Maine Coast Road Trip: Curtis Island Lighthouse to Rockport

This 2,448 km route through Maine showcases the state's iconic coastal landmarks and natural features, including Curtis Island Lighthouse, Marginal Way in Ogunquit, and the rocky shores of Penobscot Bay. The journey connects key destinations like Camden, Portland, and Rockport, revealing Maine's maritime heritage and dramatic Atlantic coastline.

Distance
2448.0 km
Mode
route
Start
Welcome to Maine
End
Carver's Harbor
Stops
23
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Welcome to Maine
  2. Curtis Island Lighthouse — Captivating symbol of survival located at the entrance to Camden Harbor on a 5-acre evergreen-shaded island.
  3. Marginal Way — A scenic clifftop walking path in Ogunquit offering dramatic Atlantic Ocean views, weathered rock formations, and access to hidden coves and beaches.
  4. Ogunquit — Beautiful place by the sea named by indigenous Abanaki people. Home to Ogunquit Beach stretching 3.5 miles along the southern coast of Maine.
  5. Old Orchard Beach — 7-mile stretch of white sand along the Atlantic Ocean, featuring the historic Old Orchard Beach Pier, spanning from Pinepoint to Camp Elliot.
  6. Lake Hebron — Deep freshwater body nurturing cold water sport fish in central Maine.
  7. Rockport — Smallest yet proudest coastal village on the Maine coast, historically a fierce industrial hub with lime kilns. Limestone was shipped to Washington, DC.
  8. Vinalhaven — Largest offshore island in Maine, located 12 miles from mainland in Penobscot Bay. Accessible by 75-minute ferry from Rockland or seaplane.
  9. Casco Bay — A picturesque inlet near Portland dotted with over 130 islands, serving as a vital fishing ground and recreational hub for boating and island exploration.
  10. Camden — Charming coastal town that separated from Rockport over a bridge dispute.
  11. Portland — City continuously reshaping itself with sturdy Victorian-style buildings. Heart beats at the old port area in Casco Bay.
  12. Portland Observatory — Testament to permanence standing tall in Portland's skyline.
  13. Knox County — A coastal Maine region renowned for lighthouses, maritime history, and charming harbor towns that reflect the state's traditional fishing and shipbuilding legacy.
  14. Penobscot Bay — A deep, sheltered body of water ringed by islands and peninsulas, historically vital for Maine's lobster industry and now a premier destination for sailing.
  15. York Beach — A sandy Maine beach offering calm waters, classic amusement attractions, and views of the iconic Nubble Lighthouse perched on a nearby rocky outcrop.
  16. Nubble Lighthouse — An iconic 1879 red-and-white lighthouse standing on a rocky island off York Beach, among America's most photographed coastal beacons.
  17. Tobey Falls — A cascading waterfall in Maine's interior forests, offering a refreshing retreat and scenic hiking destination within the state's wilderness areas.
  18. Piscataquis river
  19. Fitzgerald Pond
  20. Prouts Neck — A rocky Maine headland peninsula featuring dramatic granite cliffs, artist heritage, and sweeping views of Casco Bay and the open Atlantic Ocean.
  21. Perkins Cove — Safe sheltering basin formed by tidal erosion, connected to Fish Cove and Josiah River through an ancient trench.
  22. Monson — Historic town settled in 1818, anchored on the southeastern edge of Lake Hebron.
  23. Carver's Harbor — Bustling harbor located on the southern shore of Vinalhaven Island.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Visit Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park between October and March to see the first sunrise in the entire United States.
Tip
Walk the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, a 1.25-mile paved path with nearly 40 stone benches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The path is flat and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Tip
Visit Thunderhole in Acadia National Park to witness explosive blasts of white foam created when ocean waves are forced into a narrow rock crevice.
Tip
See Bubble Rock, a glacial erratic boulder suspended on the edge of South Bubble Mountain for tens of thousands of years, from the hiking trails in Acadia.
Tip
Visit Curtis Island Lighthouse at the entrance to Camden Harbor. The lighthouse emits distinctive green lights (4 seconds on, 1 second off) visible up to six nautical miles away.
Avoid
The buildings on Curtis Island are completely closed to the public; you cannot access the interior of the lighthouse.
Tip
Explore Ogunquit Beach, a 3.5-mile stretch along Maine's southern coast with sand dunes and beach roses directly facing the Atlantic Ocean without protective breakwaters.
Tip
Visit Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, a sheltered basin originally created by humans digging a trench to connect Fish Cove with the Josiah River for safer harbor.
Tip
Walk on Old Orchard Beach Pier, a steel structure built in 1898 extending over 1,800 feet into the ocean in Saco Bay.
Tip
Explore Acadia National Park spanning 49,000 acres primarily on Mount Desert Island, featuring granite domes, towering cliffs, and glacial formations like U-shaped valleys.

Video on this route

Wonders of Maine | The Forgotten Edge of America | Travel Video 4K

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