Overview
Bethel is a town in Oxford County (Maine). It is near the White Mountain National Forest and home to Sunday River ski resort. Outward Bound and Gould Academy are also here.
1 sights · 5 things to do · 10 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 18 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bethel
Grafton Notch State Park
The Appalachian Trail passes through this rugged landscape used to hike, fish, hunt, and in the winter snowmobile and cross-country ski. Breathtaking views from Old Speck Mountain.
Patte Brook Auto Tour
A five-mile (8-km) self-guided tour into the White Mountain National Forest that you can read and print from this link
Sunday River
131 trails and 18 lifts. Large resort with summer alpine activities and always something happening.
Mt. Abram
Sunday River Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course with 18 holes, par 72, 7,130 yards, CR75.2, slope 146. $95, cart included.
Bethel Inn & Country Club
Par 72, 6,663 yards, CR71.3 Slope 131.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jul–Aug. Summer highs reach about 55°F; winter lows dip to about -3°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Jul. (climate data from nearby Mount Washington State Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AUG Augusta State Airport, Augusta — 49 mi away. Directions
- PWM Portland International Jetport, Portland — 58 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) to Exit 63 "Gray" Route 26. Take Route 26 North.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Patte Brook Auto Tour, Sunday River
- Lunch Café DiCocoa and Dicocoa's Market Bakery
- Afternoon Sunday River Golf Club
- Dinner The Good Food Store
- Evening Funky Red Barn
Day 2
- Morning Grafton Notch State Park, Mt. Abram
- Lunch Bethel's Best Pizza, Subs, & Ice Cream
- Afternoon Bethel Inn & Country Club
- Dinner Home Slice Pizza
- Evening Jolly Drayman at the Briar Lea Inn
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Suds Pub, the Matterhorn, Liam's, and other local establishments also serve pizza.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) to Exit 63 "Gray" Route 26. Take Route 26 North.
Get around
- The Mountain Explorer - a free shuttle providing shuttle service between Bethel Village and the Sunday River Ski Resort.
See
See Patte Brook Auto Tour
A five-mile (8-km) self-guided tour into the White Mountain National Forest that you can read and print from this link
Do
Do Grafton Notch State Park
The Appalachian Trail passes through this rugged landscape used to hike, fish, hunt, and in the winter snowmobile and cross-country ski. Breathtaking views from Old Speck Mountain.
Ski
Do Mt. Abram
Golf
Do Sunday River Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course with 18 holes, par 72, 7,130 yards, CR75.2, slope 146. $95, cart included.
Eat
Cafés & bakeries
Eat Café DiCocoa and Dicocoa's Market Bakery
A cozy café-restaurant serving up pastries and a wide selection of coffee and hot drinks throughout the day, and then global cuisine at night. The market, which is next door, is filled with groceries, coffee and wine from around the globe.
Eat The Good Food Store
Great selection of natural foods and drinks, along with a made-to-order sandwich service. Fine wines and cheeses, specialty beers, great soups, heat and eat meals, organic and local produce. The area's best catering.
Pizza
Suds Pub, the Matterhorn, Liam's, and other local establishments also serve pizza.
Eat Bethel's Best Pizza, Subs, & Ice Cream
Serves breakfast, a wide variety of pizza, subs, panini sandwiches, and all sorts of ice cream treats. Delivery available to houses, condos, or hotel rooms anywhere in Bethel and surrounding towns including Sunday River.
Eat Home Slice Pizza
Pizza, subs, tacos, stuffed breadsticks available. Delivery and take-out available.
Eat New York Pizza
(Newry). Authentic New York pizza and sub take-out shop on the Sunday River access road. NY Pizza is now part of the Barking Dawg Market.
Eat Pat's Pizza Family Restaurant
Full-service homemade pizza restaurant, also featuring homemade soup, lasagna, and chicken and eggplant parm. Also has full liquor bar with micro-brew drafts, wine and bottled beers.
Casual dining
Eat Suds Pub
Great pizza, take out, 29 beers on tap, live entertainment Th-Sa.
Eat Smokin' Good BBQ
Finest fresh meat, dry rubbed with secret spices and slowly smoked with local hardwood. Served up with homemade sides and some attitude.
Fine Dining
Eat Sudbury Inn
Roasted rack of lamb, duckling with maple blueberry glaze are served by the fire. Excellent service and wine list.
Eat Anthony’s Seafood & Pasta
Fine dining in three intimate dining rooms. Extensive wine list. Monthly Wine tasting Dinners featuring wines and foods of different countries and/or regions.
Drink
Drink Jolly Drayman at the Briar Lea Inn
Drink Matterhorn Ski Bar
On the way to Sunday River in Newry, the Matterhorn is only open during ski season.
Drink Shipyard Brew Haus
At Sunday River's White Cap lodge.
Drink Sudbury Inn
Try hoot night on Thursdays.
Drink Sunday River Brewing Company
Also goes by Moose's Tale Food and Ale, and StoneCoast Brewing Co.
Sleep
Bed & Breakfasts, inns and motels
Stay The Briar Lea Inn
Open year round. Five miles from Sunday River, features six rooms and an English pub. $79-149.
Stay Bethel Spa Motel
In the heart of Bethel on the Mountain Explorer Shuttle route with direct access to Sunday River.
Chalets & rental homes
Slopeside Lodging
Nearby
Newry
City / town · 6 mi away
Rumford
City / town · 28 listings · 16 mi away
Andover
City / town · 5 listings · 16 mi away
Mexico
City / town · 3 listings · 16 mi away
Paris
City / town · 3 listings · 17 mi away
Norway
City / town · 5 listings · 18 mi away
Dixfield
City / town · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Gorham
City / town · 5 listings · 19 mi away
My experience
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