How to Do Coastal Maine in 7 Days: Charming Camden

Coastal Maine is an outdoor lovers paradise in the summer months. In an effort to get away from urban life and see a new part of the US that I had never experienced, I recently put together a road trip: “Coastal Maine in 7 Days.” This is the first post in a series where I will take you along for the trip. I’ll show you the itinerary I used so that you can replicate and experience everything that Maine has to offer. This first post starts with the flights into Portland and the first stop in the small and charming town of Camden, Maine. Stay tuned to this series as we will eventually make our way up the Maine coastline to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park before returning for a couple of days in Portland.

Day 1 – Arrival and Drive to Camden, Maine

Flight into Portland, Maine

The best way to start the “Coastal Maine in 7 Days” trip is by flying into Maine’s largest city of Portland. Portland’s airport is the Portland International Jetport (PWM). It is a fairly small airport so flights in and out are somewhat limited; although, service has been growing in recent years. To allow the most time to explore along your first day’s drive, try to get an early arriving flight.

If flying into Portland does not work for you because of cost, connections, or schedule, Boston-Logan airport is a backup option. Boston is a much larger airport and would therefore have better connections and service. In addition, the prices may be cheaper in Boston based on where you are originating. If you do fly into Boston-Logan, an extra hour and a half of driving will be required to get to Portland (assuming you don’t arrive during a Boston rush hour).

Collect Bags and Pickup Rental Car

Coastal Maine is a collection of small towns along the waters edge. While there is some train service that heads south from Portland, there is almost no public transportation infrastructure. For this reason, a rental car is a necessity when exploring coastal Maine.

The major car rental agencies are located at Portland International Jetport (no shuttle to the rental cars is required). After collecting your baggage (if you checked bags), walk directly across the airport terminal road to the rental car center.

If you are able to obtain rental car elite status or sign up for executive/preferred status with the rental car agency, Portland is a city where this can be quite helpful. During the tourist season, long lines can form at the rental car center. Elite status or preferred status with your rental car agency can help you skip the line and get you on your journey that much faster.

Drive to Camden

The first overnight location along this itinerary is Camden, Maine. Camden is a short drive up the Maine coast. Most of this drive is along the famous Atlantic Coast Highway (US Highway 1). Over the Coastal Maine in 7 Days itinerary, you will become very familiar with the Atlantic Coast Highway. If your flight arrival time allows, I recommend that you stop along your journey to Camden.

The stop at Rockland Breakwater Light below assumes you land in Portland around noon (12 PM). If you arrive much later than 12 PM, you may have to eat on the road or be okay with getting into Camden later. If you are flying into Boston and don’t arrive prior to noon, Rockland Breakwater Light may not make the itinerary until the return drive due to the additional driving time required from Boston.

Rockland Breakwater Light

The Rockland Breakwater Light is a lighthouse located in Rockland, Maine. This lighthouse sits at the end of a long breakwater that protects the harbor of Rockland. The light isn’t your typical lighthouse shape. Instead, the lighthouse is essentially bolted onto the roof of a regular two-story house. The two-story house is the caretaking building which would normally be a separate building in traditional lighthouse setups. This makes for a less picturesque lighthouse photo, but it is unique in the set of Maine lighthouses that are on the Coastal Maine in 7 Days itinerary for that reason.

In addition to the unique structure, the lighthouse’s real claim to fame is the breakwater on which it sits. The lighthouse is located at the end of the Granite Breakwater of Rockland Harbor. To access the lighthouse, visitors walk the top of the approximately 0.8 mile-long breakwater. The breakwater is constructed of large blocks of granite that have been mostly smoothed on top. This breakwater creates a long walkway out into the middle of Rockland harbor. There are still gaps between the blocks that make up the breakwater so you have to watch your step as you go.

The Rockland Breakwater Light is such a unique walk that you won’t want to miss it. It is also free to walk the breakwater and climb the elevated platform outside the lighthouse. The platform provides some great views of the Rockland harbor, passing sailboats, the surrounding coastline, and the breakwater heading back to shore.

Be sure to bring layers of clothing. Since the lighthouse is 0.8 miles out into the bay, winds can be quite strong. This often means that temperatures at the lighthouse feel 10°F cooler than the shoreline. A final note of caution is that the breakwater can become covered by water at certain times. When the ocean is at high tide and there are waves or a swell, the breakwater risks being covered. Check the tide chart before you go to time your visit appropriately. The breakwater becomes covered at 11 feet of tide. Any tide below 11 feet will provide a clear route to the lighthouse.

