Discover breath-taking scenes of New England in our New York to Maine Road Trip
From tiny fishing villages and towns to urban cities and suburbs, New England is one of the best regions to take road trips. The charming eastern side of the state traverses through six different regions of New England: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine.
All these states boast a different mix of culture, traditions, gastronomical cuisines, and unique urban trends. And the only best way to explore the forms of New England is through a road trip.
Though a first-time visitor to New England will need approximately three to four weeks to explore everything, one can still experience the best of them within a week. Most visitors don’t cover everything in one go but often spend some time relaxing at important places like Boston, Portsmouth, and Providence.
In this guide, I’ll cover one of the popular routes taken by every visitor who makes it to New England. New York to Maine road trip journeys through five states covering places like Stamford, Providence, Boston, Portland, and more.
With the natural landscapes of Acadia National Park, the experience of this epic road trip will truly lighten up. While the emphasis will be on covering most of the highlights, I’ve ensured that you get a detailed list of all the top attractions and activities.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
How to Plan New York to Maine Road Trip
In this section, you’ll find some important tips on how to plan a best road trip across New England. Below info will specifically focus on our New York to Maine route, as you can later plan it thoroughly before travelling.
Best Route to Reach Maine from New York
The best route to reach Maine depends on the places you stop by. Following our plan, you’ll have to take the I-95 N and CT-15 N from New York to Hartford. From Hartford, we take a slight detour to cover the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Follow the route of I-84 E and I-90 E till Boston; then, you’ll be back again on I-95 N to reach your final destination, Maine.
The best driving route for New York to Maine depends on your travel itinerary. If you need to follow the course we suggested, ensure that the places you include in your travel plan are closer. Some detours are fine as long as the sites are not far away.
Read More | If you need a detailed info on how to reach Maine from New York via other transport modes, then I suggest visiting this page. This will help you better understand routes and public transport options.
Driving Times for New York to Maine
The drive from New York to Maine is 488 miles (785 km). If you were to drive non-stop, it would take approximately 7hr 12mins to arrive. However, we don’t recommend a direct journey, as it’s best to throw in stops throughout your entire road trip. Consider spanning your schedule across five days to ensure you visit top places.
Travel Tip | We highly recommend taking out a weeks’ time to explore New England. This is more than enough to discover offbeat places, top attractions, and niche activities.
How to Rent a Car
To rent a car in the United States, I suggest Rentalcars.com. It’s one of the best rental service I’ve ever come across, offering affordable vehicles for the said duration. With max saftey assurance, you can be sure of booking the right vehicle for your New England road trip.
New York to Maine Road Trip Map
Here’s an overlook at the driving route to reach Maine (including road trip stops) –
New York to Maine Road Trip Stops
Stamford, CT
Located 40 miles north of New York, Stamford is the third largest city in Connecticut State. Known to house fortune companies and large business hubs, the city has massively grown its tourism presence. From beautiful city parks and museums to amazing walking trails and pristine beaches – Stamford is one of the great places to stop by during your New York to Maine road trip.
Stamford amazingly holds a significant number of things to see and do. I would suggest staying overnight to experience this beautiful town’s diversity. Below are some of my recommendations that you can include in your road trip plan –
Cove Island Park
Located on Long Island Sound, this park is one of the best places to relax and unwind. Who would have expected to find a place like Cove Island Park with a beach and a garden in a busy city like Stamford? In the earlier days, locals used the park to gather missing house stray livestock. Today, it’s a bustling area filled with pretty sailboats, well-designed walk tracks, cycling trails, and huge playgrounds.
Note: Cove Island Park charges $25 per car for parking. Considering the fee, it’s a lot on pocket just to pay for parking. However, if you want to stay on a tight budget – you could always choose to park your car somewhere else nearby to Cove Island Park.
Stamford Museum & Nature Centre
If you’re a history buff like me, then you’d obviously love Stamford Museum & Nature Centre. Packed with arts, culture, nature, and agricultural info – the museum is best known for providing exciting insights about the city’s past timeline. It also houses a planetarium and a large four-story observatory for children to interact with various displays. You can check their calendar for all future events.
Mianus River Park
If you’re in Stamford, you certainly can’t miss exploring Mianus River Park. Featuring a wealth of activities, hiking trails, and incredible wildlife, you could easily spend half a day wandering these verdant woods. The hiking tracks are well-designed, which makes it ideal for all beginners to try and test their physical well-being. Most of these trails lead you to vibrant spots of the river park, which are pretty photogenic.
Places to stay: Hilton Stamford Hotel | Hampton Inn & Suites | Stamford Marriot Hotel & Spa
What’s more to visit? If you can add an extra day to Stamford, then do not miss a visit to The Palace Theatre, Half Full Brewery, and Fort Stamford Park – Goodbody Garden.
