9 Tiny Off-Grid Towns In Maine
Maine is an outdoors lover's paradise, with miles of rugged, rocky coastline, rivers and streams, and thousands of acres of state and national parks. It’s no surprise that millions of visitors visit every year, especially the tiny, off-grid towns. Whether you prefer hiking secluded mountain trails, paddling across calm glassine lakes, or skiing some of the most pristine slopes east of the Rockies, you can find it all here. Maine is full of tiny rural hamlets, like Belfast, Lubec, and Machias, far off the main thoroughfares for travelers seeking more solitude. These are some of the best tiny towns to visit on your next trip through Maine.
Bethel
About an hour and a half northwest of Portland in Maine’s Lakes and Mountains Region, Bethel is a charming and historic New England village on the banks of the Androscoggin River. With the White Mountain National Forest located just a quick drive away, this town offers year-round outdoor recreation activities. In the summer, Grafton Notch State Park is a popular destination for hiking and mountain biking, while visiting in the fall will treat visitors to gorgeous fall foliage. In the winter, head to the Sunday River Resort just outside of town for skiing and snowboarding opportunities, or go snowshoeing along the miles of public trails in the dense forest surrounding the village.
In town, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum features exhibits on the region's geologic history, several meteorites, gorgeous geodes, and a rotating series of special exhibits. Admission is $15 for adults and free for children 12 and under. On hot summer days, head up to Frenchman’s Hole, a secluded swimming hole and waterfall north of the village, to cool off in the icy mountain water.
Cape Elizabeth
This charming seaside town of about 9,000 may be just a short drive across the Casco Bay Bridge from the largest city in Maine, but when exploring its secluded coves and rocky coastline, you may feel miles away from civilization.
If you like lighthouses, you will love Cape Elizabeth, as several dot the rugged coast. The most notable and popular is the Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Overlooking Casco Bay, find great views of Ram Island Ledge Light Station and Cushing Island in the distance. In the same park, visitors can also explore the ruins of the Goddard Mansion and carefully walk through the abandoned Fort Williams Bunker, a remnant of the park’s past life as a military installation. For those who prefer sand beach to rocky coastline, travel down to Crescent Beach State Park to take in the grassy dunes and ocean breezes. Herring gulls are abundant here for birdwatchers; just be sure to guard your food closely if you choose to eat at one of the many picnic areas in the park.
Belfast
One of the most popular drives in Maine is the scenic oceanside drive up US Route 1. The road closely follows the coast of the Atlantic Ocean all the way up to Canada, passing through several picturesque small towns along the way. One of the most gorgeous towns along this route is the town of Belfast in Waldo County. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River where it flows into Belfast Bay, this town has a charming and walkable downtown with plenty of options for waterfront dining. Walk across the river on the Belfast Armistice Bridge and pay a visit to Perry’s Nut House to pick up candy, gag gifts, and other souvenirs. Belfast is surrounded by state parks and nature preserves, making it easy to get outside and explore. Drive north on Route 1 to Moose Point State Park to explore hiking trails in the inland forests and tide pools along the coast.
To learn more about the history of the town, stop by the Belfast Historical Society and Museum and explore exhibits related to the maritime identity and extant brick architecture. Dog lovers should plan a trip in September to catch Maine Wienerfest, an annual celebration of the dachshund, which features a dachshund costume contest, parade, and tons of food and retail vendors.
Bucksport
If you are driving north on US Route 1, you will catch your first glimpse of the riverfront town of Bucksport as you cross the iconic Penobscot Narrows Bridge from Prospect Ferry. The bridge carries drivers 135 feet above the Penobscot River and deposits them directly onto Main Street in Bucksport. Before crossing, be sure to check out the view from the top of the 420-foot observatory on the western pylon for sweeping 360-degree views of the river, the bay, and distant mountains to the north. Also of note is Historic Fort Knox, one of the best-preserved Civil War-era forts anywhere in the country, and a fascinating window into Maine’s history.
Once you get to Bucksport, you can stroll along Main Street and listen to the rushing waters of the Penobscot as you explore the dining and shopping options. Stop by the Bucksport Historical Society Museum, housed inside a converted railway station, to learn about the town’s extensive history and explore a range of local artifacts. Fishing enthusiasts shouldn’t leave before visiting Silver Lake, just a few miles north of town, for excellent opportunities for smallmouth bass angling.
Machias
About 15 miles before reaching Machias, you will pass by Wild Blueberry Land, a bakery and miniature museum shaped like a giant blueberry. That is because Machias and the surrounding area are part of Maine's blueberry belt. The state is the world's largest producer of wild blueberries, and the town of Machias celebrates this delicious export every August during the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival. This three-day-long event features cooking contests, parades, and a pie-eating contest and is free for anyone to attend. Birdwatchers also flock to Machias to visit the remote Machias Seal Island in the Gulf of Maine, the summertime home of several colonies of seabirds, including Arctic terns and Atlantic puffins.
