The Ultimate Route 1 Road Trip: NH Border to Canada

Route 1 is the artery of coastal Maine. While I-95 rushes north in a blur, Route 1 meanders through every fishing village, past every lighthouse, and around every peninsula from Kittery to Fort Kent. This is 527 miles of lobster shacks, white church steeples, and the most photographed coastline in America.

Day 1: Kittery to Kennebunkport - Southern Beaches

Morning: Crossing into Maine

• Cross Piscataqua River Bridge (9am) - You’re in Maine!
• Kittery Outlets (9:30am) - If you must shop, do it now
  • 100+ outlet stores
  • Or skip and head to coast
• Portsmouth NH - Just across bridge, worth quick look

Late Morning: York

• York’s Wild Kingdom (if with kids) - Zoo + amusement park
• Nubble Lighthouse (11am) - Sohier Park
  • Maine’s most photographed lighthouse
  • Park right at viewing area
  • Rocky shores, crashing waves
• Short Sands Beach - Classic beach town
• Brown’s Ice Cream - Since 1940

Afternoon: Ogunquit

• Lunch at Barnacle Billy’s - Perkins Cove waterfront
• Marginal Way walk (1-3pm)
  • 1.25-mile paved clifftop path
  • Stunning ocean views
  • Ends at Perkins Cove
• Ogunquit Beach (3-5pm) - Maine’s best sandy beach
  • Use trolley to avoid parking hassles

Evening: Kennebunkport

• Drive to Kennebunkport (30 min)
• Check into lodging
• Dinner at The Clam Shack - Bridge location, legendary lobster roll
• Ocean Avenue drive - Walker’s Point (Bush compound), Spouting Rock
• Dock Square - Evening stroll, galleries

Lodging: Kennebunkport area or Wells

Day 2: Portland - Food & Lighthouses

Morning: Portland Head Light

• Depart for Portland (9am, 30 min)
• Fort Williams Park (9:30am)
  • Portland Head Light - Maine’s oldest lighthouse (1791)
  • Most photographed in Maine
  • Museum in keeper’s house
  • Rocky beach below
• Cape Elizabeth - Two Lights, scenic area

Late Morning: Old Port

• Arrive Old Port (11am)
• Park car - Use garage, walk rest of day
• Commercial Street walk - Cobblestones, brick buildings
• Working waterfront - Fishing boats, lobster co-ops

Afternoon: Portland Food Tour

• Lunch at Eventide (12pm) - Brown butter lobster roll
  • Or: Duckfat (Belgian fries in duck fat)
• Eastern Promenade walk (2pm) - Casco Bay views
• Coffee at Tandem or Speckled Ax - Portland roasts
• Breweries (3pm):
  • Allagash (tour)
  • Bissell Brothers
  • Foundation Brewing

Evening

• Dinner reservations - Central Provisions or Fore Street
• Old Port nightlife - Bars, live music
• Gelato at Gorgeous Gelato - End the night sweet

Lodging: Portland - Press Hotel or Portland Harbor Hotel

Day 3: Freeport to Bath - Shopping & Ships

Morning: L.L.Bean

• Freeport (9am, 20 min from Portland)
• L.L.Bean flagship store - Open 24/7
  • Outdoor gear, Maine gifts
  • Trout pond inside
  • Bootmobile photo
• Freeport outlets - 100+ stores if shopping
• Or: Skip shopping, head to coast

Late Morning: Brunswick

• Bowdoin College (11am) - Beautiful campus
• Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum - Free, fascinating
• Downtown Brunswick - Maine Street

Afternoon: Bath

• Maine Maritime Museum (1-3pm)
  • Shipbuilding heritage
  • Bath Iron Works tours (if available)
  • Historic vessels
  • $20 admission
• Downtown Bath walk - Front Street
• Waterfront views - Kennebec River

Evening: Wiscasset

• Drive to Wiscasset (20 min)
• Red’s Eats (4:30pm) - Arrive before 5pm rush
  • Famous lobster roll - Massive, hanging over bun
  • Expect line (worth it!)
  • Riverside picnic tables
• Wiscasset downtown - “Prettiest village in Maine”
• Drive to Boothbay area for lodging

Lodging: Boothbay Harbor area

Day 4: Midcoast - Peninsulas & Lighthouses

Morning: Boothbay Harbor

• Downtown Boothbay (9am) - Working harbor
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (10am-12pm)
  • 295 acres
  • Shoreline trails
  • Fairy houses
  • $22 admission

Afternoon: Pemaquid Peninsula

• Drive to Pemaquid Point (1 hour)
• Lunch en route - Pack or grab in Damariscotta
• Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (2pm)
  • Iconic striped tower
  • Dramatic rocky coastline
  • Climb lighthouse ($3)
  • Tide pools at low tide

Late Afternoon: Rockland

• Drive to Rockland (45 min)
• Check into lodging
• Farnsworth Art Museum (if time) - Open until 5pm
• Breakwater walk (4pm) - 7/8 mile to lighthouse

