Foliage map › Destinations › Maine
Maine fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in Maine peaks from about October 1 around Rangeley (1,540 ft) to about October 19 around Portland (60 ft).
2026 foliage season
Maine fall foliage map
- Mostly green
- Starting to turn
- Moderate color
- Near peak
- Peak color
- Past peak
- Leaves down
Dots show the 7 Maine destinations we track, colored by today’s estimated stage. Select one for its forecast, or open the full foliage map to check any city or ZIP code.
Peak calendar
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each destination. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s estimated status.
Check this year’s actual conditions. Leaves.com dates are estimates based on typical years. Before a trip, check the official report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, updated weekly during the season.
Maine fall foliage report →How fall color moves through Maine
Maine’s color starts in the western mountains and the North Woods and finishes along the coast about two and a half weeks later. Rangeley and Greenville on Moosehead Lake typically peak around October 1, and Millinocket, near Baxter State Park, around October 3. Bethel, in the western foothills, follows around October 8. The coast comes last: Camden and Bar Harbor around October 16, and Portland around October 19.
Best places for Maine fall foliage
- Rangeley is a lake town in the western mountains, near the Height of Land overlook on Route 17.
- Greenville sits at the south end of Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest lake, on the edge of the North Woods.
- Millinocket is the gateway to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak.
- Bethel lies in the Androscoggin River valley in the western foothills, south of Grafton Notch.
- Camden is a midcoast harbor town where the Camden Hills rise from the water, and the view from Mount Battie takes in the harbor and Penobscot Bay.
- Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, where fall color meets the rocky coast.
- Portland, Maine’s largest city, is typically the last of the state’s destinations to peak.
Scenic drives
The Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (Routes 17 and 4) includes the Height of Land overlook on Route 17, one of the best-known views in New England, looking out over Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the western mountains. Route 201, the Old Canada Road, follows the Kennebec River north through the North Woods. On the coast, Route 1 links the harbor towns of the midcoast, including Camden, and the Park Loop Road circles the eastern side of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park.
Planning around the coast
The ocean keeps coastal Maine milder in fall, which is why Bar Harbor and Camden typically peak about two weeks after Rangeley, even though they sit at a similar latitude. A trip that pairs the western mountains with the coast can catch peak color twice.
Visiting in early, mid, or late October
Early October. Go inland. Rangeley and Greenville are typically at their best from about September 30 to October 8, and Millinocket from about October 2 to 10. Bethel comes on around October 6.
Mid-October. The coast takes over. Camden is typically at its best from about October 14 to 22 and Bar Harbor from about October 15 to 23, while Bethel usually holds good color until about October 15.
Late October. Portland is typically at its best from about October 18 to 26. Farther south, Portsmouth, NH holds good color until about October 28.
Trees behind the color
National park and forest guides
Scenic drive guides
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Maine?
In a typical year, fall color in Maine peaks from about October 1 around Rangeley (1,540 ft) to about October 19 around Portland (60 ft). Timing can shift by about a week in either direction depending on the weather.
Where does fall color peak first in Maine?
Rangeley is usually first among the Maine destinations we track, with peak around October 1. Higher and more northern spots turn before lower and more southern ones.
Where is the latest fall color in Maine?
Portland usually peaks last, around October 19. Portland is well to the south of the state’s other destinations we track, which is part of why its color comes late.
What trees give Maine its fall color?
The biggest contributors at the destinations we track include sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, American beech, and northern red oak.
Check any city or ZIP code in Maine.
Open the foliage map