Getting here, what the roads and weather will do to you, what to bring, and the handful of numbers worth saving on your phone. The most useful local services are in Machias, five minutes south — details on the directory page.
Getting here
Almost everyone arrives by road. The others are worth knowing about.
US 1 runs right through the village, and Maine State Route 191 — the old Cutler Road — turns east toward Machiasport and the bay. Bangor is about 70 miles, Bar Harbor 54, and Acadia National Park 45.
Allow for the road, not the map. The Bold Coast is scenic and slow in places. Add 10–15% to any estimate.
The nearest commercial airport is Bangor International, roughly 85 miles west. The closest airfield to the area is Machias Valley Airport, in Machias.
Most visitors arrive in their own vehicle, so the road is the practical route to the coast.
The ferry terminal at Machiasport runs scheduled services to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, and across to Canada at Calais — about half an hour from the village.
If you are continuing further east, this is the road's end. Bring a passport.
Know before you go
None of these are deal-breakers — they are just the details that make a rural coast pleasant instead of frustrating.
East Machias is a working town of roughly 1,300 people, not a resort. That is the appeal — the shop that has been there for forty years, the people who wave from the truck stop, the unhurried way everything happens. It also means that most services are thin outside business hours, and that you will be most welcome if you are not in a hurry.
The village is unincorporated in feel but fully incorporated in law: the town office is at 32 Cutler Road, and municipal questions are handled on (207) 255-8598. The contacts below list the numbers that cover everything else.
Access
The village centre and the historic district are on flat land beside the river. The Down East Sunrise Trail is a former rail bed — firm, level and easy. Expect hills at Jasper Beach, Fort O'Brien and Roque Bluffs.
Beaches, Fort O'Brien, Long Point and the historic district are all reached by short walks from roadside parking. Machiasport, Eastport and Machias have their own marked parking.
Most of the inns and B&Bs here are in older buildings with staircases and limited accessible rooms. If you need step-free access, tell the property directly when you reserve rather than after you arrive.
If you need a number
These are the ones worth saving on your phone before you set off. Everything is verified against public listings, but call ahead — numbers and hours change.