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Highest-rated free things to do in Maine by visitors

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valeriiaarnaud // Shutterstock
valeriiaarnaud // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Maine.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Maine using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#28. Goose Rocks Beach

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Goose Rocks Beach

- Rating: 4.3/5 (255 reviews)
- City: Kennebunkport Kennebunks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. St. Ann's Episcopal Church

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. St. Ann's Episcopal Church

- Rating: 4.7/5 (701 reviews)
- City: Kennebunkport Kennebunks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.1/5 (740 reviews)
- City: Bass Harbor Tremont Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Coastal Highway U.S. 1

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Coastal Highway U.S. 1

- Rating: 4.4/5 (348 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Ocean Avenue

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Ocean Avenue

- Rating: 4.7/5 (677 reviews)
- City: Kennebunkport Kennebunks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Carriage Roads

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Carriage Roads

- Rating: 4.7/5 (576 reviews)
- City: Acadia National Park Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Shore Path

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Shore Path

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,021 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Walker's Point

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. Walker's Point

- Rating: 4.4/5 (817 reviews)
- City: Kennebunkport Kennebunks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Ocean Trail

Tripadvisor

20 / 30

#11. Ocean Trail

- Rating: 4.7/5 (988 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Land Bridge to Bar Island

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Land Bridge to Bar Island

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,402 reviews)
- City: Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Old Orchard Beach

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Old Orchard Beach

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,584 reviews)
- City: Old Orchard Beach
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,784 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Portland Head Light

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Portland Head Light

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,493 reviews)
- City: Cape Elizabeth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Marginal Way

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#1. Marginal Way

- Rating: 4.9/5 (5,483 reviews)
- City: Ogunquit
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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