Into the Great Wide Open: These are Maine’s 20 Largest State Parks

If you live in Maine, I don't have to tell you how beautiful and vast the state is.

Even if you're in Portland, Bangor, or one of the few metro areas, it's just a short drive to find yourself completely surrounded by...well...very little. And that's amazing.

How Popular are Maine's State Parks?

Maine is a state that benefits greatly from its beauty and vastness. The state pulls in millions of dollars each year from tourism. According to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands, over 3.1 million people visited Maine’s 42 state parks and historic sites just last year.

It’s impossible to ignore the importance of Maine’s state park system to the state’s tourism. While Portland’s food scene and Acadia tend to steal most of the attention, the state parks deserve plenty of love as well.

Maine's State Parks Can be Found All Across the State

Maine’s state parks stretch from as far south as Southern York County, through the western foothills near New Hampshire, all the way east to Quoddy Head, and as far north as you can go. They also cover a considerable amount of land.

What are the Largest State Parks in Maine?

I decided to compile a list of the 20 largest state parks in Maine based on acreage. This list is an interesting mix of well-known parks and some real hidden treasures. In fact, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands offers a fun little guide for everyone to explore.

There is one major omission. Baxter State Park is not on this list. Baxter is technically not run by the state, but by the Baxter State Park Authority, which does not include the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands.

READ MORE: Maine’s Acadia Climbs to 7th Most Popular U.S. National Park

Here are the 20 largest state parks in the state of Maine (not including Baxter).