Road	Length	High point
Bold Coast Scenic Byway (US-1 Downeast) A 125-mile designated Maine Scenic Byway beginning in Milbridge and ending in Calais, following US-1 and connecting spur roads through Washington County's Downeast coast. The corridor passes through the working waterfronts of Milbridge and Jonesport, the historic riverside villages of Cherryfield, Columbia Falls, and Machias, and along the rugged rocky shoreline that gives the Bold Coast its name. This is the least-traveled section of coastal Maine — almost no seasonal resort traffic — with authentic lobster wharves, blueberry barrens, and wild headlands along the Canadian border. The byway was designated a Maine State Scenic Byway in 2011.	213 mi	—
Cadillac Mountain SummitStop At 1,530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast north of Rio de Janeiro and the first place in the contiguous United States to see the sunrise for part of the year. A 3.5-mile paved summit road branches off the Park Loop Road inside Acadia National Park, spiraling to a summit with 360-degree views of Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, and the full Mount Desert Island ridge. The summit has a parking area, gift shop, and restrooms. A timed vehicle reservation is required from late May through mid-October — motorcycles must reserve individually. Closed November through April.	—	—
Central Maine Harley-DavidsonStop Full-service Harley-Davidson dealership on Route 2 in Hermon, approximately four miles west of downtown Bangor. Carries new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a full clothing and accessories floor, and a service department. Located near the I-95/Route 2 interchange, making it a practical stop for riders entering or exiting the northern Maine touring corridor toward Moosehead Lake, the Allagash, or Acadia.	—	—
Grafton Notch Loop (Route 26 / 16 / US-2) Newry, ME / Errol, NH / Bethel loop, ~93 mi. Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls; mountain views.	129 mi	—
Hawk's Nest Lodge & RestaurantStop A full-service lodge and restaurant on the bank of the Dead River in West Forks, serving the Old Canada Road (US-201) corridor. The wrap-around deck overlooks the river and makes for a memorable lunch or dinner stop on the 78-mile byway between Skowhegan and the Canadian border. The pub menu leans toward hearty fare suited for riders; the location is less than a mile north of the Kennebec River confluence. Under new local ownership since 2024. Open seasonally.	—	—
Height of LandStop Perched beside Route 17 in Township D, about 25 minutes south of Rangeley, Height of Land is one of the most celebrated roadside overlooks in the Northeast. The pull-off delivers a sweeping panorama of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the full Rangeley Lakes basin, framed by rolling forested ridgelines stretching to the horizon. A paved parking area accommodates motorcycles easily, and the viewing platform is accessible from the road in under a minute. The vista rewards the winding climb up Route 17 from the south — motorcyclists routinely rate this stretch among the best riding in New England.	—	—
ME-27 — Kingfield to Coburn Gore The northern 67-mile section of Maine State Route 27 from Kingfield to the Coburn Gore–Woburn border crossing into Quebec. The road winds along the Carrabassett River with views of Mount Abraham and the Bigelow Range before reaching Stratton and Eustis, then passes Flagstaff Lake and Cathedral Pines — Maine's largest stand of old-growth forest, covering 220 acres of 200-year-old red pines. North of Eustis the road narrows into a pine tunnel and traces the Chain of Ponds through true wilderness before reaching the border. The route follows portions of Benedict Arnold's 1775 expedition route to Quebec. Sugarloaf Mountain ski area sits just off the road near Carrabassett Valley.	74 mi	—
ME-9 — The Airline The eastern section of Maine State Route 9 from Bangor to Calais — known since the 1850s as 'The Airline' for being the shortest overland route between the two cities, saving roughly 60 miles over coastal US-1. The road cuts through one of the most remote stretches of pavement in the Northeast: Hancock and Washington counties' unbroken boreal forest, with long sweeping curves, minimal services, and almost no traffic. The isolation is genuine — cell coverage disappears for extended stretches. Communities en route include Clifton, Aurora, Beddington, Wesley, Crawford, and Alexander. Fuel up before departing Bangor; the next reliable pump is well into Washington County.	102 mi	—
Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway (ME-15) A 59-mile Maine Scenic Byway running along ME-15 from Greenville north to Jackman through the Kennebec and Moose River valleys. The route passes through Rockwood with direct views of Mount Kineo rising from Moosehead Lake — Maine's largest lake — and continues alongside Brassua Lake and the Moose River before arriving in Jackman near the Canadian border. The road carries minimal traffic and passes through genuine wilderness; moose sightings are common, especially in the northern section near the Chain of Ponds. The byway connects with US-201 at Jackman, enabling a natural loop combining both routes.	119 mi	—
Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (ME-17 / ME-4 / ME-142) A 35.6-mile National Scenic Byway through western Maine's lake-and-mountain country, officially following ME-4 and ME-17 around the Rangeley Lakes basin. Designated June 15, 2000, the route traverses the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains before dropping into rolling hills and valleys. ME-17 from the south delivers sustained curves and continuous elevation change, cresting at Height of Land — one of the most celebrated overlooks in the Northeast — with panoramic views of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and surrounding peaks. The full motorcycle loop (including ME-142 from Dixfield) runs approximately 88 miles with stops at Coos Canyon and Smalls Falls along the way.	52 mi	—
Red's EatsStop An institution since 1938 and one of the most-photographed roadside shacks in New England, Red's Eats sits at the corner of Water Street and Route 1 in downtown Wiscasset, right at the Sheepscot River bridge. The lobster roll — stuffed with more than a whole lobster's worth of fresh claw and tail meat, served with butter and mayo on the side — has been described by food writers and riders alike as a mandatory stop on any Maine coast run. The building is about the size of a minivan; eat at picnic tables on the riverbank. Open late April through mid-October, Tuesday–Sunday.	—	—
Schoodic Loop Road (ME-186) An 11-mile one-way loop road through the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park — the only part of Acadia on the mainland. The road begins and ends at ME-186 near Winter Harbor and Birch Harbor, running one-way clockwise along the rocky headlands of Frenchman Bay. This is 'the other Acadia': no entrance fee, dramatically less traffic than the main Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island, and the same Acadia granite-and-spruce scenery with open ocean views. The peninsula sits roughly 45 minutes east of Bar Harbor via US-1 and ME-186. Schoodic Point at the loop's apex offers exposed headland with crashing surf.	9 mi	—
Screw Auger Falls — Grafton NotchStop A 23-foot waterfall along the Bear River tucked inside Grafton Notch State Park, accessed directly from a signed pull-off on ME-26 — no trail involved beyond a 100-yard walk along a fenced gorge. The falls cut through a rugged pothole gorge in granite, and the setting is dense boreal forest with surrounding peaks. The park charges a day-use fee (cash/check only). Open May 15 through October 15. The park address is 1941 Bear River Road, Newry.	—	—
Thunder Hole — AcadiaStop A narrow sea-inlet carved into the granite coastline along Acadia's Park Loop Road, about two miles south of Bar Harbor. When waves enter the slot at mid-tide, compressed air explodes upward with a thunderous boom audible from the parking area. The Park Loop Road — a 27-mile one-way scenic drive — is one of the finest motorcycle roads in the Northeast, and Thunder Hole is its most dramatic single stop. A paved parking area and walkway are accessible directly from the road. Park entry fee applies.	—	—

