My husband and I are going to spend a week visiting Acacia Natl Park starting September 1st. We are driving from Maryland, and may leave as early as Thursday, because Sep 1 is the start of Labor Day weekend, and we don’t want to get caught in terrible traffic and we don’t want to drive the entire way in one day.
Suggestions for places to stop that are not too far off our path?
We like nature and hiking, if that helps with recommendations, and we don’t want to spend too much in the couple of days we are on our way. We will want to be in Bar Harbor fairly early that Saturday, so Friday is the only full day we have to spend anyplace.
If you don’t want to get caught up in Labor Day weekend traffic, you really need to get through where the Hampton Tolls used to be on the Maine NH border. I would suggest looking in Wells, or York. You can walk the marginal way. But don’t be surprised if you have trouble booking a place for this time. It’s a very busy travel time.
If you don’t mind a little traffic, stop in Portsmouth NH.
Bad news is the traffic may be surprising from south of Boston. It’s just so many cars. I just went up to Portsmouth NH on a weekday recently and what should have taken two hours took three. That may not sound like much but then factor in even small slowdowns in NJ/NYC, New Haven and Providence.
I agree Portsmouth is a delight. And beaches near Portland.
Leave early on Thursday. Drive to the NH seacoast/Portsmouth and Kittery/York ME area and spend the night. You can take nice walks along the coast and have good meals in that area.
While I like Portsmouth, I would aim for Portland. Which is a wonderful place. 
We are finally making a reservations, in either Portsmouth or Portland, for August 30th and 31st.
The Kittery Inn in has been recommended to us, but I’m not sold on it. We are somewhat budget conscious, because this is just on our way to vacation in Acadia.
Any hidden gems/recommendations?
Thanks
If it were me, I would book for Thursday night, August 30, and then get on the road early on the 31st. Traffic really is not fun on Fridays this time of year! D and I had to get down to Boston last Friday (Italian visa appointment). Thank goodness we took the bus, because on the way back, there was more than a 30-minute backup in New Hampshire early Friday afternoon. No accident or anything, just everyone escaping Massachusetts.
One of the best things about living in Maine is that we’re always going the “right” way to avoid traffic on weekend get aways. Going south on Friday and north on Sunday!
No thoughts on hotels. I’m afraid you might have to take what you can get with it being only 2 1/2 weeks out.
@MaineLonghorn, we have reservations in Bar Harbor starting on Sep 1st. We were thinking if we get to Portsmouth or Portland on Thursday, the rest of the trip to Bar Harbor would be doable for Saturday. Does that make sense? That way we aren’t driving much on Friday, which is when we anticipate the worst traffic to be.
Yes, that makes sense.
Now I have a hotel reservation in Portland, and another in Portsmouth. Any recommendations as to which would be better when we will have an evening and a full day there. I’m inclined to go to Portland, even though it costs more.
We like to walk around and see things, eat well, hike and bike, if that helps with recommendations. We don’t want to Stay a night in each, because on Thursday we will have driven for many hours and won’t have much time to do anything. Friday we will have all day.
In Portland you can hop on a ferry that goes around Casco Bay to the various islands. We saw bald eagles and dolphins recently when we stayed with friends that summer there.
So, the plan is to arrive in one of the places on Thursday evening and depart Saturday morning for Bar Harbor?
You will find plenty to do in both places to keep you occupied for 24 hours. Portland is bigger but Portsmouth and the surrounding are has lots of charm.
When you decide, I’m sure I and others can recommend things to do with your time.
@doschicos, yes we plan to arrive Thursday evening, and will depart at some point Saturday, to check into the place we are staying in Bar Harbor from Saturday to Saturday.
@mathmom, do you know if you can take bikes and ride around on any of the islands? That sounds like fun.
We were on Cliff Island, and I’m pretty sure you could take bikes and ride around on their dirt roads and walk on most of the beaches. I know one island is all private land and you can only get off if you have reservations at the restaurant there.
Portland, without a doubt.
Yes, you can take bikes on the ferry to the various islands. On Peaks Island at least I think that you can rent them by the boat dock.
Are you by any chance going to be in Portland on the first Friday of the month? The First Friday Art Walk is a lot of fun.
Thanks everyone.
I’m pretty sure we will be staying in Portland, and I’ve accumulated a list of things to keep us busy.
@Consolation, we will be there this Friday, which is the last Friday of the month.
From Baltimore, stop at Woody’s Crab House. You’ll see a sign for it on the highway. A little out of the way, but a charming little town & fantastic crabs that we blanket in Old Bay.
In Bar Harbor, not very fancy, but tasty lobster at Bar Harbor Lobster Company or the Lobster Yard. There’s also a decent Mexican/Soutwestern restaurant called Jalapenos.
Are you taking the NJ turnpike? It’s not glamorous, but I think the Vince Lombardi rest stop has a great view of NYC.
This article is hilarious, it ranks the NJ turnpike rest stops by food options (and salad shaming) - https://www.eater.com/2017/6/13/15783216/best-new-jersey-turnpike-rest-stop-service-plaza
Here’s another ranking, with a color coded map! - https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/08/the_best_-and_worst-_turnpike_parkway_service_pl.html
If you opt for Portland, just south is Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse and Fort Williams Park - very pretty.
LOL re the Lombardi rest stop. We used to stop there all the time because they had BBQ, but they don’t any more.