The summer months are the best time to visit Maine and for good reason! Summer months typically have warm days and the longest daylight hours. As a result, you get to really soak in all that mother nature has to offer in this beautiful part of our country. However, the word “best” is subjective…so read on to discover what the other seasons have to offer! 

Maine in June, July and August

Any of the summer months are a perfect time to plan a summer vacation in Maine. We visited in July and found each day practically perfect in every way! In fact, our visit to Maine was at the end of a long road trip we called “Booking it to Bar Harbor.” Maine was the last state in a cluster of 7 states that we visited and we considered extending our trip to soak up more of its beauty.

Summer Weather

Due to its higher latitude and long Atlantic coastline, the temperatures rarely gets too hot. In fact, the National Weather Service lists data for Maine in June of 2024 with an average temperature around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. There was only one rare day where the temperature was in the 90s that June!  July’s average high temperature is around 79 degrees. By the end of August, the average high temperature begins to drop off to about 68 degrees Fahrenheit again. 

Average rainfall for Maine in June can vary from year to year. Generally, there is less rain in the summer months, with August being the driest month. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a wet day! Generally speaking, travelers experience more sunny days in the summer months and less humidity. 

Summer Activities

Want to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean while you’re visiting? Be prepared for chilly water temperatures in the coastal waters of Maine in June. Water temperatures in early June hover around 60 degrees. July and August will have warmer water temperatures – if you can consider low 70’s “warm” enough for swimming!

The whale watching season in Maine generally runs from late spring to early fall. You’ll have good luck with whale watching between May and October, with the peak season being from June to September.  Species such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale migrate to Maine’s coastal waters to feed on the abundant marine life.   

There is no shortage of beautiful hiking trails in Maine, including the popular Bees Hive Loop Trail or Jordan Pond Path in Acadia National Park. There are also several fantastic state parks including Quoddy Head State Park which is famous for being the easternmost point in the contiguous United States and for its iconic candy-striped lighthouse. This state park was the reason we wanted to extend our summer vacation, but in the end we decided we were too tired and headed home. I hate having regrets. 

Because the summer months have pleasant weather, there will be more people who want to enjoy it! Planning a trip during the high season requires some prior planning several months to a year beforehand. Reach out if you’re interested in getting a Curated Adventure to Maine! 

Pro Tip! Black flies in Maine are blood sucking vampires. To avoid their annoyance, plan to avoid their peak season which is mid-May to mid-June. 

Maine in Early Fall

If crowds are what you’re trying to avoid, consider the shoulder season from early September to early October. Although there will be cooler temperatures, there will also be fewer crowds. Children will be back in school so families tend to travel less. If you’re sans kids – fall may be the perfect time for your travels! Weather remains relatively warm with high temperatures averaging around 68 degrees and low chances of rain. Evenings will be cooler, but if you pack a sweater and jacket, it’s not unbearably cold. 

Wildlife will still be active and there are great opportunities to still get in a successful whale watching trip. Fall, especially September and October, is the prime time to see moose in Maine. The state hosts one of the largest moose populations in the U.S., with about 60,000 individuals.  Catch the peak fall colors by planning your visit for late September to early October in northern Maine, early to mid-October in central and western regions, and mid- to late October in southern Maine.

Maine in the Winter

Winter weather in Maine is not for the faint of heart. Temperatures range by location between 15 degrees and 32 degrees for the high temperatures. It’s not uncommon to have sub zero temperatures for the low. But if you’re an avid skier like us and don’t mind bundling up in blustery weather, there are plenty of winter sports to enjoy. Maine’s winter sports range from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fat biking, ice skating, dog sledding, and ice fishing. Plenty of options for those seeking winter adventure!  Popular ski resorts such as Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Saddleback Mountain, feature slopes for beginners to advanced skiers, plus night skiing options at several locations.

Pro Tip – Many seasonal businesses will close for the winter, so be prepared for fewer options when it comes to shopping and dining in the winter, especially in places like Bar Harbor. 

How did we spend our time in Maine?

If you’re familiar with our family mission to see all 50 states by the time I turned 50, then you know we’ve done quite a few road trips! We started this mission when I was 40, so accomplishing this mission needed to be complete in one decade. This means visiting several states in one vacation…or trip…or adventure…or mission. Whatever you want to call it!  

The “Maine Coast”

After leaving Massachusetts, we drove north across the state line into Maine. We spent most of our time exploring the coastal areas of York Beach, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Kennebunkport, Portland (Maine’s biggest city)  and Freeport.

The smaller coastal towns of York Beach and Kennebunkport offer a relaxed, authentic Maine coastal experience with long stretches of sandy beaches and quaint village atmospheres.  While in the larger cities of Portland and Freeport, you will find a rich mix of attractions, diverse dining options, shopping, and cultural experiences.  The L.L. Bean Flagship store is also in Freeport! (Just saying’!)

We ended our trip by visiting the specular Acadia National Park. We made Hadley’s Pointe Campground our home base for exploring both Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  We hiked several trails, watched the lobster boats in the harbor, saw the sunrise on Cadillac mountain, enjoyed the famous pop-overs at Jordan Pond and experienced low tide on the Bar Island Land Bridge where we found lots of crabs and my daughter finally admitted she liked Science. #Winning!

Road Scholars!

Speaking of Science – we try to learn something new on every adventure, so we often refer to ourselves as “Road Scholars”. Since we have a combined 45 years of teaching, we naturally find joy in learning. Road trips are the perfect place for learning – since you’re exploring new lands and trying new experiences! 

Since my daughter discovered the “Joy of Science” while looking in tide pools on the Bar Island Land Bridge, you may want to learn about this cool phenomenon! It’s possible to walk to Bar Island from Bar Harbor during low tide because of the way the ocean’s tides work. Twice each day, the ocean water level goes down (low tide) and then comes back up (high tide). When the tide is low, the water recedes and uncovers a natural path made of sand, rocks, and pebbles-this is called a “land bridge” or “bar”.

For about 1.5 hours before and after the lowest point of the tide, this land bridge is exposed and dry, leaving many tide pools to explore.  You can walk safely from the mainland to Bar Island and back! When the tide rises again, the water covers the land bridge, making it disappear under several feet of water until the next low tide.

The Moon and Tidal Changes

What causes the changes in tides? Tides happen because the Moon’s gravity pulls on the water in the oceans. This pull makes the water rise and bulge on the side closest to the moon where gravity is the strongest. This creates a high tide. On the side of the Earth farthest from the Moon, the water also rises a little because the water there is pulled less strongly and is pushed outward by inertia. So Earth has two spots where the water bulges out (high tide) and two places it doesn’t bulge (low tide).  As the Earth spins, different places go through these high and low water spots, causing two high tides and two low tides in a 24 hour period.

There are tidal charts you can access for all coastal regions of the world. It’s especially important to reference them when exploring the Bar Island Land Bridge. If you get caught on Bar Island as high tide returns, the land bridge that connects the island to Bar Harbor will become covered by ocean water. This means you won’t be able to walk back. The path will be underwater for about 9 hours until the next low tide. If this happens, you will be stranded on the island and will have to wait until the tide goes out again before you can safely return. Trying to cross the land bridge when it’s covered by water is dangerous because of strong currents and deep water, so it’s important to plan your visit carefully and watch the time.

Maine in June…or anytime? 

 Your ideal time to visit Maine depends mostly on two things – your comfort level with cold temperatures and your tolerance for crowds. In our opinion, any time is a great time of year for visiting Maine! It’s a beautiful place.