Machias is also the site of the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War. In 1775, British soldiers requested that local residents provide timber to build forts in Massachusetts. The Machias' population took umbrage with this request and fought and captured the British ship. The Burnham Tavern Museum, the oldest standing building in eastern Maine, is the place where the rebels hatched the plot, and it is a fascinating window into day-to-day life in the Colonial Era. Also worth a visit is the nearby Fort O'Brien State Historic Site, one of a handful of forts in the state that were active in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War.
Lubec
Lubec is located on a peninsula in the Passamaquoddy Bay and is the easternmost municipality in the contiguous US. The small town is home to many artists and craftspeople, and there are several small galleries and studios throughout the area. On your way in, stop at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, a 49-foot-tall historic landmark originally built in 1808. The red and white striped tower is the only “candy-striped” lighthouse in the country.
Just across the Lubec Narrows is Campobello Island, home to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. If you have your passport, you can drive across the FDR Memorial Bridge and take a tour of the Roosevelts’ summer home. The island also features several lighthouses, hiking trails, and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
As part of Maine’s Bold Coast, the coastal area south of the town provides a chance to see the same stunning scenery that makes Acadia National Park a top-visited National Park in the country, without the crowds. The Bold Coast Trail in nearby Cutler is a great place to explore this dramatic part of the state, following a densely wooded path through cedar swamp and maritime-spruce fir forest before emerging at the coast to a stunning view of the ocean, the craggy coastline stretching out in either direction.
Fort Kent
At the very top of Maine in Aroostook County, Fort Kent sits at the confluence of the St. John and Fish Rivers. Located just over the border from New Brunswick, Canada, visitors can walk across the Clair Fort Kent Bridge and explore the neighboring town of Clair to add a little international flair to their Maine vacation.
Fort Kent is home to the northern terminus of US Route 1, the historic road that runs 2,390 miles through 14 states and Washington, DC, before ending in Key West, FL. The town has constructed a monument to America’s First Mile, the starting point for anyone hoping to drive the entirety of the longest north-south road in the country. Another popular attraction is the original blockhouse at the Fort Kent State Historic Site, an artifact of the town’s beginning as a military installation during the Aroostook War in the early 19th century, a border dispute between the US and Canada. The blockhouse now serves as a museum and is a National Historic Landmark.
Millinocket
Fashioning itself the state’s “Biggest Small Town,” Millinocket is right in the middle of the North Maine Woods, surrounded by thousands of acres of dense forest, roaring rivers, placid lakes, and towering mountains. While originally a paper mill town, due to the easy access to timber, today Millinocket is better known as a jumping-off point for outdoor recreation.
Baxter State Park, the largest state park in Maine, is just a short drive away. Famous for its abundance of recreational opportunities, hikers, skiers, climbers, cyclists, and paddlers will all find something for themselves among the park’s more than 40 peaks. It’s most famous, Katahdin, is the highest mountain in the state, and the northern terminus of the famed Appalachian Trail. The hike to the top is widely considered one of the best in the country, if not the world. For those who want to explore the area without the sore quads and calves, snowmobiling is especially popular in the winter. The town maintains its own trails that connect to larger regional trail networks, and several outfitters offer guided tours and rentals to out-of-towners.
Greenville
Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine, covering over 75,000 acres in the northwestern region of the state. Greenville is an ideal gateway to everything this area has to offer. Situated on the southern shore, this lakeside town provides access to stunning hikes, gorgeous views, and excellent fishing. On the way into town, stop by Indian Hill Trading Post to stock up on outdoor supplies and grab gifts and souvenirs. For an excellent day hike, head out into the center of the vast lake to climb Mount Kineo for panoramic views from atop the 763-foot cliffs. To catch a glimpse of the megafauna from which the lake takes its name, there are several companies in town that offer guided moose safaris.
Greenville is also a perfect place to stop before heading out into the 100-Mile Wilderness, the second-to-last section of the Appalachian Trail, which offers intrepid hikers pristine wilderness and plenty of solitude. Gulf Hagas, also known as the Grand Canyon of Maine, is a very popular hike in the area, featuring numerous waterfalls and secluded swimming holes.
Don’t Sleep on Maine’s Tiny Towns
Whether you like rocky coastline or towering pine forest, paddling across mist-hung lakes or cross-country skiing in remote mountains, Maine has enough adventures within its borders for several lifetimes. From Cape Elizabeth in the south to Fort Kent, just across the river from Canada, and from the craggy shoreline of the Bold Coast to the vast lakes of Central Maine, find charming small towns hidden away in every corner of this beautiful state.