New Haven, CT
Home to the historic Yale University, New Haven is proud of its history and features distinctive shops, old museums, and classic theatres. It’s one of the best places to visit in New England, especially if you want to know more about the town’s exciting history.
Distance from Stamford to New Haven: 44 minutes (41.6 miles)
While Yale University might have officially introduced New Haven to the world, there’s much to explore beyond the campus arena. Yes, it’s often a traditional schedule to walk the university grounds and explore its heritage, but you can also tour other experiences the town offers.
New Haven’s age-old restaurants, modern bars, barbecue shacks, and traditional pizzas elevate your experience of staying in this lively town. I’ve listed some of the top things to do in New Haven, which you can undoubtedly add to your itinerary.
Explore Yale University
There’s no better place than Yale to start your exploration of New Haven. Dating back to the 16th century, the university still holds its roots and delivers an enriching experience on touring its inner & outer grounds. Being one of the reputed institutions, Yale is widely known for its notable alums and vast achievements. While you’re free to wander the campus on your own, I suggest taking a free walking tour of Yale University. It’s the best way to know the history, interesting insights, and unique admirable things.
Inside the Yale | Yale University spans a vast area featuring many in-house attractions such as Sterling Memorial Library, Yale Center for British Art, and Yale University Art Gallery. Do take out an entire day to explore the suggested places in their entirety.
Visit Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
One of the exciting things to do at Yale University is to visit the Peabody Museum, which houses permanent collections of dinosaurs. From skeleton bones and fossils to educational info on species, the museum is a great place to wander for families and their children.
Explore shops at Yale’s alley
Right around the corner from Yale University, you’ll find a good mix of modern & traditional shops. The entire lane features an eclectic fusion of brands that deliver excellent retail therapy. It’s a perfect place to unwind and enjoy delicious lunch or dinner.
Wander off at Little Italy
As the name suggests, the neighbourhood is home to some of the best restaurants in New Haven. You’ll certainly smell the aromas of hot bruschetta and flavourful ravioli as you walk by the street. And if you need to get the authentic Italian experience, indulge in the famous pizzas at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.
Places to stay: The Study at Yale | Omni New Haven Hotel
Hartford, CT
Hartford is one of the most underrated places to explore in New England. But, by all means, it is my favorite place to discover world-class art galleries, the oldest of museums, historic buildings, and charming pubs and bars. Hartford is well-known for its history, but the modernism it showcases is simply epic.
Distance from New Haven to Hartford: 39 minutes (38.8 miles)
Hartford has left a legacy to house notable leaders like Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Their imprint shines brightly through museums, galleries, and workshops even today. Below you’ll find some of the best places to visit in Hartford, CT.
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Founded in 1842, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is one of the oldest museums in the United States. Housing an extensive collection, the museum is a haven for those interested in exploring brilliant pieces of artwork. Most of these paintings have been done by contemporary artists and French Impressionists. If you talk about the size of the museum, it’s spread across an area of 196,000 square feet. So, you’ll need plenty of time to explore and partake in many of the museum’s events and exhibitions.
Cruise On The Connecticut River
If you’re lucky to find yourself on a bright sunny day in Hartford, then there’s no better way than to cruise past some of the beautiful highlights of the town. Cruising the Connecticut River gives a different perspective of viewing Hartford’s amazing sights. These cruise trips offer informative guides and a delicious onboard meal to enjoy a short experience.
Connecticut Science Center
Travelling with kids to Hartford? Look no further than Connecticut Science Center, which houses intriguing exhibits and artifacts. The center features 154,000 square feet of area, and everyone can enjoy exciting science stuff. One of the must-visit places inside the center is the Exploring Space gallery. It offers viewers a close-up look at the moon crater and space objects. On the other hand, the Sight and Sound Experience is a modern-day exhibit combining art, music, and science presentations.
Accommodation: Find out the best budgeted places to stay in Hartford, CT.
What’s more? Hartford is all about history. Take a day out to explore other popular places like The Mark Twain House & Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Connecticut State Capitol, and Museum of Connecticut History.
Providence, RI
Providence is a perfect destination to experience the best of Rhode Island. Being the largest city, there’s always a discovery that visitors enjoy during their travels. Localities from New York often treat Providence as their weekend getaway place to enjoy the architecture, nightlife, culture, and unique culinary scenes.
Distance from Hartford to Providence: 1hr 35mins (94 miles)
I recommend spending a full day at Providence before you head to your next destination. Some of the activities or places you can explore include –
Visit Roger Williams Park
Being one of the major tourist attractions of Providence, Roger Williams Park graciously hosts 400 acres of land comprising a planetarium, a zoo, and natural history museums. Walking trails around the park make it easy for a tourist to explore iconic landmarks. The best spot is the 18th-century cottage. All-in-all, Roger Williams Park is a great place to start your exploration.
