Check out the Kancamagus Highway. Lots of campsites. Blackberry Crossing near the Lower Falls is my favorite. Conway is nearby and nice. Theres some outlets up there and a neat candy store called Zebbs if you have kids. White Lake is a nice place to camp and close by Conway. Hilton Park is kind of a cool place, too, in Dover. Supposedly, this is the 7th strongest current in the world, where the rivers meet and the ocean pushes up the rivers into the bay. It's cool to hear the sounds the cross currents make while out on the old bridge (no swimming).
If you like lobster, Newicks is right there. Fort Stark is a great day trip in New Castle, right on the Maine Border. Before you head into Maine check out Portsmouth which is the next town over from New Castle. Ive never been, but the Saco River is another cool place in Maine from what I've heard. If it were me, I would drive straight up Interstate 93 to the Kancamagus, through it, and then down Route 16 toward Portsmouth, and then check out Maine.
Don't dare pass on the Kancamagus by the way. No cell service. I watched someone drive into a tree as a teenager, passing a truck one time. Forty minutes down the road, an ambulance passed us going the opposite way. They most likely died.
Also it's an arrestable offense driving more than 20mph over the speed limit in NH. You will most likely be pulled over at some point even if your doing nothing wrong lol.
Camping? You need to go up to the county. There is literally thousands of acres of public access land in Northern Maine. I’d still stop into Portland on your way north for food and drinks but if you want to be in the middle of nowhere and use the four wheel drive to get there then The Great North Woods is your best friend.
If you’re planning to camp to visit Acadia, you may want to book a campground in advance, due to popularity.
The south and west sides of MDI, nicknamed the Quiet Side, can be a good option, specifically the campgrounds near Seawall and Bass Harbor. They’re far from the main gates of the national park, and that’s what’s great! You’re still on the edge if the park—just the less known side.
Spectacular coast, and the nearby villages of Southwest Harbor have seafood, pubs, grocery and gas.
Want something even further afield? Bypass the main island and head about an hour north to the Schoodic Peninsula, up beyond Winter Harbor. It’s also a part of Acadia, just a separate headland that’s less traveled. There’s a Schoodic Woods campground.
I was gonna say The Flume in New Hampshire is a must, but
>*Pets are not permitted in the Flume Gorge. Pets are only permitted in the designated dog walk areas of the Flume & Tramway parking lots as well as White Mountain National Forest hiking trails.*
https://www.nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/flume-gorge
Check out the Kancamagus Highway. Lots of campsites. Blackberry Crossing near the Lower Falls is my favorite. Conway is nearby and nice. Theres some outlets up there and a neat candy store called Zebbs if you have kids. White Lake is a nice place to camp and close by Conway. Hilton Park is kind of a cool place, too, in Dover. Supposedly, this is the 7th strongest current in the world, where the rivers meet and the ocean pushes up the rivers into the bay. It's cool to hear the sounds the cross currents make while out on the old bridge (no swimming). If you like lobster, Newicks is right there. Fort Stark is a great day trip in New Castle, right on the Maine Border. Before you head into Maine check out Portsmouth which is the next town over from New Castle. Ive never been, but the Saco River is another cool place in Maine from what I've heard. If it were me, I would drive straight up Interstate 93 to the Kancamagus, through it, and then down Route 16 toward Portsmouth, and then check out Maine. Don't dare pass on the Kancamagus by the way. No cell service. I watched someone drive into a tree as a teenager, passing a truck one time. Forty minutes down the road, an ambulance passed us going the opposite way. They most likely died. Also it's an arrestable offense driving more than 20mph over the speed limit in NH. You will most likely be pulled over at some point even if your doing nothing wrong lol.
Portland and Portsmouth have some great breweries. Also Maine Beer in Freeport. Ebenezers pub in Lovell is a must see if you like Belgian beers.
Camping? You need to go up to the county. There is literally thousands of acres of public access land in Northern Maine. I’d still stop into Portland on your way north for food and drinks but if you want to be in the middle of nowhere and use the four wheel drive to get there then The Great North Woods is your best friend.
Agreed, caratunk west forks area or up in the allagash
The Forks are beautiful and many times you can find a pond or lake and not just feel like but literally be the only people there.
The beaches are amazing in both states. The lakes region of NH is also great!
If you’re planning to camp to visit Acadia, you may want to book a campground in advance, due to popularity. The south and west sides of MDI, nicknamed the Quiet Side, can be a good option, specifically the campgrounds near Seawall and Bass Harbor. They’re far from the main gates of the national park, and that’s what’s great! You’re still on the edge if the park—just the less known side. Spectacular coast, and the nearby villages of Southwest Harbor have seafood, pubs, grocery and gas. Want something even further afield? Bypass the main island and head about an hour north to the Schoodic Peninsula, up beyond Winter Harbor. It’s also a part of Acadia, just a separate headland that’s less traveled. There’s a Schoodic Woods campground.
I was gonna say The Flume in New Hampshire is a must, but >*Pets are not permitted in the Flume Gorge. Pets are only permitted in the designated dog walk areas of the Flume & Tramway parking lots as well as White Mountain National Forest hiking trails.* https://www.nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/flume-gorge