From the Coast to the North Woods: Maine’s 20 Largest State Parks Ranked

How lucky are we to be able to live in Maine?

We literally can walk outside our door and be at a beautiful park, mountain trailhead, lakeside retreat, or coastal beach in minutes. Heck, people even joke about skiing and golfing on the same day! It’s quite the state, to say the least.

How Many People Visit State Parks in Maine?

One thing that makes Maine even more special is its vast state park system. The popular parks are equal parts beautiful, diverse, and wondrous. According to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands, over 3.1 million people visited Maine’s 42 state parks and historic sites in 2024. Considering Baxter State Park is not included in that number, that’s quite impressive.

It’s impossible to ignore the importance of Maine’s state park system to the state’s tourism. While Portland’s food scene and Acadia tend to steal most of the attention, the state parks deserve plenty of love as well.

Where are Maine's State Parks Mostly Located?

Maine’s state parks stretch from as far south as southern York County, through the western foothills near New Hampshire, all the way east to Quoddy Head, and as far north as you can go. They also cover a considerable amount of land.

What are the Largest State Parks in Maine?

I decided to compile a list of the 20 largest state parks in Maine based on acreage. This list is an interesting mix of well-known parks and some real hidden treasures. In fact, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands even offers a fun little guide for everyone to explore.

READ MORE: Maine’s Acadia Climbs to 7th Most Popular U.S. National Park

As I mentioned earlier, there is one major omission: Baxter State Park. Baxter is technically not run by the state, but by the Baxter State Park Authority, which is separate from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands.

Here are the 20 largest state parks in the state of Maine (not including Baxter).