When Tony Cameron gives presentations about the Maine Tourism Association, he often asks his audience, “How many people moved here to Maine after they took a vacation?”

Usually, half of the people in the room raise a hand, he said.

Mainers often think about tourists as the people who cause traffic jams in coastal downtowns and long waits at popular restaurants. But data shows that locals account for nearly one-fifth of the annual visitors counted by the state Office of Tourism. Those people know that we can get away without ever crossing state lines.

This summer, you can do the same.

We compiled this guide to help Mainers explore our own state this summer, whether you join the throngs at a tourist hot spot or follow the road less traveled. Read a book set in Maine, and visit the small town that inspired the writer. Travel “America’s First Mile” in Fort Kent for the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 1. Take up hiking, and find yourself on the summit of Katahdin.

“Why would you want to vacation some place other than Vacationland?” said Cameron, executive director of the tourism association.

PLAYING TOURIST

In 2025, Maine reported 14 million visitors. That number is down slightly from the previous year, but the number of in-state residents included in that number was up.

The state Office of Tourism recorded 2.6 million visits from Mainers last year. Director Carolann Ouellette said that number represents the number of times people traveled more than 50 miles from home for their excursion.

“I think that during the pandemic, Mainers really learned a lot about Maine,” Ouellette said.

There’s a lot to learn. Maine covers nearly as much ground as the other five New England states combined. The most direct route from York to Fort Kent is more than 350 miles, nearly a six-hour drive on a good day. The state’s geography ranges from mountains to whitewater rapids, blueberry barrens to coastal islands.

“It is big, bigger than people expect,” Ouellette said. “You can really feel like you’re getting away from where you live to be in a very different place.”

Most visitors to the state still go to the beaches and islands, but the data shows that central and northern Maine are capturing an increasing share of visitors in recent years. In summer 2024, 3% went to Aroostook County, 9% to the Kennebec Valley and 16% to Maine’s lakes and mountains. Last summer, 7% went to Aroostook County, 12% to the Kennebec Valley and 20% to the lakes and mountains.

Jacob Pelkey, a tourism developer at Aroostook County Tourism, said the organization diverted money last year from ads targeting Canadians to in-state marketing. This year, he hopes locals will again consider gravel biking past fields of potato blossoms or taking short family hikes to views of pristine forests.

“We did a really good job last summer positioning the County as a great place to visit for Mainers,” Pelkey said. “We did see a huge jump in Maine visitation, while we saw a decrease in our Canadian visitation.”

INSIDER PERKS

When Michael Dix Thomas started working at the Ogunquit Playhouse, he started hearing a common refrain from friends and acquaintances. They had never seen a show there, they told him, because the tickets are too expensive.

“A lot of people do think it is out of their price range, and it just caters to a community of folks from away who are here for the summer,” said Thomas, director of education and community engagement at the playhouse. “That isn’t the goal, and it isn’t the reality of how these shows are priced now.”

Mainers might find perks that make it easier and less expensive to visit popular destinations. Some campgrounds and hotel groups offer discounts for residents. State park passes and licenses for fishing and hunting are more expensive for out-of-staters. A public library card can unlock free tickets to the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens or a local museum.

The Ogunquit Playhouse is among those spots that offer multiple discounts for locals. Residents of Maine and New Hampshire can see shows for free. A family package offers four seats for four shows for $400.

Maine residents can get $40 rush tickets on the day of a show, an initiative that started last year and grew in popularity during the season. For the first show, 130 people bought rush tickets during the run. During the last show, 450 people used that program.

“A lot of people don’t realize there are Broadway-level performances happening in Maine in the summer,” he said. “I love going to New York to see a show. It’s much easier to come down to Ogunquit.”

‘GRAB A GAZETTEER’

Even Acadia National Park, which saw 4 million visitors last year, has places that might feel like local secrets. The park includes half of Isle au Haut, for example, where a tiny campground is in high demand and visitors will find 18 miles of hiking trails. Cameron also recommended visiting other parts of Mount Desert Island, which are still near the park but might be less busy.

“Bass Harbor is a totally different experience than the way that downtown Bar Harbor is going to be,” Cameron said. “That’s the great thing about Maine. It’s easy to find where everything is happening, and it’s really easy to remove yourself and have that quiet spot.”

There are plenty of quiet spots in Baxter State Park, where roughly half of the roughly 57,000 visitors are from Maine.

Director Kevin Adam said a trip to the park doesn’t have to include a hike up Katahdin, and reservation staff and campground rangers can help visitors find alternative hikes or activities that might be even quieter or less strenuous. He personally loves the southeastern area of the park, where there are many more birds than people.

“There’s other peaks that offer just as good of views,” Adam said.

And don’t roll your eyes just yet at the touristy activities. Ever been on a moose tour? It’s worth it, Ouellette said.

“People just need to do a little exploration,” Ouellette said. “Grab a Gazetteer, and do something fun.”