Maine is the most northeastern state in the U.S., known for beautiful rocky coastlines and vast forest areas inland that are full of unique wildlife. With such amazing land to explore, a rented RV gives you the option to move from place to place with ease and finding an RV to rent is easy in the cities of Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor.
Portland offers plenty of travel trailers for rental, most available for just $109 to $179 per night. And, though travel trailers are the most popular rental in the Portland area, some Class A and Class C motor homes are available, too, averaging about $200 per night.
Lewiston offers many RVs for rental, too, with travel trailers the most popular option in the area. Travel trailer rentals in this city start in at a low $80 a night. Almost all are able to sleep between four and 10 people. A few Class A, B, and C motorhomes/campervans are available in Lewiston, too, with an average cost of $250 a night.
In Bangor, travel trailers and folding trailers/pop-up campers are equally popular, averaging $80 to $150 per night. A couple of fifth wheels are available in the area, and nearly all RVs and campers offered in Bangor are rated at four or five stars.
Of course, the most popular cities in Maine not only offer options for RV rentals, but they are great places to stay and explore, too.
Portland sits right on the Casco Bay peninsula of Maine, looking over the water with restaurants and shops sitting inside of old, converted warehouse spaces that once played a part in making Portland the home of the second-largest seaport in the New English states. The largest city in Maine, in fact, Portland is known for its Victorian-style housing and ever-booming marine economy.
The second most populous city in Maine, Lewiston is known for its relaxed city life and low cost of living. It's also home to Maine's one and only basilica, and it supports the largest population of native French language speakers in the U.S.
Bangor is Maine's third most populous city, and it sits alongside the edge of the Maine North Woods, where the lumber industry once soared. Today, evidence of the lumber boom is seen in the remaining lumber barons and the city's famous statue of lumberjack Paul Bunyan.
Acadia National Park is the only national park located in Maine, situated right on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean and housing hundreds of plant and animal species. Ranger-led programs are offered year-round at the park, as are horseback riding and carriage tours, giving educational opportunities to all ages, all the time. Recreational activities like rock climbing, hiking, and biking are favorites at Acadia as a complete 158 miles of foot trails are available to explore.
Maine is home to tons of beautiful state parks, but some of the most popular places that RVers like to visit include:
Lily Bay State Park: Open from spring to autumn, Lily Bay sits nestled on the edge of Moosehead Lake, the largest lake in all of the New England area. The 900+ acre parkland offers on-site camping to all types of RVs with access to water sports right on the lake's edge, from fishing and boating to water skiing and canoeing.
Cobscook Bay State Park: Cobscook Bay Park is a vast, 800+ acre area that is surrounded on three sides by the salty waters of Cobscook Bay. A main attraction of the park is the view of the ever-changing tides of the bay, with some waves rising up to 28 feet. The park itself offers 106 campsites that can accommodate all types of RVs.
Sebago Lake State Park: Mostly forested, Sebago Lake State Park sits on the shores of Sebago, the deepest lake in Maine, and includes some beaches and bog areas. A lengthy river also runs through the park, called the Songo River, and the whole area encompasses a vast 1,300 acres.
Camden Hills State Park: Close to the peaks of Acadia National Park, Camden Hills State Park includes a whopping 5,710 acres and the famous Mount Battie viewing area, where visitors can see scenic surrounding islands and mountains. This state park also offers 107 campsites accessible for RVers as well as miles of multi-use trails.
Some of the best campgrounds that offer RV sites throughout Maine include:
The Bar Harbor Campground: Open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, the Bar Harbor Campground offers sites close to both the small town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Some unique amenities of this campground include a heated pool and bus shuttle access.
Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Camping: A waterfront campground that spans over 600 acres, Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront includes access to RV campsites on rustic farmland. The campground also rents out bikes, canoes, and kayaks for daily use.
Bailey's Camping Resort: With multiple pools and hot tubs, an on-site cafe, and an arcade, Bailey's Camping Resort is more than just a campground. Live bands also come to play at the location frequently, and beaches can be accessed along the coastline nearby.
RVs often need to be dumped multiple times during a camping trip, and it helps to know where the most popular dump stations are in the state:
Augusta Water and Sanitary District: With no fees to dump, any RV can pull up to the Augusta Water and Sanitary District right off U.S. Highway 202 and clean out its tanks.
Pushaw Lake Campground: Right next to Pushaw Lake, RVs can use the Pushaw Lake Campground for dump station access. Registered guests at the grounds do not have to pay a fee to dump, but non-registered guests may have to.
Canaan KOA Campground: Nearby State Route 23 and U.S. Highway 2 is the Canaan KOA Campground, which allows access to dump stations for registered and non-registered guests. Non-registered guests, however, do have to pay a fee for using the station.
Maine Lobster Festival: Held annually for five days in August, the Maine Lobster Festival is an event dedicated to the delicacy of cooked lobster. Hosted in Rockland, the festival is also family-friendly, full of activities that last all week, and it offers forms of seafood other than lobster.
Maine Harvest Festival: Hosted during the end of November every year in Bangor, the Maine Harvest Festival is one of the largest craft and agricultural festivals in the northwest United States. The festival itself offers shopping and eating experiences from many local vendors, great for all travelers to get a taste of Maine.
Acadia Night Sky Festival: Celebrating the gorgeous views of Maine's night sky, this festival at Acadia National Park is hosted annually in September with workshops and speaker events. Hands-on events are offered for families with young kids, and everyone can join in on the stargazing events that occur during the festival nights.
Fall Foliage Festival: For over 50 years, the Fall Foliage Festival has been hosted in Boothbay, Maine. Local vendors sell hand-crafted goods and food at the event, and unique entertainment is offered each and every year for all visitors to enjoy, all in celebration of the fall season in Maine during October.
In between the parks and cities of Maine sit a number of must-see sites, many of which are family-friendly and historic or educational, such as:
Portland Head Light: Inside of Fort Williams Park in Portland, Maine, sits the Portland Head Light, a highly historic lighthouse. Used once to light the way for ships entering the Portland Harbor by Cape Elizabeth, it is now preserved as a landmark that can be visited. Dating its completion back to 1791, it also happens to be the oldest lighthouse within all of Maine.
Portland Observatory: Also located in Portland is the famous Portland Observatory, the one and only remaining historic maritime signal station in all of the United States. A must-see landmark that was built in 1807, it reflects the history of the "Golden Age of Sail" and a unique way that ships were once observed, which is with a powerful telescope from miles away.
Victoria Mansion: Another beloved Portland landmark, the Victoria Mansion, is a standing example of Victorian-era home architecture and design in the U.S. Both the interior and exterior of this historic home are conserved, and tour tickets of the home are offered year-round. Special holiday-themed events are offered in December for the "Christmas at Victoria Mansion" season.
Ogunquit Beach: In Ogunquit, Maine, is the Ogunquit Beach, a white sand beach known for its extended shoreline and low tide. At the beach, visitors can enjoy deep-sea fishing, whale watching, sailing, sea kayaking, hiking, and golfing.
On average expect to pay $166 per night in Maine.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Maine?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Maine from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Maine?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Maine?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Maine.