Take This Unforgettable Road Trip To 8 Of Maine's Least-Visited State Parks
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Michelle
Author
It’s no secret that Maine offers some of the best outdoor fun you can find in New England. Between the beaches, the forests, and the fresh air that travels between them, there’s so much to love about exploring the great outdoors. One of the best ways to appreciate it all is to see as much of it as possible. We recommend you start with the lesser-known spots, like the state parks on this list. Each of them is big on beauty, but as some of the most overlooked they’re also big on quiet! You can find the full driving directions here.
Lamoine State Park - Park, 23 State Park Rd, Lamoine, ME 04605, USA
While you can start your trip anywhere on the map, we like the idea of beginning on the coast. Lamoine State Park is loved by those who live here, but for visitors it might be considered an outlier. You'll have access to Frenchman's Bay, campground facilities and boat launching ramps. Plus, it's close to Bar Harbor.
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Peaks-Kenny State Park, 401 State Park Rd, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426, USA
From here it's on to Peaks-Kenny State Park where you'll find yourself on the shore of Sebec Lake. There are 56 campsites here, all perfect for taking some time away in nature.
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Moose Point State Park, 310 W Main St, Searsport, ME 04974, USA
Searsport is one of the most beautiful parts of the state and spending time in this state park only makes that more clear. It was first developed as a dairy farm by the Carver family in 1859 and it was gifted to the state of Maine in 1951.
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Birch Point Beach State Park, 459 S Shore Dr, Owls Head, ME 04854, USA
Continuing our journey to lesser-known state parks you'll find yourself at Owls Head. Another quintessentially coastal area in Maine, this state park offers quiet access to the beach with some of the most beautiful views over Penobscot Bay.
Range Pond State Park, 26 State Park Rd, Poland Spring, ME 04274, USA
Making your way south from the starting point you'll soon arrive at Poland Spring. This state park offers access to the 1,000-foot sand beach at Lower Range Pond for summer swimming. But in the winter there are lots of trails to explore. Visit in any season and you're sure to have a great time.
Reid State Park, 375 Seguinland Rd, Georgetown, ME 04548, USA
With more coastline than California you'd think there were plenty of beaches to enjoy. But the reality is that long, sandy beaches can often be rare. That's why we love Reid State Park where you'll find beaches like Mile and Half Mile. This is a fun place to enjoy the day, no matter what the season. You can learn more about it here.
Bradbury Mountain State Park, 528 Hallowell Rd, Pownal, ME 04069, USA
Continuing the journey south, you'll approach the Freeport area. Great for shopping, there's also some fantastic outdoor fun to be had. The small town of Pownal, just next to Freeport, is home to Bradbury Mountain State Park where there are lots of fun, simple trails to explore. We love the view from the top, which is stunning and further reaching than you might expect given the shorter length of the route to get here.
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Fort McClary State Historic Site, Pepperrell Rd, Kittery Point, ME 03905, USA
Last, but certainly not least, on our tour of lesser-visited state parks is this one in Kittery Point. About as far south as you can get without entering New Hampshire, this entire area is worth exploring. But make sure to set aside some time for learning at Fort McClary State Park. It was originally used to protect the harbor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Today it's owned by the state of Maine and offers an interesting glimpse into the past.
What are some of your favorite state parks? Let us know in the comments so we can check them out, too!
One of our favorite state parks is tucked all the way up in The County. As the oldest state park in Maine, it’s a beautiful piece of living history.
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