If you are planning to be in Maine for late July, early August and want to stay in a campground, reservations are extremely necessary. We are not fulltime yet and have been trying to secure a spot someplace with the amenities we want, safety, and lots to do around the area and all of our usual haunts were booked up solid as early as January for this time period. Please be advised if this is your first time up north that there are many more lower bridges on back roads and tight narrow winding roads than you will find in the middle of the country and/or out west. Best always to stick to highways when in your rig and to take full advantage of your toad as there are many beautiful small back roads to ride. Stop in Machias for blueberry pie (anywhere there) if you are going that far up north. There isn't much else up that far north except exquisite scenery everywhere. Check out lighthouses, beautiful beaches, go to the Big Chicken Barn in Ellsworth for vintage goods and antiques and go into Ellsworth proper for some of the best mediterranean food, and small plate dishes I've ever had. Then travel down to Gray and tour the Poland Springs bottling plant. Travel to Freeport and/or Kittery for outlet shopping. Additionally, a stop at Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery is a must. Route 1 follows the shore for a way and takes you through some nice towns but there are many back roads and places to travel and see. It all depends on what you are interested in doing/seeing. I hope you have a wonderful visit.

We go to Maine for the scenery and the Lobster rolls. :). Each time we have been there, (3 times), late July - early August, the "popular" places were packed. Next time I go I would like to go in the fall, but I hear it is very busy then also as they get crowds for the fall colors. Booking early is the key, which we did not do. :(

One problem with visiting the New England area for the fall colors is that almost all campgrounds are closed by October 15.

I'm not sure what you mean by "starting north and going south". If you are inland in Maine, a lot of the time, the thing you see the most is tree trunks! You can't see the forest because all the trees are in the way! There are some areas with beautiful lakes away from the coast though. However once you have seen the inland & lakes, go to the far southeastern corner in the Lubec/Cobscook Bay area and work your way back along the coast. There is lots & lots to see in the Cobscook area. Reversing tides, FDR's summer cottage, 15' high tidal changes, etc.

I quite like the lakes region, and once followed the st john river south from Canada, which was full of small towns, small farms and was very relaxing and scenic. I agree about making reservations far in advance.