Check In to Camden Accommodations

Camden, Maine is a small town of less than 2,000 permanent residents year-round. However, during the summer tourist season, the population of the town swells with tourists and seasonal workers. Don’t be deterred by that fact. Camden has many inns and bed & breakfasts so that the influx of summer vacationers is handled well.

Camden is a very walkable town. Parking downtown can also be difficult. A 2 hour limit on parking spots is strictly enforced. For these reasons booking a hotel, inn, or bed & breakfast near the downtown area will serve you well. In addition to the convenience, it is just a nice change of pace to be able to walk to explore the downtown area and walk to and from dinner in the evening. For all the places you consider, I would enter them into Google Maps and check the walking distance to downtown. I would feel comfortable booking anything that is less than 15 minutes walking. If you or your travel companions are mobility challenged, consider reducing the 15 minutes walking goal to 10 or 5 minutes.

Explore Downtown Camden and Dinner

As mentioned earlier, downtown Camden is very walkable. While the vast majority of shops and boutiques will have closed by the time you arrive in Camden the first night, dinner will be in full swing in the town. If you are traveling during the summer, you will see many people out and about for dinner and evening walks. Take this opportunity to learn the lay of the land in the town.

First, make your way to Main St. This short stretch of road (not more than 0.2 of a mile) houses most of the downtown shops, breweries, and boutiques. Next, get some great views of the harbor. These views can be found from the Harbor Park (near the Camden Public Library) or from the harbor walk near the docks off of Main St. When coupled, these two central locations will give you a great overview of Camden’s commercial center.

As you explore Camden, make your way towards a dinner location. Some great locations to try include:

• Waterfront Camden – Outdoor deck with great harbor views, also offers indoor seating. The menu heavily favors seafood (crab, lobster, fish, etc…). Accepts reservations up to 14 days in advance of your trip.
  • https://www.waterfrontcamden.com/
• Natalie’s – upscale culinary experience offering 4 and 5-course dining menus. If you’re looking for an opportunity to dress up and experience elegant dining, this is the best spot in town. Reservations can be made online.
  • https://www.nataliesrestaurant.com/menu/
• Peter Ott’s on the Water – located directly on the waterfront downtown. Heavy seafood menus with a few alternative items. Polished food in a casual environment.
  • https://www.peterotts.com/

Two notes on dinner in Camden to pass along. First, during the main tourist season, the influx of visitors can easily pack out the available restaurants. You may want to consider dinner reservations at some of the above if you want a particular dining time. Second, restaurants and other venues in Camden tend to close early. Almost all restaurants close by 9 PM. While this doesn’t mean that they will kick everyone out at nine, many restaurants do a last seating near 8:30 PM. In the summer when days are long and if you are trying to maximize what you can do in that time, take these closure times into account. As a heads up, 9 PM closings will be somewhat common throughout the whole Coastal Maine in 7 Days Itinerary.

Day 2 – Camden

The first full day in Maine is also unfortunately the only full day in Camden. As we make our way along coastal Maine in only 7 days, maximizing the use of our time will be essential. Today will hit some of the most well-known aspects of Camden: Camden Hills State Park, downtown Camden, and Penobscot Bay.

Hike Mt. Battie

Perhaps the most well-known attraction in Camden is Camden Hills State Park and its tallest peak, Mt. Battie. Mt. Battie is located immediately next to downtown Camden making it a perfect way to start the morning. After grabbing breakfast and donning your hiking gear, the Mt. Battie Trailhead is a short 0.5-mile walk from downtown Camden. As a warning, the walk to the trailhead is uphill through a neighborhood. If you want to cut this portion of the hike out, there is a small parking lot at the trailhead.

This hike is difficult and uphill. The total distance is only 0.8 miles from trailhead to the peak of Mt. Battie; however, the incline is what makes it difficult. Make sure you are prepared and bring plenty of water with you. If you are an active person, it will be difficult. However, it is rewarding once you get to the top.

The top of the mountain provides amazing wide views of Penobscot Bay and the town of Camden. You are able to see so much of the surrounding area below you during the hike up, and the view only improves the higher you climb. Waiting at the top of Mt. Battie is Mt. Battie Tower. This tower is a cute way to get another view of the bay and Camden from the top. In addition, it makes for great pictures once you reach the top.

The hike down is steep in some places, but it is much easier that the hike up.

