Autumn in Maine: Fall Colors and Acadia NP

Autumn in Maine – Why You’ll Love It

When I was a kid I had never heard the term “leaf peeping” but now I hear it all the time, in reference to the fall colors in Maine or the change of seasons wherever deciduous forests can be found. Leaf peeping is all about being out in the landscape that you have seen in paintings and on calendars, and about enjoying the activities that come along with fall. In Maine, autumn is the last hurrah before a really cold and intense winter season, so everyone takes advantage of this last blast of sunshine and fall colors.

Having an itinerary that allows you to explore and enjoy autumn in Maine is easy if you understand how the state is laid out and where the best colors can be found. We’ve put together an easy plan to enjoy a visit and take it all in, from the lighthouses with colorful backdrops to the mountain lakes surrounded by orange and red forests. It’s going to be the prettiest trip in the Northeast you’ve ever had.

When is Autumn in Maine, Start to End of Fall Colors

While the calendar date of autumn starting is September 22 or 23 (depending on the year), most of Maine doesn’t see big changes in weather and the fall colors kicking in until the first week of October. From then until around November 10 or so, it’s all falling leaves and crisp mornings. The summer weather tapers off with cold nights but then afternoon sun can bring it up into the 70s, which is kind of amazing from exploring and leaf peeping. Sunny days almost seem more common in autumn than in the summer in Maine (or maybe I’m just really lucky every year).

By November, peak fall colors have passed and the trees are starting to be really bare. It’s still pretty, but in a different way. A lot of activities and tourism businesses close down before November, so the autumn travel season is the busiest in those first two weeks of October.

What is Maine Known for in the Fall

So many activities and sights come to mind when I think about autumn in Maine. The most obvious is the color change that happens across the hills and in the forests, but also the farm visits that seem to dominate our fall itinerary when we visit. We’re not just leaf peepers, we’re apple pickers too. This season feels so different from summer because it’s much less busy and the people who choose to visit Maine in autumn are here for the beauty and the peacefulness of fall, not to go go go. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of things to do, but it’s just a different vibe than you expect with visiting New England in fall. You’ll see.

Fall Foliage

Yes, the fall colors are the #1 highlight of autumn in Maine. You can’t go wrong driving the many country roads and just taking in the changing season. The small towns with their historic store fronts and steepled churches make each one picturesque with the yellows, reds and oranges behind them. Towns like Camden and Dover-Foxcroft are extra beautiful with their fall colors at their peak. If you head up into the Highlands, Moosehead Lake has some of the state’s most EPIC fall color displayed, and then Millinocket Lake with Katahdin reflecting its colors on the water is 90% the reason we keep coming back for autumn in Maine.

Peak conditions for leaf peeping really are in those first two weeks of October. The first leaf drop is usually in the last week of September and then the fall foliage is DONE with the last leaf drop in the first ten days of November. Remember though, all fall foliage is dependent on the weather, both that Maine had all summer and how the seasonal change is currently going, with extra cold days and wind making the autumn colors change and the leaves drop more rapidly than if it’s a mellow, warm fall.

TIP: keep an eye on the fall foliage report from Maine, because the state tourism board is very much in tune with why people are visiting in autumn and they do a great job keeping the foliage map updated from mid-September into November.

Harvest Culture in Maine

Summer might be for blueberry picking, but fall is all about apple picking, cider, fall flowers and pumpkin patches. Not that I’m all about Instagram and getting all the pretty pictures and selfies, but farms in fall are the most eye-catching, fun places to visit. Sunflowers, zinnia and dahlia beds make each farm more than a place to get some fresh produce. You-pick apple orchards are all around Maine, with a great concentration of them being in the hills lining the MidCoast region on the west.

The other side of farm visits is all about the baked goods. I freaking love pie and nearly every farm you visit in Maine sells pies either whole or by the slice. Cookies, pickles and whoopie pies are all on my list when we’re road tripping around the hills of Maine in autumn.

Coastal Charm in Fall

I know that lighthouses and quiet coves are the primary reason most people want to visit Maine, and in autumn they’re just as wonderful. Lobster boats and schooners make every little town on the water a perfect picture of what you expect with coastal charm. Boothbay Harbor or Damariscotta with the changing colors are straight out of a postcard. While Portland itself might not be popping with color in the fall, the areas all around the city are awesome. Cape Elizabeth and Kennebunkport are dreamy. Old Orchard Beach with its beachy ghost town vibes (it’s an autumn thing, it’s hopping in summer) is a great surprise that you’ll love.

