3 Day Travel Itinerary: Monhegan Island Maine
- Laura
- Aug 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 27
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This 3 day Working Joe Travel itinerary explores the slightly scruffy and picture perfect Monhegan Island Maine. The small island is known as an artist’s colony – but don’t go expecting a highbrow New England village. Monhegan Island is rocky, wind-blown, and exquisitely common.
There is not a lot of fancy at this vacation destination, just accessible breathtaking landscapes. The roughly one-square-mile island surprises with raw beauty around every corner, whether it is viewed under a blue sky or shrouded in fog. We have visited several times to hike and view the artist studios, and the small island still maintains an air of feral mystery.
MAINE COAST TOURS & ATTRACTIONS
WHERE IS MONHEGAN ISLAND MAINE
Monhegan Island is located about 10 miles off the coast of Maine, USA. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the rugged little mile island is situated about midway along the 228 mile Maine coastline.
MONHEGAN ISLAND WEATHER
Winters in Monhegan Island are snowy, with temperatures in January averaging between 10 and 25' F.
The best time to visit Monhegan Island Maine is between May and October when the weather is warm, the artists are painting, and the hiking trails are open. July and August are the warmest months (and most crowded). There is frequent fog in the summer.
HOW TO GET TO MONHEGAN ISLAND
Ferries depart for Monhegan Island from three different Maine ports; Monhegan Boat Line out of Port Clyde, Hardy Boat Cruises out of New Harbor, and the Balmy Days II out of Boothbay Harbor. Note: No visitor vehicles are allowed on the island.
Our Monhegan Island itinerary utilizes the Balmy Days II ferry located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. TIP: Overnight parking is limited in Boothbay Harbor, so secure parking reservations in advance.
MONHEGAN ISLAND MAP
MAINLAND & MONHEGAN ISLAND HOTELS
Many visitors will chose to stay in lively Boothbay Harbor (or quieter Port Clyde or New Harbor), and take the day ferry to Monhegan Island. We like to spend at least one night on the island as the locale seems even more beautiful after 2:30pm when most of the day-trippers depart. Here are a few well reviewed mainland and
Monhegan Island hotels:
Smugglers Cove Inn - Boothbay Harbor. Classic Maine waterfront resort.
Topside Inn- Boothbay Harbor. Comfortable rooms with elegant atmosphere.
The Island Inn - Monhegan Island. Sits on bluff over harbor.
The Monhegan House - Monhegan Island. Elegand dining room.
THINGS TO DO ON MONHEGAN ISLAND
Most folks seek out Monhegan Island to discover an authentic slice of Maine coastal life. Primarily a walking village, visitors can explore the island's fishing economy and artist's studios. Hiking is another great activity with miles of trails that rim the rocky shore and coastal cliffs. There is a working lighthouse with museum, a cluster of shops, and a small swim beach.
MONHEGAN ISLAND MAINE ITINERARY 3 DAYS
Day 1: Boothbay, Maine
Leave home early enough so you can enjoy the afternoon. Along the drive, stop at a store for a bottle of wine. Many restaurants on the island do not have liquor licenses, and allow patrons to bring their own beer and wine to a meal.
When you arrive in Boothbay Harbor, check-in and drop your bags. Boothbay Harbor is a rocking little seaside town. There are many seafood restaurants and specialty food stores lining the boat-filled harbor. There are craft shops, second-hand shops, and souvenir stalls. In-town there is a theater, arcades, and a nearby railway village with antique car museum.
TIP: Buy your outbound AND return ferry tickets for the Balmy Days II ferry in advance.
COASTAL MAINE DAY TRIPS & TOURS
Day 2: Ferry to Monhegan Island
Dress for a hike and have breakfast (light if the seas are choppy). Check out and roll your bag to the ferry port. There is always something fun to see on the ferry ride; seals on the rocks or an artist sketching on-board. Once we saw a dead whale floating in the swell (disgusting, but riveting). Dock mid-morning on Monhegan Island and check-in to your lodging.
For such a small place there are many different types of accommodations. Overall, the flavor of the island is rustic elegance. Our favorite place to stay is the Island Inn. The restaurant is charming and the view from the porch overlooking the harbor is quintessential Maine. Plus, the Inn is the shortest distance between the ferry and most other lodgings. Since the roads are dirt and the trucks the locals drive fly(!), you will appreciate this tip.
After unpacking, make a dinner reservation (sit down restaurants on the island are few). Then grab your trail map and head out for a hike. There is hiking on Monhegan Island for many different abilities. Some are challenging. Not all are well marked. Depending on your route, you might pass a shipwreck, soaring cliffs, or crashing surf.
Once out on the trail, the forest is thick and the crowds few. Away from the bustle of the wharf the isolation is magnificent. The scenery is wild and majestic, both wooded and coastal. Along the ragged and sometimes unkempt trails you will likely sweat, swear, and take some of the most unbelievably beautiful photos in your collection.
Back at your room take a nap and a long hot shower. Later, sit outside and enjoy a bottle of wine while the sun goes down. Then relax over a long, late dinner before turning in (there is really no nightlife on the island so you must make your own fun).
NEW ENGLAND TOURS & ADVENTURES
Day 3: MONHEGAN ISLAND & FERRY HOME
After breakfast, pack up. Store your bags, and then head out to explore the island’s shops and artist’s studios. Wandering around the village’s dirt lanes there is character in every weathered shingle and wind-blown crag. Pick up your bags and make your way to the ferry when it is time to depart. If you are lucky, as the ferry pulls out you will be treated to a jumping display by the local teens as they leap from the wharf into the harbor.
MONHEGAN ISLAND MAINE THINGS TO KNOW
Electronics: Few TVs/electronics. Little access to the web.
Children: Best for children who are sturdy, mobile, and love the outdoors. There are few planned activities and little indoor entertainment.
Food: Can be hard to come by and expensive. Bring-your-own-liquor and snacks.
Hiking: Panoramic vistas. Study the trail map before setting out. It is easy to get lost (but not for long as the island is so small). At a minimum bring hiking boots, bug spray, a whistle, and a jacket with a hood (the weather changes quickly).
Swimming: One beach (tiny, exposed, and scruffy).
Transportation: Your feet and be QUICK to get out of the way of the local drivers.
Safe travels, Laura and Randy
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