Maine's beauty lies in its rawness. Fresh tart blueberries growing wild on the side of the road. Hills rising from the rocky shores of Camden. Winding roads built centuries ago that hug the shore connecting village to village. Morning mist on Penobscot Bay. But in between the ruggedness lies the real beauty of Maine. Even a delicacy like Maine lobster still involves shells and claws. It's raw. It's true. It's Maine.
Days 1-2 Savor the scent of sea air and the crash of waves on rocky shores
in Acadia National Park 
The arched bridges and tranquility of Acadia's carriage road system, a gift from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., make for lovely riding Hike to Cadillac Mountain's 1,532-foot summit, the North Atlantic Seaboard’s highest point and reputedly the first U.S. location to see the rising sun.
Day 3 The silence of deep pine forests and the flavors of the day's fresh catch
Marvel at enormous pink granite boulders as you pedal the jagged coastline of Deer Isle, a classic example of "downeast" Maine The island's numerous galleries and studios, featuring works on paper, fabrics, wood, glass, clay and more, may tempt you off your bike.
Days 4-6 Discover the countless charms of Camden, with its sublime harborside setting
and wealth of historic architecture Enjoy an exclusive lunch and tasting at a local winery Ride to Rockland, a seaside town brimming with cafés and bookstores Be sure not to miss the esteemed Farnsworth Art Museum, praised for its collection of Wyeth family paintings Savor a farewell dinner at our inn's elegant French restaurant The rolling countryside surrounding Camden and Lake Megunticook invites a last scenic spin.
Trip Highlights
- Savor the scent of sea air and the crash of waves on rocky shores
- The silence of deep pine forests and the flavors of the day's fresh catch
- Fresh lobster - need we say more?
- Discover the countless charms of Camden, with its sublime harborside setting
- Warm hospitality at elegant and historic inns
Premiere Inns
The Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina (2 nights): Overlooking Frenchman Bay, this luxury lodge in downtown Bar Harbor offers numerous amenities. (pool, spa, tennis)
Pilgrim's Inn (1 night): Built in 1793 and on the National Register of Historic Places, a Colonial inn with views of Penobscot Bay.
Camden Harbour Inn (2 nights): A Travel + Leisure favorite, this stylish 1800s inn offers exceptional hospitality and commanding views of the boat-dotted harbor. (spa)
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 17 | 500 | ||||||||
| 2 | 14* | 300 | 27 | 500 | 34 | 1700 | 49 | 2200 | ||
| 3 | 16 | 500 | 23 | 800 | 31 | 1000 | ||||
| Stonington museum visit (30 minutes) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 19* | 500 | 25* | 600 | 33 | 900 | ||||
| Optional afternoon kayaking | ||||||||||
| 5 | 16* | 300 | 27 | 500 | 39 | 800 | ||||
| 6 | 18 | 300 | ||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 20% dirt and 80% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/30-7/5 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/7-12 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/21-26 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/28-8/2 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/4-9 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-16 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/25-30 Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/8-13 Price: $3098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/15-20 Price: $2998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/29-10/4 Price: $2898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1240 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
The Backroads Maine trip? The best vacation ever! It couldn't be better. Fantastic views and routes, excellent accommodations, best food ever. Full of fun spots. We got a great group. When we thought it couldn't be better, you topped that.- Caracas, Venezuela
We had an awesome trip! It was so well organized, so much fun and really top-notch. We loved all of the special places we visited.- Highland Park, IL
Maine is a visually stunning state. The combination of active travel, seafood dining and local exposure was ideal. I can always count on Backroads to provide a wonderful combination of both adventurous and relaxing activities.- Powell, OH
I received just what I needed...laughter, physical challenges, interesting companions, great vistas and wonderful food!- Springfield, MO
There was time to walk around in Bar Harbor, Camden and Rockland. Restaurants were really excellent. Accomodations were good. I especially liked the break from cycling in the middle of the trip to go kayaking in the bay and the lobster boil lunch was delightful. Also, meeting some of the local artists and information about art galleries and art school on Deere Island were a bonus!- Greenville, SC