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

May–October; Sept. ideal

Helmet law

Partial (under 18 + new riders)

Lane splitting

Not legal

Signature terrain

Coast, notch, boreal wilderness

Maine is a state where the riding is honest and the landscape does the talking. The coast is genuine — working wharves, blueberry barrens, and granite headlands rather than resort strip — and the interior opens into some of the most sparsely traveled paved roads in the eastern United States. The western mountains deliver sustained elevation change on routes like ME-17 and ME-26, while the north and east serve up long solitary corridors through boreal forest where cell coverage fades and moose share the road at dusk. The tradeoffs are real: services thin out fast beyond the coastal corridor, weather turns abruptly, and several of the best mountain roads close for winter. Plan fuel and lodging carefully, and Maine rewards that effort with roads that feel nothing like the crowded touring circuits further south.

Maine divides cleanly into three riding regions, and knowing which one you're in shapes every planning decision.

The Coast

US-1 and its spurs carry the bulk of visitor traffic in summer — expect congestion from Kittery to Bar Harbor in July and August. The antidote is timing and route selection. The Schoodic Loop Road and the Bold Coast Scenic Byway sit east of the typical tourist corridor and see a fraction of that traffic, with the same rocky-shore character and none of the resort congestion. Acadia's Park Loop Road and the Cadillac Mountain Summit road are worth the effort, but require advance planning: the Cadillac Summit Road requires a timed-entry vehicle reservation through Recreation.gov during the season (roughly late May through late October), and that reservation sells out. Download your QR code before entering the park — cell service inside is unreliable.

