Maine doesn't ease you in. Leave the interstate and within twenty miles you can be on a two-lane road cutting through unbroken spruce forest with no cell signal, a moose in the ditch, and a fuel gauge you wish you'd checked earlier. That combination — genuine remoteness within reach of the coast — is what makes this state worth planning around.

The Western Mountain Roads

The Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (ME-17 / ME-4 / ME-142) is the road most riders remember first. The 35.6-mile designated byway runs through western Maine's lake-and-mountain country, and ME-17 from the south delivers sustained elevation change and continuous curves before it crests at the Height of Land pull-off — a wide paved overlook above Mooselookmeguntic Lake at roughly 2,890 feet. Pull in, kill the engine, and actually look at it. The full loop, adding ME-142 through Coos Canyon and Smalls Falls, runs about 88 miles.

From Rangeley, ME-27 — Kingfield to Coburn Gore takes you 67 miles north through the Carrabassett River valley and past Flagstaff Lake into real wilderness before the road narrows to a pine tunnel at the Chain of Ponds near the Quebec border. Services thin out significantly north of Stratton — fill the tank in Kingfield or Rangeley before heading up.

In the Oxford Hills, Route 113 through Evans Notch runs about 30 miles from Gilead south to Fryeburg, crisscrossing the Maine-New Hampshire line through White Mountain National Forest. The road is narrow, canopy-covered, and closely follows the Cold River and Evans Brook — it demands attention. The pavement was recently redone and is in good condition. Note that Route 113 closes for winter, typically from late November through late spring; check conditions before planning an early-season trip. Frost heaves and post-winter washouts are common near the notch.

The Grafton Notch Loop (Route 26 / 16 / US-2) gives you about 93 miles of mountain roads out of Bethel with a natural stop at Screw Auger Falls — Grafton Notch, a 23-foot waterfall in a granite gorge right off ME-26. Cash or check for the state park day-use fee.

The Northern Interior

ME-9 — The Airline earns its name: it's the most direct route between Bangor and Calais, 90-plus miles of boreal forest with long sweeping curves and almost no traffic. Cell coverage drops out for extended stretches in Hancock and Washington counties. Fuel up in Bangor before you leave — reliable pumps don't reappear until well into Washington County.

For a true north-country loop, pair the Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway (ME-15) with the Old Canada Road (US-201). ME-15 runs 59 miles from Greenville to Jackman past Maine's largest lake and through Rockwood with views of Mount Kineo. At Jackman it connects directly to US-201, a 78-mile National Scenic Byway that follows the Kennebec River south through The Forks and Wyman Lake to Solon. The Old Canada Road carries some international truck traffic, and moose are a real hazard — especially at dusk in the northern section. Plan fuel stops at Jackman and The Forks.

On US-201 in West Forks, Hawk's Nest Lodge & Restaurant sits on the Dead River bank and makes a solid lunch stop on the byway run.

The Coast

Acadia anchors any Maine coast itinerary. The Schoodic Loop Road (ME-186) is the 11-mile one-way peninsula drive on the mainland side of the park — no entrance fee, far less traffic than the main island, and the same granite-and-spruce scenery. It pairs naturally with the Bold Coast Scenic Byway (US-1 Downeast), Maine's least-traveled coastal corridor — 125 miles of working waterfronts, blueberry barrens, and rocky headlands in Washington County with almost none of the southern coast's seasonal resort traffic.

On the main island, the Cadillac Mountain Summit road branches off the Park Loop Road and climbs 3.5 miles to 1,530 feet. Motorcycles must reserve a timed entry slot individually from late May through mid-October. Thunder Hole — Acadia is two miles south of Bar Harbor on the Park Loop Road — worth the stop at mid-tide.

South of Acadia on US-1, Red's Eats in Wiscasset has been a rider stop since 1938. Open late spring through mid-fall; expect a line.

Rallies

The United Bikers of Maine Statewide runs every August at the New Portland Fairgrounds in Somerset County — bands, vendors, bike show, and multi-day camping. It's been running for 40 years and puts you in the middle of the western mountain riding corridor. The DownEast Rally, organized by BMW Riders of Southern Maine, runs every May at Agassiz Village in Poland — a smaller, road-focused weekend that welcomes all makes and uses the Rangeley and western lake region roads as its backyard.

Plan Your Ride

Maine's riding season runs roughly May through October, with June through September the most reliable. The northern and western routes — ME-9, ME-15, US-201, Route 113 — warrant a full fuel check before departure; services can be 60-plus miles apart. Moose are present on every northern road and are genuinely dangerous at dawn and dusk. If you're routing through Bangor, Central Maine Harley-Davidson on Route 2 in Hermon is a practical service stop near the I-95 interchange. Download offline maps before heading north — cell coverage on ME-9 and US-201 is not reliable enough to navigate on the fly.