of Tallulah Bankhead of Hollywood and Broadway fame. But before the screen and stage star was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1902, her grandfather John Hollis Bankhead of Jasper was making a name for himself.

Exploring Alabama’s Historic Ballparks

Although Alabama doesn’t often tout its connection to America’s favorite pastime, the state harbors a rich baseball history that rivals that of Boston, New York or Chicago. Its legacy includes several minor league teams, beloved players who are household names and ballparks where history was made. Follow this road trip to five of the state’s historic ballparks and discover the sport’s Alabama roots.

Experiencing Montgomery beyond Downtown

With dozens of museums, a beautiful riverboat and baseball stadium, historic homes and churches, and great lodging, entertainment and dining venues, it’s no surprise that downtown Montgomery is a mecca for tourists. But why not explore all Montgomery has to offer?

Adventure and Scenery on Two Wheels

For some, there’s nothing better than traveling the world on a motorcycle, and if you’re one of those people, this road trip is for you.

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Find the perfect trip with Alabama Road Trips app for iOS and Android

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Everything Alabama has to offer —in one easy place!

Looking for information on state parks, hot spots to have fun in the sun, or the best places for fishing or bird-watching? How about the world’s best museums or science centers? The Alabama Vacation guide will help you discover so many new and unique experiences. No matter where you’re headed or what you feel like doing, the Alabama vacation guide will get started on the right path.

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The ULTIMATE Route 1 Maine Road Trip Itinerary | Attractions, Restaurants, & Travel Tips

United States Route 1 is a massive north-south roadway that stretches over 2,300 miles, connecting Fort Kent Maine to Key West Florida. Over 520 miles of the road runs along the stunning Atlantic coastline of Maine and the Canadian border, making it a popular destination for road-trippers.

However, planning a Route 1 Maine road trip can be overwhelming because of the vast distance and numerous small towns and attractions along the way.

That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive itinerary to guide you from south to north, starting in Kittery and ending in Fort Kent (with some detours). But, feel free to follow it in reverse if you prefer.

Either way, get ready for a breathtaking and picturesque drive along Vacationland’s stunning coastline, with plenty of incredible stops along the way.

About Traveling U.S. 1 in Maine

While there’s some discrepancy regarding the exact length of U.S. 1, the last official log reported it as 2,593 miles long. However, various sources online list it as either 2,370 or 2,390 miles long.

Regardless, it’s worth noting that this highway passes through an impressive 15 states, more than any other highway in the country.

Although U.S. 1 doesn’t have an official beginning or end point, the town of Fort Kent claims to be the northern terminus since the route was originally signed in 1927 when the American Association of State Highway Officials adopted the U.S. numbered highway system.

If you’re following our itinerary from south to north, expect a thrilling adventure filled with stunning scenery, charming towns, and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a quick look at the route:

• Starting from Kittery, U.S. 1 runs northeast and parallel to I-95.
• From Portland, it merges and runs parallel to I-295.
• After Brunswick, U.S. 1 turns in an easterly direction.
• As it approaches Rockland, U.S. 1 turns more northward.
• After Bucksport, U.S. 1 heads east again.
• From Whiting, it veers northward and gets closer to the Canadian border.
• At Maro Hill, U.S. 1 briefly curves away from the border before meeting it again.
• From Van Buren, it follows a northwest path along the border.
• Finally, from Madawaska, U.S. 1 runs westward and slightly southward to reach Fort Kent.

Route 1 Road Trip Traffic

Driving straight through the Maine portion of U.S. Route 1 would take approximately 11.5 hours, but that would mean missing out on the countless charming coastal towns and attractions along the way.

Additionally, most of those “ from away ” come to Vacationland during the summer and fall. Because of that, traffic on U.S. 1 can get pretty crowded. If you don’t want to get caught up in the peak of traffic, you could plan your trip for between Labor Day and mid-October. We also recommend traveling in winter or spring — before May.

Driving Through the Regions

Sometimes, the boundaries of Maine’s regions are a topic of debate among locals. According to the Maine Office of Tourism, though, here are the coastal boundaries of the towns you’ll be visiting during your Route 1 Maine road trip:

• The Southern Maine Coast begins in Kittery and stretches to Old Orchard Beach.
• Greater Portland & Casco Bay spans from Scarborough to Brunswick and includes the islands in Casco Bay .
• Mid Coast Maine covers the coastline from Bath to Winterport.
• Downeast Maine starts at Verona Island and Bucksport and runs northeast to Lubec and Eastport and then north to Danforth next to the Canadian border.
• Aroostook County extends along the Canadian border from Weston to Fort Kent and then northwest to the Village of Estcourt.

So, without further delay, here’s a comprehensive list of the best places to stop during your Route 1 Maine road trip. Buckle up and get ready for an epic journey!

Best Route 1 Stops on the Southern Maine Coast

As you cross the New Hampshire border and enter the Southern Maine Coast, the first town you’ll encounter is Kittery . This town has a rich history dating back to 1623 when it was a fishery, and you can see this history reflected in its buildings, especially the forts.

One such fort is the Fort McClary State Historic Site , which is nearly 300 years old and offers a range of activities, including hiking, fishing, camping, and enjoying the history and surrounding nature.

Another option is Fort Foster Park on Gerrish Island, which is easily accessible by car and boasts three small beaches and a trail system for biking and walking through the military fort remnants.

If shopping is more your style, then the famous Kittery Premium Outlets are a must-visit destination. Here, you’ll find a blend of locally sourced products alongside high-end and national chains, offering a unique shopping experience for everyone.

Kittery Restaurants

You’ll find numerous restaurants in Kittery to keep you fueled up, but here are a few that we recommend:

• Beach Pea Baking Co.
• The Black Birch
• Rose’s Spring Rolls

RELATED: The Best Kittery Maine Hotels and Lodging

York Maine is a charming and noncommercial town that offers a fantastic opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. Start your visit at Sohier Park in Cape Neddick, where you can stretch your legs and take in the stunning Nubble Lighthouse , one of the most photographed landmarks in the country. While here, enjoy a picnic lunch, go scuba diving, and spot a variety of wildlife.

For a dose of history, head to the Museums of Old York , a complex of several historic buildings that house a collection of York-related artistic and historical objects.

Afterward, satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to The Goldenrod , where you can watch old-fashioned saltwater taffy being made before indulging in a variety of candies, ice cream sodas, and hot fudge sundaes.

If you have some extra time, take an easy 30-minute hike to the peak of Mount Agamenticus , which offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Boston Massachusetts, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire from its 692-foot summit. Alternatively, hop on a horse or ATV to reach the top for a unique and exciting experience.

York Restaurants

Lots of restaurants in York will energize your road trip, but here are some top-rated options:

• The Central Restaurant & Bar
• Foster’s Clambakes & Catering
• Green Leaves Chinese-Japanese Restaurant & Lounge

RELATED: The Best Hotels and Lodging in York, York Harbor, and York Beach

As Maine’s third oldest town, Wells has a rich history. But, its natural beauty and antique shops are what make this town a vacation paradise. Wells Beach is a sandy stretch of land with seagrass, sand dunes, and more than 1.5 miles of shoreline.

At the end of Mile Road on the south side of Wells Beach, you’ll find free parking, a few restaurants, a snack bar, an arcade, and more. On the north side at the end of Atlantic Avenue, you’ll find paid parking, a boat launch into Wells Harbor, and the Wells Beach Jetty — a popular walkway among fishermen.

TIP: Other beaches to visit in Wells include Crescent Beach, Drakes Island Beach, and Moody Beach.

If you’re craving more nature than the beach, head to the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms . This National Estuarine Research Reserve features 7 miles of walking trails, bird sanctuaries, and saltwater marshlands. Or, visit the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge — a preserve of about 50 miles of shoreline, beaches, meadows, and tidal marshes.

And before you leave Wells, peruse the variety of antique shops. With more than a dozen antique shops, the town is considered the Antique Capital of Maine and is a haven for antique furniture, books, and fun tchotchkes. A few of the most well-known stores include Anytime Antiques , R. Jorgensen Antiques , and Bo-Mar Hall Antiques & Collectibles .

Wells Restaurants

From fresh seafood to tasty ice cream, Wells restaurants have a little bit of everything. Here are a few places that we recommend during your Route 1 road trip:

• Fisherman’s Catch Restaurant
• The Steakhouse
• Big Daddy’s
• Congdon’s Doughnuts

RELATED: Best Wells Maine Hotels, Motels, Cottages and Resorts

Ogunquit Maine is a charming town that offers a wealth of enchanting experiences. Begin your adventure by hopping on an Ogunquit Trolley to tour the museums, beaches, shops, and local hot spots.

The trolley even stops at Marginal Way , a 1.25-mile cliff walk that runs along the shore from downtown Ogunquit to Perkins Cove. Along the way, you’ll come across benches, 3 miles of dunes, and numerous photo opportunities.

At Perkins Cove, you’ll enter a turn-of-the-century fishing village featuring a manual footbridge, seaside restaurants, boutique shops, fishing and sailing excursions, and stunning ocean views.

In the evening, catch an authentic, off-Broadway performance at the Ogunquit Playhouse . The general season runs from May through October and features top-notch local and regional performers showcasing their talents in a 1933 barn.

Ogunquit Restaurants

When it’s time for dining in Oqunquit , check out some of these restaurant favorites:

• Beachfire Bar and Grille
• Five-O Shore Road
• Lobster Shack
• That Place in Ogunquit

RELATED: Best Ogunquit Maine Hotels, Resorts, and Bed and Breakfasts

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach is a must-visit destination on your Route 1 Maine road trip thanks to its 7 miles of pristine sandy beaches. Here, you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean, sunbathe, build sandcastles, and enjoy a range of water sports.

The beach is also home to The Pier , a lively spot that extends 500 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and features several seafood dives and gift shops. At night, The Pier comes alive with entertainment and nightlife, including DJs, karaoke, and comedy acts.

Across from The Pier, you’ll find Palace Playland , an amusement park that has been entertaining visitors since 1902. This unique attraction is the only amusement park of its kind on a New England beach and boasts over 25 rides and attractions, including an old-fashioned carousel, the famous Electra Wheel (a Ferris wheel), and the thrilling 70-foot Sea Viper coaster. It’s the perfect place to let your inner child run wild.

