The five islands are named for their low-bush cranberries and boasting views of nearby Acadia National Parks mountains. The Maine coast is beautiful, the multiple small towns along the way are so interesting, beautiful and inviting. Rangeley Lake in Maine is located in the Northwestern corner of the state, and is a beautiful destination to consider. Penobscot Bay to Camden, a harbor at the foot of the Camden Hills. A great option to consider when looking at day trips from Portland, Maine is Camden. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. This tour is about 2.5 hours, and takes you out to Eastern Egg Rock to see a puffin colony. Our goal was to get from Brunswick, Maine to Bar Harbor. How far is Camden from Portland (Maine)? We were so disgusted we almost turned around but we trudged on making it to Acadia Park. Camden: Camden Maine Stay Inn, a traditional-style New England B&B thats just a few minutes walk into downtown, and serves a gourmet, 2-course breakfast, included in the room rate. Tour guides will also help you spot shore birds and other wildlife during the cruise. Is there is short way to drive from BH to White mountains? It ends in Camden, Maine. Schedule & Rates. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 29m. Explore Chandler Hovey Park and Marblehead Lighthouse. Lowest price. Tip: Google Maps navigation will take you right to the trail, but parking can be a bit confusing. Stop in Owls Head on your way there or back to visit the lighthouse (its worth the extra stop!). After a Good Six Months, Whats Next? Click here to book your Kayak Tour on Sebago Lake! US 1 is particularly scenic for most of the 242.6 miles (390.4 km . Take a scenic drive along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. This off-the-beaten path stop is a must when driving from Portland to Acadia National Park. Visit all the waterfalls at Dianas Baths. All rights reserved. The best thing about Youngs, though, is that it has amazing seafood and a beautiful view of Penobscot Bay. The Kennunkport Christmas Prelude is one of the best Christmas festivals in New England, and Ogunquits Christmas by the Sea event will fill you with all kinds of holiday cheer. Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more. It is great for seeing smaller and more local attractions, but it is also slower travel. Yes, lobster is served everywhere here. Marblehead is another amazing day trip from Portland, Maine. This particular tour is great for day-trippers because the vessel is a high-speed catamaran, so youll be able to cover more ground in the same amount of time, allowing you to really maximize your time. Brian Warner of the 86-foot, Custom Line Navetta 26 Slainte III has cruised this route multiple times and praises its natural beauty; however, he warns captains that morning fog (which usually lifts but sometimes persists throughout the day), lobster pots and rocks are a few of the challenges, and adds, The most popular anchorages have good holding in a muddy bottom, but you need to be aware of rocks, which can sometimes hang you up., If youre planning to explore on your own, Warner advises that you read as many A great tour option for your day trip from Portland, Maine is the Lighthouses, Lobsters & Seals Tour. Without stopping for a meal, 2 hours will do. You most definitely have to stop and see Owls Head Lighthouse, which sits atop a cliff and offers amazing views of the water. Inside the station, you'll find plenty of seating, restrooms, vending machines, and information desks for each travel company. Has anyone taken this route? It appears you can stay on 1 until Stockton Springs, then get on 1A and head west, ending in Bangor. At the same time, it's still possible to watch the time-honored tradition of fishermen unloading their lobster pots onto the foreshore. Im the creator and writer behind New England Wanderlust, and my passion is sharing my knowledge on the very best things to do and see in New England, and beyond. And be sure to keep reading below for bonus seasonal suggestions, as to find out if a day trip from Portland to Acadia is worth it! Even with just a day trip from Portland, youll be able to see some incredible coastal landscapes and lighthouses, go on some awesome tours, eat some delicious food and feel like you had a true vacation while only being gone a day. Recommended option Bus Take the bus from Portland, ME to Rockland, ME 2h 26m $43 - $55 1 alternative option Drive Drive from Portland, ME to Camden 1h 46m Please purchase tickets online, and arrive at the bus stop 15 minutes prior to departure. Right in the heart of downtown, this place would be tough to beat. Rent a kayak and head out onto the water. How long is the train journey from Portland to Camden? Following along the rocky coastline, complete with crashing waves and views of the Casco Bay, this easy nature walk is the best way to kick-off a road trip up the Maine coast. We would like to over night in one place along the way. The total driving distance from Portland, ME to Camden, ME is 81 miles or 130 kilometers. Your flight direction from Portland, ME to Camden, ME is Northeast (57 degrees from North). Itinerary Start in Portland (Maine). One of the best activities is to find a bench and just watch the boats coming and going in this beautiful harbor. Some people have misconceptions about Maine's Route #1. Countless smaller roads can get you here from there, and driving times will vary wildly. Be sure to catch the sunset from the lighthouse on Hockamock Head. Click here to read my post on the best things to do in New England in the fall! Train from North Charleston to Washington D.C. Glide your kayak around the still morning lake, try your hand at trout or bass fishing, or take a leisurely hike around the lake. They have awesome clam chowder and lobster. On top, you will find a large stone tower with an incredible lookout over the city and harbor. Find pet-friendly stops. Click here to book your full-day private fall tour from Portland! With videos or writing, I try to bring the best that the outdoors has to offer. There is so much to enjoy! For the most scenic drive from Boston to Portland, Maine, go part of the way via the highway-free, coastal route. Office: +1 (954) 522-5515
