While you might be hearing a lot about the final days of summer, we urge you to stay strong! There’s still plenty of time for exploring the outdoors. And, the best thing about being in Maine is that even when the weather gets colder, you can still get out there! These state parks in Maine are wonderful places to visit all year round, and we challenge you to pick a few for your next Pine Tree State adventures!

1. Baxter State Park, Millinocket
Main Street, Main St, Maine, USA
ZIMING Z / TripAdvisor
Come one, you all expected this one. No state park list is complete without Baxter. Perhaps the best known state park in Maine, Baxter is home to Katahdin, the northern terminus of the AT. But, it's also a wonderful place to explore even without plans to get to the summit. Enjoy the lakes and campgrounds here, but book early - it's pretty busy year round and the fall is VERY popular. Check out the Baxter State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
2. Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth
Two Lights State Park, 7 Tower Dr, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
This park's name might be the most appropriate of the bunch. It's named because of the...you guessed it...two lighthouses! This is a very on-the-grid park with a gift shop and full-service restaurant featuring fresh seafood. Come in the warmer weather to eat at the outdoor picnic tables. This one is also very "Maine" with a trail along the rocky coastline. Check out the Maine Department of Agriculture website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
3. Sebago Lake State Park, Casco
Sebago Lake State Park Campground, 11 Park Access Rd, Casco, ME 04015, USA
Ian H / TripAdvisor
This park is right next to Point Sebago Resort, which is one of the most family friendly resorts in the Northeast. The park offers lots of activities for year round fun. Enjoy the beaches, hiking, horseback riding and kayaking when it's warm out. Then, in the winter, take advantage of the cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. You'll also get some pretty awesome views of the White Mountains. Check out the Maine Department of Agriculture website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
4. Birch Point State Park, Owls Head
Birch Point State Park, Owls Head, ME 04854, USA
Dennis P / TripAdvisor
Those looking for a more remote park will love this! The secluded paradise offers views of the Penobscot Bay and nearby slands. It's popular for swimming, fishing and picnicking. But, get there quickly! It's only open during the summer and you can't camp. Check out the park website to learn more and plan your visit.
5. Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal
Bradbury Mountain State Park, 528 Hallowell Rd, Pownal, ME 04069, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
Home to Bradbury Mountain and all the views that come with it, Bradbury Mountain State Park has 590 acres for camping, hiking and picnicking. This is also the only state park in Maine to offer shared-use trails for horseback riders, mountain bikers and snowmobilers. Check out the Bradbury Mountain State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.

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6. Scarborough Beach State Park, Scarborough
Scarborough Beach State Park, 418 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
Rich Bard / Flickr
If you want to mix your state park visit with a relaxing beach swim, this is the one for you! The water here is warm, making it very popular for swimming. As a result, it's pretty busy in the summer. If you prefer to skip getting wet, take a hike on the self-guided trail. The "Shack" serves food and provides daily chair, umbrella and boogie board rentals. Check out the Scarborough Beach State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
7. Rangeley Lake State Park, Rangeley
Rangeley Lake State Park, 1 State Park Rd, Rangeley, ME 04970, USA
Paul Schultz / Flickr
Rangeley is certainly one of the most beautiful state parks in all of Maine. It overlooking the western mountains and Rangeley Lake. The summer is pretty busy, but in the winter visitors can snowmobile and snowshoe. Get there in the summer for great fishing and camping. Check out the Rangeley Lake State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
8. Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
Camden Hills State Park's signature location is the scenic vista high atop Mt. Battie where sweeping Autumn views of Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands await. On a clear day, visitors can see Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. Mt. Megunticook, the highest of the Camden Hills - and highest peak on the mainland - is a moderate climb by foot trail. Check out the Camden Hills State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
9. Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg
Popham Beach State Park, 711 Popham Rd, Phippsburg, ME 04562, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
This is another popular summer destination for families. The waves here are calm and the best part is the abundance of shallow tide pools during low tide. Explore the area to find starfish, crustaceans and shells. But, if you find anything living, be sure to put it back where you found it! Check out the Visit Maine website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.
10. Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, 426 Wolfe's Neck Rd, Freeport, ME 04032, USA
Annie Lambla / Flickr
While you're in the park, enjoy clamming, kayaking and boating. The land is mostly flat here, so it's great for people who simply want a lovely stroll through the Maine outdoors. If you get tired of nature easily, make this your go-to state park destination. Why? Because Freeport's outlets aren't far away. Check out the Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park website to learn more and plan your visit to this park.

So, have you visited the parks in this list? Which state parks in Maine are your favorites to visit? Sound off in the comments below!

Speaking of getting outside in Maine, have you seen this cool fall foliage map of Maine? Click here to see the best weekend to go leaf peepin’ in Vacationland!

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More to Explore

state parks to visit in Maine

Sarah M. | January 19, 2022

How many state parks are there in Maine?

State parks offer something for just about everyone in every single season, and Maine is home to 36 of them, along with an amazing state forest, national monument, and a bucket-list-worthy national park.

What are some under-the-radar state parks I should visit in Maine?

Maine's state parks are all so beautiful, and it's all too easy to play favorites and fall into a routine where you're visiting a select few. Don't make that mistake! Because *all* of the state parks in Maine are places you'll want to visit... especially some of the parks that fly under the radar. For example, Fort Knox, Maine's largest historic fort, features military architecture and master granite craftsmanship. Constructed between 1844 and 1864 by master craftsmen and never fully completed, it is an unaltered example of a large mid-19th century granite coastal fortification, and a really cool site for history buffs. Over in Searsport, Moose Point is a total hidden gem with a really cool history. It was first developed as a dairy farm by the Carver family in 1859. At one point, the 186-acre property had a house, barn, two silos, and sixty head of cattle. After most of the buildings burned down in 1927, Clifford Carver and his relatives offered the land to the State of Maine as a park in 1951. It opened in 1963 and today is a lovely way to explore forest and sea. For more underrated state parks worth visiting in Maine, check out this article. 

What's the best-known state park in Maine?

One of the state parks that gets a lot of attention is Baxter State Park, over in Millinocket. Perhaps the best-known state park in Maine, Baxter is home to Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. But, it's also a wonderful place to explore even without plans to get to that summit. Enjoy the lakes and campgrounds here, but book early - the summer is busy! As such, we recommend visiting during the quieter seasons, like the winter.

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