The most popular time of year to visit Maine is in the summer. Mid-June through early September offers the best weather for exploring the Pine Tree State, but there are plenty of things to do year-round!

Maine

has four very distinct seasons, and each one offers very different ways to experience this beautiful state. While most folks choose to visit in the summer when the temperature typically stays between 60-80 degrees, you can have a totally different (and cheaper) experience at other times of the year.

Maine offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, an amazing food scene, and beautiful mountain and coastal scenery. Let

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The best time of year to travel to Maine

Each season of the year provides something wonderful in Maine. Many people plan a visit in the summer to make sure they experience one of Maine’s most famous (and most delicious) resources...lobster! Lobster is a big part of the amazing food and drink scene that you will encounter during your visit.

After you’ve had your fill, there are attractions like

Acadia National Park

, historic lighthouse tours, museums, botanical gardens, and more to keep you busy!

Peak Season (June-August)

Canoeing in Maine at Acadia National Park

The good: Tons of outdoor activities and markets, access to mountains and the beach during their prime season.

The bad: More than half of Maine’s tourists choose to visit during this time, making your trip more crowded and more expensive.

The weather: The summer weather is the mildest and most comfortable that Maine has to offer. Summer temperatures average from 60-80 degrees, making it warm enough to enjoy spending a lot of time outside enjoying all the state has to offer.

Summer is peak season in Maine mostly due to the gorgeous, not-too-hot weather during the summer months. So much of what people enjoy about Maine happens outdoors, and summer may be the ideal time to experience it.

Maine also loves its festivals, and you will have the option to experience numerous boat and food fests with music, art, fun, and great food.

And don’t forget the lobster! Maine’s peak lobster season begins in June, so those summer months offer great opportunities to fill up on delicious, fresh-from-the-ocean dishes. You can even take a lobster boat tour and learn the basics of catching this coastal delicacy.

Pro-Tip: Many of the country’s oldest lighthouses are found in Maine. Make sure to plan a tour!

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Off-season (Late September-February)

The good: You will likely save money on accommodations, and there will be fewer crowds.

The bad: Some destinations close down after the summer season.

The weather: Maine is known for having cold, snowy winters—with an average snowfall of 50-70 inches along the coast and 60-110 inches inland. Average temperatures this time of year are 15-25°F. Take a sweater.

If quiet, snowy serenity appeals to you, visit Maine in the off-season. While you will likely need to bundle up, there are opportunities for all kinds of winter fun.

Skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and winter camping (check out

Maine Forest Yurts

in Durham) are just the start of what Maine has to offer in the winter.

If you love the snow, but enjoy staying indoors and cozy, winter is a great time to check out some of the amazing museums and restaurants Maine has to offer. It is also a great time to save money on accommodations at one of Maine’s idyllic

wintertime inns

The shoulder season (March-May)

A child playing in the tidal mudflats in Maine.

The good: Maine offers a lot of festivals and fun in the spring while the state begins to thaw and people start heading back outdoors. After the cold winter, it is time to celebrate!

The bad: Mud. There will be lots of mud. Also, some of the attractions offered in summer (especially maritime activities) may still be closed.

The weather: March brings increasingly warmer temperatures to Maine, with daily high temps nearing 50 degrees on average. Spring is also the time of year that gets the most precipitation.

Springtime is “tapping season” in Maine. The first official Sunday of spring is called

Maine Maple Sunday

! On this day, all of the maple producers in the state welcome visitors to learn about and sample delicious sweets.

Late spring is the perfect time to enjoy some of Maine’s many botanical gardens—including the

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

. It is the perfect time of year to soak up all of the natural beauty New England has to offer.

Pro Tip: March and April are called “mud season” by the locals. Make sure you—and your vehicle—are prepared!

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The cheapest time to travel to Maine

The cheapest time to visit Maine is mid-to-late September, and you can save around 30% of the cost of a peak season trip by waiting until early fall. While you may find some of the summer attractions beginning to close for the season, there will still be beautiful early-fall weather, and the fall foliage is incredible.

Maine has its share of fall events and activities, too. Check out Maine’s

pumpkin trail

from Labor day through Halloween, enjoy delicious food from all over the country at

Claw Down Boothbay Harbor

—a lobster competition that brings seafood lovers flocking to the coast, and check out Family Harvest Days, an old-fashioned fall festival for the whole family.

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Activity	Best time to go	Why is it the best time?
Hiking and camping	July-December	Factor in your favorite weather—but summer, fall, and early winter all offer different and beautiful camping and hiking opportunities.
Boating, ocean fishing	July-September	Not only is this the best weather to be on the ocean, but this time of year also offers calmer waters and abundant fish.
Enjoy the scenery	September	The changing leaves create beauty like no other.
Lobster-related fun	June-December	This is peak lobster season, and there are plenty of lobster-themed events to keep you busy.
Playing on the beach	July, August	There will be more crowds, but this is the perfect time of year to splash around in the ocean.
Skiing and other snow sports	January, February	Ski resorts open up in November, but January and February tend to have the most snowfall—so if you like fresh powder, those months are a good bet.
Checking out wildlife	April, May	Mid-spring is when whales, moose, puffins, and bald eagles (and other wildlife) start to emerge from their winter nests.

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How to find savings on car and rental insurance

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