An easy drive from Boston, this wild coastal state is the US road trip you need to take

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In autumn, Maine’s forests are ablaze in reds and golds, while spring, summer and winter offer a host of ways to enjoy its natural landscapes – from snowmobile tours, to cross country skiing, hiking and cycling

In this state, you’ll find dramatic coastal scenery studded with gorgeous New England towns.

You’ll dine on the freshest, sweetest lobster, hike mountains, bathe in shimmering lakes and wander the streets of buzzing, creative Portland, soaking up that warm, welcoming vibe.

In spring, you’ll find alpine wildflower meadows and in autumn, forests and shorelines are ablaze in reds and golds. By day, you can be spotting bald eagles and majestic moose, by night, gazing up at some of the most dazzling starscapes in the world.

This is Maine. Easy to reach with direct flights to Boston airport, just an hour away from Maine’s border, and yet just wild enough to promise an epic fly-drive adventure.

Into the wild

Maine is known for its many heritage lighthouses that are dotted along the coastline

Everywhere you turn, there’s a different view. Mountain scenery and wildflower meadows. Blazing sunrises over the sea. Cliffs topped by heritage lighthouses. Pine-clad islands, lakes and rivers, waterfalls and dense forest. There is a reason they say Maine is forged by nature.

The peninsulas and islands of Acadia National Park offer stunning hiking and cycling trails and routes along historic carriage roads. Summit Cadillac Mountain to witness the first sunrise of continental USA. Explore the Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island, and soak up the dramatic scenery of the less-explored Schoodic Peninsula.

Stunning natural vistas are everywhere as you travel across Maine (pictured: Jordon Pond Rocks)

If you are in search of wildlife, Maine has plenty of options – such as the Kennebec Valley

Head to the Kennebec Valley region in central Maine, or Maine Highlands in the centre of Maine, for a moose safari, go whale-watching on the coast during the summer months and look out for puffins, or venture to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument to spot black bears, Canada lynx and hundreds of bird species.

Small towns, big buzz

Portland’s scenic harbour is a great place to start for a shot of culture, fabulous food and waterfront charm

Even the city of Portland has a friendly small-town feel. Maine is an exceptionally welcoming place, whether you’re stopping off at a wilderness cabin, enjoying a stay at a working farm, or soaking up the charm of a historic inn.

Portland’s scenic harbour is a great place to start for a shot of culture, fabulous food and waterfront charm, but you’ll also find plenty of reasons to stop off on your road trip.

Soak in Bath’s rich maritime history at the Maine Maritime Museum

Bath is rich in ship-building history which funded the gorgeous mansions and leafy neighbourhoods. Bethel is a quintessential New England mountain village with exceptional scenery, while Bar Harbor is the pretty, pine-backed coastal town that is your gateway to Acadia National Park.

Catch Of the day

Grab a lobster roll at a beach shack or enjoy a fine dining version at a fancy restaurant

An impressive 80 per cent of America’s lobster is caught in Maine waters

Follow the Maine Oyster Trail to slurp raw seafood directly from the shell, hopping between islands and some of the state’s 150 different oyster farms.

Did you know that 80 per cent of America’s lobster is sourced in Maine waters? You’ll see why those pillowy lobster rolls are so ubiquitous. Grab one at a quintessential lobster shack or enjoy a fine dining version at a fancy restaurant. Want to work up an appetite for your dinner? Head out with a local fisherman to help with the catch before warming up with a hearty clam chowder, another local delicacy.

Maine’s towns offer more culinary delights with local breweries and farmers markets

It’s not just seafood, Maine is also home to a booming farm-to-table restaurant scene, while farmers’ markets bustle in the heart of picturesque New England towns. Stop off at craft ale breweries, sip a local cider and visitdistilleries tucked into the rolling hills.

The ultimate drive

So splendid are Maine’s landscapes that it has the oldest network of scenic byways in the US. These are short, manageable stretches that can become the heart of your road trip, inviting you to see nature at its finest and weave together lovely stops along the way.

Here are a few favourites to get you on the road for your driving adventure…

Acadia All-American Road

Sand Beach in Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is awash with stunning scenery – like Schooner Head

This 40-mile route is the gold standard of American road trips. You’ll start on the mainland, then wend your way through Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island before ending in Acadia National Park.

Hire a kayak or take a boat trip to spot seals and porpoises playing in the waters along the shoreline, or head to the island’s interior to explore granite mountains and shimmering, fir-lined lakes. Don’t forget to make the most of the fresh-caught seafood in town when the fishing boats return.

Old Canada Road

If you want to spot wildlife, this 78-mile route heading towards the Canadian border is your best bet. Start at the Robbins Hill Scenic Lookout and head north, looking out for moose and white-tailed deer through the trees, or bald eagles soaring above the Kennebec River. The whole region is laced with rivers and streams, with waterfalls splashing into small pools. Why not hike the well-marked forest trails to Moxie Falls the highest waterfall in Maine?

You can travel to end of this road and into Quebec or take a turn in Jackman (almost the end) for a stunning drive following a state scenic byway to Moosehead Lake.

Schoodic National Scenic Byway

Why not eat your dinner perched on a rocky outcrop, looking across the waves to the pine-covered islands?

Arguably the best drive in the state for sweeping coastal views. At just 29 miles, this route takes you through pretty, sheltered harbours and authentic fishing towns backed by dramatic cliffs. You’ll pass white, clapboard homes and heritage lighthouses standing proudly on rocky promontories. Stop for a lobster roll from a seafood shack and eat it perched on a rocky outcrop, looking across the waves to the pine-covered islands.

Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway

The Rangeley Lakes region is a must-see on any trip to Maine

Just 35 miles long, but this stretch of road through Maine’s western mountains and lakes holds the most picturesque view in the state. Park up and hike a section of the Appalachian Trail, or simply drive all the way up to the Height of Land, a sweeping panorama of the lakes, mountains, and forests that define this region. In autumn, the leaves blaze over the hill in every shade of red and gold. Sip a freshly pressed cider from the autumn harvest.

When winter falls, as it does early in Maine, the snow-covered mountains are a paradise for winter sports. Go skiing, snowshoeing, or ice-skating on the lakes. Saddleback is Maine’s third-largest ski and snowboard area, while Rangeley’s lakes and ponds are perfect for ice fishing. Check out the scenic mountain town of Oquossoc where you will find over 100-miles of world-class snowmobile trails.

Give snowshoeing a go as a way to see Maine’s beauty in the winter

Wild, welcoming and easy to reach, Maine is the ideal fly-drive adventure, oozing New England charm and serving up sensational seafood alongside those dreamy scenic views.