Your Dog Deserves a Fall Road Trip to Maine
Growing up in Florida, we didn't have a lot of seasonal change. But as an adult living in the Northeast, fall has become my favorite season. I love the cooler weather and the fall foliage, particularly when you get out of the cities and into the mountains or, even better, up north to Maine.
Fall is also the best season for hiking and getting outdoors with your dog. As a bulldog, Lady Beefcake is not a summertime gal, because it's easy for her to overheat. So when the weather turns brisk, it's her turn. I don't just make room for her on a fall trip, I plan the whole thing around her: cool morning hikes, dog-friendly patios, and a hotel that's as excited to see her.
One of my favorite places in the US has to be Maine. It's all local, small-town vibes surrounded by breathtaking scenery, and not a chain restaurant in sight.
If you live in the Northeast or mid-Atlantic, it's not too late to book a fall getaway with your pup. A road trip is a great way to recharge and escape the day-to-day without taking weeks off or dealing with a long-haul flight. No crate in the cargo hold, no airline pet fees, just you, the open road, and a co-pilot with their head out the window.
Why Maine is one of the best pet-friendly destinations in the US
Maine makes dog-friendly travel feel easy, not like a favor someone is doing you. Here's why it earns the top spot for a fall road trip with your dog:
The weather is made for dogs. Crisp fall days in Maine are ideal for flat-faced breeds, senior pups, and any dog who wilts in the heat.
The seasonal beach rules loosen up. Many Maine beaches restrict dogs in summer, then welcome them back after Labor Day. Fall is when your pup finally gets the sand.
Acadia National Park is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the country. Leashed dogs are welcome on about 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, which is rare for a national park.
The hotels actually want your dog there. Maine's best coastal resorts go well beyond "pets permitted," with dog beds, room service menus for pups, and even a daily yappy hour.
It's an easy drive. Portland is roughly two hours from Boston and about five to six hours from New York City, so you can build a long weekend or a week along the coast without a single flight.
The route I'd plot: start near Portland, drift down to Kennebunkport, then head up the coast to Bar Harbor for Acadia. Three stops, three very different moods, and one very happy dog.
Pet-friendly stays in Maine
Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth (near Portland)
Inn by the Sea sits on the water in Cape Elizabeth, about 15 minutes from Portland's food scene, and it has been welcoming dogs for more than 20 years. It was one of the first luxury beach resorts in the Portland area to go all in on pets, and it shows.
Why it's great for dogs: Designated pet-friendly oceanfront rooms and suites come with no extra pet fee. Your pup gets water bowls, beach towels, cozy blankets, and signature treats at turndown, plus a gourmet pet menu if you book ahead. And here's the fall bonus: dogs aren't allowed on neighboring Crescent Beach from April 1 through September 30, which means October is when your dog finally gets the beach walk. The resort also partners with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland to foster shelter dogs on property, and more than 150 of them have found homes through the program. Chef's kiss.
Virtuoso amenities when you book with A Trip for One:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily breakfast credit of $45 per person, for up to two guests per bedroom, in the restaurant or via in-room dining (credit is non-cumulative)
$100 USD equivalent resort or hotel credit to use during your stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport
Hidden Pond is tucked into the woods off Goose Rocks Road in Kennebunkport, a few minutes from Goose Rocks Beach and the shops and lobster shacks of Dock Square. It feels like summer camp for grown-ups, and in fall, with the fireplaces going and the leaves turning, it's highkey the coziest place on this list.
Why it's great for dogs: Dogs stay in the two-bedroom cottages and the king bungalows, all with fireplaces and screened porches, which is exactly where you want to be with a glass of wine and a sleepy pup at your feet. Every dog gets an L.L.Bean dog bed, bowls, and a take-home Hidden Pond collar. There's a chef-crafted doggy dining menu delivered to your room (Woofles and Pupcakes are real menu items, and yes, we love that for them). The highlight is Yappy Hour, every day from 5 to 6 p.m. at the lodge fire pit, with whipped cream pup cups and house-made treats. A portion of every pet fee goes to the Animal Welfare Society.
Good to know: Dogs are welcome in up to two per room, up to 75 pounds each, and must be at least one year old. The pet fee is lower in the shoulder season ($100 per night in October versus $200 in summer), one more reason fall is the move. Dogs aren't permitted in the restaurant, spa, or pool areas.
Virtuoso amenities when you book with A Trip for One:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
$100 USD equivalent resort or hotel credit to use during your stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina, Bar Harbor
Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina is your home base for Acadia. It sits right on Frenchman Bay and is walkable to downtown Bar Harbor, so you can park the car, leash up, and wander to dinner, coffee, and the waterfront without moving the car again.