And with packing all that into only 1.5 hours, it allows you spend the rest of your day trip exploring the town. The drive time will be a little under three and a half hours so there is plenty of time to take in these beautiful coastal cities and towns. The ocean lapping softly on the ships and against the docks is a peaceful sound and a perfect backdrop for any time of the day. In all honestly, getting outside of Portland to explore the local areas without a car is very difficult, and sometimes not even possible. Distance From Portland: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Camden to Maine by subway, train and bus. In the evening, says Johnston, with all the wooden schooners home at the docks and on mooring balls, one can envision what a Maine harbor looked like in the 1800s., By Kara Murphy, Southern Boating July 2019, Your email address will not be published. The drive up the Maine Coastline was awesome with breathtaking views! New England in particular really requires a car to get around, and public transportation between towns isnt great, unless youre going from one city to another. Portland Freedom Trail. Is there a direct train from Portland to Camden? That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation. Get off-the-beaten-path at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I would recommend that you try to only spend an hour max at each stop in that case. The city sits on Mount Desert Island so the ocean is quite literally surrounding it. I highly recommend landing in Boston!Boston has the cheapest flights and best car rental options. Click here to get a car rental quote at Discover Cars for the best prices! Another great option if you love lighthouses is this cruise along Kennebec River, where youll get to see 7 lighthouses, and also learn about the local maritimes and ship-building history. What is the best route to take in order to take in towns of interest along the way. Missy Johnston, owner, president and senior yacht charter specialist at Northrop-Johnson Yacht Charters Newport, recommends the following weeklong Portland to Camden Maine cruising itinerary for any sailor looking to experience all of the fantastic amenities and attractions along the coast of Maine. around Portlands coast! Head out on todays 19.5-nautical mile cruise east then northeast passing south of the Muscle Ridge islands then sail up across southern Penobscot Bay to Vinalhaven, Maines largest offshore island community. Its an uninhabited island split by a beach. Spend the money to rent a car and drive the state. Concord Coach Lines offers Northbound and Southbound Coastal routes daily. A great option to consider when looking at day trips from Portland, Maine is Camden. I suggest you spend the night during the drive to and from Acadia because it will allow you to not feel rushed at each stop along the way. This drive covers 110 miles total. Its Maines prime route for getting near but not on the coastline; if it were to hug it, itd be 4 or more times as long. Take a week to explore the coastal life from Portland to Camden with this Maine cruising itinerary. We enjoyed small towns full of shops and amazing seafood all along the way. Search for RV campgrounds. Going Oct 9-11.We are already doing Rt 1 going to BH. The downtown area is packed with awesome and unique shops and eateries, theres a big local artist scene here, and everywhere you go, you kind of feel like youre in a postcard. Newburyport in Massachusetts is another one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine. Spend the afternoon visiting one or more of this lobstering islands three small villages. Trains departing from Portland to Camden tend to have the most passengers on Monday. Contact: (Toll Free) 1-800-639-3317 Parking: N/A General Information: Bus stop is located at Maritime Farms, 20 Commercial St., Route 1. Hi there! On average, there are 1 Amtrak trains from Portland to Camden every day, as well as 1 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $200. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. Conway, NH from this list is also an awesome day trip in the winter. The Owls Head harbor is also very small, but a working harbor with fishermen coming and going, and is a really authentic stop to make when in the area to appreciate the fishing culture in Maine. There are also a good amount of of kids activities here, including mini golf places, and lots of opportunity to get out onto the lake. Guest moorings and anchorages are first-come, first-served. If you like to shop, be sure to hit up Newbury Street and Copely Place. Click here to book this boat tour out to Nubble & Boon lighthouses! Traveling by train from Portland to Camden usually takes 30 hours and 56 minutes, but some trains might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled. Get more stories delivered right to your email. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This is also a great destination if youre traveling with children, as there are lots of kid-friendly activities such as the Conway Scenic Railroad, roller coaster rides at Cranmore Mountain Resort and the Kahuna Laguna Water Park. There are three towns that I think are the best for overnight stays if youd like to take your time during the drive from Portland to Acadia and really enjoy all the stops along the way. 10:00 am start in Portland. