How to Do Coastal Maine in 7 Days: Two Day Portland Itinerary

A trip to Maine is incomplete without a short visit to its most populous city, Portland. I recently put together a road trip, “Coastal Maine in 7 Days”, that I used to get out and see small-town Maine and the state’s beautiful Atlantic coastline. While Portland is not small-town Maine, it is an important part of the state and a city you shouldn’t miss if you are in the area. A two day Portland itinerary is a good amount of time to get a feel of what the city has to offer.

This is the third and final post in the 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. The first post covered arrival in Maine and exploring the small coastal town of Camden. The second post covered Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. If you haven’t read either of those two posts, I encourage you to do so.

This post starts with leaving Bar Harbor and seeing one last major sight in Acadia National Park. From there, the road trip winds its way back south towards Portland with several stops along the way. The limited time in Portland is spent enjoying some of the things that have made the city famous: lobsters, food, and beverage experiences.

Day 6 – Portland

As the end of the vacation week approaches, it is time to move on to the final city on the itinerary, Portland. As with the journey North, the journey back will stop at several places along the way. Prior to leaving Bar Harbor, there is one final stop in Acadia National Park.

Cadillac Mountain

The highest and most well-known peak in Acadia National Park is Cadillac Mountain. This mountain rises 1,520 feet above sea level and is located very close to the coast providing great views of the surrounding area. It would be unfortunate to come to Acadia and miss its highest peak. While you could definitely hike to the top, there is also a road that goes to the summit. Given the short time in Acadia National Park, I recommend driving to the top of this one to squeeze in as much as possible.

The drive up to Cadillac Mountain is a very popular activity. Therefore, the National Park Service has begun to require vehicle reservations during the high season (May 26^th – October 19^th). Vehicle reservations cost $6, and you must purchase them ahead of time on recreation.gov. As these tickets are popular, it can be somewhat hard to get the times that you want. 30% of tickets are made available 90 days ahead of each date. The US Park Service releases the remaining tickets at 10 AM ET two days ahead of each date so plan accordingly. You must have a park entry ticket in addition to the vehicle reservation to get to Cadillac Mountain.

Two types of tickets are offered. The first ticket is a sunrise ticket. Sunrise tickets are limited. These tickets allow the holder to go up to the top of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise. Cadillac Mountain is the first spot in the US to experience the new light of each day. Add that to the scenery, and you have an amazing end to your time in Acadia. Sunrise is often between 4 AM & 5 AM during the summer so this does mean a really early morning if you choose this route.

Cadillac Mountain – Alternate Times

If you aren’t an early riser, daytime tickets are also sold. These tickets provide a 30-minute entry window to the mountain. While you won’t get the amazing sunrise and the early morning views of Acadia, the Atlantic, and Bar Harbor, the daytime views are almost as good. I obtained this type of ticket on my recent trip due to the sunrise tickets being sold out.

Breakfast and Checkout

Take your time in the morning having breakfast and checking out. If you did not want to do sunrise at Cadillac Mountain or if you were unable to secure a ticket for that time, do Cadillac Mountain right after checking out and before getting on to the road to Portland.

Drive to Portland

Today will mostly be spent driving back towards Portland with a few stops along the way. As with the journey north, the drive will mostly take place along US Highway 1 (the Atlantic Highway). Many of the sights and towns along the way should be familiar from the drive up. If there was anything that caught your eye on the drive north, I encourage you to stop in on the way back to Portland. Included below are a few of the recommended places to stop along the journey South.

Owls Head Lighthouse

Owls Head Lighthouse is a prototypical white lighthouse. Originally constructed in 1825, Owls Head Lighthouse stands roughly 100 feet above the water. The lighthouse is located a short walk down a gravel road from the designated parking area. While some of the best views of this lighthouse are from the water, approaching from land will allow you to go right up to the base of the lighthouse. The visit to the lighthouse can be a quick stop to stretch the legs and get a good view. Alternately, take a little more time to get a lighthouse tour. With a tour, you are able to go up and see the inner workings of the lighthouse and the panoramic views from the top.

Lunch

As you get back on the road, start looking for places to eat lunch. If you are ready to eat immediately upon leaving, Rockland, Maine is the closest town that will have several options. If you aren’t yet ready to eat, the drive to the next stop is just over an hour. The route continues along US Highway 1 and through several towns along its path. There are many options as you drive to pick up food later as well.

Androscoggin Swinging Bridge

The Androscoggin Swinging Bridge is a pedestrian-only wire rope suspension bridge. The bridge spans the Androscoggin River and connects the two small Maine towns of Brunswick and Topsham. While there isn’t anything that you have to see in Brunswick or Topsham, the bridge is a unique enough construction that it is worth a quick stop. The views from the center of the bridge overlooking the Androscoggin River are also nice and peaceful during the summer months.

The swinging bridge was constructed in 1892 and has gone through several renovations over the years to keep it usable. The US National Register of Historic Places recognized its historic significance by adding it to its register in 2004. While it is completely safe to walk across, the swinging bridge does live up to its name. Expect to feel the bridge move up and down (especially in the center) when there is sufficient traffic on the bridge. If this frightens you, stay to the ends of the bridge. The movement of the bridge surface will be the smallest at the edges of the bridge.

