Overview
Blue Hill is a small town in Hancock County, in the US state of Maine, located on Blue Hill Bay, about 14 miles southwest of the county seat of Ellsworth and quite near Acadia National Park.
4 sights · 9 things to do · 9 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Blue Hill
Bagaduce Music Lending Library
Blue Hill Public Library
Closed on Sundays.
Historic Jonathan Fisher House
One of Blue Hill's most famous attractions. Not always open. Phone for special appointment.
Blue Hill Historical Society
Located in the 1815 Holt House at the corner of Main Street and Water Street. No telephone. PO Box 710.
Blue Hill Falls
Watch or try out the rare reversing falls created by the incoming tide funneling into a narrow channel. The water forms a standing wave, up to three feet in height. The Blue Hills Falls is safe to run on inner tube, raft…
Blue Hill Mountain
Climb Blue Hill's namesake Blue Hill Mountain (actually, more a hill than a mountain) for nice views of Blue Hill Bay and, on clear days, Acadia National Park in the distance.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Nov. (climate data from nearby Acadia National 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.
- BHB Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, Bar Harbor — 11 mi away. Directions
- BGR Bangor International Airport, Bangor — 30 mi away. Directions
- PWM Portland International Jetport, Portland — 101 mi away (major hub). Directions
Nearest major airports are the Hancock County - Bar Harbor Airport near Ellsworth (about 20 miles), Bangor International Airport in Bangor (about 30 miles) and Portland International Jetport in Portland (about 120 miles). Even if you fly, you'll need to rent a car at one of these airports.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bagaduce Music Lending Library, Blue Hill Historical Society, Rocky Coast Outfitters
- Lunch Arborvine
- Afternoon The Blue Hill Fair, Woods Pond
- Dinner Blue Hill Co-op Community Market & Cafe
- Evening The Blue Hill Wine Shop
Day 2
- Morning Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill Falls
- Lunch Blue Hill Subway
- Afternoon Activity Shop, WERU-FM
- Dinner Fish Net
- Evening The Blue Moose
Day 3
- Morning Historic Jonathan Fisher House, Blue Hill Mountain
- Lunch Merrill and Hinkley
- Afternoon Blue Hill Golf Course, Blue Hill Town Park
- Dinner Pantry Restaurant
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Situated right on the ocean and in Maine, fresh seafood is widely available and often a specialty here. There are few chain restaurants in town, so you should be prepared to eat at local establishments, unless you want to drive in to Ellsworth. Here are a few:
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
Understand
The population is less than 2,500 people, but Blue Hill is quite busy during the summer tourist season. Visit historic houses and art galleries, shop for antiques, and view the small harbor. There is also a small local hospital on Water Street and a newspaper, The Weekly Packet. Additional information is available from the Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce located at 28 Water Street. Tel: +1 207 374-3242.
Get in
By air
Nearest major airports are the Hancock County - Bar Harbor Airport near Ellsworth (about 20 miles), Bangor International Airport in Bangor (about 30 miles) and Portland International Jetport in Portland (about 120 miles). Even if you fly, you'll need to rent a car at one of these airports.
By car
You will most likely enter Maine on Interstate 95, especially if you are coming from southern New England or U.S. points beyond. The standard routes to Downeast Maine are to either follow I-95 to the capital, Augusta, and then to break east on state highways, or to leave I-95 around Brunswick, Maine, and follow U.S. 1 north along the coast toward Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. The drive along U.S. 1 is typically more scenic, but also generally slower.
By boat
Blue Hill does have a pretty tidal harbor on Blue Hill Bay that is fairly sheltered from the open ocean. The K.Y.C. yacht club welcomes members of other yacht clubs, to drop anchor there and to come ashore. K.Y.C., however, is located some distance from the center of town, and it might be preferable to ask for a ride to go shopping. There are several boat yards in Blue Hill, offering their services. By road, Blue Hill is approximately 45 minutes away from Bar Harbor. The high-speed car ferry "The Cat" links Bar Harbor with Yarmouth (Nova Scotia, Canada).
