Maine road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Maine, from Acadia to the North Woods
The best motorcycle roads in Maine come in two flavors. On the coast: US 1, Acadia's Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain, the Schoodic loop and peninsula roads to lighthouses like Pemaquid Point. Inland: ME 17 past the Height of Land, Grafton and Evans notches, the Carrabassett Valley and the long, empty roads to Moosehead Lake and Jackman. Here are 13, with what to watch for and when to ride each.
- Roads listed
- 13
- Regions
- 4
- Park pass needed
- Acadia
- Fuel up in
- Rangeley, Stratton, Greenville
Before you pick
How to ride the best motorcycle roads in Maine
Maine is nearly as big as the rest of New England combined, so a Maine riding list is really two lists. The coast is harbors, lighthouses and peninsulas, lovely and busy in summer. The interior is mountains, lakes and forest, with roads where you'll see more moose and logging trucks than cars. Most riders pick one for a day, and the best trips do both.
Distances matter here. Gas stations are far apart in the western mountains and the North Woods, small stores close early, and cell service fades fast north of the main towns. Fill up whenever you can. Acadia needs a park pass and, for Cadillac in peak season, a vehicle reservation. For timing, see the best time to ride a motorcycle in Maine. For laws, events and regions, start at the Maine motorcycle rides hub.
The coast
The coast: US 1, lighthouses and the peninsulas
- 1. US 1, the Maine coastWhy: US 1 follows the coast from Kittery through Portland, Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Rockland, Camden and Belfast, crossing the Penobscot Narrows Bridge near Bucksport on the way toward Ellsworth and Acadia. Harbors, lighthouses, lobster shacks and a peninsula off almost every town. Watch for: Summer traffic, RVs and town bottlenecks, with Wiscasset the famous one. Fog can roll in fast. Best season: June and September to early October, with early starts in July and August.
- 2. Shore Road and ME 77, Cape ElizabethWhy: Just south of Portland, Shore Road passes Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park, and ME 77 runs on through Cape Elizabeth past Two Lights State Park and the beaches. Short, easy and one of the best lighthouse runs on the coast. Watch for: Tourist traffic, parked cars and pedestrians near the lights. Best season: May to October.
- 3. ME 130 to Pemaquid PointWhy: From Damariscotta, ME 130 runs down the Pemaquid peninsula through Bristol to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, the light on Maine's state quarter, standing on tilted ledges above the surf. A classic midcoast peninsula ride. Watch for: A narrow road with little shoulder, slow sightseers and a dead end at the point. Best season: June to early October.
Acadia
Acadia National Park
- 4. Park Loop RoadWhy: The 27-mile Park Loop Road winds around the east side of Mount Desert Island past Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff and Jordan Pond, with ocean and granite views most of the way. Watch for: Long one-way sections, cars parked in the right lane where it's allowed, pedestrians, cyclists and buses. A park entrance pass is required, and most of the road closes in winter. Best season: June and September to mid-October, early in the morning.
- 5. Cadillac Summit RoadWhy: Climbs to the top of Cadillac Mountain, at 1,530 feet the highest point on Mount Desert Island, with a view over Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay and the islands. Watch for: Vehicle reservations have been required in peak season, so check the National Park Service site before you go. Expect slow traffic, tight corners and pedestrians at the top. Best season: Late May to October, with a reservation when required.
- 6. Schoodic Loop RoadWhy: Across Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor, the Schoodic section of Acadia has a six-mile one-way loop around the peninsula past Schoodic Point, where the surf breaks on pink granite. Quieter than the main park. Watch for: One-way traffic, cyclists and cars at the pullouts. Acadia's pass rules apply, so check the NPS site. Best season: June to mid-October.
Western mountains
The western mountains: Rangeley, the notches and Sugarloaf
- 7. ME 17 and the Height of LandWhy: ME 17 runs north from the Rumford area to Oquossoc through the Rangeley Lakes region. The Height of Land overlook looks across Mooselookmeguntic Lake to the mountains, one of the best roadside views in New England. Watch for: Rough, frost-heaved pavement, logging trucks, moose and people stopped at the overlook. Best season: June to early October.
- 8. ME 4, Farmington to RangeleyWhy: ME 4 climbs through the western mountains from Farmington past Phillips and Smalls Falls into Rangeley. Long sweepers through river valleys and forest. Watch for: Moose, logging trucks and few gas stops. Best season: June to early October.
- 9. Grafton Notch (ME 26)Why: From Newry near Sunday River, ME 26 runs north through Grafton Notch State Park, past Screw Auger Falls and steep mountain walls, toward Upton and the New Hampshire line. Quiet and twisty. Watch for: Moose, especially at dusk, and cars parked at the falls and trailheads. Best season: June to mid-October.
- 10. Evans Notch (ME 113)Why: ME 113 runs south from US 2 in Gilead through Evans Notch in the White Mountain National Forest, dipping into New Hampshire on its way toward Fryeburg. Narrow, twisty and very quiet. Watch for: Rough pavement, blind corners and no services. The road is gated and closed in winter. Best season: June to mid-October.
