Are you are heading Down East? What will you need? I always get asked this, so here is my ultimate Pack List for Maine. This is what I tell my friends who are coming to visit. It’s the start of a list to personalize and should be easy to fill from your closet.
The short answer is ~ a lot more than you think! There is tremendous variety in the weather; it could be hot, cold, or rainy, sometimes all on the same day. Layers and multi-functional pieces are essential. Think of a color theme – like, perhaps, red, white, & blue, so that things work together.
- Updated: 29 Sept 2024
Bring Lots of Shoes
It ends up being all about the shoes! You need many different pairs, which take up a lot of room. Ugh. If space is limited, you should choose shoes that fit multiple categories.
Hiking
If you plan on hiking, and you absolutely should, you need shoes with a tread, and you should break them in before the trip. I used to wear a pair of rugged running shoes, but I added a pair of Merrell hiking boots. Here are some examples, but you need to try on hiking shoes, not buy them online. If you are driving to Maine, stop by the L.L. Bean Store. Don’t forget the thick hiking socks.
Boating
I bring flip-flops and wear them all the time. When we are lucky enough to get invited on a boat outing, I throw them in my bag because the launch usually stops just short of shore, so your feet get wet. Crocs would also work. You need water shoes for kayaking, canoeing, or walking on the rocky coast.
Going Out
You will want to wear fancier shoes for dinner or a party, etc. Ballet flats, espadrilles, driving moccasins, or sandals without heels would all work. Last year, I wore leather espadrilles almost every day ~ in Florida and Maine. Although, it can be cool in Maine, you will want some warmer options depending on the time of year.
Club Sports
If you have sport-specific shoes, you will want to add them to your pack list for Maine. You can’t wear hiking shoes on the tennis court, nor can you hike in tennis shoes. It’s the same with golf shoes.
Clothes to Pack
During the Day
The days are full of activities and are very casual. Make sure you have a top layer you can remove as the day gets hotter. Here are some examples of outfits. I tend to wear sunshirts, not short sleeves, as my sunscreen. You will also need a bathing suit, although the water is way too cold for this Florida girl. Remember that it is always much colder on the water.
This is a typical day after a 40-minute hike. I’m the only one still wearing my fleece, and Joseph is carrying my backpack with the water, Joe always wears a fanny pack, but I don’t like them.
Joe is wearing this hat by Camoland, and the letters DMF are printed all around the hatband. You can buy one, but I don’t recommend it, because you will never hear the end of it. (look it up in the urban dictionary)
Dinners and Evenings
Cocktail Parties or Porch-Busters are common, and the evenings are very social. The uniform is white jeans or black ankle pants, a pretty top, and a cashmere wrap, but a Lilly Pulitzer dress will work. Think of resort wear or preppy. The Packing List for Maine is easier for the men, all they need is a tie and blue blazer.
Additional Items to Bring
Outer Wear
You will need a sun hat and rain jacket; buy it large enough to wear a fleece or puffer coat underneath. I got this Helly Hansen Crew Jacket for Christmas, and it is my go-to and makes me look very sporty.
Tote Bags and Backpacks
Since you are constantly shedding then adding layers, you need a backpack and a tote bag. And the classic canvas tote with a zipper is perfect! You will also want an insulated bag for packing lunches, and maybe a picnic blanket (optional).
Share this post
Bar Harbor’s Top 10 Things to Do
What should be on your list for your trip to Acadia National Park? Here are my recommendations after dozens of visits to Bar Harbor.
- Pin it !
Visit Bar Harbor
I have been going to Bar Harbor, actually Northeast Harbor, its smaller neighbor, in July and/or August for the past 25 summers. This is what I have learned over the years, and it is what I tell my friends who ask me about Maine, my insider’s advice for your visit.
Most Recent Posts