Old Orchard Beach Restaurants

No matter the time of day, the restaurants in Old Orchard Beach will have whatever your appetite craves:

• Elevate Cafe
• Hoss and Mary’s
• Johnny Shucks Maine Lobster
• Paloma’s Restaurant
• Red Door Market and Deli
• Tostones on the Beach

RELATED: Old Orchard Beach Hotels, Motels, Cottages, and Condos

Greater Portland Stops on Route 1

Portland , the largest city and biggest port in Maine, has a rich history that spans hundreds of years, and the city is proud to share it with visitors. Train enthusiasts, for example, can learn about the city and state’s railroad history at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum and even go for a ride.

RELATED: EXCITING Railroad Museums & Train Rides in Maine

Built in 1807, The Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill is the only wooden signal tower still standing in North America, having survived Portland’s Great Fire of 1866. From the top of the observatory, you get breathtaking views of the city and surrounding landmarks.

If you’re interested in cryptids and legendary creatures, stop by the International Cryptozoology Museum , which features fascinating exhibits about the Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and more. Discover historical accounts, artifacts, fossils, photos, and other intriguing items.

For those seeking some time in nature, the Portland Trails Network offers 80 miles of trails to explore, some of which run through the Old Port district and along Casco Bay. It’s a great way to experience the natural beauty of the area while getting some exercise.

Portland Restaurants

From lobster rolls to breweries , you’ll find tons of fresh, delicious food in Portland . Check out some of the popular spots during your visit:

• Izakaya Minato

RELATED: Portland Maine Hotels, Motels, and Lodging

Freeport Maine is a charming town located along Casco Bay and is known as a shopping paradise. One of its most famous shops is the L.L. Bean flagship store , which has been in operation since 1912 and remains open 24 hours a day.

But, Freeport offers more than just shopping. The town is also home to beautiful scenery, such as Wolfe’s Neck State Park , which is located close to downtown and offers salt marsh walks, forested trails, and adventures along the rocky coastline across more than 230 acres.

TIP: Wolfe’s Neck State Park is especially stunning during the peak fall foliage season .

For a unique nature experience, head to the Desert of Maine , which spans 20 acres of sand dunes. Self-guided and guided tours are available, teaching you about how the dunes formed during the Ice Age. After walking the nature trails, grab a snack at the Oasis Cafe and a souvenir at the gift shop. It’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers.

Freeport Restaurants

At the many restaurants in Freeport , find everything from savory entrees to indulgent desserts:

• Isabella’s Cafe & Bakery
• Mainely Custard
• Wicked Whoopies
• Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro

RELATED: Freeport Maine Hotels, Motels, and Lodging

Before embarking on your U.S. Route 1 road trip into Mid-Coast Maine, take some time to discover Brunswick . The Town Mall (not a conventional shopping mall) is a point of pride for the town and is split into the Lower Mall and Upper Mall . It has a walking path, monuments, gardens, picnic areas, farmers’ markets, and an event space.

Not far from downtown or Route 1, the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge is another must-see attraction. Built in 1892 and destroyed in a massive flood in 1936, the bridge was only renovated, restored, and reopened in 2006. Spanning 300 feet, the bridge has a slight give to it, adding to the excitement of crossing it.

While in Brunswick, check out Crystal Spring Farm , which hosts a Saturday Farmers’ Market and offers trails, the Tom Settlemire Community Garden, and the Labyrinth in the Woods. It’s a great place to connect with nature and enjoy some fresh local produce.

Brunswick Restaurants

Serving a range of international cuisines, Brunswick’s restaurants can satisfy every appetite:

• Fielders Choice Homemade Ice Cream
• Taverna Khione
• Bombay Mahal
• Richard’s Restaurant

RELATED: Bath and Brunswick Maine Hotels, Motels, and Lodging

Best U.S. 1 Destinations in Mid Coast Maine

Located on the Kennebec River, Bath Maine is a quaint town with locally owned eateries and shops. The city has a rich shipbuilding history and is known as the City of Ships.

Then, learn about Bath’s seafaring heritage and that of the state at the Maine Maritime Museum , which boasts over 20,000 artifacts, an 1851 American clipper ship on display, and a lobstering building and blacksmith shop.

Additionally, get an up-close look at Maine’s First Ship , a replica of the pinnace Virginia that was built in 1607 and was the first ship to sail to England. Volunteers at the Bath Freight Shed love to share its history.

Bath also offers tours of the town and its waters. Embark Maine Tours provides historic tours, while River Run Tours offers maritime history, evening/sunset, and island cruises. It’s a great way to explore the area and learn about its fascinating history.

Bath Restaurants

When you’re ready to stop for a bite to eat, we suggest eating at one of these Bath restaurants :

• Byrnes Irish Pub
• Southgate Family Restaurant
• Winnegance Restaurant & Bakery
• Witch Spring Hill Ice Cream

Five Islands Detour

If you have some extra time, it’s worth taking a detour south of Route 1 to visit Georgetown’s Five Islands. This charming neighborhood is widely considered to be the Prettiest Harbor in Maine , and for good reason.

One of the most popular activities is sailing Sheepscot Bay to see the five islands up close. It’s a great way to experience the natural beauty of the area while enjoying a relaxing boat ride.

And, no visit to Five Islands would be complete without grabbing a delicious lobster roll at the Five Islands Lobster Company . It’s a local favorite and a must-try for seafood lovers. Another awesome place to dine is BLUE Restaurant at Grey Havens Inn , which serves New England cuisine — think fresh-caught fish and the finest ingredients.

Damariscotta

Damariscotta Maine has been a beloved stop along U.S. Route 1 for decades, thanks to its charming atmosphere and fresh Pemaquid oysters. Discover the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site , which features a massive pile of oyster shells shaped like a whale. Some of the shells date back to when the Abenaki people lived in the area.

For even more oyster-themed fun, book a themed ride with Damariscotta River Cruises , such as the Oyster & Wine Tasting or the Oyster Farms & Seal Watching cruises. Each tour includes a narration of the history of oysters and dining from a raw oyster bar. It’s a unique and delicious way to experience the area’s rich oyster culture.

TIP: If you’re planning a Route 1 Maine road trip in October, plan to attend the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta . This popular festival features giant pumpkins, pumpkin-themed activities, food stands, and street performers. It’s a fun and festive way to celebrate the fall season and experience the local culture.

Damariscotta Restaurants

If you don’t book a Damariscotta River Cruises tasting, you can still get local oysters at River House Maine . If you’re in the mood for something else, here are a few other places to stop:

• Ann’s Book Bistro
• Metcalf’s Submarine Sandwiches
• Waltz Soda Fountain

RELATED: Damariscotta, New Harbor, and Pemaquid Point Maine Hotels, Inns, Motels, Resorts, and Lodging

Monhegan Island Detour

For a fun detour from U.S. 1 and Damariscotta in Mid-Coast Maine, consider taking a boat ride to Monhegan Island . Head south to New Harbor to catch a ride with Hardy Boat Cruises , or follow Route 1 to Thomaston before heading south to Port Clyde for a ride with the Monhegan Boat Line .

Once on Monhegan Island, explore Main Street art galleries and shops, the iconic Monhegan Lighthouse, 12 miles of dirt trails , beaches, and Monhegan Harbor in a kayak. It’s a great way to experience the natural beauty of the area while enjoying some outdoor activities and local culture.

There are some delicious eats while you’re on the island too, such as Monhegan Brewing Company , The Barnacle , and The Fish House . And if you decide to stay overnight, there are a few lodging options on Monhegan Island to choose from.

Rockland, Rockport, & Camden

As you continue north on U.S. 1 in Maine, you’ll come across the City of Rockland , the Town of Rockport , and the Town of Camden , each offering a variety of activities to keep you entertained.

In Rockland, check out the Maine Lighthouse Museum , walk the Rockland Harbor Trail , and snap a photo of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse . And don’t miss the Maine Lobster Festival , a five-day event held every summer from late July to early August to celebrate the area’s most famous seafood.

RELATED: Annual Festivals & Events in Maine You Should Explore This Year

Next up is Rockport where you can visit Marine Park’s Andre the Seal statue and the Rockport Lime Kilns . Adjacent to the park is the small, sandy Goodie’s Beach . The town is also home to Aldemere Farm , a cattle farm featuring Belted Galloway cows with their signature Oreo appearance.

In Camden, trek 20 multi-use trails at Camden Hills State Park , some of which lead to the peaks of Mount Battie and Mount Megunticook. For those who want to get out on the water, several Camden Maine cruises and schooner boat tours are available. It’s a great way to experience the stunning coastline and natural beauty of the area.

Area Restaurants

Across these two towns and one city, you have a wide selection of dining options. In Rockland, consider eating at the Home Kitchen Cafe , Liberator Brewing Company , or Primo Restaurant , as well as grabbing dessert at Bixby Chocolates or Dorman’s Dairy Dream .

Among the Rockport restaurants , 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill is a top-rated locale. And for dining in Camden , head to any of these: Franny’s Bistro , Owl & Turtle Bookshop Cafe , and River Ducks Ice Cream .

RELATED: Rockland Maine Hotels , Rockport Maine Hotels , & Camden Maine Hotels

Vinalhaven Detour

If you find yourself in the Rockland-Rockport-Camden area, consider taking a detour to the charming island town of Vinalhaven.

As the biggest offshore island in Maine, Vinalhaven offers plenty of activities to enjoy, including hiking, boat tours, swimming, and lighthouse photo ops. Plus, you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants, such as Greet’s Eats , Pizza Pit , and Good Things Coffee House .

To get to Vinalhaven, take the Maine State Ferry Service from the terminal in Rockland. It’s a great way to experience the unique island culture and natural beauty of the area.

The next stop on this Route 1 Maine road trip is Belfast , a city that offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Two connecting trails allow you to walk through the city along the Passagassawakeag River.

The nearly 1-mile Belfast Harbor Walk starts at Belfast Park , a popular gathering place for special events, picnics, and low-tide walks. The cement path leads northwest along the wharf, passes shops and restaurants, and goes through the Front Street Shipyard. It ends at the Armistice Bridge, a footbridge that crosses the river and offers beautiful views of the harbor.

From there, continue walking north along the approximately 2-mile Belfast Rail Trail . The crushed-stone path leads to City Point, providing excellent views of the river along the way. In the winter, it’s an ideal trail for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

For an indoor activity in Belfast, consider taking a class at the Belfast Curling Club . It’s a fun way to try out this Olympic sport and enjoy some friendly competition.

Belfast Restaurants

From comfort food to exotic dishes, the restaurants in Belfast have everything that you’re looking for:

• Laan Xang Cafe
• Satori Belfast
• The Only Doughnut
• Wild Cow Creamery

RELATED: Belfast and Searsport Maine Hotels, Inns, Cottages and Lodging

Stockton Springs & Prospect

After exploring Belfast, the next stops on your Route 1 Maine road trip are Stockton Springs and Prospect before crossing the Penobscot River to Verona Island.

