Maine in autumn feels like a postcard brought to life, with fiery red maples, golden birches, and winding roads that make every turn worth pulling over for.
But the best part is you don’t have to leave your pup behind to enjoy it.
From cozy roadside cafés with outdoor seating to trails where tails wag as much as leaves rustle, these drives combine breathtaking foliage with dog-friendly stops that make the journey even more memorable.
1. Park Loop Road’s Crimson Canopy
Winding through Acadia National Park, this 27-mile loop delivers front-row seats to nature’s most dazzling fall fashion show. The road hugs the coastline before diving into forests ablaze with color.
Jordan Pond House welcomes furry friends on their outdoor patio; their famous popovers pair perfectly with leaf-peeping!
Nearby trails offer plenty of sniffing opportunities for your pup, with the Pond Path providing easy terrain for all paw sizes.
2. Schoodic’s Secret Seaside Splendor
Far from the crowds of Mount Desert Island, this lesser-known peninsula offers a quiet autumn retreat where crashing waves meet fiery foliage. Your pup will go wild for the unique combination of ocean spray and woodland scents!
Schoodic Woods Campground welcomes four-legged campers, making it perfect for overnight adventures.
The granite shoreline at Schoodic Point creates natural tide pools for exploration while surrounded by golden birches and scarlet maples.
3. Rangeley Lakes’ Mountain Majesty
Cruising this 52-mile route feels like swimming through a sea of autumn colors. The scenic byway curves around pristine lakes while mountains draped in fall finery create a backdrop worthy of a calendar cover.
Height of Land overlook offers the money shot, a panoramic view that’ll have both you and your pup’s jaws dropping.
Rangeley Lake State Park welcomes leashed dogs on its shoreline trails, where you can stretch your legs amid golden aspens and crimson maples.
4. Grafton Notch’s Gorge-ous Passages
Nature carved this dramatic mountain pass millions of years ago, but saved its best decorating for autumn. Towering cliffs draped in orange and yellow create a magical corridor through the Mahoosuc Range.
Screw Auger Falls offers a perfect pit stop where leashed pups can watch the water tumble through rock formations.
The short trail to the falls is dog-approved with plenty of fascinating scents and the soothing sounds of rushing water.
5. Old Canada Road’s Riverside Ramble
Following the Kennebec River’s path, this historic route once guided lumber workers but now leads leaf-peepers through a tunnel of gold and amber.
The 78-mile journey from Solon to the Canadian border showcases Maine’s rugged northern beauty.
Moxie Falls awaits halfway through your journey, offering one of Maine’s highest waterfalls framed by autumn splendor.
The moderate 0.6-mile trail welcomes leashed dogs, with plenty of spots to snap photos of your pooch posing with the 90-foot cascade.
6. Moosehead Lake’s Wilderness Wonder
Maine’s largest lake serves as a mirror, doubling the impact of autumn’s fiery display. This 59-mile route circles part of this massive body of water, delivering non-stop panoramas of mountains meeting shoreline.
Lily Bay State Park offers dog-friendly camping and shoreline trails where fallen leaves crunch satisfyingly under paws.
Morning fog often creates a mystical scene as it lifts from the lake, revealing islands dotted with golden trees; a sight worth rising early for!
7. Bold Coast’s Dramatic Cliffside Colors
Maine’s easternmost scenic byway delivers a double feature: rugged Atlantic coastline paired with brilliant autumn foliage.
The contrast between deep blue ocean and fiery treetops creates a visual feast unlike anywhere else in New England.
Quoddy Head State Park welcomes four-legged explorers on its cliff-side trails. Watch the nation’s first sunrise together from America’s easternmost point!
The famous candy-striped lighthouse makes for Instagram-worthy photos with your pup posing among colorful underbrush.
8. Camden Hills’ Coastal Color Explosion
This short but sweet auto road delivers big rewards! The 1.6-mile drive up Mount Battie offers increasingly spectacular views as you climb, culminating in a panorama that showcases Camden Harbor framed by mountains and islands.
At the summit, leashed dogs are welcome to join you at the stone tower overlook. The view encompasses Penobscot Bay dotted with islands, all surrounded by the patchwork quilt of autumn colors.
Picnic tables make this a perfect lunch spot for you and your furry co-pilot.
9. Blackwoods’ Hidden Forest Treasures
Locals call this 12-mile stretch of ME-182 the “secret route” between Franklin and Cherryfield.
Cutting through dense forest and skirting pristine ponds, this drive feels like traveling through a painting when autumn colors peak.
Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land offers sandy beaches where water-loving dogs can splash while surrounded by mountains dressed in their fall best.
Several short trails lead to overlooks where you can admire the reflection of colorful hillsides mirrored in the crystal-clear pond waters.
10. Katahdin Woods’ North Country Splendor
Maine’s newest scenic byway explores the wilderness surrounding America’s newest national monument. The 89-mile route delivers remote beauty and the chance to see moose among the maples!
Sandbank Stream Campground provides a perfect overnight stop where dogs can wade in shallow waters while you marvel at the reflection of Mount Katahdin.
Morning light hitting the peak, Maine’s highest, creates a golden glow against the autumn landscape that’s worth setting an early alarm for.