And then visiting DownEast and Acadia National Park in fall is really spectacular. Bar Harbor is quaint but with all the services and restaurants of a big city. Walking around town and the waterfront with the fall colors is a quintessential Maine experience, and if you time it right, you’ll be able to rent E-bikes in town and ride up into Acadia NP to do the Carriage Roads during peak leaf peeping. 

Outdoor Adventure in Autumn

Maine doesn’t stop being “Vacationland” when autumn arrives, and actually some of the best hiking we’ve done has been in fall. Baxter State Park and Mount Kineo State Park are both epic for fall colors and wonderful trails. Acadia National Park doesn’t disappoint either, especially with smaller crowds than the summertime (on weekdays). There are plenty of State Parks all over with well maintained trails for hiking, biking and walking.

Also, Maine has lots of preserves and wildlife refuge spots that are great to visit in fall. One of my favorites, the Saco Heath Preserve, is literally the most colorful spot in Maine in autumn, with its colorful boardwalk, cranberry bushes and deciduous forest. It’s an easy place to visit from Portland and really, I’ve not been anywhere else like it in Maine (but I have in Nova Scotia!).

Northern Lights: the State of Aurora Season

I love talking about seeing the Aurora Borealis in Maine because it’s just not something that a lot of people think about. Most travelers plan on visiting Fairbanks, Alaska in winter to see the Northern Lights, and that is an amazing experience, but you can also see them quite frequently in Maine. You just need to be in the right place at the right time. You can keep your eye on the Aurora reports and when there’s a good possibility and good weather, head up in the hills away from any town lights. Maine puts on a spectacular Northern Lights display when they’re happening.

When Is Peak Fall Color In Maine

Peak fall color in Maine is usually the second or third week of October, with the northernmost areas and the Highlands hitting their peak color first. Even though you need to plan your itinerary in advance, you can get a feel for where the colors are at their brightest with the Maine leaf peeping tracker. It’s updated daily as different regions, and even different hills, go through their autumn color change. Fall in New England is pretty similar in terms of colors coming in across Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, but the fall foliage in Maine is the first to hit peak colors and have the first leaf drop.

What To Do In Maine In The Fall

It’s time to plan out the fun things to do in Maine in fall. You know me, I lean heavily on doing as many outdoors activities as possible, but there are more suggestions here than just hiking. I think autumn is a great time to visit for nearly any sort of interest because you have both high activity options and really mellow, beautiful chances for relaxation. 

Best Scenic Drives

Scenic drives are one of my favorite things about traveling in Maine, and when you get to go for a nice drive with autumn colors, it’s a big win. We’ve picked five great scenic drives you can do in just part of the day so that you’re not stuck in a car all day, but will have plenty of relaxing and taking in the beautiful views. Everyone plans their fall visit differently, but these small road trips are good for any schedule because they don’t have to take a full day and you’ll still get the beautiful colors as the foliage conditions change. Keep in mind that if you’re visiting before fall, these can all be a part of a fun summer Maine road trip too!

Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, Route 201

Starting in Skowhegan (actually Solon) and heading all the way to the Canadian border north of Jackman, Maine, the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway is beautiful to drive for fall colors. This is a two hour drive one way with lots of little stops and views along the way. The Kennebec and Dead Rivers make for nice scenery in the southern section of the drive, and then as you near Jackman and Seboomook Lake, you’re in pond country, where you can enjoy the changing autumn colors on the trees, the bogs and meadows. Also watch for moose, as this is prime moose country.

Coastal Route 1 from Freeport to Camden

I’ve driven this route more times than I can count and always love it. In the fall, the coastal route from Freeport to Camden is just beautiful. You’ll go through lots of small and picturesque towns, including Wiscassett and Bath, Damariscotta and Rockland, all with a backdrop of Maine autumn colors. You have the chance to see 10 different lighthouses along the way, and there are plenty of stops for good food. If you’re looking for farmstands to visit along the way, Pineland Farms is at the start of the route in Freeport, and then Beth’s Farmstand is near the end in Warren.

