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Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods
Moose country around Maine’s largest lake, a slate canyon and the wild park at the end of the Appalachian Trail.
- Distance
- 288 km (179 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 11 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 7
- States
- ME
- Updated
- April 28, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 288 km (179 mi) with 7 stops, from Bangor to Baxter State Park, Togue Pond. About 3 h 11 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Maine · More road trips from Ellsworth
Route description
Drive northwest from Bangor on State Road 15 through farm country and small mill towns to Greenville, a small town at the foot of Moosehead Lake with floatplanes and a restored steamboat, the Katahdin, which offers lake cruises in summer.
Continue up the west shore on State Road 6/15 to Rockwood, where a shuttle boat crosses to Mount Kineo and its sheer cliff. Back in Greenville, the road north along the east shore passes Lily Bay State Park; drive at dawn or dusk for the best chance of seeing moose, and watch for them on the road at night.
Gulf Hagas, a slate canyon with a chain of waterfalls, is reached by the gravel KI Jo-Mary logging roads, with a checkpoint and fee. Logging trucks have the right of way and the roads are rough, so leave RVs and low cars behind; if you travel in a big vehicle, return to Bangor and take I-95 to Millinocket instead.
Millinocket is the gateway to Baxter State Park, a wilderness around Katahdin, Maine’s highest mountain. There are no paved roads, no services and a vehicle limit; day-use parking for summit hikes must be reserved. Late June to early October is the season; blackflies are fierce in late May and June.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Bangor
ME - 2117 km
Greenville
ME - 334 km
Mount Kineo
NatureRockwood, MEA sheer rhyolite cliff rising from Moosehead Lake. A shuttle boat from Rockwood crosses in minutes to trails to the summit fire tower.
- 425 km
Lily Bay State Park
NatureGreenville, MECampsites along the shore of Moosehead Lake, a good base for dawn and dusk moose watching along the roads north of Greenville.
- 526 km
Gulf Hagas
NatureGreenville, MEA slate canyon with a chain of waterfalls, often called the Grand Canyon of Maine, reached by gravel logging roads through a gate with a fee.
- 660 km
Millinocket
ME - 726 km
Baxter State Park, Togue Pond
NatureMillinocket, METhe southern gate of the wilderness park around Katahdin, the end of the Appalachian Trail. Day-use parking for the summit hikes must be reserved.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Bangor → Greenville · 73 mi · 1 h 18 minOvernight nearby, for example: 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures (12 mi); Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins (12 mi).
- Day 2: Greenville → Mount Kineo · 21 mi · 0 h 23 minOvernight nearby, for example: Indian Pond Family Campground (18 mi); Cowen Cove Campground (2 mi).
- Day 3: Mount Kineo → Gulf Hagas · 31 mi · 0 h 34 minOn the way: Lily Bay State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Gorman Chairback Lodge & Cabins (2 mi); Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins (4 mi).
- Day 4: Gulf Hagas → Baxter State Park, Togue Pond · 53 mi · 0 h 57 minOn the way: Millinocket.Overnight nearby, for example: Abol Campground (6 mi); Big Eddy Campground (14 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods?
4-day road trip of about 288 km (179 mi) with 7 stops, from Bangor to Baxter State Park, Togue Pond. About 3 h 11 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods?
We suggest 4 days: about 3 h 11 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods start and end?
It starts in Bangor and ends in Baxter State Park, Togue Pond.
Which states does Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods pass through?
Maine.
Where can you camp along Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods?
OpenStreetMap lists 58 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures, Parks Pond Campground and Medawisla Lodge and Cabins.
When is the best time for Moosehead Lake and Katahdin: Maine’s North Woods?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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