Evening

• Dinner at Primo (splurge) or Archer’s on the Pier (casual)
• Rockland waterfront - Working harbor stroll
• First Friday Art Night (if it’s first Friday)

Lodging: Rockland

Day 5: Camden to Bar Harbor - Mountains Meet Sea

Morning: Camden

• Drive to Camden (20 min)
• Mount Battie (9am)
  • Drive up auto road OR hike (45 min)
  • Summit: Penobscot Bay panorama
  • Most iconic Maine view
• Camden Harbor - Walk the waterfront
  • Windjammer schooners
  • Amphitheater park
  • Shop-lined Main Street

Late Morning/Afternoon: Belfast

• Drive through Belfast (30 min)
  • Optional stop for lunch, art walk
• Continue to Bucksport - Penobscot Narrows Bridge
  • Observatory tower (highest in world, $7)

Afternoon: Arrive Bar Harbor

• Drive to Bar Harbor (1 hour from Camden)
• Check into lodging (3pm)
• Bar Harbor village - Explore downtown
  • Shops, galleries, restaurants
  • Harbor Walk
  • Town Green

Evening

• Dinner on Main Street - Dozens of options
• Ice cream at MDI Ice Cream - Creative flavors
• Prep for Acadia tomorrow - Early start

Lodging: Bar Harbor (book months ahead for summer!)

Day 6-7: Acadia National Park - The Crown Jewel

Day 6 Morning: Sunrise & Park Loop

• Cadillac Mountain sunrise (5:30am)
  • Reservation required May-Oct - Book months ahead!
  • First sunrise in U.S. (certain times of year)
  • Dress warm (40s even in summer)
• Return to town for breakfast (7:30am)
  • Jordan’s Restaurant or 2 Cats

Day 6 Mid-Morning: Park Loop Road

• Enter park (9am) - $35/vehicle (7 days)
• Park Loop Road - 27-mile scenic drive
  • Sand Beach - Photo stop, quick dip
  • Thunder Hole - Time it with incoming tide
  • Otter Cliff - 110-foot sea cliff
  • Jordan Pond - Stop for tea/popovers
  • Bubble Rock - Glacial erratic

Day 6 Afternoon: Hiking

• Choose a hike (1-4pm):
  • Precipice Trail - Ladders, heights, thrilling (experienced only)
  • Beehive Trail - Iron rungs, moderate challenge
  • Ocean Path - Easy, paved, stunning
  • Jordan Pond Path - 3.3 miles around pond

Day 6 Evening

• Quiet Side drive - West side of island
• Dinner at Thurston’s Lobster Pound (Bernard) - Working wharf
• Bass Harbor Head Light - Sunset lighthouse

Day 7: More Acadia or Move On

Option A: Full Acadia Day

• Carriage roads - Bike rental, car-free gravel roads
• More hiking - Different trail
• Seal watching cruise - From Bar Harbor
• Schoodic Peninsula - Quiet section

Option B: Continue Route 1 North

• Depart for Downeast (9am)
• See Day 8 below

Lodging: Bar Harbor or move to Machias/Lubec area

Day 8 (Optional): The Bold Coast - Easternmost Point

Morning: Downeast Drive

• Route 1 East from Bar Harbor (9am)
• Pass through: Ellsworth, Hancock, Sullivan
• Schoodic Peninsula (10:30am) - Optional detour
  • Quieter Acadia section
  • Dramatic wave-battered rocks

Afternoon: To Lubec

• Continue Route 1 through Machias
• Arrive Lubec (2pm) - 2.5 hours from Bar Harbor
• West Quoddy Head State Park
  • Candy-striped lighthouse - Red and white
  • Easternmost point in U.S.
  • Coastal trail (2 miles)
  • Views to Canada

Evening

• Lubec downtown - Small, authentic
• Dinner - Local seafood
• Early to bed - Long drive back or continue

Day 9 (Optional): Fort Kent - The Northern Terminus

For true completists:

• Route 1 continues 200+ miles to Fort Kent
• Passes through:
  • Calais (border town)
  • Houlton
  • Aroostook County (potato country)
  • Fort Kent (northern terminus)
• Add 3-4 days for full Route 1 experience
• See Aroostook County itinerary for details

Essential Information

Best Time to Visit

Peak Summer (July-August): Warmest, all open, most crowded, highest prices Shoulder (June, September): Great weather, fewer crowds, better prices Fall (October): Foliage spectacular, many places closing after Columbus Day Off-Season (November-April): Many businesses closed, locals-only experience

Route 1 vs I-95

Route 1:

• Slower (35-45 mph avg)
• Every town, every peninsula
• Scenic, coastal views
• Where this itinerary goes

I-95:

• Faster (65 mph)
• Bypasses coast
• Use for returns or skipping sections

Pro tip: Take Route 1 north, I-95 south (or vice versa)

The Wiscasset Bottleneck

Wiscasset traffic is legendary:

