Things to Do On the Southern Maine Coast
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Visiting Southern Maine is a treasure trove of adventures and that goes far beyond the warm days of summer. Every city and town, from Kittery to Freeport, offers something special as the seasons turn over.
This region offers excellent beaches, culinary compilations, and lavish landscapes. You can ride the fast lane or take the scenic route, with unique options revealed along every mile.
We put together a list of the top activities and ideas, whether you’re looking for cobblestone streets, sandy beaches, cragged cliffs, or water routes.
Four-Seasons of Beaches
The Southern Maine coast is known for its beaches, a mix of sandy stretches and stacked rocks rising from the sea. The best and most accessible beaches are in York, Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach (OOB), and Cape Elizabeth.
The beaches in Wells and Old Orchard Beach offer seven-mile stretches, but OOB gets a lot of attention for its lively atmosphere, featuring a historic pier, amusement park, and a variety of beachfront entertainment options.
Ogunquit Beach stretches 3.5 miles with an easy connection to the Marginal Way cliff walk.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
From big-name brands to bespoke handmade pieces to antique knick-knacks, shopping is always an opinion in southern Maine. Kittery and Freeport have outlet malls, with the latter also being home to L.L. Bean’s Flagship Store, open 24 hours every day of the year.
Drivers on I-95 will pass the Maine Mall in South Portland, but we highly recommend stopping at the small businesses selling Maine-made products. You can find sea glass jewelry, hand-woven baskets, and nautical novelties from downtown Portland to Kennebunk’s Lower Village.
Explore Lighthouse Landscapes
Southern Maine holds some of the most popular and storied lighthouses on the coastline, along with one of the newest nautical options at the Wood Island Life-Saving Station in Kittery.
As you work your way up the coast, you’ll get to see Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, Goat Island in Kennebunkport, the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, and several others gathered around Casco Bay.
If you decide to keep going after seeing these beautiful beacons, check out our ULTIMATE Lighthouse Road Trip in Maine.
Take a Trip Back in Time
The oldest towns in Maine are on the southern coastline. Kittery is the oldest incorporated town in Maine, with Kennebunkport, York, Saco, and Biddeford not far behind.
Even among historic spots, you’ll have options for things to do in southern Maine. Consider the shipbuilding and fishing ports of Kennebunkport’s Dock Square or Portland’s Old Port. Another option is to explore the forts along the coast in Kittery or Portland.
Explore the slower-paced part of Old York or get a map of the many historic districts in Portland. Saco and Biddeford have preserved their industrial roots. Every stop along the coast had historical sites waiting to be explored.
Climb a Mountain or Walk Through the Desert
While southern Maine is known for its beaches, you won’t have to go far to climb a mountain or travel across the country to see a desert.
Just seven miles from Short Sands Beach in York, you can be atop Mount Agamenticus (Mount A, as they call it), looking over the coastline or seeing the skyline of the Berwicks. Choose hiking to the top or drive right up to the 700-foot overlook.
Not even four miles from downtown Freeport is a spot that you’d never expect in New England. The Desert of Maine is more of an over-farmed spot of land, but the eccentric attraction is novel in its landscape and activities, like a fun fossil dig, a Story Walk for kids, and historic building tours.
Find a Festival
Mainers love a good festival, and that means there’s always something going on throughout the coastline. Summer brings Fourth of July celebrations, with additional options like Maine Open Lighthouse Day or Wild Blueberry Weekend.
Fall means changing leaves and harvest time, kicking off various events like FallFest in Freeport or HarvestFest in Kennebunk. Look for “you pick ‘em” opportunities at coastal farms, too. The holiday season brings community parades and holiday lights, like the Nubble Lighthouse annual lighting or Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea celebration.
Never ones to stay inside even in the depths of winter, Mainers enjoy Biddeford’s Winterfest or Kennebunkport’s “Paint the Town Red” in February, and you’re welcome to come as long as you don’t complain about the weather.
Spring means muddy trails across Maine but also Seaweed Week and Maine Lobster Week on the coast. South Portland also hosts Springfest.
Admire All the Art
While visiting one of the most beautiful canvases of nature, take time to shop the art galleries on the southern Maine coastline. Ogunquit’s Museum of Art, mixed with local galleries in Perkins Cove and downtown, turns a typical weekend into a creative masterpiece.
Portland’s Museum of Art is the largest and oldest of its kind, with many galleries throughout the historic districts. Check out the schedule for the Yarmouth Arts Alliance to find a craft way to explore. Tours are also available from May through early November to Winslow Homer’s home in Scarborough on Prouts Neck.
Visit an Island
Getting to the islands off the coast of Maine isn’t hard. In fact, some have roads that take you there. Others can be easily accessed with an affordable ferry ride. You can also choose to charter a boat.
Off the coast of Kittery, Appledore Island was the home of writer Celia Thaxter. She hosted many literary giants on this remote isle and tended to a stunning garden that is still open for tours.
The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust manages a collection of islands off Cape Porpoise. Consider a camping, hiking, or boating trip to explore them all. You can also get a two-for-one adventure by taking a trip to Wood Island, where the lighthouse tours are one of the most unique coastal experiences available. Wait, was that a ghost at the top of the lighthouse?
Amuse Yourself at Amusement Parks
For more than a century, Palace Playland at Old Orchard Beach has attracted fans from the U.S. and Canada. The beachfront amusement park drips with nostalgia and scenic views while offering more than two dozen rides and at least 250 arcade games inside.
Saco’s Funtown Splashtown is Maine’s largest amusement and water park, with a wooden rollercoaster and Thunder Falls log flume ride. The city is also home to Aquaboggan Water Park, the oldest water park in Maine. To party like an animal, York’s Wild Kingdom might be the best amusement park/zoo you’ll ever see.
Take your amusement to new heights at Take Flight Aerial Adventure Park in Kittery, with nearly 70 activities and two zip-line choices.
Prepare for a Paddling Trip
The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) manages 186 islands from 34 mainland sites, with launch points that include Kittery and Kennebunkport. You will need to join to become a member, but the membership comes with a detailed island guide to help you navigate.
You can also let the experts of outdoors at L.L. Bean take you on a paddle trip in the waters off Freeport. If you prefer to paddle a river, look to the Presumbscot, Saco, Kennebunk, or Mousam waterways.
Other Things to Do on Maine’s Southern Coast
The flexibility of southern Maine’s trails is another talking point since you can bike some of them, hike them, or transition to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in winter.
Choose to eat your way through the finest lobster roll restaurants and shacks in summer or chow down on chowder when there’s a nip in the air. Biddeford and Wells offer great clamming. Don’t forget to look for other Maine food staples like whoopie pies, Moxie drinks, Red Hot Dogs, fiddleheads, and wild blueberry pie.
No matter what you have planned for the days ahead during your trip to Maine’s coastline, be sure to wake up early at least one way to see the beautiful sunrise over the water.