Buzz,I've given some thought----not sure how many days you have but here's my thought--when leaving Stowe area[beautiful] head to N Conway,NH Spend a night there[Briarcliff Motel] ,take you most the day to get there, next day ride Mt Washington auto road or at least rt302 and 16 in that area[kancamangus rt112 if time] then head to Bangor Me via rt2 either use that as a hub area[we stay at Fireside motel next to casino] or head towards Ellsworth. There are many motels in both areas-while here go to Bar Harbor[Mt Desert Island] Acadia national park and ride Cadilac Mt ,try to make Bucksport , head towards Cherryfield[rt 9] one day and loop back rt1 and 3 to Bangor or Ellsworth . Just a reminder-most of the motel/hotels are high this time of year ,it's their peak time and book fast ,most of them inland are less $$ and not as full ,but July /Aug in Maine is full of tourist-------it's a beautiful place to ride[60% of my riding is there]-----if you decide to stay south ,I suggest WELLS area--N,rbeach Motel[friend of mine] ,USA Inn[central to eats and adult beverages]or TheGallery--they are all reasonable in price that time of year and many routes to ride from that area------when you get closer to your dates keep me posted,I'll be in Smokies last 2 weeks of July---Rocker

 

I was in ME last June and had a blast. Most definitely ride to Bar Harbor!

 

If you end up near Bar Harbor check out Caddilac Mountain. It's amazing to see the views and the pink granite. Most routes along the coast are nice riding with the exception of the Kittery Outlets area. Too much traffic and too many bargin hunters for me.

 

My wife and I went to Maine summer 2013. The places that we liked was Kittery Trading Post in Kittery Maine. It's just into Maine right off of I-95

http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/

On US 1 we went through Wiscassett in search the famed Lobster Roll. Big Moose HD in Portland suggested Red Eats for the best Lobster Roll around and they were right. Amazing!

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Over...spx?RefID=2959

We spent a night in Bethel Maine and Sudbury Inn. Nice B&B with a bar/restaurant in the basement

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...hel_Maine.html

Also spent a night in Belfast at an old school cottage resort/park Colonial Gables Oceanfront Village
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ast_Maine.html

Maine is an incredibly beautiful place. Have fun!

 

We stay in Wells in August been going there for 25 years... very scenic but as others have said the traffic makes getting around a challenge...

Nubble Light York Beach







Perkins Cove Ogunquit



Kennebunkport

 

Thanks guys. Some really good info and some nice pics. I think wherever we end up its going to be a lobster fest when we hit some of these spots along the coast. Anyone have any suggestions on routes inland?

 

Anyone do any riding way up in the tip around Presque Isle?

 

Buzz, I've done rt11 out of Bangor to Fort Kent twice---wouldn't really recommend --rt2 and 2a to Houlton and Presque Isle are nice rides then rt1 back to Ellsworth area is nice--if you want to make the Americas First Mile marker rt1 Make it to Fort Kent /Madawaska area. I,ll try to load some pics this week ,rt11 is no man,s land--think its like 180 miles from Bangor to Fort Kent. This will take you most of the day[seriously] I see you mentioned Auburn area, jmo-better areas to stay--I've traveled across our beautiful country 12 times and seen many places--just trying to help you guys enjoy Maine--I spent 6 days leaving southern NH going
North to the white mts area then to Bangor area to Fort Kent To Bar Harbor to Portland to southern Nh ,that should give you an idea time wise of what you guys can do. I,ll try to do some pics later in the week---Rocker

 

Have fun!

 

Rocker NH may know the route numbers, but about 30 years ago we took a long day trip to Sugarloaf Mountain, over to Rangeley, down to Rumford, over to Bethel, & down to Lynchville (photo op there with a cool sign post giving directions to Naples, Paris, Peru, China, and other towns in Maine that are named after foreign places). Not far from there to Norway and back to Auburn, where we were staying. It was very scenic with plenty of mountains and lakes. Watch out for moose and bears! Like Rocker NH said, there are prettier places to stay than Auburn, but its centrally located to a lot of places, and is a lot less expensive. Not much to do there if you got stuck on a rain day other than some of the classic watering holes in Lewiston. There used to be a Harley dealer there, but with all the H-D palaces going up, I'm not sure about that now.