• Route 1 narrows through downtown
• Summer weekends = 30-60 min delays
• Avoid: Saturday 11am-5pm
• Strategy: Pass through before 10am or after 6pm

What to Pack

• Comfortable shoes: Lots of walking
• Layers: Coastal temps vary 20+ degrees
• Rain gear: Always possible
• Sunscreen: Reflected water intensifies
• Camera: Lighthouse paradise
• Binoculars: Wildlife, boats, scenery
• Cooler: Lobster pounds, picnics
• Beach gear: If summer

Lodging Strategy

Book ahead:

• Bar Harbor (months for summer)
• Camden, Kennebunkport (weeks)
• Portland (weeks for weekends)

Easier to find:

• Wells, Rockland, Wiscasset area
• Chain hotels in Brunswick, Ellsworth

Budget options:

• Campgrounds (many state parks)
• Motels in less touristy towns
• Airbnb/VRBO

Budget Estimate (per person, 2 sharing, 7 days)

Lodging: $800-1,400 (7 nights, varies wildly) Meals: $400-600 (lobster rolls add up!) Gas: $150-200 (lots of driving) Activities: $200-300 (parks, museums, tours) Shopping: $0-500 (your choice) Total: $1,550-3,000 per person

Budget varies dramatically based on:

• Season (summer 2x winter)
• Lodging choices
• Dining (lobster every meal vs. sandwiches)
• Shopping (Freeport temptations)

Budget Tips

• Camp: State parks $25-35/night
• Lunch lobster rolls: Same roll, $10 less
• Cook some meals: Get Airbnb with kitchen
• Free activities: Lighthouses, beaches, hikes
• Shoulder season: June or September, half price lodging

Extend Your Trip

Add Days For:

• Islands: Monhegan, Vinalhaven ferry trips
• More peninsulas: Harpswell, Pemaquid, Schoodic
• Inland detours: Lakes, mountains (see other itineraries)
• Full Route 1: All the way to Fort Kent (+4 days)

Combine With:

• Western Mountains: Detour from Brunswick
• Moosehead Lake: From Bangor area
• White Mountains NH: Before entering Maine

Lighthouse Checklist

This trip hits:

• ✓ Nubble Light (York)
• ✓ Portland Head Light (Cape Elizabeth)
• ✓ Pemaquid Point Light
• ✓ Breakwater Light (Rockland)
• ✓ Bass Harbor Head Light (Acadia)
• ✓ West Quoddy Head Light (Lubec)

Nearby options:

• Two Lights (Cape Elizabeth)
• Marshall Point (Port Clyde)
• Owls Head Light
• Burnt Island (Boothbay tour)

Lobster Roll Strategy

Must-try:

• Red’s Eats (Wiscasset) - Massive, cold mayo
• The Clam Shack (Kennebunkport) - Classic
• Eventide (Portland) - Brown butter innovation
• Thurston’s (Bernard) - Working wharf

Hot vs. Cold:

• Hot: Butter, simple, traditional
• Cold: Mayo, lettuce, often bigger
• Both are correct - Try each!

Prices: $20-35 typically

Pro Tips

1. Acadia reservations: Cadillac sunrise books out months ahead
2. Red’s Eats: Go at 4pm or wait 45+ minutes
3. Route 1 traffic: Avoid Wiscasset midday summer weekends
4. Parking: Portland and Bar Harbor = use garages, walk
5. Weather: Fog is normal, embrace it
6. Tides: Check times for Thunder Hole, tide pools
7. Island Explorer: Free bus in Acadia (summer)
8. Reservations: Nice restaurants book weeks ahead
9. Gas: Cheaper inland than on peninsulas
10. Flexibility: Allow extra time, you’ll want to stop

Family Adjustments

With Kids:

• York’s Wild Kingdom (zoo/amusement)
• Old Orchard Beach (beach/pier/arcade)
• More beach time, less driving
• Boothbay boat tours
• Acadia carriage roads (easy biking)

With Teens:

• Surfing lessons (Higgins Beach)
• Precipice/Beehive hikes (Acadia)
• Portland food scene
• Kayak tours
• Windjammer sailing

Why Route 1?

Route 1 is the anti-interstate. It’s the road that forces you to slow down, to notice the church steeple, to smell the salt air, to pull over for that unexpected harbor view.

You’ll get stuck behind lobster trucks. You’ll detour down dead-end peninsulas just to see a lighthouse. You’ll eat more lobster rolls than you thought possible. You’ll discover villages you’ve never heard of that become your new favorites.

This is how Maine was meant to be experienced—not rushed, not efficiently, but savored. One harbor at a time. One lighthouse. One lobster roll.

The 527 miles from Kittery to Fort Kent could theoretically be driven in a day. But why would you? That would be like reading the last page of a great novel and calling it done.

Route 1 is the novel. The whole beautiful, meandering, lighthouse-studded, lobster-scented novel. Read every page.