The Maine coast is a wonder any time of year, but there’s something about Christmastime that makes it truly magical. With millions of fairy lights burning bright to show you the way, our cheery coastal road trip takes you up iconic Route 1, through picturesque small towns, quaint Main Streets, and into some of the best Christmas lights in Maine.

Follow this link for the road trip directions. The total drive time is a little over four hours one way, so you’ll want to factor in time to get back home. Or plan an overnight stay anywhere along the way – you can’t go wrong with any of these beautiful little towns!

Google Maps
Nubble Lighthouse, Cape Neddick, York
Nubble Lighthouse, Sohier Park Rd, York, ME 03909, USA
Michael Callahan / Flickr
Here in Maine, it's only natural to start any road trip at a lighthouse. Fortunately for us, the Nubble Lighthouse near York gets all dressed up for Christmas, trimmed in thousands of twinkling lights. Get there in time for the spectacular sunset, then stay to admire the wonderfully simple yet incredibly striking display.
Ogunquit
Ogunquit, ME, USA
Ogunquit, Maine: Beautiful Place by the Sea / Facebook
Head a few miles north to adorable Ogunquit, which means "beautiful place by the sea" in Abenaki, and do some serious window-shopping on streets lined with lights. No wonder it's a tourist favorite -- Ogunquit is totally enchanting!
Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport, ME 04046, USA
row4food / Flickr
Kennebunkport's Christmas Prelude was voted the #2 Christmas Town in America by HGTV – and for good reason. The lights, sights and sounds are right out of a Dickens novel. First make your way to Cape Porpoise Square for the famous Lobster Trap Tree – a holiday decoration that's just oh so Maine. Visit the Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude Facebook page for updates on this year's events.
Dock Square, Kennebunkport, ME, USA
Amy Meredith / Flickr
Then head over to Dock Square for your second tree of the evening – a more traditional offering, albeit topped with a cheery crustacean.
Portland
Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Victoria Mansion / Facebook
The first of a few stops in Portland, historic Victoria Mansion is famous for outfitting each room in lights, candles, garlands and other Christmas finery for one of the most pristine period displays you'll find anywhere. Christmas at Victoria Mansion is like stepping back in time.

Related Stories

Drive Or Walk Through 200,000 Holiday Lights At Winter Wonderland At Augusta West In Maine

Drive Or Walk Through 200,000 Holiday Lights At Winter Wonderland At Augusta West In Maine

 Here Are The Top 13 Christmas Towns In Maine. They’re Magical.

Here Are The Top 13 Christmas Towns In Maine. They’re Magical.

 11 Christmas Light Displays In Maine That Are Pure Magic

11 Christmas Light Displays In Maine That Are Pure Magic
Portland, Maine, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
Portland's Light Up Your Holidays sees every tree, every pole, every building come alive with colored lights. It feels like Christmas everywhere you turn. Don't miss the free horse-drawn carriage rides from Monument Square!
Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, 20 Milk St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Corey Templeton / Flickr
Catch your second lobster trap tree of the evening in front of the Regency Hotel on Milk Street.
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
Even our fair Longfellow gets in on the festivities!
Freeport
Freeport, ME 04032, USA
Mike Cempa / Flickr
Hop on 295 and head up to Freeport, where L.L.Bean regularly assembles one of Maine's most spectacular Christmas displays. Their famous "dancing tree" is gone, but in its place is a forest of 400 twinkling trees and myriad other festivities. This year you'll find a life-size snow globe you can step inside, and a twinkle tunnel filled with thousands of holiday lights that stretches all the way to Main Street.
Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME, USA
Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr
This is it - easily the highlight of our road trip. Gardens Aglow takes the beauty of Boothbay's botanical garden up about a million watts, combining hundreds of thousands of bright Christmas bulbs with other dramatic lighting effects to create a dream-like atmosphere you really have to see to believe. If we had to choose the spot with the best Christmas lights in Maine, this would be it.
Camden
Camden, ME, USA
Experience Camden Maine / Facebook
It's about an hour from our previous stop, but we had to make the trip to Camden's Christmas by the Sea Festival because, well, it's just too cute. Merry Christmas everyone!

What do you think — isn’t Maine at Christmas the best?! Even better: our little jaunt up the coast only scratches the surface of what Maine has to offer in terms of Christmas cheer. Check out our other list to see some more of the best, brightest, holliest and jolliest holiday lights in Maine!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Christmas lights in Maine

Sarah | November 02, 2021

What are some fun Christmas traditions in Maine?

We love a good holiday light display here in the Pine Tree State, as evidenced by the above epic road trip to the best Christmas lights in Maine. We also love enjoying the holiday cheer while riding the rails. Maine is home to some delightful train rides, and many of them have a seasonal appeal. One of the best examples is the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway's annual Christmas Train. This scenic excursion will take passengers through the Maine countryside. While snowy conditions aren't guaranteed, you will be promised an unforgettable Christmas journey complete with Santa Claus himself! This is a fun event the whole family will love, and sure to put you in the proper holiday spirit!

What are the best holiday events in Maine?

During the wintertime, Maine looks like something straight out of a snow globe. That's especially true when you visit a Christmas town like Gardiner. Throughout the month of December, this community hosts an array of seasonal events you won't want to miss -- and just a simple stroll down Main Street will showcase the town's exquisite holiday decorations! This is one of the best holiday events in Maine and will make you feel like you're in a real-life Christmas movie!

What's winter like in Maine?

Ahh, winter in Maine. Every season in New England is fantastic, but here in Maine, we’re always looking forward to winter with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Because the weather can be erratic, it’s hard to effectively plan ahead. There are a few things we know we can count on though. Cold, rainy, and grey days are a given. And chilly sunny days almost always pop up as well. Each winter is different, but we enjoy the cold-weather months no matter what!

Related Articles

Explore Maine