Portland’s North Atlantic allure
Maine’s Portland has gained a ton of buzz over recent years for good reason: it’s a lobster lover’s paradise with plenty of tourist attractions and historic sights for U.S. history buffs and casual visitors alike.
The seaswept cobbled streets of downtown Portland hide nooks and crannies stuffed with charming shops, art museums, and delicious seafood — the classic New England experience.
Portland favorites
Sumptuous seafood, relaxing beaches, untamed wilderness — whatever your travel requirements, the Portland area’s got something for you.
Old Port
The heart of town is Old Port, the historic cobblestone-paved city center along the Portland Harbor waterfront. Make a reservation and grab some chowder at the restaurants on Commercial Street or Congress Street, and hit the boutique shops during downtime.
Portland Museum of Art
Across from Congress Square Park, PMOA houses a huge collection of American, European, and local contemporary works, including impressive artists like Andy Warhol and Claude Monet. You can find public parking lots closeby.
Brewery tours
Portland is home to a ton of breweries. Some favorites to hit are the well-known Allagash Brewery, Sebago, Shipyard, and Rising Tide Brewing Company. Hop on a Bike and Brews tour and leave the car behind.
Top hosts in Portland, ME
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Hit the road
While there’s plenty to see and eat in the center of town, there’s more popular attractions a quick drive away that make for perfect East Coast road trips. Hit one of the go-to day trip destinations around Portland, then fill up the tank and head off to some of the nearby towns along the coast for a New England-style relaxing family vacation in an unforgettable location.
Book the perfect carCasco Bay Islands
This archipelago off the coast of Portland is accessible by ferry year-round. Take a Casco Bay Lines ferry around or to any of the islands — Peaks Island and Great Diamond Island are popular — and soak in an abundance of American history, coastlines, shops, and museums.
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth is an excellent day trip option about 9 miles south of Portland. It’s known for rolling hills, Crescent Beach State Park, and historic lighthouses like Two Lights Lighthouse and Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park, which was commissioned by George Washington back in the 1700s.
Bar Harbor
A quaint fishing village turned trendy up-and-comer, Bar Harbor is about a three-hour drive up US Route 1 on the Maine coast. Travel to wild Acadia National Park’s soaring granite cliffs and lush coastlines, and you’ll find all the seafood you expect from a north Atlantic town.
Recent reviews
It drove excellent and gave us all the kush comforts you would expect from a luxury vehicle.
Cody was very helpful and accommodating in setting up this rental which had a few changes made at different times.
We love using Turo instead of big rental companies bc the rates/fees are clear and upfront, plus you can communicate with a real person.
It was the most amazing experience and beat Budget or any of those car rental companies by far!!
This car was exactly what we needed - clean, comfortable, great fuel efficiency.
Andrei was very accommodating when our other car rental fell through at the last minute.
CAR WAS EXCELLENT HOST WAS ABOUT 2 HOURS LATE FOR PICK UP TIME BUT OTHER THEN THAT I ENJOYED MY TRIP HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO SPEND TIMF WITH MY FAMILY
The car was especially good with driving in a congested city (Portland) with narrow streets.
Great trip and great host - could walk from old Portland to pick up car.
He was already at arrivals when we landed in portland, and arrived at departures before we did for the end of the trip.
I had some minor changes to my trip on the front and backend and we were able to address them all quickly.
Fast easy communication, seamless pickup and a good value car for the price.
David made life easy and this was a great car for hopping around Portland area for a few days.
Anthony was super easy to work with and I would recommend highly to anyone visiting the Portland area.
My wife and I were visiting her cousin up in Bar Harbor but wanted to also check out Portland first.
Jonny’s car was perfect for a couple days visiting Portland and the surrounding area!
Easy pickup and dropoff, no issues with the car, and he could not have been more helpful or responsive.
The car was in perfect condition, had incredible gas mileage, and all for an unbeatable price!
Highly recommend for travel in Portland, was quite easy parking with its size
We drove from Portland Jetport up to Acadia, around the park for a few days, and then back to Portland and used maybe 2/3 of a tank of gas.
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Best Portland driving roads
Million Dollar View Scenic Byway
This is just one of the many stretches of Route 1 that’ll have your eyes glued to the window. Though it’s over three hours north from Portland along the Canadian border, it sweeps past the Chiputneticook chain of lakes, with scenic views of Mount Katahdin and Peekaboo Mountain.
Route 113
The 50 miles from Portland to Fryeburg includes Pequawket Trail Maine Scenic Byway, which follows the Saco River and Mountain Division Rail past working farms, swimming holes, and the Hemlock Covered Bridge in Fryeburg, and it’s the perfect New England leaf-peeping route in the fall.
Katahdin Woods & Waters Scenic Byway
The northern part of Maine is sparsely populated, people know Baxter State Park as a worthy location to spend some time. With excellent options for camping, hiking, and rafting, the drive also offers sweeping views of Mount Katahdin — then drivers can head further into the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Frequently asked questions in Portland
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* Any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your protection plan, except in limited situations for trips booked in Maryland, but this protects your own wallet. Liability insurance is provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. The policy does not provide coverage for damage to a host’s vehicle.
For questions or information about the third party liability insurance that is included in protection plans, consumers in Maryland and the licensed states listed here may contact Turo Insurance Agency at (415) 508-0283 or claims@turo.agency. For questions about how damage to a host’s vehicle is handled, visit the Turo Support site.
When a trip is booked in the state of Washington, physical damage to the host’s vehicle is covered by insurance purchased by Turo, but Turo’s insurance does not change the contractual responsibilities of hosts or guests with respect to physical damage to a host’s vehicle.