One Tank Trip for Maine Camping

The state of Maine is truly one of the jewels in the Eastern Seaboard’s crown and an excellent option for Woodall'sone tank trips. Your eyes will be treated to dazzling displays of color every season of the year; bright greens and yellows in the spring and summer, rich golds, reds and browns in the fall, and dazzling white when the winter snowfall arrives. Maine’s seaside towns and villages are among the state’s most popular tourist destinations, but there’s plenty to see inland as well.
As we pull into our first stop - the quaint New England village of Bangor - one of the first things that’ll catch our eye is the 30-foot tall statue of Paul Bunyan, which pays homage to the area’s logging roots dating back to the early 1800s. Bangor is proud of its history, so while you’re here head over to the Maine Forest and Logging Museum, a place dedicated to meticulously reproducing a logging and milling community, which offers visitors the chance to see what it was like to live and work in one of the most challenging professions.
The next stop, Augusta, lies 70 miles to the south via the I-95. As well as being Maine’s state capitol, Augusta is also one of the oldest cities in the state. Many of the original buildings still stand, including the State House, whose impressive dome spans more than 180 feet and is made entirely of granite. The area that would eventually become Augusta was once Native American territory, and there are many exhibits devoted to those early inhabitants at the Maine State Museum, just next door to the State House. Fort Western, the oldest wooden fort in all New England, still stands and provides tours and demonstrations of what it was like to live and serve at the fort once commanded by the infamous Benedict Arnold. There are plenty of lakes and ponds for swimming and fishing, or you can just sit by the water and watch the sunset turn the water from azure blue to shining gold.
Leaving Augusta by way of the southbound I-95, cruise through 70 miles of Maine’s extremely photogenic countryside before coming to the eastbound I-195, which you’ll take for 3 miles to the ME-5 and stay on that route for 2 more miles as it brings you into the very popular destination spot, Old Orchard Beach. The stretch of sand spans over seven miles, and has been a getaway destination for more than two centuries. Some pretty notable folks have come through here, including a certain fellow by the name of Captain John Smith (yes, that Captain John Smith). These days, it’s the go-to spot for family fun, with amusement rides, a boardwalk that’s jam-packed with shops and restaurants, and a world-famous pier that reaches more than 500 feet across the ocean. This is a great place to cut loose and give your inner child free rein for a while.
When you’ve had enough of Ferris wheels and cotton candy, head west on Highway 98 for 2 miles, then take the northbound US-1 for 4 miles until you come to the Haigis Parkway, which connects you with the northbound I-95. Stay on the I-95 for 7 miles, then merge with the I-295-N, which brings you the remaining mile or so into the city of Portland. This is easily one of the most beautiful cities for Maine camping, resting between the crystal blue ocean and majestic mountains that are blanketed with a thick forest. Among the many things to do in Maine’s largest city, one of the most popular is to take a ferry cruise across Casco Bay and see the incredible sea beacons. Lighthouse admirers have made the Portland Head Lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth an increasingly popular destination; tours are available and an adjacent museum tells the history of this impressive structure.
Proceeding north on the I-295 for another 14 miles takes you into Freeport, home of one of the largest outlet shopping centers on the East Coast. With nearly 200 shops to choose from, many of which are high-end brand name retailers, those among you who live to shop will have found a little corner of paradise right here in Maine.
When you’ve had all the shopping that your wallet will stand, take a leisurely scenic drive along over 100 miles of the US-1, before coming to the turnoff for the northbound Highway 15. From here, it’s a mere 15-mile drive that brings you full circle to your origin point of Bangor.
With its beautiful, year-round foliage, its coastal charm, and its amazing sites, you will swiftly find that Maine camping can be more than a one tank trips vacation; it’s a lifestyle – a lifestyle you could grow quite accustomed to! Woodall's Recommended Maine RV Campgrounds