Suggested stops between Boston and Bar Harbor?

We have 5 nights to meander up the coast of Maine, ending at Bar Harbor, before we return to Boston and fly home. Thought we%26#39;d start in Kennebunkport, and end with 2-3 nights in Bar Harbor. Any suggestions for the extra night or two along the way? And will we be able to find lodging during August (11-15) or are things filling already? Any advice on motels/hotels in any must-see stops would be appreciated.

Suggested stops between Boston and Bar Harbor?

Do you have 5 nights total? It takes a good long day to drive from Bar Harbor back to Boston (take the highways, not the coastal route back, Rte 1 is SLOW)

Of course, you could easily spend a week or more on the Maine Coast just getting to Bar Harbor and never see it all. What are you interested in - history, museums, shopping, eating lobster? That would help in figuring out where to stop along the way. Do you want to see and/or do the popular attractions or do you want to visit out of the way, less busy spots? Maybe a little of everything ';Maine';? What does your budget for hotels look like?

Suggested stops between Boston and Bar Harbor?

Camden is a nice town to spend a night in. So is Portland. You will be able to find lodging if you start looking now. I certainly wouldn%26#39;t wander up the coast in mid-August without any reservations anywhere. Maine is not like some other states with five chain motels at every interstate exit. Almost all of the lodging along the coast after Portland and Freeport is NOT chain.

Thanks for your responses. We want scenery and seafood primarily. We live in the Chicago area and can live without shopping, etc. Right now we plan to spend three nights in Boston, and another two nights on the way to Bar Harbor. In Bar Harbor, we%26#39;ll spend another 3 nights, and we have a full day to drive back to Boston (6 p.m. flight).

Right now we%26#39;re thinking of a night in the Kennebunk area and a night in Camden area. I will make reservations in advance but just want to plan our time carefully. Or should we plan a night in Portland and then Camden?

Were it me, I%26#39;d go for the Portland-Camden option. Portland, especially the Old Port area is delightful and Portland abounds in excellent restaurants. It also has a number of walking trails if you have the time and are so inclined:

www.trails.org/map_files/existingtrails.html

If art interests you, on the way to Camden is the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. The Farnsworth largely is dedicated to works about Maine or by artists with strong Maine connections. It also is the home of the Wyeth Center, dedicated to the works of N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth.

On your way here from Camden, stop at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory (you can%26#39;t miss it, and the Observatory is worth it).

I agree with the Portland - Camden overnights. Kennebunkport is sn easy drive from Boston and is very scenic with lots of nice places to stay and eat. No chains hotels or restaurants here so you need to book ahead now. Lots of B %26amp; B%26#39;s and small Inns and one large historic hotel, The Colony. It is on the way to Walker%26#39;s Point which is a beautiful loop drive out to see the Bush summer home. Resist the temptation to stop at every harbor town along the way or you%26#39;ll never get to enjoy where you are in any degree of depth. The Farmsworth Museum in Rockland is a wonderful small Maine museum. I also recommend a stop there. You will love Camden, a wonderful village and sailing town. There are several schooners that you can sail on for an hour or two if you want to get out on the water. You should drive up (or hikeup) Mount Battie at the Camden Hills State Park. The view is breath taking and you will understand why Edna St. Vincent Millay so inspired to write her famous poem, Renascence. Camden has loads of B %26amp; B%26#39;s, but again no chains. Lodging will be less expensive just before or after Camden and there are many places to choose from. Book now if possible.

If you have suggestions for lodging around Camden, I%26#39;ll all ars. I did see a post a few days ago mentioning the Lodge at Camden? Something like that. . . I%26#39;ll have to go searching. Good to know that a night in Kennebunk isn%26#39;t worth it. Maybe we can make it from Boston to Portland Monday night, then we%26#39;ll have Tuesday and Wednesday for Portland/Camden area before arriving in Bar Harbor Wednesday night.

You will easily make it from Boston to Portland. I wouldn%26#39;t say that a night in Kennebunkport isn%26#39;t worth it; I think the suggestions to do Portland and Camden are attempts to equal out your distances.

Actually, there is a ';chain'; hotel in Camden. It%26#39;s part of the Best Western chain:

http://www.camdenmaine.com/

We have stayed at the Lodge at Camden Hills in their stand-alone cabin. It was a very nice spot, complete with gas fireplace and jacuzzi. We often stay at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, which has a beautiful golf course and inside/outside pools. They have recently renovated their rooms.

WE did this journey last month and stayed the first night at the Hotel Regency in Portland which was very nice even though we didn%26#39;t really fall for Portland and then stayed at the Lord Camden Inn, Camden which we loved. The inn was fabulous, try to get a view of the harbour and the town was lovely.