For a fall drive in Maine, choose your scenery first: Acadia and the Bold Coast for ocean views, Rangeley and Moosehead for lakes and mountains, or northern routes for forests, river valleys, and Acadian heritage. These ten picks are an editorial selection—not an official ranking—and span the state’s varied landscapes. Maine’s foliage generally peaks earlier in the north and later along the coast, but check the state’s weekly report before leaving; the calendar is only a guide.
Choose a drive by scenery and region
The route lengths below come from Maine tourism descriptions and refer to the named byway or road, not necessarily a round trip from your starting point. Where the descriptions give no mileage, that is noted. Foliage windows are broad historical patterns from Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), not guarantees for any particular year.
| Drive | Region and length | Scenery | Best general foliage window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia All-American Road | Mount Desert Island; 40 miles | Coast, island, and national park | Coastal Maine: mid-October through month’s end |
| Schoodic National Scenic Byway | Schoodic Peninsula; 29 miles | Ocean and coastal towns | Coastal Maine: mid-October through month’s end |
| Blackwoods Scenic Byway | DownEast; 12.5 miles | Forest and blueberry barrens | Coastal Maine: mid-October through month’s end |
| Bold Coast National Scenic Byway | DownEast; 125 miles | Rocky coast and fishing communities | Coastal Maine: mid-October through month’s end |
| St. John Valley/Fish River National Scenic Byway | Northern Maine; mileage not stated by Visit Maine | River valleys, farmland, and cultural landscape | Often late September to early October |
| Katahdin Woods & Waters National Scenic Byway | North Maine Woods; 89 miles | Forest, river headwaters, and mountain views | Often late September to early October |
| Million Dollar View Scenic Byway | Route 1; 8 miles | Lakes and distant Katahdin views | Often late September to early October |
| Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway | Central Maine; 59 miles | Lake and nearby hills | Central Maine: around Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend |
| Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway | Kennebec River and timber country; 78 miles | River, forest, and historic route | Central and western areas: around Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend |
| Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway | Western Maine; 52 miles | Mountain and lake panoramas | Western mountains: around Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend |
The timing in the table reflects DACF’s usual north-to-south progression: northern Maine commonly peaks in the last week of September and first week of October; central Maine and the western mountains typically peak around Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend; coastal and southern areas generally peak from mid-October through the end of the month. Conditions vary with weather. DACF explains its seasonal pattern and reporting at Maine Fall Foliage: When and Where to Visit.
Coastal drives: Acadia, Schoodic, Blackwoods, and the Bold Coast
Acadia All-American Road — 40 miles
This route brings together Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, and the primary section of Acadia National Park. Within it, the Park Loop Road is a separate 27-mile drive with ocean-facing stops and pull-offs such as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs. The regional tourism page describes most of the loop as one-way, with a two-way section beginning near Wildwood Stables. Park access and fees can change, so check current National Park Service access, fee, and reservation information before driving. Route details: Visit Maine’s fall foliage road trips and Fall Foliage in Maine.
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Schoodic National Scenic Byway — 29 miles
On the Schoodic Peninsula, this shorter coastal byway pairs sea views with small coastal communities. It is a distinct alternative to the Mount Desert Island drive, with the scenery focused on the peninsula’s shoreline. Visit Maine also notes bicycling as an option along the route.
Blackwoods Scenic Byway — 12.5 miles
This compact DownEast outing crosses forest and blueberry barrens. Its short length makes it a natural choice when you want a brief drive rather than committing to a day-long route; plan any stops only at safe, permitted places.
Bold Coast National Scenic Byway — 125 miles
For a longer DownEast journey, the Bold Coast route follows rocky headlands and fishing communities. Its 125-mile length makes it a different kind of outing from the short Blackwoods drive: allow time for the road itself and for safe stops along the way.
Northern Maine: river valleys, forest, and big views
St. John Valley/Fish River National Scenic Byway — mileage not stated
This northern route follows river valleys and farmland through communities shaped by Acadian and Franco-American heritage. The tourism description does not give a route mileage, so consult a current map to set your own itinerary. Visit Maine advises drivers to watch for wildlife sharing the road; slow down when needed and do not stop where stopping is unsafe or prohibited.
Rank #3
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Katahdin Woods & Waters National Scenic Byway — 89 miles
The 89-mile drive passes through the North Maine Woods, follows the landscape of the Penobscot River headwaters, and offers views of Katahdin. It combines forest scenery with a mountain landmark and sits in the northern part of the state, where color generally arrives earlier than in central or coastal Maine.
Million Dollar View Scenic Byway — 8 miles
This short Route 1 segment looks across the Chiputneticook lakes toward distant Katahdin; New Brunswick is visible across the border. It is a compact scenic leg rather than a long route, and its northern location makes late September to early October a useful general window to watch—not a promise of peak color.
Rank #4
Lake and mountain routes: Moosehead, Old Canada Road, and Rangeley
Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway — 59 miles
Route 15 follows Moosehead Lake and the nearby hills on this 59-mile central Maine drive. Choose it for a lake-centered landscape with surrounding elevation, and use the central Maine timing pattern as a starting point when planning.
Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway — 78 miles
This route traces parts of the Kennebec River and historic trading routes through timber country toward the Canadian border. The combination of river and forest makes it a varied inland drive; its 78 miles are a more substantial outing than a short viewpoint segment.
Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway — 52 miles
The broader Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway is listed as 52 miles in Visit Maine’s statewide route article. Mountain-and-lake scenery is the draw, especially at Height of Land, which overlooks lakes and surrounding mountain ranges.
Do not confuse that 52-mile byway with the separately described Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway Loop: Visit Maine’s regional page calls the loop 35 miles, following Routes 17 and 4 around Rangeley Lake, and suggests allowing 2.5 hours. These are different route scopes and figures, not competing measurements of one identical itinerary. Check the map and choose the version that fits your drive.
Check foliage conditions before setting out
Use the weekly DACF foliage report close to your travel date rather than relying on a fixed calendar. The state’s service issues reports during the season using observations from Forest Service staff in the field. Its September 30, 2026 report was a dated snapshot: zones 5, 6, and 7 were at peak color; zone 4 north was high; zone 4 south and zones 1, 2, and 3 were moderate; leaf drop was low across the zones. Those readings do not describe later dates or guarantee what you will see on a particular road. Check the current Maine foliage report before departure.
In its September 9, 2026 forecast, DACF spokesperson Gale Ross said, “The weather over the next few weeks will make the biggest difference, as cool nights, warm, sunny days, and shorter daylight hours turn green leaves into bright colors of fall,” The same forecast cautioned that weather can affect how vivid and long-lasting color is. That statement was a forecast at the time, not an assessment of current conditions.
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Quick Recap
- For an early-season trip, look first to northern routes; for later color, consider the coast and southern areas.
- Allow time for the drive and use only designated or otherwise safe, permitted pull-offs for photos.
- For Acadia, verify current park access and fees before entering the Park Loop Road.
- For multi-route planning, compare the route scope on a map; byway mileage may describe a larger route than a loop or segment.
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