Tip: Rockland is a great home base for having an autumn trip to Maine as it’s in the heart of MidCoast and it’s easy to branch out from here. The 250 Main Hotel downtown is awesome and in a great location for enjoying the town and it has a beautiful view out to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.

Route 11 from Bangor to Millinocket

I think Bangor is a cool small city, and it’s a great place to start a scenic fall drive. From Bangor you’ll head north on Route 11 through beautiful fall color deciduous forests as you ascend into the Highlands. There are two potential destinations with this scenic Maine drive: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument or Millinocket Lake with Baxter State Park. Whichever option you choose, you’ll get to see the best of the northern end of the Appalachian Mountains. Whether you’re visiting just for the views or if you want to go hiking, this is a fun drive and is one of my favorite Maine road trips.

TIP: NEOC, the New England Outdoor Center, is a wonderful destination in the fall. It’s directly on Millinocket Lake and looks out at Katahdin. There are bike rentals, kayaks, boat tours and just wonderful calm to enjoy. This is also an AWESOME home base for enjoying winter sports in Maine.

Sebago Lake Loop

An easy day trip from Portland, the scenic drive out to Sebago Lake and around its shore is great, and Sebago Lake State Park is actually a nice destination in itself. For being so close to Portland, it feels a world away… as does most of Maine once you’re not in the city. Sebago Lake is huge and there are several access points if you have kayaks or SUPs. For a fun scenic drive, head up to the lake in the morning, enjoy the State Park and being on the water, then do the rest of the lake loop in the afternoon.

Acadia Park Loop Road  

When you visit Bar Harbor, you’re right at the edge of Acadia National Park. It takes up nearly all of Mount Desert Island and most of it falls within the Park Loop Road. This is one of the prettiest places to visit in Maine in autumn. The fall colors along the Park Loop Road with the stone bridges and iconic stops are just what you hope to experience. The drive can take a few hours with all the sights you’ll want to see, and it’s one of the best scenic loops in the state.

Top Hikes to Do in Maine in Autumn

Hiking in Maine is fun any time that it’s not mud season (April, May and part of June), but in autumn, the hiking is extra wonderful. You get those not-too-hot days with sunshine and dappled light coming into the forest. It’s just perfect. I mean, it could rain also, but hopefully you’ll just have the sunshine like we tend to get. Add a hike or two to the road trips you’re planning, whether you’re doing a few days or a week exploring, because hiking in the fall foliage is just a fun, beautiful experience.

Saco Heath Preserve

The Saco Heath Preserve is one of my all-time favorite hikes in Maine. It is not difficult and really is the most beautiful spot to see fall colors in a unique setting. The upland environment is very different, with low bush cranberries everywhere, wild flowers in different areas, towering deciduous trees in places… It packs such a punch of color and fun.

Bradbury Mountain State Park

If you can’t make it up to Acadia on your visit, Bradbury Mountain State Park is another place you can hike and break through the forest at the top onto a granite dome. The trails are beautiful as they wind up the mountain, and when you get to the top it’s a birdwatching bonanza, complete with a bird identification exhibit and current bird count information. I love it.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

Another beautiful, easy hike to enjoy south of Portland is in the Wells / Ogunquit area at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. This is a great spot for birding, and the woods are perfect for enjoying autumn in Maine. Named for the author of the book Silent Spring, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is ideal for experiencing multiple types of habitats on the Maine coast.

Mount Battie views in Camden Hills State Park

Located in MidCoast, Camden Hills State Park has some great hiking trails and biking routes. Hiking up Mount Battie is a fun, not too difficult hike and it’s a great addition to some time spent in Camden. The fall colors are great and the trail can be done any time of day, so add it to your morning before a scenic drive or before you return home to your hotel after a day of exploring.

Tip: if you’re doing MidCoast Maine in winter, Camden Hills State Park is a great spot to enjoy the snow, or if there isn’t snow yet, some brisk winter hiking.

Big and Little Niagara Falls in Baxter State Park

There are lots of great trails in Baxter State Park, but I really love the Big and Little Niagara Falls trail because you get the best of the forest and its boulders and you get a beautiful multi-tiered waterfalls series. It’s beautiful and is wonderful to hike in autumn. As a bonus, getting to this hike means that you had to drive through the western side of Baxter State Park, so the ponds and forest along the way all get to be enjoyed too.