The Western Mountains

This is Maine's strongest riding terrain for riders who want sustained road character over long mileage. The Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (ME-17/ME-4) delivers continuous elevation change and the Height of Land overlook above Mooselookmeguntic Lake — one of the most photographed reveals in the East. The Grafton Notch Loop (Route 26/16/US-2) combines Screw Auger Falls with mountain views on a ~93-mile circuit. ME-27 from Kingfield to Coburn Gore follows the Carrabassett River past the Bigelow Range and narrows into genuine wilderness north of Eustis. Route 113 through Evans Notch — a narrow, recently repaved corridor along the Cold River through White Mountain National Forest — is seasonally closed in winter, typically opening in early May and closing by mid-November; verify status before riding it.

The Interior and Downeast

These routes trade mountain drama for solitude and scale. ME-9 (The Airline) cuts through unbroken boreal forest between Bangor and Calais with minimal services and genuine isolation. The Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway (ME-15) and the Old Canada Road (US-201) run north through the Kennebec Valley toward the Canadian border — both corridors where moose are a consistent hazard at dawn and dusk, not a novelty.

Planning Notes

Fuel: On ME-9, US-201 north of Jackman, and ME-27 north of Stratton, carry enough range for 80–100 miles between reliable pumps.
Weather: Pack a rain layer regardless of the forecast. Coastal fog arrives without warning, and mountain temps run 10–15°F cooler than valley readings.
Lodging: Book ahead in July–August on the coast. Greenville and Jackman are the practical bases for interior routes; options are limited and fill up during peak season.
Foliage: September brings peak color in the western mountains and Downeast corridor, with lighter traffic than midsummer — the strongest overall window for most of these rides.

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// Frequently asked

Maine does not have a universal helmet law for adult riders. Helmets are legally required for operators and passengers under 18, anyone riding on a learner's permit, and anyone within one year of completing their motorcycle driving test. Passengers of an operator required to wear a helmet must also wear one. Experienced adult riders are not required by law to wear one, though it is strongly advisable.

Yes. Motorcycles are classified as vehicles, and a timed-entry vehicle reservation through Recreation.gov is required to drive the Cadillac Summit Road during the reservation season (roughly late May through late October). Reservations cost $6 per vehicle and are separate from the park entrance fee. Book ahead — slots sell out. Cell service inside the park is unreliable, so download your QR code confirmation before you arrive.

The Cadillac Summit Road at Acadia closes in November and reopens in spring. Route 113 through Evans Notch (Gilead to Fryeburg) is a seasonal road that closes in mid-to-late fall and typically reopens in early May — check current status before planning that route. The Grafton Notch and Rangeley areas remain paved and open year-round, but conditions degrade quickly in late fall.

Both, depending on the region. The coast — US-1, the Bold Coast Byway, and Acadia — is suited to multi-day touring with services reasonably available. The western mountain routes (Rangeley Lakes Byway, ME-27, Grafton Notch Loop) pair well into two- or three-day loops out of Bethel, Kingfield, or Rangeley. The interior corridors like ME-9 (The Airline) and the Moosehead Lake Byway require more planning: fuel is scarce, and lodging options thin out significantly north of Greenville.

No. Lane splitting is not legal in Maine. Riders must remain within a single lane and follow standard traffic laws.

Moose are the most serious wildlife hazard — large, dark, and hard to see at dusk and dawn, especially on the Moosehead Lake Byway, ME-9, and US-201 north of Jackman. Coastal fog can reduce visibility quickly on US-1 and near Acadia. Frost heaves and pavement irregularities appear on rural roads each spring. On remote routes like ME-9 and ME-27 north of Eustis, cell coverage disappears for extended stretches — carry a paper map and plan fuel stops before you leave.

//Sources & references

Maine Motorcycle Helmet Law — Maine State Legislature (29-A MRS §2083) ↗Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations — Recreation.gov (Acadia National Park) ↗Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations FAQ — Friends of Acadia ↗Route 113 / Evans Notch Seasonal Closure — Center Lovell Inn (seasonal averages) ↗Maine Motorcycle Riding Season Overview — GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