Just before you cross, be sure to visit the Fort Knox State Historic Site , one of the best-preserved examples of a mid-19th-century military fortification. This impressive fort is the largest in Maine, measuring 146 feet by 252 feet, and was built between 1844 and 1869.

After your fort tour, don’t miss the chance to ride to the top of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory . This 2,100-foot cable-stayed bridge boasts a 42-story public observatory, the tallest of its kind in the world.

From the top, you’ll enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the fort below, Penobscot Bay , and beyond. It’s a unique and unforgettable experience that shouldn’t be missed.

There aren’t too many restaurants in the area, but The Club Marina and Bar and Just Barb’s are two places that have some great food.

Downeast Stops on a Route 1 Maine Road Trip

Stonington & Deer Isle Detour

As you continue westward on Route 1, we highly recommend taking a detour south of the highway to visit Deer Isle and Stonington. These charming island towns are the perfect first stops on your Downeast Maine road trip and offer plenty of activities to enjoy:

• Hiking at Island Heritage Trust preserves
• Visiting the Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society exhibits
• Hiking the Deer Isle Lighthouse Trail
• Kayaking with Osprey’s Echo Sea Kayaking or Sea Kayak Stonington
• Touring the exhibits at the Deer Isle Granite Museum
• Getting interactive at the Discovery Wharf at the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries

And when you get hungry, 44 North Coffee , Aragosta at Goose Cove , Burnt Cove Boil , Stonington Seafood , and Stonington Ice Cream Company are all top-notch dining options.

Back on U.S. 1, you’ll reach Ellsworth Maine , a town that boasts some unique attractions. For example, The Telephone Museum is dedicated to showcasing the history of communication technology, offering the chance to see how telephones have evolved over time.

Another must-visit spot in Ellsworth is the Big Chicken Barn where you can peruse three floors of wares from over 50 vendors. With thousands of antiques, over 150,000 books, and more than 50,000 magazines sprawled across 21,600 square feet, there’s something for everyone to discover.

For those who want to get creative, Atlantic Art Glass is an open studio where you can create your own glass artwork. Even if you have no experience, a professional instructor will guide you through the process. It’s a fun and unique way to discover your artistic side.

Ellsworth Restaurants

No matter your diet or palate, these restaurants in Ellsworth will fill your belly:

• Flexit Cafe & Bakery
• Provender Kitchen & Bar
• Union River Lobster Pot

RELATED: Ellsworth Maine Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, and Hotels

Mount Desert Island Detour

Before continuing your journey on Route 1, take a detour south to Mount Desert Island for a plethora of outdoor adventures.

On the island’s west side, you get to enjoy spectacular views of the Bass Harbor Head Light Station at the entrance of Bass Harbor in the Town of Tremont. Additionally, the Seal Cove Auto Museum boasts a collection of cars made between 1895 and 1917 and is located near the Seal Cove Picnic Area.

In the middle of Mount Desert Island, learn about the island’s rich history at the Mount Desert Island Historical Society Museum . In Acadia National Park , drive the scenic Park Loop Road , hike Cadillac Mountain , listen to the waves at Thunder Hole , and take in stunning views at Otter Point Overlook.

On the east side of the island in Bar Harbor , tour the Abbe Museum to learn about the natives who once lived in the area and the Dorr Museum of Natural History to learn about Acadia’s founder.

Island Restaurants

With so many outdoor adventures and cultural experiences, Mount Desert Island is a must-visit destination on your Maine road trip. There are even several places to eat on the island — like Rose Eden Lobster , The Travelin’ Lobster , and Stadium Bar Harbor in Bar Harbor and the Harbor Table , Next Level Sports Lounge , and Salt Shop in Southwest Harbor .

RELATED: Bar Harbor Maine Hotels & Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor Hotels

Located about a one-hour drive east, Machias is a true hidden gem and one of the most charming towns in Downeast Maine. Thanks to its location, it offers a wide variety of activities and attractions to enjoy.

One of the top activities in Machias is kayaking the nearly 6-mile Orange River Water Trail where you can spot a range of wildlife, including beavers, birds, deer, and trout. The calm waters provide a serene and peaceful environment to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

For those who love shopping, The French Cellar is a must-visit for fresh cheese, craft beer, and hundreds of wines. Additionally, the Crows Nest Shops offer a shopping center with baked goods, local arts and crafts, and unique gifts and souvenirs.

TIP: If you happen to visit Machias in August, attend the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival , a community celebration of Maine’s wild blueberries. This festival offers a chance to enjoy blueberry-themed food and entertainment , as well as browse the wares of over 200 craft merchants and artisans. It’s a fun and unique way to experience the local culture and celebrate one of Maine’s most famous crops.

Machias Restaurants

Since Machias is such a small town, there aren’t too many restaurants to choose from, but Pat’s Pizza offers dine-in seating and Riverside Take-Out offers amazing roadside seafood for picnics.

Lubec & Eastport Detour

Although Route 1 doesn’t quite reach the easternmost point of Maine, you can take a detour to Lubec and Eastport to experience this unique area. While Lubec is the easternmost town in the state , Eastport is the easternmost city .

Both Lubec and Eastport offer fantastic opportunities for whale-watching tours. Additionally, explore several hiking trails in Lubec, including Quoddy Head State Park , Huckins Beach & Trail , Klondike Mountain , and Boot Head Trail .

In Eastport, follow a historic walking tour and traverse Shackford Head State Park . One of the highlights of the area is witnessing the Western Hemisphere’s biggest tidal whirlpool, the Old Sow Whirlpool .

RELATED: Best Maine State Parks (Our Favorite State Parks in Maine)

With so much natural beauty and unique attractions, Lubec and Eastport are must-visit destinations on your Maine road trip. And, here are a few dining options during your visit — Lubec Brewing Company and Tavern Restaurant at the Water Street Inn & B&B in Lubec and The Phoenix on Water Street in Eastport.

Calais (“CAL-iss”), the first railroad town in Maine, is a city located next to the Canadian border and is full of history and culture.

Discover the Saint Croix Island International Historic Site , which commemorates the area where the first French colonists attempted to settle in 1604. Here, you can witness the extraordinary tides and observe the area’s birds, frogs, and seals.

The St. Croix Historical Society celebrates the history of the city and the St. Croix Valley, maintaining the Whitlock’s Mill Lighthouse and the Dr. Job Holmes Cottage & Museum.

For those who love walking, the Calais Waterfront Walkway is a 1.5-mile path along the St. Croix River, offering outstanding vistas of Canada on the opposite shore. It’s a great way to enjoy the area’s natural beauty and learn more about its rich history.

Calais Restaurants

When it’s time for a snack or a meal, Calais has several restaurants to whet your appetite. Here are a few recommendations:

• Jo’s Diner & Pizzeria
• Karen’s Diner and Korner Pub
• Riverview Restaurant & Lounge
• Sandwich Man

Best Route 1 Stops Throughout Aroostook County

Houlton Maine , located farther north, marks the intersection of U.S. 1 with the northernmost end of I-95 and serves as the first stop in Aroostook County on this road trip itinerary. The Meduxnekeag River flows through the heart of the town, offering a picturesque scene at Houlton Riverfront Park, where the Gateway Crossing Bridge crosses the river.

Market Square serves as the downtown hub, spanning more than just one street. Explore monuments, go shopping, and dine until your heart’s content in this historic district. For a unique experience, catch a film at Temple Theater , which has been open since 1919.

To immerse yourself in nature, the Southern Bangor & Aroostook Trail offers a 40-mile hiking trail that connects Houlton to Presque Isle (the next stop on the itinerary). The trail is also open for biking, ATV riding, and snowmobiling, making it a versatile option for outdoor enthusiasts.

Houlton Restaurants

Check out these dining spots as you’re passing through Houlton:

• ShireWood SmokeHouse Southern BBQ
• Houlton Dairy Bar
• The Vault Restaurant

Presque Isle & Caribou

Presque Isle and Caribou Maine are the two largest cities in Aroostook County, offering a variety of historic attractions and recreational activities.

In Presque Isle, witness the beginning of the Maine Solar System , an incredible 3D scale model that spans nearly 100 miles along Route 1. It’s the second-largest model of its kind in the world. You’ll find the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and the dwarf planet Ceres in Presque Isle.

The Presque Isle Air Museum commemorates the personnel who served at the Presque Isle Army Airfield and Air Force Base with a collection of artifacts, photographs, uniforms, and other memorabilia. Also, wander the nearly 800 acres of land with well-maintained trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing at Aroostook State Park .

In Caribou, learn about the legends of the city at the Caribou Historical Center & Whittier Museum , featuring the former potato farmer who eventually went to California and developed Beverly Hills. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Caribou Country Club Trails and the ski paths at the Caribou High School Ski Center offer fantastic opportunities to see the area’s natural beauty.

While you’re visiting Presque Isle, some good dining options include Ferris BBQ , Riverside Inn Restaurant , and Teresa’s Corner Cafe & Bakery . Meanwhile, The Par & Grill , Rendezvous Restaurant , and Ruska Coffee are ideal dining options in Caribou.

Continuing north on U.S. Route 1, the next stop on this Maine road trip is Van Buren, located on the Canadian border.

The main attraction in Van Buren is the Acadian Village , a collection of 17 relocated and recreated buildings on the St. John River that preserves the lives of Acadians who were banished from Canada and sought refuge here in the early 19th century.

While in Van Buren, enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding or ATV riding on the Bangor & Aroostook Trail .

This remote, 61-mile path connects Van Buren to Stockholm, Caribou, Washburn, and Mapleton, taking you through deep woods and fields and along several streams. It’s a great way to experience the natural beauty of the area and get some exercise at the same time.

Van Buren Restaurants

There aren’t too many options for dining in Van Buren, but you can’t go wrong at either Big Daddy’s Pizza or Tasty Food . They both have delicious menus.

Madawaska Maine, the northernmost town on U.S. 1, is a Canadian border town with Acadian roots where you can experience the town’s unique culture and history.

At the Acadian Landing & Tante Blanche Museum , see the large cross erected where the first Acadians settled on the St. John River. The museum features historic artifacts and buildings, providing a glimpse into the area’s rich history.

For entertainment, catch a film at the Skylite Drive-In , which celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2023. The drive-in offers amazing views while waiting for the sunset and the film to start, and the snack bar has all the movie treats you need, including popcorn, fried dough with powdered sugar, and fried clams.

