Maine’s quintessential small towns are worth every photo, every painting and every story we hear about them. They’re beautiful and quaint reminding us of a simpler time when just crossing a river required ingenuity and creativity that we oftentimes don’t think about today. The period between the 1800s and 1900s saw the majority of covered bridges in Maine built in these small towns and there’s no better place to see them than in the Lakes and Mountains region. While there were once 120 covered bridges in the state, most were destroyed by things like flood, fire and… modernity. Today there are nine bridges left in the state and six of them can be found relatively close to each other. To find your way to each bridge, follow these directions using Google Maps.
Google Maps
- Sunday River Bridge, Newry
cmhpictures / Flickr You might know this bridge by its more common name, “Artist’s Bridge.” It’s named as such for the many artists who come to portray it in paintings and capture it in photographs. Yes, it’s that beautiful throughout the year! The 87-foot structure was closed to vehicular traffic in 1958 after the newer one was built downstream, but it remains one of Maine’s most famous covered bridges. You’ll find it approximately four miles northwest of North Bethel close to Routes 2 and 26.
- Parsonsfield-Porter Bridge, Porter
Luke Hecker / Google Maps Built in 1859 as a way to cross over the Ossipee River, this bridge was a joint construction project by the towns of Porter and Parsonsfield. The 152-foot bridge was later closed to traffic in favor of the newer bridge that was built downriver in 1960. It remains ones of the prettiest in the state. You’ll find it about a half mile south of Porter.
- Lovejoy Bridge, Andover
jcbwalsh / Flickr Head along Route 5 in South Andover and you’ll come to this bridge built in 1868. It’s the state’s shortest covered bridge at 70 feet, but those needing to cross the Ellis River don’t find it any less useful than the others!
- Fryeburg, Maine
bobtravis / Flickr This is another bridge that allows traffic, letting visitors imagine what it was once like to cross it. Built in 1857, it spans about 110 feet across a channel of the Saco River on Route 302. You’ll find it about three miles northwest of East Fryeburg.
- Bennett Bridge, Lincoln Plantation
ashevillepubcrawler / Flickr Built in 1901, this beauty is a total of 93 feet spanning the Magalloway River. While it’s been closed to traffic since 1985, it’s a wonderful spot to visit and photograph. You’ll find it about a mile and a half south of Wilson Mills.
- Babb’s Bridge, South Windham
bobtravis / Flickr Head about two miles of South Windham to the Presumscot River to see this beautiful bridge reconstruction. The original 79-foot structure was built in 1843. It was destroyed in a fire in 1973, prompting the exact replica to be built and opened in 1976. The bridge links the towns of Gorham and Windham
To enjoy small-town Maine, consider taking this road trip through some of the most picturesque places in the state.
Google Maps
cmhpictures / Flickr
You might know this bridge by its more common name, “Artist’s Bridge.” It’s named as such for the many artists who come to portray it in paintings and capture it in photographs. Yes, it’s that beautiful throughout the year! The 87-foot structure was closed to vehicular traffic in 1958 after the newer one was built downstream, but it remains one of Maine’s most famous covered bridges. You’ll find it approximately four miles northwest of North Bethel close to Routes 2 and 26.
Luke Hecker / Google Maps
Built in 1859 as a way to cross over the Ossipee River, this bridge was a joint construction project by the towns of Porter and Parsonsfield. The 152-foot bridge was later closed to traffic in favor of the newer bridge that was built downriver in 1960. It remains ones of the prettiest in the state. You’ll find it about a half mile south of Porter.
jcbwalsh / Flickr
Head along Route 5 in South Andover and you’ll come to this bridge built in 1868. It’s the state’s shortest covered bridge at 70 feet, but those needing to cross the Ellis River don’t find it any less useful than the others!
bobtravis / Flickr
This is another bridge that allows traffic, letting visitors imagine what it was once like to cross it. Built in 1857, it spans about 110 feet across a channel of the Saco River on Route 302. You’ll find it about three miles northwest of East Fryeburg.
ashevillepubcrawler / Flickr
Built in 1901, this beauty is a total of 93 feet spanning the Magalloway River. While it’s been closed to traffic since 1985, it’s a wonderful spot to visit and photograph. You’ll find it about a mile and a half south of Wilson Mills.
Head about two miles of South Windham to the Presumscot River to see this beautiful bridge reconstruction. The original 79-foot structure was built in 1843. It was destroyed in a fire in 1973, prompting the exact replica to be built and opened in 1976. The bridge links the towns of Gorham and Windham
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