Maine Southern Coast

The southern Maine coast from end to end, one way: from Kittery the route follows ME-103 past Fort McClary to York Harbor, rides out to Nubble Light, takes Shore Road through Ogunquit and Wells, follows Ocean Avenue past Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, and finishes at Cape Porpoise and Biddeford Pool. It's 47 miles of beach towns and short bends. In summer expect heavy beach traffic and paid parking, and the Nubble lot is small, so the group parks in turns.

The route starts in Kittery and follows ME-103 to Kittery Point, where Fort McClary is now a state historic site; the point has been used for defense since 1689, and its blockhouse dates from 1844. In York the route rides out to Cape Neddick, where Nubble Light has stood on its small island since 1879. The island is closed to visitors, and the light is seen from Sohier Park, run by the town, at the end of a dead-end road with a small lot: the group parks in turns.

From York Beach, Shore Road winds past the cliffs to Ogunquit, and after Wells the route follows the beaches to Kennebunkport, where Ocean Avenue passes Walker's Point, the Bush family's summer home. It's private, and you can only see it from the road. The route ends past Cape Porpoise, Fortunes Rocks and Biddeford Pool. It's a one-way route on narrow shore roads with little shoulder in places; in summer the beach towns fill up and parking is paid. Coming from the south on I-95, the Maine Turnpike has a toll plaza at York.