WHERE TO STAY IN BANGOR

Bangor has plenty of guest rooms, many along charmless strips near the airport and the mall. If you’re not choosy or if you’re arriving late at night, these are fine. Be aware that even these can fill up during the peak summer season, so reservations are advised. Try the Comfort Inn, 10 Bangor Mall Rd. (tel. 855/516-1090) or the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 300 Odlin Rd. ( tel. 888/236-2427 or 207/990-0001).

Other options:
Connected to Bangor’s airport is a Four Points by Sheraton, 308 Godfrey Blvd. (tel. 800/368-7764 or 207/947-6721); near the Bangor Mall and other chain stores is the Country Inn at the Mall, 936 Stillwater Ave. ( tel. 800/244-3961 or 207/941-0200). Downtown by the Civic Center, there’s one slightly offbeat option: the Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway, 500 Main St. ( tel. 877/779-7771). Yes, they have slot machines, plus about 150 pretty nice units, covered parking, an airport shuttle, and—why?—an on-site laundry service.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE KATAHDIN AREA

Lodging and dining are both pretty bare-bones around the Katahdin region, where a sprinkle of B&Bs, lodges, hunting camps, and (often pretty run-down) roadside motels make up the bulk of your lodging options. On the upside, more and more folks around greater Millinocket are availing themselves of Airbnb and other online rental platforms, where you can often find super affordable rentals and cabins. Camping is really the classic way to experience the region, but if you must have a roof, try the Baxter Park Inn, 935 Central Street (tel. 855/516-1090), which has breakfast and an indoor pool, or the Rivers Edge Motel, closer to the highway at 2166 Medway Road in Medway (tel. 207/746-5162), a clean if unremarkable motor lodge where the friendly owner also sells pizzas out of the front office.

On Grand Lake Road, which leads to both parks’ north entrances, Matagamon Wilderness Campground and Cabins (tel. 207/446-4635) has spacious riverside campsites, six rustic cabins, a small family restaurant, and a camp store (it’s a clutch beer and/or ice cream stop when leaving the park). Shin Pond Village (tel. 207/528-2900) is a similar camp-lodge-store-restaurant complex on Route 11, between Patten and the north entrances.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.