Tour the famous RISD Museum
A visit to Providence in Rhode Island is complete with making it to the RISD Museum. Founded in 1877, the museum is home to more than 100,000 pieces of artifacts worldwide. Right from collections of ancient art to intriguing sculptures and mosaics, you’ll find a vast display site of objects to browse through.
RISD Museum Fee | $17 for Adults, $12 for senior citizens, and free for youth under age 18.
Some other attractions which you can cover within a day in Providence include: Providence Performing Arts Center, Rhode Island Seafood Festival (September), and Rhode Island State Capitol.
Boston, MA
It’s time to hit Boston, finally! I suggest leaving Providence early in the morning so that you can utilize most of your daytime exploring the city’s top highlights.
Boston thrives on art, culture, history, and nightlife. There’s a plethora of things to see and do, making you stay a couple of days more to experience all of it. Visitors often need a separate itinerary for Boston to cover everything they want to see. And it ideally makes sense because the city houses numerous attractions worth visiting.
Boston is often regarded as a place for history buffs because of its past significant events like Boston Tea Party. However, looking at the city right, you’ll see the urban lifestyle completely shadowing those events. Yet, some museums and galleries have preserved the originality of Boston’s historical events. For modern-day folks like us, the city impresses with its cutting-edge restaurants, unique performances, harbor cruises, and popular events.
New York to Boston | Journey through the heart of New England in this epic weekend getaway trip to Boston. Discover thrumming activities, bustling museums, and picturesque settings of the beautiful country road.
Top things to do in Boston, MA –
The Freedom Trail
One of the most touristy things to do in Boston is to walk the 2.5-mile-long stretch of the Freedom Trail. The path ventures between 16 historic sites in Boston, and the trail journeys through sections of the city that are unmatched in beauty. Some of the iconic things you’ll see on the Freedom Trail are King’s Chapel, Old State House, Massachusetts State House, Faneuil Hall, Old Corner Bookstore, Park Street Church, and Old North Church. Visit this page to read the detailed list.
Relax at Boston Common
Boston has its own Central Park in the form of Boston Common. If you’ve had a long day exploring the city, then head to Boston Common. Being one of the oldest public parks in America, the place is well-known for hosting recreational activities and events.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
It’s one of the prettiest museums I’ve ever seen. When you visit any museum, you often appreciate the artwork, displays, and exhibits stored. But Isabella Stewart Gardner will change how you look at museums. This photogenic place is on everyone’s bucket list, only since it looks gorgeous. The courtyard is decorated with gardens, and small trees, which have been designed nicely with patios, textiles, and archways.
Places to stay: Boston Park Plaza | The Verb Hotel | The Godfrey Hotel Boston
Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth is one of the picturesque towns of New England. Nestled in the state of New Hampshire, the town has a lively sense of culture and nightlife that visitors thoroughly enjoy. Although it’s a small idyllic town, it still buzzes loudly at any time of the year.
Distance from Boston to Portsmouth: 1hr 5mins (61.6 miles)
Go shopping
The best way to explore Portsmouth is to go shopping. The energetic Downtown Portsmouth houses some of the state most amazing boutiques and shops. Walk down any side of the street, and you’ll see a variety of stores displaying clothes, antiques, local souvenirs, books, jewelry, and much more. Join any free walking tours of the Market Square to explore hidden galleries, old-fashioned stores, and gift shops.
Relax at the waterfront
The Portsmouth harbor offers a spectacular viewing experience of the Piscataqua River. Enjoy a delicious lunch by the river, or take a guided tour along the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. The entire path runs through local historic sites and scenic vantage points, which provide a beautiful walking experience of the coast.
Enjoy local cuisine
Portsmouth has a reputation for hosting lip-smacking culinary food. Whether you’re looking to fine dine or a casual bite, the town will satisfy you with its options. Head to Lexie’s Joint, which specializes in traditional in-house burgers, or Shio, which guarantees a soulful Japanese meal. If you need help deciding where to head, look at some dining options.
Portland, Maine
Maine is one of the populous states of New England, and there’s no better exploration spot than Portland to start your venture. Filled with pure beauty and reputable sites, Portland is a summer-getaway destination for most localities. From extensive coastlines to far-stretched beaches, the town can offer more than a little to up your summer experience.
Distance from Portsmouth to Portland: 51 minutes (52.2 miles)
While there’s no escape from the summer crowds, Portland still remains an unmissable destination in Maine. The streets, the beaches, and the parks are far more crowded than you’d expect, but it’s okay to compromise on it. If Portland’s points of interest and attractions interest you, you shouldn’t bother about visitors crowding it.