Why it's great for dogs: Harborside welcomes up to two well-behaved dogs per room (a nightly pet fee applies, and some room types are pet-friendly while others aren't, which is exactly the kind of detail I'll sort out for you). The location is the real perk. The Shore Path, a flat, easy walk along the water, starts just steps away, and at low tide you can walk across the sandbar to Bar Island, part of Acadia National Park, with your pup. When you've done the hiking and your dog is sound asleep, the Opal Spa is waiting for you.
Dog-friendly hikes and experiences in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is the showstopper of any Maine fall road trip. Picture pink granite, spruce forest, and blazing red maples all falling straight into the Atlantic. The best part for dog owners: Acadia is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the US. Dogs are welcome on a 6-foot leash on most trails and all 45 miles of historic carriage roads.
Where Lady Beefcake did not go (and why)
When we went, I hiked the Beehive Trail, which has incredible views and is a challenging but completely worthwhile climb. It is not a dog trail, though. There are a few stretches where you're literally hauling yourself up iron rungs and ladders to the next ledge, and dogs are prohibited on it for good reason. But I think the views from the top beat Cadillac Mountain, because you're surrounded by fall foliage and seaside views all at once. Go for the Beehive while your pup naps back at the hotel.
The trails where dogs are not allowed in Acadia: Beehive, Precipice, Jordan Cliffs, Beech Cliffs, the Ladder Trail on Dorr Mountain, and the Perpendicular Trail on Mansell Mountain. A handful of others, like Acadia Mountain and the Bubbles, have steep scrambles where you may need to lift your dog, so skip those unless your pup is a seasoned climber.
Cadillac Mountain, with your pup
Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak on the US Atlantic coast, with a sweeping view over Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Porcupine Islands. If you're not in the mood to hike, you can drive up to the summit and bring your dog along to enjoy the view. You'll need a vehicle reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road through Recreation.gov (it's $6, and the 2026 reservation season runs through October 25), plus a park entrance pass. Most spots release two days ahead at 10 a.m. Eastern, so set a reminder.
Pet-friendly hiking trails in Acadia National Park
Jordan Pond Path (about 3.4 miles, loop): A mostly flat walk around a glassy pond with the North and South Bubbles reflected in the water. Finish with popovers on the lawn at Jordan Pond House, where leashed dogs are welcome outdoors.
The carriage roads (45 miles): Wide, crushed-stone paths lined with stone bridges and fall color. Choose your distance, share the path politely with bikers and horses, and let your dog sniff to her heart's content.
Ocean Path (about 2 miles one way): The classic coastal walk from Sand Beach past Thunder Hole to Otter Cliff. Bonus: dogs are allowed back on Sand Beach starting September 9.
Wonderland (about 1.6 miles) and Ship Harbor (about 1.3 miles): Easy, quiet trails on the park's west side, with spruce forest, tide pools, and rocky shoreline. Perfect for short-legged or senior dogs, and yes, bulldogs.
Jesup Trail (about 2.2 miles): A boardwalk through birch forest that glows gold in fall. One of the prettiest foliage walks in the park.
Bar Island (about 2 miles round trip): Walk across the sandbar from downtown Bar Harbor at low tide. Check the tide chart, because the sandbar floods and you do not want to get stuck.
Tips for hiking Acadia with your dog in fall:
Go early or late in the day. Fall weekends get busy, and the parking lots fill fast.
Pack water and a collapsible bowl, even on cool days.
Check for ticks after every hike.
Pick up after your pup.
The free Island Explorer shuttle welcomes leashed dogs on the floor and runs into October, so check the schedule before you go.
Solo travel with your dog: why it's the best kind of trip
A road trip with your dog is solo travel with a built-in best friend. You set the pace, you pick the stops, and nobody complains if you pull over for the third lobster roll of the day.
Traveling with your dog also opens more doors than you'd think. Strangers stop to say hi, hotel staff remember your name (well, theirs), and every walk turns into a chance to find a little shop or café you would have driven right past.
It's not too late to book your fall road trip
Peak foliage along coastal Maine usually lands in early to mid-October, and the pet-friendly rooms at these resorts are limited and go fast. Several of these properties are seasonal, so fall dates are the last chance until next year.
So here's your sign. Pack the leash, the treats, and the good sweater. Put Maine in the GPS. It's not too late to book your fall road trip getaway, because your dog deserves it (and honestly, so do you).
When you book with A Trip for One, I'll match you with the right pet-friendly room, lock in your Virtuoso perks at Inn by the Sea and Hidden Pond, and help you plot the dog-friendly hikes, dinners, and detours in between. Schedule A Discovery Call Today
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