At each end of the bridge, a small park and areas for parking have been constructed. This makes visiting the bridge very easy and a pleasant walk to break up the drive south. While the parking areas at each end of the bridge are small (4 – 5 spots), the surrounding residential areas allow parking on the side of the street. Therefore, parking in close vicinity should never be a concern.

L.L. Bean Headquarters/Flagship Stores

This stop isn’t an absolute must if you don’t know the L.L. Bean brand. However, if you know and grew up with the brand, I recommend making a stop. L.L. Bean, which is famous for its outdoor gear and apparel, is headquartered in Freeport, Maine. Freeport is located along your drive back about 30 minutes north of Portland. The L.L. Bean headquarters and flagship store is actually a campus of several buildings with different specializations. There is an entire building dedicated to clothing, bags, shoes, and camping gear. Another building is dedicated to fishing and hunting gear. Another building houses homewares/decorating items, and a final building is completely dedicated to bedding.

The superstores dedicated to mostly outdoor gear have the feel of a refined Cabella’s or Bass Pro Shop. Each individual store isn’t as big as one of those megastores, but it still has large displays and a whole lot of inventory. These stores make for some great browsing if you are interested in outdoor wear, hunting, fishing, or camping. It’s also impressive to learn the history of the brand and see how it started as a small Maine store and grew to an internationally recognized brand in the outdoor world.

The L.L. Bean headquarters takes up a two-block area in what has become known as the Freeport outlets. If you find that L.L. Bean isn’t your style or if you have additional time to shop, there are many different outlet store options in the area that may be of interest. Options include:

• The North Face
• Orvis
• Patagonia
• Sea Bags
• J. Crew
• Brooks Brothers
• Old Navy
• Vineyard Vines
• Under Armour
• Dooney & Bourke
• Polo Ralph Lauren
• Loft
• Levi’s

Drive to Portland

The L.L. Bean headquarters and flagship store was the last stop on the drive back into Portland, Maine. Portland is a short 23-minute drive south via Interstate 295. You should head to your hotel to check in, drop bags, and park the car.

Check In

After a day full of driving and stops along the way, you have finally arrived in Portland. The first stop should be to check into your accommodations and park your car. The best area to get accommodations in Portland is the Old Port area. This area is full of elevated-experience restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. The Old Port neighborhood is also located next to the Portland harbor providing easy access to waterfront activities and exploration. The area retains portions of its history with the industrial and fishing-based docks and several cobblestone streets.

Dinner

On the second to last night of the vacation, take some time to enjoy a nice dinner in the Old Port area. If you are traveling during the summer, consider doing some restaurant research ahead of time and make reservations to ensure you have a table. Summer is the high season for travel; therefore, lines at popular dinner locations may be long without reservations. As with many places in Maine, most restaurants start closing around 9 PM.

Day 7 – Portland

Portland Lobstering Excursion

Maine is known as the lobster capital of the United States. While I hope you have eaten lots of lobsters by this point in your trip, you should take the opportunity to actually go lobstering and catch some of your own. For this experience I recommend Lucky Catch lobstering.

Lucky Catch takes passengers on about a 90-minute lobstering expedition in Casco Bay (the bay right outside Portland). The boats have a maximum capacity of approximately 20 people per trip. While this is not a private expedition, with only 20 people everyone will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the lobster traps. The two-person crew does an excellent job of educating everyone on how lobstering is done, the history of lobstering, and the rules and regulations on catching lobsters sustainably.

Everyone is given an apron and gloves and encouraged to get into the action. All groups are given an opportunity to pull lobster traps, clean and re-bait the traps, place bands on lobster claws, and much more. With any luck, your tour with come back with 6-8 keeper lobsters. You will likely catch more than that, but many will have to be thrown back because they are too little or too big.

An added bonus to the lobstering excursion is that you get some great views of the Portland surrounding area from the water. While this is by no means a historical or sightseeing tour, the staff does point out places of significance. You also get some great views and pictures of Fort Scammell, some islands in Casco Bay, and Portland Head Light from the water.

Walk Away with a Lobster

Finally, the excursion ends with the opportunity to take the lobsters you caught with you so that you can eat them. Lucky Catch sells the lobsters to any of the passengers at the “boat price” or a little less. While the lobsters aren’t free/included in your tour, if you are going to eat lobsters afterward this represents a good discount off the normal price of a lobster. Bring cash if you want to purchase a lobster as they are unable to take a card on the boat. Lucky Catch has also partnered with the Portland Lobster Company restaurant. This restaurant is located at the end of the pier where Lucky Catch docks their boats. Portland Lobster Company will cook the lobsters you bring from the excursion and provide sides for a very reasonable price.

Lobster Lunch – Portland Lobster Company

With a lobstering expedition checked off your list and a lobster from the expedition in hand, head to the Portland Lobster Company. This famous Portland restaurant is located right on the water and has tons of outdoor seating along the harbor (indoor seating is limited so be warned if the weather is not good). Take your lobster(s) to the restaurant; they will steam it and provide sides (butter, coleslaw, baked potato, etc…).

