The 30 free things everyone in Maine should do at least once, according to Tripadvisor

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Highest-rated free things to do in Maine, according to Tripadvisor

It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living , according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.

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.

Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, 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 June 12, 2024.

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

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Tripadvisor

#30. Short Sands Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (499 reviews)
- Address: 2 Main St. York Beach, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#29. Owls Head Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.5/5 (436 reviews)
- Address: 186 Lighthouse Road Owls Head Light State Park Owls Head, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#28. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

- Rating: 4/5 (721 reviews)
- Address: 116 Lighthouse Road Bass Harbor, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#27. L.L. Bean Factory Store

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,260 reviews)
- Address: 95 Main St. Freeport, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#26. Freeport Shopping Outlets

- Rating: 4/5 (526 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#25. West Quoddy Head Light

- Rating: 4.5/5 (755 reviews)
- Address: 189 South Lubec Road Lubec, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#24. Coastal Highway U.S. 1

- Rating: 4.5/5 (345 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#23. Footbridge Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (447 reviews)
- Address: Ocean St. Ogunquit, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#22. Carriage Roads

- Rating: 4.5/5 (569 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#21. Fort Williams Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (692 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Shore Road Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#20. Walker's Point

- Rating: 4.5/5 (809 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#19. Rockland Breakwater Light

- Rating: 4.5/5 (984 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#18. Long Sands Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (685 reviews)
- Address: Long Beach Ave. Rt 1A York Beach, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#17. Commercial Street

- Rating: 4.5/5 (689 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#16. Schoodic Point

- Rating: 5/5 (515 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. Ocean Avenue

- Rating: 4.5/5 (674 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#14. Saint Ann's Church

- Rating: 4.5/5 (696 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#13. Wells Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (957 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#12. Eastern Promenade Trail

- Rating: 4.5/5 (749 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#11. Land Bridge to Bar Island

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,391 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#10. Shore Path

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,017 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#9. Ocean Trail

- Rating: 4.5/5 (986 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#8. Old Orchard Beach

- Rating: 4/5 (1,566 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#7. Allagash Brewing Company

- Rating: 5/5 (1,165 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#6. Old Port

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,298 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. Perkins Cove

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,495 reviews)
- Address: Ogunquit, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#4. Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,759 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#3. Ogunquit Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,251 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#2. Portland Head Light

- Rating: 5/5 (2,443 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Shore Road Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#1. Marginal Way

- Rating: 5/5 (5,441 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

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