ptl boat y 0000
Downtown Portland, Maine. Photo courtesy VisitPortland.com
Portland, ME, to Newburyport, MA

New England Coastal Ride

Two-day cycling tour recommended by Molly Henry

Miles

Roughly 100

Start

Downtown Portland, Maine. You can ride the Amtrak Downeaster -- bikes permitted on board.

eastern trail me
Maine: Eastern Trail, 20 miles. Just south of Portland, this trail runs south from Scarborough to West Kennebunk, mostly on crushed stone and asphalt. The highlight is the stretch through the stunning Scarborough Marsh, the largest saltwater marsh in Maine, where you’ll join kayakers and avid birders viewing peregrine falcons, ibis, and many other impressive birds.

 

The Route

Start: Downtown Portland, Maine. You can ride the Amtrak Downeaster -- bikes permitted on board.

Amtrak Info

Route: Day 1: About 45 miles. Eat a hearty breakfast in downtown Portland and enjoy the beautiful Eastern Promenade before heading south on the Eastern Trail, following signs for East Coast Greenway/Eastern Trail/US Bike Route 1. Stop for lunch in Saco or Biddeford. In Wells, you’ll get off the East Coast Greenway and follow Sanford Avenue towards the the coast to downtown Wells. Find overnight accommodations and dinner options here.

Wells info

Trip route, download turn by turn directions

Day 2: Roughly 60 miles. Head back west on Sanford Avenue to the Greenway and follow signs to the New Hampshire line. You’ll be mostly on quiet residential and country roads. Cross the Memorial Bridge into Portsmouth, NH, with many lunch options. Follow the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway all the way to the Massachusetts state line. Continue into Newburyport, where you can take an MBTA commuter train, bikes permitted on off-peak trains.

MBTA Commuter Train info

Trip route, download turn by turn directions

Local knowledge

Enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean along the New Hampshire route — it’s one of the few stretches of the East Coast Greenway that truly hugs the ocean coastline.

Provisions

In Portland, check out Local Sprouts Cooperative for breakfast and lunch and Arabica Coffee House on Commercial Street. In downtown Portsmouth, Portsmouth Book & Bar makes a fun lunch stop.

Arabica Coffee House

Tandem Coffee

Portsmouth Book and Bar

Molly Henry served as New England Coordinator for East Coast Greenway Alliance until 2018.

farmington river trail ct 1
Itinerary • Simsbury, CT

Tour of Connecticut's Farmington Valley

3-4 day bike tour recommended by Bruce Donald

cyclist george washington bridge
Itinerary • New York City, NY

Day Tour of the Big Apple

1-day cycling/walking tour recommended by Eric Weis

virginia capital trail
Itinerary • Williamsburg, VA

Virginia Capital Trail

2-day out-and-back bike ride: Recommended by Sarah Sanford

View All Itineraries
Together, let's grow the Greenway

Recent record-setting funding for design and construction goes directly to building the East Coast Greenway - as it should. The East Coast Greenway Alliance needs your support to continue our advocacy work that is fueling completion of the Greenway. The Alliance has a sustained track record of turning every dollar donated to our nonprofit into $100 in public infrastructure investment. Invest today and support the growth of the East Coast Greenway from Maine to Florida.