For the past few Father’s Days, our family has hit the road on a delicious mission: finding Maine’s best lobster roll. As a travel advisor—and mom of three—I turned our foodie adventure into a scenic lobster roll crawl, complete with ocean breezes and plenty of family friendly fun. My daughter became a steamed clam connoisseur, sampling bites of lobster here and there, while her brothers proudly stuck to their “grilled cheese and fries only” meal plan. Proof that even the pickiest eaters can enjoy a tasty road trip up the Maine coast!
Between bites, we explored Coastal Maine. Here are a couple of our favorite stops:
- Portland Children’s Museum – Great family stop.
- Downtown Portland Shopping on Exchange and Congress Street.
- Maine Botanical Garden – I add this to all my clients’ itineraries. Great for all ages!
- Bar Island Land Bridge (at low tide) – Magical.
- Shore Path & Agamont Park – Ideal for a stroll.
- Loop Road & Cadillac Mountain Drive – Picture-perfect views.
- Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops – With locations scattered around all my favorite destinations this small chain bookstore has the perfect blend of local authors, bestsellers, gifts, souvenirs and staff picks including a “blind date with a book”.
- Downtown Camden has great shops to stroll through and is always a fan favorite. It also hosts another great book store, Owl & Turtle. Unlike Sherman’s, its children section contains only books, which helped my kids focus on picking books and not asking for toys. Its in-house cafe added to its delightful layout and small town charm.
The Lobster Roll Lineup
Southern Maine
The Clam Shack – Kennebunk, ME
Big, fresh lobster chunks on a tiny hamburger-style bun. The clam roll was tasty (though the batter was just okay), but the steamers were excellent.
⭐️ Rating: 7/10 – Worth a stop, but not the standout we hoped for.
Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen – Freeport, ME
Sadly, this was our only miss. Over-seasoned lobster and not the quality or charm Maine is known for.
⭐️ Rating: 5/10 – Skip it.
Midcoast Maine
The Lobster Haul – Damariscotta, ME
Loved the trio of slider-sized lobster rolls—especially the warm butter version. The cilantro-lime was a fun twist; the mayo one was forgettable.
⭐️ Rating: 8/10 – We’d go back just for the warm butter slider.
King Eider’s Pub – Damariscotta, ME
A pub-style roll on a grilled hot dog bun. Decent, but felt like something we could get at home.
⭐️ Rating: 6.5/10 – Solid, but skippable.
McLoons Lobster Shack – South Thomaston, ME
This is what lobster roll dreams are made of: picnic tables by the water, a generous roll served with warm butter and mayo on the side. The “Rolls Royce” is twice the size of a typical lobster and possibly twice as delicious. This lobsterman owned gem is idyllic! BYOB and enjoy the beautiful cove view. If your lucky, you will see soem lobster boats come back with their haul.
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 – A must-visit. Already dreaming of the return.
Wiscasset competitors located across the street from one another:
Red’s Eats – Wiscasset, ME
The infamous line took over an hour (despite looking shorter). Lobster kebob appetizer (shown) was unique and delicious. The roll was solid, but similar to the one across the street. Cash only, but better drink options than its neighbor.
⭐️ Rating: 8/10 – Worth trying if you don’t mind the wait.
Sprague’s Lobster – Wiscasset, ME
Right across from Red’s and far less crowded. Excellent quality lobster with mayo and butter served on the side. Sparse drink options, and the fries went untouched.
⭐️ Rating: 8/10 – Great lobster, no line. Cash only.
Mount Desert Island & Acadia Region
The Travelin’ Lobster – Trenton, ME
A humble setup with fantastic flavor. One of the best lobster rolls of the trip—generous, buttery, and well-balanced.
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 – A hidden gem.
Beal’s Lobster Pier – Southwest Harbor, ME
Creative roll options—our favorite was garlic butter. The lobster stew was spicy (unexpectedly), and the fried seafood was mixed, but the setting made up for it.
⭐️ Rating: 8/10 – Go on a sunny day and sit outside.
Archie’s Lobster – Bass Harbor, ME
Two classic roll options—hot with butter and cold with mayo. We couldn’t choose a favorite! But the real star was the clam chowder—easily one of the best we’ve ever had.
⭐️ Rating: 8.5/10 – Great food and location. We’ll be back.
Jordan’s Restaurant – Bar Harbor, ME
A traditional roll, nothing fancy, but the real surprise was the potato salad—zesty with dried mustard, onion, and peppers.
⭐️ Rating: 7/10 – A decent classic, but not crave-worthy.
Final Thoughts
This road trip gave us everything we wanted—family time, coastal charm, and incredible seafood. McLoons and The Travelin’ Lobster topped our list, but every stop contributed to the experience (even the grilled cheeses!). Not all lobster rolls are created equal, but the journey itself is part of the fun.
Planning your own lobster roll road trip?
Pack extra napkins, always say yes to butter on the side—and if you want a custom itinerary filled with family-friendly fun, hidden gems, and unforgettable eats, I’d love to help plan your perfect Maine adventure.
👉 Let’s start designing your next delicious getaway—contact me today!