Motorcycle enthusiasts will love Madawaska Four Corners Park , a long-distance motorcycle park that has been operating since 2008 and is one of four in the country. Complete the Titanium Butt Challenge by riding all of the Maine Four Corners Experience Tours. It’s a unique and exciting way to discover the area’s natural beauty and history.

TIP: To fully experience Acadian culture, plan your visit for August to attend the Madawaska Acadian Festival . This festival is a celebration of the area’s unique culture and offers the chance to enjoy delicious food, lively music, and traditional dancing. It’s an excellent opportunity to immerse oneself in the local culture and experience the vibrant spirit of the community.

Madawaska Restaurants

From Acadian dishes to classic American cuisine, check out these restaurants in Madawaska during your road trip visit:

• Jeff’s Pizza & Subs
• Madawaska Tastee Freez

Fort Kent marks the end of this Route 1 Maine road trip itinerary, so make sure to walk America’s first mile at the historical marker for the beginning of U.S. Route 1, which has been standing since 1926. Close to the river is a civic monument dedicated to the spot, adding to the area’s rich history.

Also, trek the 4 miles of the Fort Kent Riverside Trail System , which runs along the St. John River and includes playgrounds, parks, murals, and more.

To learn about the Bloodless War, head to the Fort Kent Blockhouse during the summer. Although the fort was never actually used for battle, it’s a fascinating piece of history. The Fort Kent Historical Society maintains several buildings, including an original Acadian log house from the 1830s, providing a glimpse into the area’s rich history.

During winter, enjoy Alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding at Lonesome Pine Trails . Alternatively, plan your visit for the annual Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races to witness the beginning of the 250-mile race through Northern Maine from Fort Kent’s Main Street.

Fort Kent Restaurants

Make your last stop on this U.S. 1 road trip memorable by stopping at some of the best restaurants in Fort Kent:

• Rock’s Family Diner
• Sami’s Cuisine & Cocktails

Plan Your Itinerary Along a Route 1 Maine Road Trip

A Route 1 Maine road trip is a unique and exciting way to experience the natural beauty, rich history, and unique culture of Maine. From the southernmost town of Kittery to the northernmost town of Fort Kent, you get to explore charming towns, historic landmarks, and breathtaking scenery.

Along the way, enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing, as well as cultural events like the Madawaska Acadian Festival. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or foodie, a Route 1 Maine road trip has something for everyone.

So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure through one of America’s most beautiful regions!

Tiffany Betts is a staff writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and playing board and video games — often combining the two.

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Copyright VisitMaine.Net 2023 Images Courtesy Greg and Heather Burke unless otherwise noted.

Ultimate Maine Road Trip Itinerary

With stunning scenery, miles of beautiful coast and impressive wildlife, Maine is the perfect place to head if you want to connect with the natural world. Whether you're in search of peace and quiet or looking to hop between the state's quaint towns and coastline, a road trip around Maine certainly won't disappoint.

It takes 5 days to drive the ultimate 860-mile road trip loop around Maine, visiting beautiful Portland, Augusta, Belfast and Bar Harbor, Greenville as well as Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, Mt Katahdin and the stunning, rugged Maine Coastline.

Located on the northeast corner of the United States, visit Maine to enjoy its stunning views, winter sports and wonderful historic towns, many of which are perched on the North Atlantic coast. Keep on reading to find out how to make the most out of a 5-day road trip around the state.

The ultimate road trip itinerary in Maine

What is the ultimate maine road trip itinerary.

Famous for its lush green forests and rugged coastline, New England's largest state is actually one of the smaller states compared with other parts of the USA. That means it's the perfect place to enjoy a scenic road trip, without having to spend too much of your trip on the road.

It's possible to comfortably travel an 860-mile road trip around Maine in 5 days, with stops in Augusta, Bar Harbor, Greenville, Carrabassett Valley and Portland.

You'll spend an average of 4 hours per day on the road, though be prepared for a longer stretch on day 3 as you travel from Bar Harbor up towards Greenville.

If you have a little more time for exploring, you could easily add on extra nights at Bar Harbor (to visit Acadia National Park), Moosehead Lake or the Kennebec Valley, or alternatively spend an extra night in York as you travel back towards Portland.

Day 1: Driving from York to Augusta

Starting out in York, the first day of your Maine road trip follows the coast as far as Bath, from where you can visit Popham Beach and Reid State Park, before heading inland towards Augusta.

You should expect a manageable 3 hours 50 minutes of driving on day 1, as some of the 170 miles you'll cover takes you off the interstate and out along the stunning coastal roads.

Road trip route from York to Augusta

From your starting point in York, pick up US-1 to visit Bald Head and Ogunquit before switching onto I-95 to pick up the pace as you head northeast.

If you have a little extra time, you could also consider sticking with the highway a little then turning onto ME-9 which winds through Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise before joining up with the interstate a little further on near Biddeford.

From the interstate, follow the road into Portland then make your way out of town on I-295 to continue your journey. You'll be skirting Casco Bay, which is full of islands and scenic views so make sure to stop and snap a picture or two.

Approaching Brunswick the highway and the interstate separate. Take Route 1 towards Bath then turn off south through Phippsburg to reach Popham Beach. Returning to Bath you can cross the wide Kennebec River and take Arrowsic Road all the way down to Reid State Park.

Retracing your route back up to Woolwich, stick on US-1 then turn onto ME-127 as far as Dresden. From here, Route 27 runs close to the banks of the Kennebec River before merging onto ME-9 and following it all the way to Augusta.

Things to explore on the way to Augusta

You cannot visit Southern Maine and not visit one of its gorgeous beaches. Old Orchard Beach is a great starting point, located between Ogunquit and Portland.

Located on a beautiful stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, you will find a gorgeous pier, plenty of entertainment, souvenir shops, restaurants and even a carousel here.

And of course, make sure to enjoy a delicious lobster roll on the beach before you set off on the next leg of your ultimate Maine adventure!

Sticking to the coast, you'll arrive at Reid State Park, which is known for its sandy beaches, ledges to climb (if you are feeling adventurous!) and hiking trails. There is even a lagoon, perfect if you are traveling with family, meaning that this park has both saltwater and freshwater beaches.

Where to stay in Augusta: enjoy a cozy retreat

Known as a historic hub that played an important role in Maine's history, Augusta is arguably most famous for Fort Western, a National Historic Landmark. This former British colonial outpost is the oldest wooden fort in United States.

The architecture of the gorgeous Maple Hill Farm Inn is a perfect example of Maine's historic facades. You will have access to the sauna on the property to let off some steam (pun intended) and an outdoor hot rub. There is a fantastic bar on site and the hotel serves made-to-order breakfast so that you can start your day right.

For the ultimate romantic Maine experience, you will find a fireplace in select rooms. This property is located near Maine State House and Maine State Museum.

Click here to skip back to the top.

Day 2: Driving from Augusta to Bar Harbor

You'll have a shorter but no less scenic drive on day 2, as you travel 130 miles on quiet roads through Maine's leafy interior before following Penobscot Bay.

Along your 3-hour drive you'll pass Rockland, Belfast and Ellsworth, with the stunning Acadia National Park a real highlight of the day.

Road trip route from Augusta to Bar Harbor

Follow the Memorial Bridge across the Kennebec River then leave Augusta on S Belfast Avenue. You'll get picture postcard views as you cross Togus Pond, then continue on past Windsor and Somerville.

At the crossroads turn left towards Rockland, where you'll meet the ocean once again and start to follow Route 1 - the Atlantic Highway - north along Penobscot Bay. Look out for beautiful glimpses of the water through the trees.

Stick on US-1 through Belfast and across the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, following it as far as Ellsworth where you join ME-3 to head south on to Mt Desert Island, where most of Acadia National Park is located. The same road will take you all the way to Bar Harbor to complete your drive for the day.

Things to explore on the way to Bar Harbor

Rockland is a stunning Maine town that boasts gorgeous coastal scenery and a majestic rocky shoreline. Make sure to check out the boat tours on the famous Windjammer while in Rockland for a unique experience!

With many historic homes and shops in Rockland too, you can visit The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center to learn more about and admire Maine art, including works by the famous Wyeth family.

You can also make a stop here and enjoy a meal at the many restaurants. In fact, Rockland is the capital of the lobster industry in Maine, so it isn't surprising that it was named one of the “Top 9 Small Foodie Towns” in Maine.

You can't visit Maine without spending some time in Acadia National Park. It's an absolutely stunning national park, where you can fish and ski (depending on the time of year) as well as hike gorgeous trails.

Inside the national park, climb Cadillac Mountain to see the sun rise before anyone else in the country. Thunder Hole is also an impressive place to visit, as the breaking waves create their own natural spectacle.

Where to stay in Bar Harbor: watch the sunrise in style

Seeing as Acadia National Park is one of the must-see stops along this route, we'd definitely recommend spending a night or two in nearby Bar Harbor so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the national park, and to relax over a delicious meal after a busy day exploring.

There's also plenty to do in Bar Harbor itself. Pause a while to enjoy the unforgettable ocean views and if you're lucky you might even see whales out in the bay.

For a really characterful stay, book into the beautifully designed Queen Anne's Revenge , where you'll receive a warm welcome.

The hotel also has a beautiful garden to relax in as well as a terrace. There is a daily breakfast with buffet and continental options. The property is a short distance from Agamont Park and The Abbe Museum and West Street Historic District.

Day 3: Driving from Bar Harbor to Greenville

The 220-mile route you'll follow on day 3 takes you inland to visit the stunning Baxter State Park before ending the day at beautiful Moose Head Lake.

It's the longest day of driving on your ultimate Maine road trip, coming in at around 5 hours 50 minutes on the road, so make sure to stop for snacks and fuel before setting out.

Road trip route from Bar Harbor to Greenville

Leaving Bar Harbor, work your way back along ME-3 towards Ellsworth on the mainland, where you'll join US-1A heading north across more of the beautiful Maine countryside. Watch out for lakes and rivers tucked away behind the trees.

From Bangor you'll pick up the interstate, which runs parallel to the Penobscot River for a while. After crossing the river at Medway, follow Main St through Millinocket then turn right onto Huber Road once you've crossed the scenic Dolby Pond.

From here you can make a detour to Roberts Road to reach the scenic Katahdin Loop Road and Scenic Overlook. Explore the area's stunning trails if you have time, especially around Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

When you're ready to continue, head back south towards Huber Road and follow it west until you meet up with Millinocket Road. After passing Millinocket Lake, you can choose to drive on the Golden Road, which will take you around the southern side of Mount Katahdin - Maine's highest mountain - following the river towards Ripogenus Lake and then Caribou Lake.