This is a great way to enjoy some of the freshest lobster that you will ever have. Even if you aren’t bringing your own lobster, the restaurant is still great. They have many different lobster and seafood dishes on their menu. In addition, the outdoor tables overlooking the harbor are a great way to enjoy a warm Portland day.

Old Port Exploration

The Old Port area of Portland is one of the most newly-developed and revitalized areas in downtown. For this reason, it is fun to explore the area on foot. You will find many interesting shops, cafes, and restaurants in the area. The streets to focus on are Commercial Street, Fore Street, and the small side streets that run between these two and out onto the docks.

Breweries and Distilleries

Portland is well known for craft breweries and distilleries that call the city home. If you are interested in trying some of the local creations, one or two of the following stops should be on your itinerary. While our itineraries often don’t provide options, there are three possibilities below depending on your preferences (beer, cider, mead, or spirits). While you could hop between all of these in an afternoon, most of these stops produce a wide variety of options. I encourage you to get a wider sampling at fewer places rather than moving between them rapidly. All of these options are located just north of the Old Port area.

Shipyard Brewing Company

For craft beer lovers, look no further than Shipyard Brewing Company. Shipyard is the closest location to the Old Port area being only about a 10-minute walk from the Portland Lobster Company. This brewery has a large rustic-style tasting room where you can sit to sample over 20 of their beers that are constantly on tap. In addition to beers, Shipyard also has a line of non-alcoholic Capt’n Eli’s Sodas. If you have someone in your group who isn’t a beer drinker, these craft and flavored sodas are a great way to have something for them.

Oxbow Blending & Bottling/Maine Mead Works

While these are technically two different businesses, they are located in buildings right next door to each other, and therefore it is easy to try either or both.

Oxbow Blending & Bottling

Oxbow Blending and Bottling is a part of Oxbow Brewery. This brewery is known for producing many different styles and varieties of farmhouse ales. While the brewery is located north of Portland in Newcastle, Maine, this location serves as an aging and blending warehouse for many of their unique beers that ferment for a longer than normal timeline. Many large oak barrels performing this task are clearly visible lining some sides of the tasting room.

If you enjoy being experimental with your beers, then Oxbow is the place for you. Their menu includes so many different and interesting combinations that you won’t find in many beers elsewhere. Some of these ingredients include pinot noir juice, lemongrass, Maine wildflower honey, and maple sap.

Oxbow Blending & Bottling Quick Info

• Website: https://oxbowbeer.com/location/portland/
• Hours of Operation: Sun – Wed 12 PM – 9PM; Thurs 12 PM – 11 PM; Fri & Sat 12 PM – 12 AM

Maine Mead Works

Mead is growing in popularity and making a comeback among many drinkers. If you like mead or have an interest in trying mead, Maine Mead Works is a great producer. The mead works have a very clean and airy space appropriate for the lighter, refreshing drink. Maine Mead Works generally has about a dozen meads available, so you can do a tasting (half-pours) of several to find the one you like most.

In addition to mead, they also sell local honey products and partner with Duckfat, a local eatery known for its snacks and small bites.

Maine Craft Distilling

The final option if you aren’t into beer or mead is Maine Craft Distilling. This craft distillery has its own variety of many of the staple spirits: whiskey, white rum, spiced rum, vodka, gin, and brandy. In addition to some of the traditional spirits, they make less standard liquors like blueberry liquor, aged gin, cinnamon vodka, and a chesuncook spirit (carrot, juniper, basil, mint, and coriander). Maine Craft Distilling also makes special cocktails with all the above at their bar on-site and has recommended food pairings.

In addition to the spirits, Maine Craft Distilling is known for its cocktails in a can. They make six different cocktails that are blended and canned. While the special cocktails at the bar are probably a better way to sample the local product, the canned cocktails are unique. I wouldn’t hold it against you if you were to have one as a taste test to see if you wanted to take a 4-pack home.

Dinner

Portland is known as a gastronomic destination. While lobster is the local specialty, there is so much more food (both other seafood and non-seafood) that is well done in downtown Portland. Take a look around the Old Port area for an excellent restaurant for dinner.

Day 8 – Travel Home

Sadly, the final day of the vacation has arrived, and it is time to travel home. Spend some time this morning grabbing breakfast, packing, and heading back to the airport.

Don’t forget to refill the gas in your rental car. There aren’t any gas stations immediately at the entrance to the airport. Therefore, make sure you look up a gas station along the route before you depart to ensure one is on the way.

Bottom Line

This wraps up the two-day Portland itinerary and the final two days of the Coastal Maine in 7 Days road trip (if you are following that series). If you haven’t seen the other two parts of this itinerary (Camden and Bar Harbor), I encourage you to check out those two parts and consider seeing the beautiful nature in the northeast United States. If you have any questions on this part of the road trip or any of the road trip parts, leave a comment below.

Stay tuned as the Maine itinerary series is wrapped up with a couple more posts on when to travel and some tips & tricks to know before you go.