If you are able to do the hike, I highly encourage it. Climbing to the top is very rewarding and provides a warmup for some of the hiking later on in the trip in Acadia National Park. However, if you can’t do the hike, there is a road to the top of Mt. Battie to allow you to see the same panoramic views of the bay and the town of Camden. Entrance to the state park via a vehicle costs $6/person or $2/senior (age 65 and older).

Bike Camden

The state of Maine is truly an outdoorsman or outdoorswoman’s paradise. The generally pleasant weather in the summer combined with great natural beauty is what creates this paradise. In order to spend as much time in the outdoors as possible, I recommend a bike ride through Camden to fill your afternoon. A couple of different companies rent bikes for the day. While most bike rentals will be for the entire day, I recommend making this a half-day activity in order to have time for other activities.

The easiest place to rent from is Maine Sport Outfitters. They have two locations. The main location is located about 1.5 miles from downtown Camden. They also have a downtown Camden location, but it is much smaller. Most of their rental equipment is located at their main location, but they will deliver to downtown if you reserve and request that ahead of time.

At the time of writing, standard bikes were renting for $40/day/bike. As a word of warning, Camden is a hilly town. Biking up and down the hills (while beautiful) can be difficult if you aren’t a regular biker. For those who aren’t regular bikers, Maine Sport Outfitters also rents a small number of E-bikes (battery-powered pedal assist bikes) for $79/day/bike.

Camden City Park & Laite Memorial Beach

While most of your bike ride will be spent exploring some of the areas of Camden outside downtown, there are a few places that you should make a stop on your bike journey. First is Camden City Park and Laite Memorial Beach. Laite Beach is popular with locals and tourists alike as a place to come and soak up the sun. While you don’t have to lounge in the sun, it’s a fun opportunity to see a local Maine beach. You also get some good views of the Camden harbor from outside the downtown area.

Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe

If you like candy, sweets, or chocolate, this is a stop for you. Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe offers a huge selection of candies. These include mass-market favorites like gummy bears, jellybeans, and candy bars. However, the candy shop also includes many sweets made in-house like saltwater taffy, fudge, brittle, and caramels. It’s a truly fun experience for adults and children alike to browse the wide selection available and pick up a couple of items to try.

The Smoothie Shack

The Smoothie Shack is a great place to be able to take a break after you have been biking for a while. This roadside food truck just outside downtown on Elm Street is known for the smoothies, but they also serve wraps and salads. In addition to classical fruit smoothies, they also carry “superfood smoothies” that include ingredients like carrot, kale, protein, and chia seeds. Be aware that they only accept cash as payment so make sure that you have cash available.

Schooner Sailing Expedition

No trip to Camden (or Maine in general for that matter) would be complete without a sailing excursion. The opportunity to see the Maine coastline from the oceans is a completely different perspective that is not to be missed. While there are several sailing excursions offered in Camden, my recommendation from research and experience is the Schooner Surprise.

The Schooner Surprise has a maximum capacity of 15 guests, but often there are many fewer guests on the boat making for a more intimate sail. During the sail, you will have front row seats to the captain and first mate hoisting the sails and steering the ship. Depending on your cruise, you may get lucky and have an opportunity to assist.

The sail takes you around a couple of the nearby lighthouses for which Maine is famous. Also included in the schooner trip is a cruise through the middle of Penobscot Bay and a close sail around a few of the many islands in the area.

I recommend an early evening cruise due to the picturesque scenery on the water at that time of day. It is also a great way to relax and wrap up your day prior to dinner in downtown. The Schooner Surprise will also allow you to bring your own snacks and beverages on board to enjoy during the sail.

As with the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse earlier in this itinerary, makes sure to bring some extra layers of clothing. Once out on the water, the wind will pick up making it feel many degrees colder than it is in Camden. The schooner does have some blankets available for those that are cold. Try to dress appropriately though as there aren’t enough blankets to go around if everyone on the schooner wants one.

Dinner and Day Two Wrap Up

Once you depart the Schooner Surprise, you will be in the harbor in downtown Camden. I recommend almost immediately going to dinner as many places will be doing final seatings within the hour. Enjoy the remainder of your evening with a laid-back dinner and stroll back to your accommodations.

Wrap Up

Hopefully, you have enjoyed this overview of the first two days of the “Coastal Maine in 7 Days” road trip. If you have any questions, please leave them below.

Stay tuned – the next three days of the road trip including Bar Harbor are coming up soon!