Best things to do in Portland, Maine –
Visit Judith
Based in Downtown Portland, Judith is home to world-class restaurants and bars that aim to deliver a perfect dining experience. The pubs in this area (literally) brighten up the entire atmosphere at night. In addition to its gastronomy, Judith marks itself as a retail harbor to house some of the most luxurious & well-known brands.
Portland Head Lighthouse
The lighthouse has been the main point of interest in Portland. Perched atop the cliff of Cape Elizabeth’s in Fort Williams Park, the lighthouse sits conveniently overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Plenty of walking trails run alongside the coastline, offering scenic vantage lookouts.
Eastern Promenade
During the evenings, the Eastern Promenade of Portsmouth offers the best views of Casco Bay. With a wide-open space with busy tourists, this waterfront is one of the best places in town to relax and unwind. Furthermore, there are paddleboats and kayaks for visitors to try water-based activities.
Accommodation: These are some of the best places to stay in Portland, Maine.
What’s more? Take an entire day out to explore top highlights of Portland including: Portland Museum of Art, Portland Observatory, Luna Rooftop Bar, Maine Brews Crews, and Old Port.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Visiting Acadia National Park is one of the highlights of our New York to Maine road trip. Despite being small, the national park predominantly occupies a vast area of Maine’s Mount Desert Island. Given the name ‘desert,’ visitors often think of this national park as having barren landscapes. However, it’s quite contrary to the belief most people have.
Acadia National Park teems with natural beauty that showcases rising cliffs from the sea intertwined with small fishing villages. The lush green forests make a pathway to the granite mountains with steep slopes, making the surroundings look more vibrant. A deep exploration of Acadia National Park guarantees the best scenic views and a culmination of natural elements like lakes, meadows, marshes, and a vast ocean.
How to reach? From your last stop i.e. Portland, its 174 miles via I-295 N and I-95 N to reach the national park. To travel within the park, I would recommend staying in one of the villages of the island and to use scheduled shuttle bus that runs daily across the circuit. Visit this link to get more info on the public transport.
Approximately 3-4 million visitors explore Acadia National Park every year. And that’s honestly a pretty good number. Since the park has so much to offer, even the locals living nearby in Maine and New York often find themselves returning time and again to explore its vastness.
Recommended | Need more info on how & when to visit? Read this handy travel guide to Acadia National Park.
How to Plan New York to Maine Road Trip Itinerary
When planning a road trip, the most challenging thing is compiling every stop and putting it inside a plan. Having a detailed schedule helps, but sometimes it’s good to keep your itinerary flexible. To help you out with your efforts, I’ve curated a sample 8-day itinerary for New York to Maine road trip. You can customize the plan, tweak it or discard any places you like from the schedule. But, more importantly, keep your plan flexible so that the entire road journey is smooth.
New York to Maine Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from New York
New York to Stamford (53 mins)
Explore Stamford
Stamford to New Haven (46 mins)
Overnight at New Haven
Day 2
Full-day exploration of New Haven
Overnight at New Haven
Day 3
New Haven to Hartford (40 mins)
Explore Hartford and visit main sites
Hartford to Providence (1hr 36mins)
Overnight at Providence
Day 4
Explore activities and experiences of Providence
Overnight at Providence
Day 5
Providence to Boston (1hr 18mins)
Opt to do activities in Boston
Overnight stay
Day 6
Half-day exploration of Boston’s highlights
Boston to Portsmouth (1hr 5mins)
Enjoy nightlife of Portsmouth
Overnight stay
Day 7
Portsmouth to Portland (52 mins)
Half-day exploration of Portland
Overnight stay at Portland (or near Acadia National Park)
Day 8
Full-day exploration of Acadia National Park
The above 8-day sample itinerary comprises of all the places listed in this guide. In addition, you can also checkout our next section to book guided tours and day-trips.
Popular Guided Tours & Excursions
With our partnership with GetYourGuide, you can book addtional excursions and guided day-trips at affordable prices. Some of these experiences are well-curated in order to match any existing travel plan. Below are some my recommendations that can compliment our New York to Maine road trip –
Further Readings & Resources
New York to Boston: New York to Boston Road Trip: A Perfect Weekend Escape in 2022
Los Angeles to Yosemite: 9 Sensational Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip Stops
Los Angeles to Joshua Tree: 5 Beautiful Los Angeles to Joshua Tree Road Trip
Amarillo to Santa Fe: 9 Beautiful Amarillo to Santa Fe Road Trip Stops
A couple of in-depth American Itineraries –
California: 10 Day California Road Trip: One Epic California Itinerary
Highlights of Alaska: 7 Day Alaska Itinerary : How To Spend One Week in Alaska
Ultimate Alaska: 10 Day Alaska Itinerary: Kenai & Denali Road Trip