Get around
You'll generally travel around the Blue Hill area by car, as public transportation in the Blue Hill area is nonexistent and the main grocery store, Tradewinds Marketplace, is most of a mile up a steep hill.
Traffic during the summer months is incredibly busy (by Blue Hill standards), although seekers of solitude might want to visit from October to April, when the tourists and summer residents haven't come up yet.
There is a public transportation system serving Blue Hill and Hancock County. It is called Downeast Transportation. This service is offered Monday through Friday, to and from Ellsworth, the county seat. Connections can be made to other parts of the county-wide network.
See
Do
Do Blue Hill Falls
Watch or try out the rare reversing falls created by the incoming tide funneling into a narrow channel. The water forms a standing wave, up to three feet in height. The Blue Hills Falls is safe to run on inner tube, raft, kayak and canoe, although pedestrians should beware of traffic.
Do Blue Hill Mountain
Climb Blue Hill's namesake Blue Hill Mountain (actually, more a hill than a mountain) for nice views of Blue Hill Bay and, on clear days, Acadia National Park in the distance.
Do Blue Hill Town Park
At the end of Water Street by the hospital, and offers a beach and a large rock suitable for sunbathing. Although some brave enthusiasts risk it, swimming is not advised due to contamination due to the nearby sewage plant.
Do Woods Pond
An excellent place to go swimming, it can be found on the Mines Rd. (Route 15) approximately two miles south of Blue Hill. Parking is roadside, and is denoted by a line of rocks to the right of the road, under the shade of oak trees. The pond is 200 yards over the hill, but once found is worth the trek, with high rocks to jump off of and sunbathe on. While there is a house along the trail, public usage has been established, although respect for others is recommended. Dogs and littering are highly frowned upon.
Buy
There are a number of art galleries and antique shops in the area. Yard sales are popular in the summer. Look for roadside signs.
Shop Blue Hill Antiques
Shop LaFreniere's Nature Art of Maine
Shop North Light Books
Shop Rowantrees Pottery
Eat
Situated right on the ocean and in Maine, fresh seafood is widely available and often a specialty here. There are few chain restaurants in town, so you should be prepared to eat at local establishments, unless you want to drive in to Ellsworth. Here are a few:
Eat Blue Hill Co-op Community Market & Cafe
Eat Blue Hill Subway
Submarine sandwiches.
Eat Fish Net
Take-out seafood restaurant.
Eat Merrill and Hinkley
Blue Hill's oldest grocery store, still in original building. Offers pre-made sandwiches and a delicatessen, however the convenience of being downtown comes at a tradeoff of higher prices.
Eat Pantry Restaurant
Breakfast and lunch.
Eat TradeWinds Marketplace
Hannaford grocery store with deli, also houses a Subway and Baker's Cafe.
Eat Marlintini's
Marlintini's is 1 mile south of Blue Hill and offers great food at good prices. Family-friendly with plenty of parking.
Eat The Boatyard Grill
A casual, family-friendly restaurant and bar located on the water. There is lots of open-air seating as well as inside seating. Specialties include steamed lobster, grilled fish and burgers, fresh, locally procured salads.
Drink
Drink The Blue Moose
Restaurant and full bar.
Sleep
Blue Hill has a number of inns and bed and breakfasts. Even more numerous than those options, however, are private vacation homes for rent, although for many these are cost-prohibitive. Blue Hill is typical of Downeast Maine in this regard. You often have more choices of lodging in renting private homes than you do for motels, hotels and inns, especially in small towns like Blue Hill. Backpackers and those looking to take the path less travelled, camping out on their own are unlikely to be hassled, as long as they pack light and keep out of sight of houses. The edges of blueberry fields are excellent in this regard.
Stay Peninsula Property Rentals
Go next
- Acadia National Park - the first National Park east of the Mississippi. Busy during tourist season but one of the most beautiful parts of the Maine coast.
- Bar Harbor
- Ellsworth - the local center for shopping.
- Mount Desert Island
Nearby
Surry
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Castine
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Trenton
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Ellsworth
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Somesville
City / town · 4 listings · 13 mi away
Orland
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Bucksport
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Southwest Harbor
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My experience
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