The road isn't fully paved along this part of the drive, so consider the impact that weather conditions will have on the road unless you're traveling in a 4WD vehicle.

Otherwise follow ME-11 past Schodic Lake and switch to ME-6 in Milo, which will take you directly to Greenville.

Things to explore on the way to Greenville

Did you know that Bangor, one of the larger towns you'll pass on day 3, is home to a few celebrities? You could run into Stephen King as you are strolling down Bangor's streets as he owns a house (more like a Victorian mansion!) in the city.

You can also take a Stephen King tour around the city, which will take you to the famous Paul Bunyan statue, featured in the author's beloved scary novel “It”, among other interesting sites.

There is so much to do and explore in this small city, starting with the Cole Land Transportation Museum, which has an extensive collection of cars and trains on display.

Further north you'll reach Baxter State Park. This Maine wilderness haven was created by Percival P. Baxter, who described it as his “magnificent obsession”.

You can take gorgeously scenic hikes, camp in one of the many campsites, spot some adorable wildlife or simply have a relaxing picnic here.

We highly recommend visiting during fall to admire the foliage in the park change into golden and auburn colors.

Where to stay in Greenville: explore the Maine Highlands

Moosehead Lake, where you'll end the third day of your Maine road trip, is the ideal place to spend a couple of nights if you're wanting to head out into the Maine Highlands or even just explore the incredibly scenic area around the lake itself.

An absolutely fabulous place to stay if you're looking for a bit of luxury in your scenic getaway is the Lodge at Moosehead Lake . There isn't much here that can't be described as stunning, from the lake views to the hotel's service, restaurant and gorgeous design.

Another great option which is also more budget-friendly is Leisure Life, Greenville , which also offers superb views and a great location. You can park up here for free and relax at the hotel bar - you'll most likely have earned some downtime after the day's driving and hiking.

Day 4: Driving from Greenville to Carrabassett Valley

After the long and adventurous driving on day 3 you'll probably welcome the much shorter stretch that lies ahead on day 4. It's just 90 miles from Greenville to Carrabassett Valley, which will only take a couple of hours to drive, leaving you plenty of time to stop and explore along the way.

Road trip route from Greenville to Carrabassett Valley

Turning away from the lake, follow ME-6 south past Monson on the way to Abbot. There are rafting companies based along this road if you fancy making an active stop just outside Greenville.

At Abbot turn right onto West Road which leads you to Kingsbury Plantation and Lake. A little further along the road you'll reach Bingham, which sits on the shore of Wyman Lake.

From here, River Road follows the Kennebec River south - with another opportunity for rafting - until you reach Solon. Here, cross the river and take Cross Town Road to join up with ME-16 to Kingfield.

The Carrabassett Valley runs north from Kingfield, offering river views and trailheads.

Things to explore on the way to Carrabassett Valley

Located in Western Maine, Bigelow Preserve and Flagstaff Lake make a stark contrast to the state's coastal towns. You will find alpine landscapes and the pretty Flagstaff Lake views here.

Plus, if you're traveling with your kayak or canoe, Flagstaff Lake is the perfect place to put them to use.

Both are just a short drive further on from Carrabassett Valley, and once you're there you can enjoy hiking trails for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, including an easy one that is perfect for the whole family.

Of course, this ultimate Maine road trip itinerary isn't only for sun worshippers, beach lovers or foodies. If you are a fan of winter sports, you will find world-class facilities at the Sugarloaf Ski Resort, which is also just a short distance out of Carrabassett Valley. You will get to admire stunning views as you ski or snowboard.

Sugarloaf Mountain is also one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the country with around 270 different routes to explore.

Where to stay in Carrabassett Valley: hit the slopes and trails

As we've mentioned, Carrabassett Valley is known for being home to the majestic Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort, which is the largest skiing area in Maine.

There is plenty to do in Carrabassett in other seasons as well, such as hiking, biking, boating, fishing and golfing. You can also take foliage walks, something this area is so famous for.

With direct access to skiing areas and an 18-hole golf course, Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel has something for every traveler. In warmer seasons, you can enjoy hiking and cycling in the area.

After your adventures outdoors, you will be happy to learn that there is also a fabulous outdoor hot tub to soak and relax in at the property. You'll find restaurant options a short drive from the hotel too.

If you aren't traveling with your skiing equipment, you can hire them from the property. There's also ski storage if you have brought your own.

Day 5: Driving from Carrabassett Valley to Portland and York

You'll complete your road trip with another 4-hour drive, taking you the 170-miles from Carrabassett Valley to Portland and York.

Traveling through more of Maine's beautiful green landscapes and passing rivers and lakes before you meet the coast again at Portland, it's the perfect way to end your ultimate Maine adventure.

Road trip route from Carrabassett Valley to Portland and York

The final day of your trip starts out on some of Maine's small, scenic roads, first traveling along ME-27 to Eustis then down ME-16 to Rangeley. Once you've made your way around Rangeley Lake, ME-17 takes you through picturesque forests, rivers and hills to Byron and Roxbury until you reach Chisholm Park.

Here, join US-2 which follows the Androscoggin River through Hanover and Newry. Then, once you reach Bethel, take ME-35 past Waterford and Harrison then along Long Lake as far as Naples.

Crossing the Naples Causeway you'll join Sebago Road, which offers picturesque views and lakeside attractions once it hits the shore of the popular Sebago Lake.

From Standish, simply follow ME-114 all the way to Portland, then pick up the interstate for the final few miles of your trip, heading back south to York.

Things to explore on the way to Portland and York

Located in close vicinity of the scenic Rangeley and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes, Rangeley is a charming town with a laidback character. You will find fantastic golf courses here, as well as the scenic Rangeley Lake State Park.

Wilhelm Reich Museum and Height of Land (a popular scenic overlook) are both a short distance from the town too.

Keeping with the scenic lakes theme of this leg of the itinerary, Sebago Lake is a fantastic place to take a break en route.

This beautiful, clear lake is the second largest in Maine after Moosehead Lake, and is especially popular in summer. You will be able to enjoy watersports, golfing and fishing, sunny beaches and even a float-plane excursion here!

Where to stay in Portland: take a trip back in time

Portland is a beautifully scenic town, full of cobblestone streets and historic houses. You can also indulge your creative side, as the city has a buzzing arts scene.

After the lovely drive from Carrabassett Valley, you'll have plenty of time to end the afternoon sitting back to relax beside Portland's waterfront.

You can also stay nearby at Portland Harbor Hotel , which is in walking distance of the waterfront as well as Wadsworth Longfellow House, Victoria Mansion and Portland Downtown Historic District on foot.

Its central location and beautiful design, which channels a contemporary coastal vibe, means that you have a fantastic choice of restaurants, bars and cafes nearby. Or, if you don't feel like venturing out there's also a restaurant on-site.

Things to see on the ultimate road trip in Maine

By now you'll probably already have several stops in mind for when you make your fabulous Maine road trip, but there's even more to discover if you have the time.

• York - With views across stunning sandy beaches, the Yorks are the perfect place to come for some good old-fashioned seaside entertainment. Head to the Fun-O-Rama arcade and enjoy live music and saltwater taffy as you explore York Beach.
• Ogunquit - The stunning waterside gardens around Ogunquit Museum of American Art make this a must-see stop if you're visiting the town. There's also a lovely stretch of coastline here - said to be one of the country's best beaches.
• Broad Cove Reserve - Trails here take you to more amazing ocean views, starting from a sandy beach.
• Popham Beach State Park - At the mouth of the Kennebec River you'll find this swimming and surfing spot. You can also walk to Fox Island across the beach, but pay attention to the rising tide which cuts off the path at certain times of day.
• Bath - Known as the ‘city of ships', it's no surprise that Maine Maritime Museum is located here. It's also a great place to indulge in some of the state's famous and delicious seafood.
• Reid State Park - This is a bird watcher's paradise, with seabirds nesting in the stunning coastal landscape. You can also follow trails along the headland which will reward you with amazing coastal views.
• Augusta - The state capital has a number of excellent museums, including Maine State Museum and the Old Fort Living History Museum.
• Kennebec Valley - If you can add an extra day to your trip, consider following the beautiful Kennebec Valley from Augusta to Skowhegan.
• St George Peninsula - There's more of the fabulous Maine coastline to explore along this beautiful peninsula, but for a bit of variety this is also a great place to sample Maine wines. The Owls Head Transportation Museum is worth a visit too.
• Rockland - Home to the popular Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland also has a thriving arts scene which you can get to know at Center for Maine Contemporary Art or with a visit to the North Atlantic Blues Festival.
• Belfast - Another artistic stopover, many visitors like to drop in to Belfast's small galleries or enjoy live music and summer Arts Walks.
• Penobscot Narrows - Take a tour up the huge observation tower to admire the ocean from a new perspective.
• Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park - This popular national park is famous for its rugged coastal views and excellent wildlife spotting opportunities
• Bangor - As well as taking a tour of locations that inspired legendary author Stephen King, we'd also recommend checking out Maine Forest and Logging Museum and the Cole Land Transportation Museum.
• Baxter State Park - North Penobscot and Mount Katahdin are both super-scenic areas within this stunning state park, where you can kayak and climb as well as hiking and fishing.
• Greenville - Take a break from the road with a cruise on beautiful Moosehead Lake.
• Bingham - Consider a detour to see more of the Kennebec Valley, which you can explore via US-201. Following this road, you can read The Forks and Moxie Falls, as well as taking an exhilarating white water rafting trip.
• Bigelow Preserve - Pick up the northern end of the Appalachian Trail in this beautiful natural area, which was almost turned into a ski resort back in the 70s.
• Sebago Lake - Cool off at this popular lake a short drive out of Portland. You can take a boat or kayak here too.

Best time to go on the ultimate road trip in Maine

It's possible to visit Maine all year round, but depending on when you travel you'll have a very different experience. You'll encounter snowfall and freezing temperatures through the winter compared to temperatures in the 80s in summer!

Traveling in winter

With temperatures often sitting below freezing, and frequent, heavy snowfall, you'll need to wrap up warm if you're visiting Maine in winter. The coast, where temperatures can hit the high 30s Fahrenheit, is warmer than the interior.

That means Maine is a great winter sport destination, and you can find plenty of places to ski, including Nordic skiing. However, driving can be challenging if you're not used to snowy conditions, although roads are kept as clear as possible.

Out of the peak summer season, you might find that cafes, galleries and other visitor attractions in quieter areas may be closed.