Mount Kineo State Park Lookout

There are several trails to get up Mt Kineo in the middle of Moosehead Lake, and there’s no bad view along the way. When you get to the top, there’s a fire lookout tower to climb, and this is where the view and fall colors really get to shine as you look out with a 360 degree view across the lake. Something wonderful about planning for this hike is that you also will need to take the foot ferry to Mt Kineo from Rockville on the western shore of Moosehead Lake. It’s a boat ride and a hike all in one adventure.

Acadia National Park trails

I don’t even know where to begin for recommending trails in Acadia National Park because there are so many, but I can tell you that the Beehive Trail is INTENSE and amazing, and also very busy. But it’s busy for a reason. For the not-as-adventurous hiker, the loop trail is great, as is the hike around Jordan or Bubble Ponds. If you’re biking, you’ll come across nice hikes along the Carriage Roads. Acadia is literally a spiderweb of hiking trails. If you’re building a specific Acadia National Park itinerary, give yourself four days to really enjoy the park.

Outdoor Activities in Fall in Maine

Because autumn in Maine has such consistently good weather (at least in the early part of the season) there are wonderful outdoors activities that you can enjoy into at least the middle of October. Hiking is great, but there are kayaking and boating options too.

Canoeing around Moosehead Lake

Fall is moose rutting season which means that the moose are very active and moving around a lot looking for mates. This is a great opportunity to be on the water and look for moose as they skirt the edges of the ponds and lakes. The area around Moosehead Lake up to Kokadjo and beyond has so much wildlife and there are tours you can do to safely seek them out. Canoeing in the early morning is extra beautiful.

Paddling Rivers and Coves

Maine might not strike you as a great place for kayaking, but there are some really cool places you can do it. Whether it’s renting kayaks in Bar Harbor and Acadia or paddling on the Kennebunk River or the coves of MidCoast, there are lots of options for easy paddling. There are a few kayaking tours that run into mid October, but for the most part it’s up to you to just rent kayaks while you’re here.

E-Biking the Acadia NP Carriage Roads

The BEST way to experience Acadia National Park is on a bike. This and Everglades NP are the only National Parks where I recommend biking over any other experience (check out biking in the Everglades here!). You can rent an E-Bike or regular bike from a variety of shops in Bar Harbor or Seal Harbor, and some will even deliver to you in Acadia. Once you have your bike, you can easily plot your biking route on the Carriage Roads. This will take you all over the park, up the mountains and by the beautiful ponds. It’s amazing in autumn with all the fall colors.

Note: biking to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is a TREK, so unless you’re spending a long day on the bike, plan to visit it via car.

Whale Watching and Lighthouses from Bar Harbor

I wish I could say that whale watching from Bar Harbor was amazing during the fall, but it’s not. Most of the humpback, gray, fin and minke whales have headed south for the winter. There are usually a few stragglers, but not too many. You’ll have better chances seeing mola mola and gannets than whales. What you CAN do though is go on schooner sailings and lighthouse cruises. Bar Harbor is a great place for an autumn sailing to see the fall colors from the water, and of course, to see lighthouses.

Unique Maine Experiences

There are a few experiences in Maine that you simply cannot do other places, especially for a fall trip. Maine’s history is one that combines maritime activity and cutting edge transportation… which now all feels like yester-year.

Downeast Railway Fall Foliage Train Tours

If you like trains and just enjoying the ride, the Downeast Railway is very near Bar Harbor. It’s a mellow ride through the forest and between small towns. Chatting with the railway attendants, you get to hear all about the history of the railroad line while taking in the fall colors and looking for moose in the ponds along the way.

Kennebunkport Seashore Trolley Museum

I think the Seashore Trolley Museum is one of the coolest museums in Maine, and it’s a really great place to visit in autumn. The main feature of the Seashore Trolley Museum is the beautiful ride on the old trolley lines through the forest and between the sites, but also there is a great collection of vintage trolley cars both from the Southern Maine Kennebunk lines and other historic trolley routes in the USA and Europe. There are active trolley restoration projects, museum exhibits and a super cool miniature train system. I think it’s really fun and is a pretty and relaxed way to take in the fall colors.