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from Portland, ME to Camden, ME so you can see when you'll arrive at your destination. We are driving from Portland ME to Bar Harbor this august. One of my favorite small waterfront towns in all of Maine is Boothbay Harbor, and this makes for one of the best day trips from Portland, Maine. Click here to read my perfect Acadia National Park itinerary! We drove from Portland up to Acadia National Park on Route 1 and back and thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip. The region has a lengthy shipbuilding history, which continues today, with shipyards building luxury yachts, tugboats, modern lobster boats, and more. The smoothness of its paved surface varies; compared to many other Maine roads, its seldom particularly rough. Click here to book your vintage boat ride tour in Lake Winnipesaukee! For day-trippers, a Hop-on, Hop-off trolley tour is a great choice to cover more ground, and also learn something along the way. If you want to take your time driving to Acadia, and hit up all of these stops, this is the order youll want to do them all in. With only one day we would suggest driving up Cadillac Mountain for some amazing views, Then driving the Park Loop Road. Explore the charming shops in downtown Rangeley. What are the best hotels to stay along the way? Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. So fill up your car, pack lunch, definately take a camera and take your time. It also has some beautiful things to do when passing through. Your trip begins in Portland, Maine. Is Nantucket Or Marthas Vineyard Better For A Day Trip? Dont be in a hurry! Best things to do in Boston on a day trip from Portland: I highly recommend checking out a tour while in Boston, especially if its your first visit, or youre looking to explore something new. subject of numerous works by American painter Andrew Wyeth, including Christinas World (1948). 1 review 2 helpful votes Best route and itinerary from Portland to Camden area . Led by a local expert, youll hear stories about the towns history, as well as be able to stop for some awesome photo opportunities. Nonstop drive: 408 miles or 657 km. Camden, ME. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you transfer trains. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Required fields are marked *. We were there before tourist season (end of May) so there was little traffic. Sebago Lake is one of the best options for day trips from Portland, Maine if youre looking for a peaceful day. Walk along the shore at Good Harbor or Wingaersheek Beach. $ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Seafood, $ American Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Educational sites, Bodies of Water Nature & Wildlife Areas. Maine is not that big (compared to Texas where I am from) the shoreline is breath-taking and seemingly endless. Theres so much to do in Acadia that I usually recommend at least 2-3 nights, but you can also see a lot on a day trip. Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Portland to Camden. (Call the Camden harbormaster for a dock in town.) Portland may have been Bon Apptit's 2018 Restaurant City of the Year, but Camden, Rockport and nearby Rockland have significant culinary cred of their own. Stoping to eat at Reds Eats is definitely worth your time during your drive from Portland to Acadia, and you can combine it with a beautiful stroll around the historic village and Main Street. Driving coastal Maine where are the best areas to drive Route 1 and where can we save time by driving the interstate highway? You won't be disappointed. Hopefully youre now inspired to plan some extra time during your road trip to allow for all the stops on this list! PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Debris from the lost submersible Titan has been returned to land after a fatal implosion during its voyage to the wreck of the Titanic captured the world's attention last week. One great tour to consider on your day trip from Portland, Maine is a Freedom Trail Walking Tour. a Spectacular hideout in downtown Camden. However, the presence of several well-regarded schools and colleges ensures Portland remains one of the most vibrant small cities in the U.S. After several years of hardship, the Old Port district has once again become the center of the action. ), Fun Places For Blueberry Picking In Maine, The Most Incredible New England Lighthouses To See, 5 Fantastic Day Trips From Bar Harbor, ME (2023), 25 Best Things To Do In Maine In The Winter (2022-2023 Season). Getting to see it from a boat tour that departs from Kennebunk is a real treat! On top of that, though, youll find amazing restaurants, a quaint little downtown, a beautiful lighthouse and lots of tour options that get you out onto the water. If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from Portland, ME to Camden, ME. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. (2023). Click here to read my travel guide on the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor, Be sure to check the lighthouse website by clicking here for more information on planning your visit, Click here to book your stay at the Harborage Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Click here to book your stay at the Marston House in Wiscasset, Click here to book your stay at the Camden Maine Stay Inn, Best Stops To Make Driving From Boston To Stowe, VT, Best Stops To Make Driving From Boston To Portland, Maine, The Perfect 7 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary, The Best Maine Lighthouse Road Trip Itinerary, The Perfect Acadia National Park Itinerary. Is it safe to travel by train from Portland to Camden during the COVID-19 pandemic? Perfect For: Maine Coastal Road Trips Autumn Foliage Picnics Legendary Views Family Day Trips.