Traveling in summer

With its northerly location, Maine doesn't usually get too hot in summer, and temperatures in the high 70s Fahrenheit can make for ideal hiking. You'll have to pack for the seasons though, as there's frequent rain here even in summer, and occasional dramatic thunderstorms.

While we've mentioned the many stunning beaches you'll visit along the way, we should also point out that the water might feel chilly even in summer.

Expect crowds at Acadia National Park and in the coastal towns, as they're popular destinations for a summer vacation. Consider booking accommodation in advance to be sure of your top picks.

Traveling in spring or fall

The Maine winter can feel very long, with March and November feeling more like winter than spring or fall. Spring is a variable time of year, but don't expect significantly warmer temperatures until late April or May.

By May you'll have a good chance of mild and relatively dry weather if you're spending time outdoors, but remember to take bug spray to guard against the harmless but ever-present wildlife that's likely to try and join you on your hike.

Maine is famous for its stunning fall scenery, but it's also a very wet time of year. With temperatures dropping to around 60 degrees by October, you might prefer to visit in September for the ultimate combination of smaller crowds, mild weather and beautiful sea views.

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Deep South, America Road Trip – Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana

After the success of our Great American Road Trip to the heart of the United States a couple of years ago, I was excited to turn a trip to Huntsville Alabama to a larger road trip to Deep South America: Alabama and Mississippi (with a stop at a UNESCO World Heritage site in Louisiana).

Gulf Shores

Selma to montgomery national historic trail, tuskegee airmen national historic site, freedom riders national monument, montgomery alabama, huntsville alabama, natchez trace parkway, vicksburg mississippi.

• Poverty Point National Monument (Lousiana)

Great American Road Trip

I was in Huntsville Alabama for the TBEX North America conference. I had a chance to do a press trip afterward down to Gulf Shores Alabama.

Gulf Shores is an area with long beautiful white sand beaches, a surprisingly good small zoo, some great opportunities for watersports, and other outdoor recreation. Besides biking, boating, sailing, and lots of eating, I also had a chance to visit Fort Morgan State Park which was the site of the Battle of Mobile Bay in the Civil War. Read more about my visit to Gulf Shores in these detailed posts:

• 12 Great Things to do in Gulf Shores, Alabama
• 8 Great Places to Eat in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Alabama National Parks

After the press trip to Gulf Shores ended, I had two days to make it back to Huntsville Alabama to meet up with my wife and decided to spend it exploring Alabama’s National Parks.

I grew up in the 1960s. The civil rights movement was on the nightly news when I was a kid. As someone who grew up way out in California the problems the United States was having at the time in the South made little sense to me, so I was excited to visit this national historic trail that spans the route from Selma to Montgomery Alabama.

On March 7, 1965, an estimated 500-600 civil rights marchers headed from Selma on U.S. Highway 80, heading towards the state capitol in Montgomery to protest illegal restrictions on their right to vote. The marchers encountered Sheriff Jim Clark and a crowd of recently deputized white men at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. When the marchers failed to disperse the Sheriff’s men attacked in what became known as “Bloody Sunday”. 17 marchers were hospitalized. All of this was captured by TV cameras. A second march later in the month was also turned around and led to the death of one protester.

The civil rights marchers regrouped, organized, and persisted. A third march was protected by the Alabama National Guard, which President Johnson decided to federalize. This park commemorates the struggle and eventual victory of these protests.

I didn’t stop and every marker along this route but stopped at the visitor center halfway along which tries to explain the story.

This park is relatively new, having been created in 1996. The visitor center is small but modern. It uses a lot of videos to talk about the civil rights march from Selma with many of the clips coming from the nightly news I grew up watching. The museum introduces the main actors, both those organizing the march and those opposing it.

Near the town of Tuskegee, Alabama, the United States somewhat reluctantly conducted a controversial experiment in World War II. The Army Air Corps (the precursor to today’s Air Force) was not convinced that a “Negro” man had the capacity to learn to be a pilot. The Army was not at first interested in putting this thesis to the test with its precious airplanes until forced to by political pressure.

They chose an airfield near the Tuskegee Institute for this experiment. The Tuskegee Institute was founded by George Washington Carver as one of the first universities in the south to teach African Americans. The Tuskegee Institute is itself a national historic site, although I did not have time to visit it on this trip.

Black men came from all over the U.S. to Tuskegee to learn to become pilots. For some, it was their first trip to the deep South. They likely had experienced prejudice before, but some had not experienced the Jim Crow laws enforced in the South that was separate and unequal. The museum talks about how the pilots had to fight on two fronts. They fight against fascism abroad and racism at home.

Not only could a black man learn to fly, he could learn to fly well. One pilot instructor at a different training facility would later comment about Tuskegee, “we were graduating men that Tuskeegee would have failed”. The officers at Tuskegee do that just to be competent would not be good enough. The United States was reluctant to deploy these new pilots, until Eleanor Roosevelt took a flight with one in a training plane, and made it very awkward for anyone in the army to claim these Tuskegee airmen were unqualified.

When they were finally deployed to North Africa and later to Italy they were deployed in segregated squadrons. The most well-known of these was the 332nd Fighter Group whose planes were easily identifiable by their red tails. This squadron was tasked with escorting American bombers on raids deep into Germany. They distinguished themselves and their success led eventually to the bomber pilots of all-white units requesting specifically to be escorted by the “Red Tail Angels”.

This museum will take about two hours and uses lots of videos to let the Tuskegee airmen explain their story in their own words. The story continues after the war when the performance of the Tuskegee airmen led in part to Truman’s order to desegregate the armed forces.

Getting back to a civil rights theme, I wanted to visit the Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama.

In 1961 groups of civil rights activists challenged “Jim Crow” segregation laws on buses and in bus stations in the south. Stations had separate restrooms, waiting rooms, and lunch counters for blacks and whites. The United States Supreme Court had ruled this segregation to be illegal on two occasions but this was not being enforced in the South.

A group of “Freedom Rides” was organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Integrated groups of riders would challenge these laws. They would sit together with at least one black person sitting in the front of the bus where they were not allowed by local custom.

Violence broke out when a mob of KKK members attacked a bus at the Greyhound station in Anniston. They blocked its exit and slashed the bus tires. Sheriff deputies came in but only “protected” the bus as far as the city line. Crowds put up with the buses caught up with the Greyhound bus, lit it on fire with a molotov cocktail, and beat the activists as they came off the bus. An hour later when a Trailways bus arrived in town, 8 KKK members came on the bus, beat the Freedom Riders, and left them semi-unconscious.

More rides and more violence happened throughout the South in the Summer of 1961. Pressured by the Kennedy White House, on November 1, 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission used its authority over interstate commerce to desegregate long-haul buses like Greyhound and Trailways.

The Freedom Riders National Monument is a bit off the beaten path, and while I recommend reading up on the story, I can’t quite recommend the site as it is still under development. It has no visitors center yet and all that I could find was some information on the old Greyhound depot. What signage is there today, does a good job of telling the story, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it until such time as they build a visitor center. A project which seems unlikely in the current political climate.

Stop in the capital of Montgomery to visit some iconic Montgomery civil rights sites like the Rosa Parks Museum or the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. Or visit the Legacy Museum and National Memorial to Peace and Justice (lynching memorial) which were created by the Equal Justice Initiative.

While you are there if the Montgomery Biscuits are in town, take in a ballgame at one of the better minor league ballparks in the United States.

Read more at:

• 11 Things to Do in Montgomery Alabama
• Montgomery, Alabama – Civil Rights, Slavery, Lynching and the Legacy Museum (Video #98)
• 16 Great Places to Eat or Drink in Montgomery Alabama

You can still see one of three existing Saturn V rockets hanging from the ceiling of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center here. While you’re looking at it don’t be too surprised if a retired rocket scientist turned docent walks up because “his wife wants him to get out of the house”. He probably worked on the very piece of the rocket that you were looking at and can explain it in detail. Next door to the museum is Space Camp.

Huntsville also has a thriving arts scene and the largest private art space in the country at the converted cotton mill Lowe Mill . It is a great food scene, beautiful botanical gardens, and a collection of antebellum homes. See more about Huntsville and my posts:

• Huntsville, Alabama – The Rocket City and More (Video #88)
• “Huntsville, Alabama TBEX Preview Trip” – This Week in Travel #212

As Tennessee Alabama and Mississippi were being settled by European settlers, they used an old Indian trading route from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi, on the Mississippi River. That trading route is now the Natchez Trace Parkway, a beautiful road run by the National Park Service. The parkway is a swath of green parkland that runs for 444 miles. We drove west from Huntsville and picked up the Natchez Trace towards the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Along the way, we stopped at the visitor center to learn about the history of this route. We also stopped at a nature trail through swampland and at some of the Indian burial mounds along the route. There are no services along the route that we saw, but there is a listing of nearby gas, drinking water and local markets organized by different mileage markers. This is not the fastest route through the state, but probably the prettiest.

As a history buff and a Civil War history buff, in particular, I have been trying to get to Vicksburg Mississippi for a few years. The siege of Vicksburg in 1863 was a major turning point of the Civil War. Its capture allowed the union to control the Mississippi from its headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico which cut the Confederacy in half.

The Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the battle and those who fought here. One of the more interesting features of the park is the U.S.S. Cairo that is an old Union ironclad gunboat that was sunk during the battle but raised from the muddy waters, largely preserved, in 1965.

Vicksburg seems to me to be a town on the rise after some difficult years. We enjoyed visiting its museum about the Lower Mississippi River . The museum is run by the Army Corps of Engineers which has a base here in Vicksburg. The museum focuses on the Corps’ work on navigation and flood control of the lower Mississippi River. We also enjoined a visit to the Old Courthouse Museum and to some of the wonderful restaurants in town.

Read more about our Vicksburg visit at these posts:

• What to See and Do in Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Where to Eat in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Poverty Point National Monument

The best flights we could find were not out of Vicksburg but out of Little Rock, Arkansas, So we drove from Vicksburg through Louisiana and Arkansas to catch a flight.

Along the way, we stopped at a UNESCO World Heritage Site named Poverty Point. The site is a national monument run by the Louisiana State Park System.

Poverty Point is a series of Indian mounds, not burial mounds, but built probably created for some ceremonial purpose. If the mounds don’t look spectacularly impressive, then you’ve missed the point that they were built in a short period of time by Native Americans using little more technology than reed baskets. If you’re in the area Poverty Point is a very interesting stop that will take you an hour to see by car or longer if you walk the trails instead.

It Little Rock was one of the places that we visited on our Great American Road Trip which included Kansas City , Little Rock , Memphis , Nashville , Louisville , and Cincinnati . If you want to continue the drive from Little Rock check out more information about that trip.