Lobster Boat Tour

There are several opportunities to enjoy a lobster boat tour when you’re visiting Maine in autumn. Kennebunkport has the Rugosa lobster boat, and Portland has a few tours as well. In MidCoast, you can do lobster boat tours out of Boothbay Harbor or Port Clyde, and then when you get to Bar Harbor, there are more. I love getting out on the water, especially in fall when you can see the changing colors from the water, and being on a lobster boat, learning about the process and holding lobsters adds to the fun.

Maine’s Covered Bridges

I know that Vermont is the state known for its covered bridges, but there are actually several in Maine, and as you’re on your scenic drives for autumn colors, you’ll actually have the chance to visit several. Each one is a little different but they all are special and make for a beautiful little detour. Here are the covered bridges you can visit in Maine:

• Babb’s Covered Bridge
• Hemlock Covered Bridge
• Parsonfield-Porter Covered Bridge
• Robyville Covered Bridge
• Lovejoy Covered Bridge
• Sunday River Covered Bridge
• Bennett Bean Covered Bridge

Farm and Harvest Visits

There are too many farms to list, but from Southern Maine all the way up into the Highlands there are tons of small farms and farmstands to visit. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the harvest vibes and do some U-Pick as a part of your trip. A lot of the orchards along the farm route take pride in how they’ve been able to cultivate heritage species of apples, so as you go from farm to farm, while you don’t need to pick a whole bag of apples at each one, you can try lots of varieties.

Here are our favorite farms to visit after multiple autumn road trips in Maine:

• Randall Orchards
• Pineland Farms
• Gile’s Family Farm
• Sweetser’s Apple Barrel
• Rocky Ridge Farm
• Snell Family Farm
• Thompson’s Orchards
• Ricker Hill Orchards

Each farm is a little different. Some also are pumpkin patches, some have u-cut flowers (especially sunflowers), and some will close their orchards to u-pick and only have their farmstands available at times based on how the crops have been and how busy the picking has been. 

Favorite Maine Towns in Autumn

If you just want to explore and not plan out specific activities, that’s fine too and you’ll have a fun trip to Maine in autumn. Our favorite towns to experience in the fall are great because they’re set beautifully with a backdrop of fall colors and the activities are easily accessible. For the people that just want to know what towns to visit in fall and then you’ll wing it from there, here are our favorite Maine towns for an autumn trip.

• Kennebunkport – quintessential Maine, cute town, fun things to do on land and on the water, very bikeable, boat tours available, cute hotels and B&Bs.
• Ogunquit – wonderful downtown and very walkable, awesome restaurants with the best menus in Maine, it’s THE gay town of Maine and is so wonderfully welcoming and inclusive, it’s got the beach and the forest.
• Freeport – yes, this is the town full of outlets and shops as well as the mega LL Bean store, but it’s also got great food, the Desert of Maine, is close to lots of outdoor activities, and is the gateway to farm country.
• Rockland – the most city-ish of the towns, Rockland is fun, full of shops, a wonderful art museum, and lots of restaurants and breweries. This is a great place to take the ferry from for visiting the small island towns. Also, one of the nicest hotels in Maine, the Samoset Resort is here (in Rockport) and it’s a beautiful place to stay in fall.
• Bar Harbor – maybe the most famous town in Maine, Bar Harbor really is pretty and is a fun place to explore on foot, as it’s got the waterfront, Acadia National Park and tons of boat tours. It’s the BEST biking town in Maine.
• Millinocket – while the town itself is not much to speak of since the mill shut down, the setting and outdoor adventures all around Millinocket are awesome. This is the gateway to Baxter State Park and Katahdin.
• Greenville – another quintessential Maine town, Greenville is on the shore of Moosehead Lake and is the launch point for fishing and hunting trips (not my thing), lots of hiking and great dining, and it’s got a vintage steamship that sails on Moosehead Lake.

Maine in autumn is a magical place and we’ll never be tired of visiting. From the fall foliage to the great things to do in fall, the farms and the lighthouses, Maine is amazing and is my favorite destination in New England. If you have any questions about our recommendations or need some additional suggestions for sights and activities, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Maine adventure!

PS: don’t forget that we also have a website dedicated to this amazing place, MaineExplored.com!