- 11. ME 27, Kingfield to EustisWhy: ME 27 runs north from Kingfield through the Carrabassett Valley past Sugarloaf to Stratton and Eustis, then on toward the Canadian border at Coburn Gore. Big mountain views and long sweepers. Watch for: Logging trucks, moose, frost heaves and very few services north of Stratton. Best season: June to early October.
North Woods
Into the North Woods
Many roads beyond the paved highways up here are private logging roads, some with gates and fees. Stick to public roads unless you know the rules, and remember that logging trucks have the right of way in practice, if not on paper.
- 12. US 201, the Old Canada RoadWhy: A scenic byway along the Kennebec River from Solon through Bingham and The Forks to Jackman, through big river and forest country. Watch for: Long stretches without gas, logging trucks and moose. Best season: June to early October.
- 13. ME 6 and ME 15, Moosehead LakeWhy: From Greenville, ME 6 and ME 15 run up the west side of Moosehead Lake to Rockwood, with Mount Kineo rising across the water. Huge lake views and very little traffic, deep in the North Woods. Watch for: Remote stretches, logging trucks and moose. Fuel up in Greenville. Best season: June to early October.
Link them
Maine loops that link the best roads
- The Rangeley loopFrom Rumford, ride ME 17 north past the Height of Land to Oquossoc, take ME 4 east through Rangeley and south past Smalls Falls to Farmington, then US 2 west back to Rumford. Big views, long sweepers, and it closes on itself.
- The notches loopFrom Bethel, ride ME 26 north through Grafton Notch to Errol, New Hampshire, take NH 16 south to Gorham and US 2 east back to Bethel. Add Evans Notch on ME 113 as an out-and-back from Gilead.
- The Acadia dayRide the Park Loop Road early, add Cadillac with a reservation if one is required, then leave the island and ride around to Schoodic for the quieter side of the park. Plan stops and pacing with the AI ride planner.
Summary
Maine motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | Coast | Jun, Sep to early Oct |
| Shore Road and ME 77 | Southern coast | May to Oct |
| ME 130 to Pemaquid Point | Midcoast | Jun to early Oct |
| Park Loop Road | Acadia | Jun, Sep to mid-Oct |
| Cadillac Summit Road | Acadia | Late May to Oct, reservation |
| Schoodic Loop Road | Acadia | Jun to mid-Oct |
| ME 17, Height of Land | Western mountains | Jun to early Oct |
| ME 4, Farmington to Rangeley | Western mountains | Jun to early Oct |
| Grafton Notch (ME 26) | Western mountains | Jun to mid-Oct |
| Evans Notch (ME 113) | Western mountains | Jun to mid-Oct, seasonal |
| ME 27, Carrabassett Valley | Western mountains | Jun to early Oct |
| US 201, Old Canada Road | North Woods | Jun to early Oct |
| ME 6 and ME 15, Moosehead | North Woods | Jun to early Oct |
In the app
Maine roads riders have added in Rippin'
Below are the Maine roads riders have added to Rippin', pulled live from the app. Rippin' started in Southern California, and many states have only a few roads in the app so far, so most of the roads on this page are still open for someone to add.
Ride the road with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment, then set a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on the Rippin' team checks every road before it goes live, and your name stays on it. Riders who ride through it land on its board, and the crown goes to the rider who owns the road. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, so the board is about riding the road, not racing it. More on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A loop like the Rangeley ride also claims turf: the land inside a loop that closes on itself becomes yours on the live map, and empty land is free to claim.
Live from the app
Maine on Rippin' right now.
4 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Maine on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Wed Nov 4S.M.P. HOG Chili Cook-offGorham
- Sat Nov 14S.M.P. HOG Chili Cook-offGorham
- Sun Dec 6Holidays at the Owls Head MuseumOwls Head
- Sat Dec 19Photos with Mr. & Mrs. ClauseGorham
No Maine roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Maine?
On the coast, Acadia's Park Loop Road. Inland, ME 17 past the Height of Land overlook in the Rangeley Lakes. Many riders do both on one trip.
Do you need a reservation to ride Cadillac Mountain?
Vehicle reservations have been required for the Cadillac Summit Road in peak season. Check the National Park Service site for Acadia before you go.
Can you ride a motorcycle in Acadia National Park?
Yes. Motorcycles can ride the Park Loop Road and the Cadillac Summit Road with a park pass, plus a reservation for Cadillac when one is required. Most of the loop closes in winter.
Where are the twisty roads in Maine?
In the western mountains: Grafton Notch on ME 26, Evans Notch on ME 113, ME 17 to the Height of Land and ME 27 through the Carrabassett Valley.
How far apart are gas stations in northern Maine?
Far enough to plan around. Fill up in towns like Rangeley, Stratton, Jackman and Greenville, and don't pass a station on a remote stretch.
Can I add a Maine road to Rippin'?
Yes. Ride it with Rippin' recording and use Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a Maine road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride the coast or the mountains with it recording, and add the road. Your name stays on it.
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