The American South

I’m not sure what I expected from the American South, but most of it was very familiar. There are certainly familiar restaurants and stores. Alabama, in particular, is much prettier than I think I expected. It is very green, and quite beautiful on a warm late spring day. The other states were also beautiful although they may look a little more economically challenged in the rural areas.

We did see some evidence of the difficulties that some rural towns are having when we stopped in Eudora, Arkansas. The grocery store downtown was almost the only building not boarded up on the main street and it had signs declaring it was not going out of business because it totally looked like it was going out of business.

Every once in a while, we saw something that made us do a double-take. I had to stop when I saw the signs for a haunted chicken house in Helfin, Alabama. We also saw signs for two different coon dog cemeteries. We don’t have those at home and that, of course, is the reason I like a good road trip .

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by Chris Christensen

+Chris Christensen | @chris2x | facebook

One Response to “Deep South, America Road Trip – Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana”

Bryan Johnson

Great blog, man. I really want to check out the freedom riders now.

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Tags: alabama , article , featured , louisiana , mississippi , national park , road trip

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The best road trip to take in all 50 states

Posted: November 24, 2023 | Last updated: November 24, 2023

Life is a highway, especially if you take a road trip on one of the country’s great highways and byways. A road trip is truly one of the best ways to discover America’s natural glories, small towns, and great metropolises en route. Whether you want awesome views of glaciers, mountains, plunging waterfalls, placid lakes or sunbaked deserts, every state has a road trip worth taking. Hook up your trailer, fire up your engine, and let’s get started.

Alabama: The ultimate Alabama road trip

Only in Your State promises large—“the ultimate” Alabama road trip—and seems to deliver with a 918-mile journey to eight of the places that “truly define” the state. Taking less than 17 hours to drive, depending how long you stop at attractions, the looping route goes by attractions such as Cheaha Mountain, Gulf Coast Beaches, and Ted’s Restaurant in Birmingham, serving homestyle food since 1973.

Alaska: Anchorage to Valdez

This spectacular 300-mile route, connecting the Glenn and Richardson highways, takes you past spectacular glaciers and mountain ranges with skyscraping peaks. The Spirit Houses of Eklutna Village, the Matanuska Glacier scenic turnout, and an easy hike along Thunderbird Falls Trail to see a memorable 200-foot waterfall are among the road-trip highlights on the Anchorage to Valdez route . And find out why Valdez is known as the Little Switzerland of Alaska.

Arizona: Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive

Just south of Flagstaff, follow Arizona State Route 89A to enjoy sights ranging from a breathtaking series of switchbacks into a scenic, smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon . The route is famous for its spectacular scenery, including colorful rocks and unique formations. There are plenty of overlooks, picnic areas, swimming holes, fishing spots, and hiking trails along the way. As you leave the canyon, you can continue past Sedona through Red Rock Country.

Arkansas: Natural wonders road trip

This road trip takes you past 10 of the state’s natural wonders . You can do it in as little as 11 hours but give yourself a few days so you can linger and enjoy. The sights include the living cave system of Blanchard Springs Caverns, reflecting still waters of Mirror Lake, stark bluffs rising above the Buffalo National River, and Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area.

California: Highway 1 to Big Sur

Hugging some of the most dramatic coastline on the west coast, this magnificent stretch of Highway 1 runs from Santa Cruz through Big Sur . You take the twisting road past rocky cliffs, bashing surf, and the desolate silhouettes of twisted Monterey cypress trees. Catch a wave surfing, sip a cold and delicious local brew, and cross Bixby Street Bridge, soaring 260 feet above ground in a graceful arch.

Colorado: San Juan Skyway

The San Juan Skyway is a 233-mile loop that takes you through river valleys, mountain peaks, breathtaking overlooks, and historic mining towns such as Telluride, Durango and Silverton. The Chimney Rock Archaeological Area preserves 200 ancient homes and buildings of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples of the Chaco Canyon. Other worthwhile stops en route include Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and the Ute Indian Museum, in Montrose, slightly north of Ridgway.

Connecticut: Last Green Valley Scenic Byway

The lush Last Green Valley is a scenic route and 35-town National Heritage Corridor in eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts. The 1,100-square-mile area is defined by the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers systems and the hills surrounding them. Throughout the region you’ll find farmer’s markets, nature centers, vineyards, campgrounds, museums and all sorts of great stops to have fun.

Delaware: Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway

Starting in Wilmington, this picturesque 12-mile route through the Brandywine Valley goes by so many estates and gardens that it’s been dubbed both “Chateau Country” and “America's Garden Capital.” Stops along the way could include the du Pont family estates and gardens, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, and Montchanin Village, with buildings dating back to the 1700s.

Florida: Overseas Highway – Miami to Key West

Made famous in commercials and movies, the Overseas Highway is even more impressive when driven in person. It spans the green-blue seawater in a series of bridges that take you through the Florida Keys. The 150-mile trip is actually the southernmost leg of Highway US 1, and is built on an old, narrow railroad bed so the highway is often just two lanes, making the trip from Miami to Key West between 3.5 and four hours. But the scenery is great and there are a lot of nifty places to stop, so you won’t complain.

Georgia: Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway

Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway wanders 40 miles through Georgia’s mountain country, and takes in Brasstown Bald (the state’s tallest peak), granite canyons, and the Chattahoochee River. Hike the Appalachian Trail, enjoy the beauty of the Chattahoochee National Forest, fish in cold mountain streams, and stop at scenic overlooks to enjoy awesome views of the mountains and piedmonts.

Hawaii: Hana Highway

The 52-mile Hana Highway, aka Road to Hana , isn’t one that you will want to take quickly, with its 617 hairpin curves, 59 one-lane bridges, and many blind spots along the way. But you won’t mind the 25 mph speed limit because it will give you more time to drink in the waterfalls, boulder-strewn Pacific coastlines, rainforests, snow-capped mountains and black lava beaches.

Idaho: Sawtooth Scenic Byway

Offering a captivating experience of the Idaho Rockies, the 116-mile road connects Shoshone to the resort towns of Sun Valley, Hailey and Ketchum. While you could drive the Sawtooth Scenic Byway in three hours, you’ll want to take much longer to visit the Ernest Hemingway Memorial, see the amazing view 8,700 feet up at the Galena Summit, enjoy boating and fishing at scenic mountain lakes, and admire the surreal, lava-rock sculptures of Black Magic Canyon.

Illinois: Route 66 Byway

Possibly the most famous road in America, Route 66 begins its wandering journey through America, connecting the Midwest to the coast, in Illinois. The “Mother Road” goes by enough roadside attractions, restaurants and museums to keep any traveler happy. Rather than seeing Ford Model Ts navigating a dirt track in 1926, today you’re more likely to view camper vans sailing down its black ribbon.

Indiana: Fort Wayne to Evansville via I-69

You get to enjoy a lot of good old Midwestern charm traveling through towns between Fort Wayne and Evansville on I-69. Attractions along the way can include covered bridges, museums, the state capitol, rustic barns, nature preserves and Johnny Appleseed’s gravesite. While nice to drive anytime of year, the route is particularly beautiful when bursting with fall colors.

Iowa: Covered Bridges Scenic Byway

See the system of bridges celebrated in the book, play and movie The Bridges of Madison County . The Covered Bridges Scenic Byway connects an old townsquare, the birthplace of John Wayne, the Iowa Quilt Museum, recreational parks and trails, and historic sites. Of course, the 82-mile route also serves up lots of beautiful covered bridges.

Kansas: Prairie Trail Scenic Byway

A drive down the Prairie Trail is a journey through early America, once traveled by Native Americans, explorers, pioneers and Western celebrities such as Zebulon Pike and “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Driving along I-70, you can see the unique chalk formations of the Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark, the eccentric sandstone formations of Mushroom Rock State Park, and the abundant wildlife of the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge.

Kentucky: Flint Hills National Scenic Byway

If you want to see the land the way it was thousands of years ago when the Kaw, Osage and other native tribes lived here, then drive the Flint Hills Scenic Byway . You’ll get amazing views of the native grasses and flowers of the tallgrass prairie, as well as green rolling hills with colorful wildflowers. You can arrange a ranger-led tour at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and stop at the Scenic Byway Overlook for a panoramic view of tallgrass prairie.

Louisiana: The Great River Road

Taking about 36 hours of straight driving, the Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana stretch of the route includes Baton Rouge, the old state capitol; Cajun Country; and New Orleans with its French Quarter and delicious Creole cuisine.

Maine: Acadia All-American Road

Fresh lobster feasts, beaches, swimming holes, hiking and biking trails, water and mountain views, scenic ocean cruises and abundant wildlife are among the things you can enjoy on Maine’s Acadia All-American Road . The 40-mile route crosses a bridge to Mount Desert Island, where you’ll find Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Take a side trip up Cadillac Mountain, the highest East Coast peak north of Rio de Janeiro.

Maryland: Blue Crab Scenic Byway

In “Tidewater Maryland,” the Chesapeake Country Blue Crab Byway takes you on a 210-mile journey from the Nanticoke River toward the urban center of the region, Salisbury. Located between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it lets you enjoy rivers, wetlands, marshes, coves, beaches, fresh-caught crab, abundant farmland, unique dialects and historical structures, including 200-year-old neoclassical Teackle Mansion.

Massachusetts: Old King’s Highway

Originally a Native American trail and then a cart path for settlers, Old King’s Highway is an alternate route to Cape Cod, the playground of the rich and famous. Charming seaside towns, outstanding clam chowder, unspoiled beaches, the 43,000-acre Cape Cod National Seashore established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, and the resort joys of Provincetown are some of the attractions of this route.

Michigan: Heritage Route 23

While Route 23 may extend down to Florida, its best part is the final 200 miles in northern Michigan, traveling along Lake Huron’s Sunrise Coast. The panoramic route winds through hardwood forests, waterfalls, sand dunes and freshwater beaches. Travelers can also enjoy 468 miles of multi-use trails and 109 miles of exclusive footpaths, as well as more than 150 historic sites, and arts and cultural venues.

Minnesota: North Shore Scenic Drive

The stunning scenery of the North Shore of Superior , including eight state parks, has earned this route ​​a national designation as an “All-American Road.” Also found on this trip are many hiking trails, Minnesota’s largest waterfalls, fur-trading and fishing museums, small towns serving fresh-caught fish, scenic golf courses and the city of Duluth, with its Great Lakes Aquarium and Aerial Lift Bridge.

