8 Best Lakeside Towns in Maine

Maine's lake country delivers real summer-New England calm. The eight lakeside towns below range from a 40-square-mile working lake (Moosehead at Greenville) to the Belgrade Lakes Region's interconnected chain of seven lakes, with mountain views, Appalachian Trail access, and genuine cold Maine water in most of them. Rangeley is a four-season mountain-lake town. Bridgton anchors the Sebago region's arts scene. Naples connects two lakes by a historic canal lock. Whether packing a picnic for Highland Lake in Bridgton or booking a scenic flight with Naples Seaplane Adventures, these are Maine's strongest lakefront picks.

Maine Bucket-List TownsCoastal villages, mountain settlements, and the Maine towns that consistently top travel lists.

Rangeley

Rangeley sits on Rangeley Lake in western Maine, surrounded by six other connected lakes and the Western Maine Mountains. The town works year-round: Saddleback Mountain for skiing in winter, the Appalachian Trail for hiking through spring and fall, and Height of the Land along Route 17 for the signature lake-and-mountain vista (one of the most photographed overlooks in Maine). Warmer months open up fishing (Rangeley is famous for its historic landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout fishery), boating, and swimming. Moose sightings are common around dawn and dusk on the back roads. The Black Pearl handles downtown dining with pizza, salads, and seasonal dishes.

Bridgton

Bridgton is the cultural anchor of the Sebago Lakes Region, with Highland Lake running through town and Long Lake a few miles away. Highland Lake Beach offers public swimming and picnic space downtown. Holt Pond Preserve on the edge of town covers 400 acres of bog ecosystem with boardwalks for birdwatching. The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity focuses on Rufus Porter, the 19th-century itinerant muralist who founded Scientific American magazine in 1845; several of his murals survive on Bridgton-area walls. Downtown retail covers Bridgton Books (independent bookseller), J.Decor (wine and home goods), and Corn Shop Trading Co. (fudge and gifts).

Belgrade

Belgrade anchors the Belgrade Lakes Region, a chain of seven connected lakes in central Maine (Great, Long, Messalonskee, North, East, Snow, and McGrath Ponds). The lakes support paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and fishing in summer, and ice fishing, ice skating, and snowmobiling in winter. Hikers have several options nearby: French Mountain (a short family-friendly trail to a panoramic summit over Long Pond), Blueberry Hill, and Mount Phillip. For food, H.J. Blake's for Goodness Sakes runs seasonally in warm months with lobster rolls, burgers, and hand-cut fries. Hello, Good Pie Co. is the local pie stop.

Sebago

The town of Sebago sits along Sebago Lake, Maine's second-largest lake at 45 square miles (Moosehead is the largest) and one of the deepest lakes in the state at 316 feet. The water is exceptionally clean, Sebago Lake supplies Portland's drinking water without filtration. Sebago Lake State Park has over five miles of trails and one of the most popular swimming beaches in southern Maine. Sportsman's Kitchen and Keg or Richards' Dairy Delight handle local dining. Tykona II runs sunset cruises on the lake. The Sebago Historical Society and Museum covers local history including Shaker settlement and early tourism.

Harrison

Harrison sits between Long Lake and Crystal Lake in western Maine, earning its "two-lake village" identity. Power boating is popular on Long Lake, which connects via the Songo River to Sebago Lake. Scribner's Mill Preservation on the Crooked River preserves a working 19th-century water-powered sawmill where visitors can see 1800s industrial woodworking demonstrations. Deertrees Theater and Cultural Center (built 1936) runs over 40 productions annually, operas, concerts, and tribute shows. Millie's on Main serves locally sourced sandwiches, salads, and tacos.

Greenville

Greenville sits at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, Maine's largest lake at 75,000 acres. The town serves as the gateway to the Moosehead Lake region and to Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness, the longest stretch of the Appalachian Trail without road crossings or towns. This is one of the best places in New England to spot moose (the Greenville area has one of the highest moose densities in the lower 48). Mount Kineo State Park, on a peninsula jutting into the middle of Moosehead, features 700-foot rhyolite cliffs, Native Americans quarried stone here for tools going back 9,000 years. The Stress Free Moose Pub handles downtown dining and live music. Kamp Kamp downtown sells quirky Maine souvenirs.

Naples

Naples sits at the north end of Long Lake and the south end of Brandy Pond in the Sebago Lakes Region, with the historic Songo Lock connecting the two. Songo Lock has operated since 1830 as part of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal system and still functions manually. On very clear days, Mount Washington in New Hampshire (85 miles northwest) is visible from Naples's public viewing station. Dingley's Wharf rents boats and jet skis; Naples Seaplane Adventures offers short scenic flights over the lakes. Causeway Walk along the waterfront holds shops and Rick's Cafe. The Naples Information Center covers seasonal events and outfitters.

Winthrop

Winthrop is named after John Winthrop, the first colonial governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629-1649). The town sits in the Winthrop Lakes Region with 11 bodies of water in and around its boundaries. Winthrop Town Beach on Maranacook Lake is walkable from the downtown village. Cobbosseecontee Lake (locally "Cobbossee") is known for largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing and the 1908 Ladies Delight Lighthouse, one of the few freshwater lighthouses in the US. Downtown shops include Freckle Salvage Company for handmade gifts. The Winthrop Arts Festival runs each August. White Duck Brew Pub handles made-from-scratch wings, soups, salads, burgers, and more.

Friendliest Maine TownsMaine towns where the summer-season tourist economy hasn't swallowed the neighbourliness.

Eight Lakes, Eight Maine Summers

Each town here builds around a specific lake or chain: Rangeley around its namesake lake in the western mountains, Bridgton and Naples around the Sebago chain, Belgrade around the Seven Lakes, Sebago Lake itself, Harrison between Long and Crystal, Greenville at Moosehead's southern tip, and Winthrop among 11 connected waters. Summer is the obvious season, but fall foliage rivals any New England state and winter brings ice fishing and snowmobiling.

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