The Best Time To Visit Maine: Full Guide | Marchay

The saying goes, “if you don’t like the weather in Maine, just wait a minute.” Maine is one of the best places in the US to experience the four seasons, and its distinctive seasons each showcase Maine in new ways that travelers love to explore all year round.

But there’s always the question of when is the best time to visit Maine. If you’re considering a trip to Maine, the best time to visit is during the summer—but there are plenty of people who will debate that the winter is just as good a time to be in Maine. Our professional travel agents provide our members with the best things to do in Maine and consult on the best times to do them.

Our complete travel guide gives the best times to visit Maine and the different attractions you can see to make the most of each season!

Table of Contents

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• When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Maine?
• Visiting Maine In The Spring
• Visiting Maine In The Summer
• Visiting Maine In The Fall
• Visiting Maine In The Winter
• Join Marchay
• Attractions & Things To Do In Maine
  • #1. Trek Through Acadia National Park
  • #2. Visit The Farnsworth Art Museum
  • #3. Stroll Through The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
  • #4. Kick Back On Monhegan Island
• The Bottom Line
• Join Marchay
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the tourist season in Maine?
  • Should I visit Maine in the winter?
  • What’s the best time to Visit Maine for lobster?
  • Why is Maine so popular?
  • How many days do you need in Maine to see the Northern Lights?

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Maine?

The best time of year to visit Maine is during the summer. Summer is the peak travel season in Maine when the weather is the nicest for enjoying attractions like Acadia National Park, coastal beaches, and islands just off the shore. Even though it’s the busiest season for travel in Maine, each season has its charm that makes it worthwhile to visit.

Fall is an excellent time to witness the iconic New England fall foliage. Although cold, winter sports like skiing and snowboarding attract many travelers to the state during the season. As for the spring, it’s a time when seasonal businesses begin to open and welcome travelers back in preparation for the upcoming warm weather.

Maine is located in the north, so it experiences drastic changes for each season. It’s known to have warm, sunny summers and cold, snowy winters. There are days when you will have a jacket on in the morning but warm enough to swim at the beach by the afternoon.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes each season unique and what kind of weather you can expect when you visit Maine.

Visiting Maine In The Spring

The shoulder season of Spring in Maine is considered the transitional months between the cold and warm weather. It’s when the sleepy towns start to wake up, and the lush vegetation begins to bloom in preparation for warm, sunny days ahead.

Spring in Maine runs between March to May. Temperatures vary drastically from the start of the season (right after the winter) and the end of the season (right before the summer). The average high temperatures range from low-40s to high-60s during the day and high-20s to high-40s at night.

One of the defining characteristics of spring in Maine is precipitation. These are the rainiest months of the year, with an average of 9-10 days with rain each month. But this rainfall helps the trees and flowers bloom to give the state a colorful welcome to the warm weather.

Since early spring is still cold, most people don’t start visiting Maine until the latter half of the season when the weather warms up. But keep in mind that since the weather is transitioning, it can be highly unpredictable, and the warm and cold air mix can cause frequent storms and rapidly changing temperatures from morning to night.

Visiting Maine In The Summer

Summertime in Maine is when the warm weather finally comes to stay. Mainers take advantage of these few months to experience outdoor recreation in the coastal areas or visit a nearby state park. And travelers from around the world treat it as a perfect New England summertime getaway.

Maine summers last from June to August. These are the warmest months, with average high temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low-80s during the day and high-50s to low-60s at night. There are a handful of rainy days each month, but the summer is typically dry and sunny.

The best time to visit Maine is during the summer, and it’s the most popular time when tourists come to the state. All of Maine’s seasonal attractions are open during these months to support the tourism industry. 

Summer in Maine is the perfect time of year to enjoy the beaches on the coast. The waters of the Gulf of Maine are the warmest towards the end of the season. It’s also an excellent time to take the boat out for a day cruise and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, running, kayaking, and rock climbing.

Although the summer is short, it’s plenty of time to experience Maine’s favorite season.

Visiting Maine In The Fall

New England is famous for its colorful fall foliage. Maine is one of the best places to experience Fall in New England, an opportunity to see the beautiful colors and last bit of moderate weather before the colder seasons.

Fall in Maine is from September to November. In the first half of the season, September to early October, Maine still has many characteristics from the summer before the weather transitions. It’s a popular alternative time to visit with fewer crowds, yet still, have the ideal weather to do many of the same activities. Starting in late September, however, the weather begins to cool down. But there are plenty of events happening like the annual Harvest on the Harbor festival, one of the largest food and drink festivals in Portland, which occurs in November.

The average temperature in Maine during the Fall ranges from the low-50s to the low-70s during the day and 30s to low-50s at night. The colder temperatures typically reflect the temperatures in late October to November as the weather cools down.

Visiting Maine in the Fall is a favorite time of year. Drive between the quaint towns where the local highways cross through tree-covered regions boasting colorful reds, browns, yellows, and other vibrant colors. 

Fall is the best off-season time to visit Maine.