Car Hire Maine

Guide

None of the United States lie further to the northeast than Maine, whose 230 miles of southern coastline are ruggedly beautiful and whose northern forests remain sparsely populated wildernesses. New England’s only national park, Acadia National Park, occupies most of Mount Desert Island in the centre of Maine’s coast. Plenty of unique shops and boutiques stand along the old port of Maine’s most populous city, Portland.

Hiring a Vehicle

Portland International Jetport is home to car rental companies National, Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, and Alamo, who have a total of 200 vehicles for rent. Several of these reputable companies are also represented at Bangor International Airport and many more Maine locations, but travellers should compare car hire ahead of time to secure the best price.

Transport Options

Both of Maine’s major airports, Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport, offer direct flights across the eastern United States. Amtrak’s Downeaster passenger train travels from Portland to Boston, while the Maine Eastern Railroad provides seasonal service from Rockland to Brunswick. Cyr Bus Lines, Concord Trailways, and Vermont Transit Lines are Maine’s three main bus lines. However, many parts of the state cannot be reached without car rental in Maine.

Car Hire Driving Tips in Maine

Two of the longest roads in the eastern United States, Interstate 95 and Route 1, begin in rural northern Maine and end about 2,000 miles south in Florida. With car hire in Maine it takes about as long to drive between Bangor and Portland, roughly two hours, as the distance between Portland and Boston. Many of the state’s rural roads west and north of Bangor are privately owned and require permits to use.

Not to be Missed!

Maine is home to Moosehead Lake, the biggest lake entirely within a New England state, and the Western Hemisphere’s biggest tidal whirlpool, the Old Sow. The Appalachian Trail’s northernmost point, Mount Katahdin, also lies within Maine’s boundaries. Visitors can enjoy the view of any of the state’s 60 lighthouses while enjoying one of the famous lobsters.

Weather & Tourist Seasons

Maine experiences notoriously cold winters, but coastal January daytime temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Northern Maine winter temperatures, on the other hand, can plummet to -18 °C after dark. Summers can be humid, but not overwhelmingly hot, with average July daytime highs ranging between 24 and 27°C. On an annual basis, Maine experiences fewer than two tornadoes and under 20 thunderstorms.