Maine's 7 Most Laid-Back Towns For 2025
Maine is a place where you can fully exhale, kick back, and relax. Maybe it is the tangy salt air coming in from the Atlantic. Or perhaps it is the calming atmosphere of the vast pine forests.
Whatever it may be, Maine has perfected the art of slowing down and appreciating life's beauty. Visitors here sit at the edge of the water, watching the sunset stain the waves a brilliant shade of gold. Some head to the woods for hiking, picnicking, and camping.
If you need to leave your busy life behind for a while and just immerse yourself in natural beauty, Maine is the place to be. More specifically, the following seven towns are where you will find absolute aid-back magic.
Fryeburg
In Fryeburg, things almost move with the rhythm of the Saco River, slow and peaceful. Fryeburg sits in the foothills of the White Mountains and is the perfect place to paddle on the river or picnic on its banks. You can also get into a tube if you want a ‘lazy river’ experience.
If you plan on spending a couple of days in Fryeburg during the fall, be sure to explore the Fryeburg fairgrounds. The grounds host Maine’s largest agricultural fair every fall, the Fryeburg Fair. At the fair, you can enjoy local crafts and homemade pies that smack of small-town tradition, as well as livestock shows.
For an even more laid-back experience, take a scenic drive along Route 113 through Evans Notch. This is one of Maine’s most beautiful routes, with gorgeous mountain views and trailheads that lead to secret waterfalls.
Greenville
Greenville is located on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake and invites visitors to Maine’s wilderness in the north. However, the wild heart of Maine is not your only option. You can find the tranquility you crave right inside the town limits.
Start with a morning cruise on Moosehead Lake, while keeping an eye out for loons and moose along the shoreline. Afterwards, you can take a stroll through downtown, grab a coffee, and watch floatplanes take off from the lakefront during the International Seaplane Fly-In event.
If you want some nature time after all, Lily Bay State Park is just a short fifteen-minute drive away. The park is great for lakeside strolling and picnicking, or you can just relax with a book.
End your laid-back day at the Stress Free Moose Pub and Café, where you can enjoy live music and more of Greenville’s easygoing atmosphere.
New Harbor
If postcard-perfect coastal serenity is what you are after, look no further than New Harbor. This small fishing village in the town of Bristol offers rugged shorelines, lobster boats, and a sense of peace and calm.
A must-see attraction, 9 minutes from the town center, is Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, where you will find one of Maine’s most iconic lighthouses. You can climb to the top of the Pemaquid Point Light, weather permitting, and look out over the jagged rocks and seemingly endless ocean below.
Remember to visit the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site as well, where 17th-century artifacts bring the story of early settlers to life. The site also depicts the town’s deep maritime roots.
When night falls, enjoy a classic lobster dinner at Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf. You can dine outdoors as you watch the boats glide across the water. After dinner, you get into a boat yourself and take a relaxing sunset cruise around the harbor.
Millinocket
Millinocket is located on the edge of Maine’s greatest wilderness. The town is a tranquil base for exploring Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Ideally, you want to start your visit to Millinocket with a trip to Baxter State Park. Here, you will find hiking trails that run through pine forests and past beautiful ponds. You can climb Mount Katahdin if you want to have a bit of an adventure, or you can opt for easy walks and picnic spots.
Back in town, the Millinocket Historical Society awaits. The society helps preserve the Millinocket’s papermaking heritage. You will also learn more about the town's close-knit community.
Should you want to explore more of the outdoors afterwards, you can hike or bike along the Penobscot River Trails. When you have had your fill of fresh air, end your day with a meal at the River Driver’s Restaurant. The restaurant is gorgeously rustic and offers fantastic lake views.
Camden, Maine.
Camden is often called the place "where the mountains meet the sea." This coastal town offers a mix of waves and peaks that allow visitors to explore at an easy pace. Most start with a walk along Camden Harbor, which is a serene, pretty picture of sailboats bobbing against a backdrop of deep-green, forested hills. You can also board a boat from Schooner Appledore II for a tour of the scenic Penobscot Bay.
Camden Hills State Park offers the opportunity to head up Mount Battie. You can drive or hike to catch breathtaking views of the harbor and islands below. Back in the town center, you can explore bookshops and cafés in Main Street, before going for dinner at fresh-ingredient-inspired Natalie’s Restaurant or Fresh and Co.
Bath
Bath is known as the ‘City of Ships’ and has a working waterfront that hums with maritime history. Bath’s historic downtown region, set along the Kennebec River, offers both nostalgia and charm.
At the Maine Maritime Museum, you will learn more about Bath’s seafaring history through exhibits and shipyard tours. Afterwards, follow the pedestrian walkway on the northern side of the Sagadahoc Bridge to enjoy magnificent river views. You might even spot modern vessels under construction at Bath Iron Works shipyard.
Take some time to stroll Bath’s downtown area, where you will find vintage clothing at J’adore Consignment and locally made jewelry at Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine. Escape to the outdoors via nearby Reid State Park or Popham Beach, both of which are only a short drive away. At the beach, you will find long, sandy shorelines perfect for strolling and picnicking. You can even do a little birdwatching as you let the Atlantic breeze wash over you.
Eastport
Eastport is as far east as you can go within the US. Eastport is a remote island town in Passamaquoddy Bay where community, art, and sea reign. The Eastport Art Center is filled with local artwork presented in shows and galleries. You can take in the different pieces before heading over to the Old Sow Whirlpool to watch the tides go back and forth. Old Sow is the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere and a quiet spectacle not to be missed.
You can also book a whale-watching boat tour in Eastport. At the same time, you might spot seals and bald eagles soaring overhead. Back on shore, grab a cup of coffee as you watch the fishing boats do their thing. Then, take a leisurely walk to The Happy Crab or WaCo Diner for the freshest seafood in the area.
Unwind and Relax in Maine
These small Maine towns offer unmatched opportunities for unwinding and relaxation. Somehow, the very air feels lighter and days longer in the best possible way. So, whether you’re sipping premium coffee in New Harbor or drifting along the Saco River in Fryeburg, you can leave the mad rush far behind as you learn how to do absolutely nothing while taking in everything.