Mississippi: Natchez Trace Parkway

Traveling across three states, the 400-mile Natchez Trace Parkway was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps following the Native American trading route. The route offers lots of history, beautiful scenery and music. The Mississippi section of the parkway boasts Tishomingo State Park (named for the leader of the Chickasaw nation who served in the War of 1812); Tupelo, where Elvis Presley was born; and Natchez, where the route ends.

Missouri: Glade Top Trail Scenic Byway

USDA Forest Service tells us: “This 23-mile Scenic Byway is named for the beautiful glades that surround the ridge tops where the Scenic Byway traverses.” The trail boasts seven overlook “pull-outs” that provide panoramic views of Springfield Plateau, 20 miles to the northwest, and 40 miles south to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. The all-weather gravel road follows narrow ridge tops rising about 500 feet above the surrounding countryside.

Montana: Going-to-the-Sun Road

Built in 1932, this 50-mile road lives up to its evocative name, carving its way through and by impressive glaciers, beautiful valleys, cascading waterfalls, towering mountains, colorful wildflowers and lots of photogenic wildlife. Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, and because it goes through mountainous terrain it is only open seasonally.

Nebraska: Oregon National Historic Trail

Step back in time and follow the Oregon National Historic Trail that passes through six states. Nebraska offers some of its most iconic features, including Chimney Rock National Historic Site, California Hill and Fort Kearny State Historical Park. You’ll pass by the massive clay and sandstone rock formations of landmarks such as the Courthouse and Jail Rocks, viewed by early pioneers following the same route.

Nevada: The loneliest road in America

In 1986, Life magazine dubbed the 400-or-so-mile stretch of Highway 50 cutting across Nevada “the loneliest road in America,” because of its desolate, wide-open spaces and harsh climate. Rather than being put off by the description, many people have chosen to navigate the route, taking in the unforgiving vistas, ghost towns, historic mining communities, state parks and sagebrush saloons along the way.

New Hampshire: Kancamagus Scenic Byway

Known by the locals as the “Kanc,” the Kancamagus Scenic Byway is best experienced in September or October when the fall colors are at their height. The 34.5-mile section of Route 112 running through the White Mountain National Forest is particularly known for its dazzling autumn displays. Walking trails, historic farmhouse museums, self-guided bike tours and highland games are also on offer.

New Jersey: Atlantic City to Cape May

This road trip takes in the full gamut of what Jersey has to offer, ranging from the nightlife and gambling of Atlantic City to the quiet coastal charms of Cape May. Along the way you might want to stop for a Ferris wheel ride at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier or walk to Playland’s Castaway Cove for other kinds of amusement rides. Tranquil Cape May is the oldest of the New Jersey beach towns, with historical buildings, and a large wetland and beachfront nature reserve that are great for beachcombing and bird-watching.

New Mexico: El Camino Real Scenic Byway

First traveled more than 400 years ago, the El Camino Real Scenic Byway begins just north of Las Cruces, in Fort Selden, and continues to cross 90 miles of flat, waterless desert, the Jornada del Muerto (“journey of the dead man”), before reaching Socorro. It then heads north to Albuquerque and the historic town of Santa Fe, reaching its final destination at San Juan Pueblo, the first capital of New Mexico.

New York: Lakes to Locks Passage

Known as the “Great Northeast Journey,” New York’s Lakes to Locks Passage is a 225-mile journey along the interconnected waterways of Lake Champlain, Lake George, Champlain Canal and the Upper Hudson River. The route also features many historic and recreational sites, including a network of 32 “Waypoint Communities,” which work together to offer visitors walking, biking, and driving tours of the region.

North Carolina: Outer Banks Scenic Highway

North Carolina's Route 12, aka the Outer Banks Scenic Highway , starts at Bodie Island Lighthouse in the north and goes by the narrow spits of land that make up the barrier islands, protecting the mainland from the ocean. Along the way you can see wildlife, shipwrecks, lighthouses, beaches and Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers made their historic flight.

North Dakota: Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway

This 64-mile byway takes in some of the most scenic areas in North Dakota, ranging from the Killdeer Mountains to the Little Missouri River Breaks and Badlands. You can experience the culture and history of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes, as well as cowboy and rodeo lifestyles, along the way. Stops of interest include the Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge, the Killdeer Battlefield State Historic Site, and the Crow Flies High Butte overlook.

Ohio: Waterfalls route

Ohio isn’t just about its rivers and lakes—it has many beautiful waterfalls that this route will take you by in a roughly 10-hour, looping journey (depending on how long you stop). Some of the highlights you’ll fall for include Hayden Falls in a suburb of Columbus, Big Lyons Falls tumbling into a 300-foot-deep sandstone gorge, the breathtaking 65-foot waterfall flowing from Brandywine Creek, and the falls at Lanterman’s Mill.

Oklahoma: Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway

If you haven’t heard of this scenic byway , you don’t know what you are missing. You can take in mountains, of course; and countless wildflowers in summer and exploding colors in the fall. You travel through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, hosting more than 50 species of mammals, 240 species of birds, 64 species of reptiles and amphibians, 36 fish species and 806 species of plants. Iconic bison and endangered species such as the black-capped vireo are also part of the show.

Oregon: Oregon Coast Highway 101

California's Pacific Coastal Highway may get all the attention, but the Oregon Coast Highway 101 deserves equal kudos. The seven-hour coastal route snakes by or through redwood forests, wonderful beaches, including Cannon Beach (the charms of the seaside town celebrated in movies such as The Goonies and Twilight ), small towns such as Seaside and Newport, state parks, and the Myrtle Tree Trail, a quarter-mile walk leading to what may be the world’s largest known eucalyptus tree, with a canopy that’s almost 70 feet across.

Pennsylvania: Route 6

About 400 miles of cross-continental Route 6 pass through northern Pennsylvania, going through bustling cities, small towns and lots of natural attractions. Trip highlights include the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (almost 1,500 feet deep), the Tioga-Hammond Lakes recreation area, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, the Allegheny Reservoir, and Kinzua Bridge State Park, with “one of the world’s Top 10 most beautiful skywalks.”

Rhode Island: Ten Mile Drive

Any Rhode Island road trip is bound to take you by fantastic seascapes, colonial-era towns and great mansions. The Ten Mile Drive immerses you in the summer neighborhoods of the ultra-wealthy, who started coming to the island to escape the New York City heat in the 1800s. The journey has four legs: Brenton Cove Shore, East Passage of Narragansett Bay, Ocean Drive, and Bellevue Ave. (where many of the early huge mansions were built).

South Carolina: Lowcountry road trip

Between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, lies the lowcountry, a coastal area lined with oak trees, pristine shores, and all the fresh seafood and barbecue you can consume. In South Carolina, the lowcountry road trip takes you to the historic city of Beaufort; one of the newest National Park sites, Penn Center (the first school in the South for former slaves); and Charleston, with its great food, drink and sightseeing opportunities.

South Dakota: Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway

The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway in the Black Hills of western South Dakota features fantastic granite pinnacles, hairpin curves, wooden “pigtail” bridges, mountain tunnels and the famous four faces on Mount Rushmore. Driving to Custer State Park along the Needles Highway, you’ll see the granite formations that attract rock climbers from around the globe.

Tennessee: Cherohala Skyway

Named a National Scenic Byway, the Cherohala Skyway delivers an amazing scenic drive through the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. The 41-mile route ascends about 4,500 feet and winds around mountain peaks and provides scenic outlooks from a mile up. A lovely hidden waterfall, a lake beach, many mountain vistas and tons of hiking trails are among the other attractions on the skyway.

Texas: Hill Country Route

Running across Edwards Plateau, the Hill Country Route covers rugged hills, flowing rivers and small towns such as Fredericksburg, Lampasas, and New Braunfels. Along the way you can enjoy wine tastings at award-winning vineyards, antique hunting, horseback riding, hiking, and stopping at great natural attractions such as the Hamilton Pool Preserve, where a 50-foot waterfall spills over limestone outcroppings into a green swimming pool below.

Utah: Byway 12

Connecting the Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 delivers one amazing natural scene after another in almost 123 miles of driving bliss. Some of the highlights include the one-of-a-kind geological features of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, the hairpin turns of the “Hogsback” between Boulder and Escalante, and multiple state parks, like Kodachrome Basin, Escalante Petrified Forest and Anasazi State Park Museum.

Vermont: Route 100

Sometimes called Vermont’s “Main Street,” Route 100 is the state's longest state highway at 216.6 miles, providing a great scenic summer tour through the Green Mountains and a lot of quaint New England villages. Running from north to south in the center of Vermont, the highway provides lots of opportunities to pitch a tent in campgrounds, enjoy amazing vistas, and discover gorgeous lakes and hidden swimming holes.

Virginia: Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina/Tennessee border, meandering through 469 miles of mountain meadows, with over 200 breathtaking overlooks. In Virginia, you can follow the long, narrow route 105 miles through Shenandoah National Park. It features some 300 square miles of hardwood forest throughout the northern region of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and more than 500 miles of trails.

Washington: Olympic Peninsula Loop

This 445-mile looping road trip from Seattle takes you around the Olympic National Park, past rainforests, snow-capped peaks, the crashing ocean surf, tide pools, abundant wildlife and much more. Whale-watching, fields of fragrant lavender blooms, placid lakes, warm spring resorts, and remote beaches with sea stacks are also on the travel menu.

West Virginia: Midland Trail National Scenic Byway

Traveling along the 180-mile Midland Trail National Scenic Byway , you’ll be exposed to some of the best of West Virginia. This includes mountain landscapes, waterfalls, authentic Appalachian cuisine and culture, alpine music venues, and chances to do rafting, spelunking, and fly fishing. Families might enjoy the century-plus-old Camden Park with its amusement rides, or Charleston’s Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, with its ElectricSky Theater and the Avampato Discovery Museum.

Wisconsin: Highway 60

Highway 60 is the first corridor to be designated a Wisconsin Scenic Byway , stretching 100 miles along the Lower Wisconsin River from Lodi to Prairie du Chien in the center of the rural Driftless Area. You can stop for winery tours, enjoy the charms of small towns, learn about native cultures and enjoy the sights of the Wisconsin River shifting shape and running through hills, bluffs and valleys.

Wyoming: Snowy Range Scenic Byway

Originally a wagon-road built in the 1870s, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Hwy. 130) in southeastern Wyoming takes you through a majestic mountain range, past icy glacial lakes, meadows, rushing streams, and wildlife such as yellow-bellied marmots, bighorn sheep, pikas, and blue grouse. While you could drive the route in a day, plenty of scenic overlooks and inviting campsites might tempt you into making it a multi-day excursion.

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