Like it Cool in the Summer? Head to This Coastal Town in Maine

Summers in Maine are short, but they are sweet – many would argue they are the best you can get. That said, even in our northern corner of the country, things can get a little hotter than some would like. 

I've noticed when I watch the forecast on News Center Maine in the warmer months, there's always one town on the weather map that's cooler than the rest. Naturally, it's gotta be a coastal town, but which one is it? Well, you may have noticed that Rockland is pretty consistent when it comes to hanging out 10–15 degrees cooler than everywhere else. 

I'm not a meteorologist but I've always been pretty fascinated and curious about weather. I reached out to News Center Maine's Ryan Breton - probably the biggest weather nerd I know - and asked him what makes Rockland so cool in the summer? Here's what he had to say:

Most often in the summer our wind is from the southwest. The way the Maine coastline is oriented, a wind from the south or southwest comes in off the ocean for Midcoast and Downeast areas, keeping them cooler as a result.

Rockland’s temperature you see on the news or your weather app comes from the Knox County airport, which is right next to the ocean. So, the airport temperature sometimes isn’t fully representative of the whole region (Thomaston for example can be warmer). But it does represent what it’s like to be right on the water around Rockland!

If you want an even cooler spot, jump on the ferry to Vinalhaven which is in Penobscot Bay!

Notice how he said in Penobscot Bay. Yes, Vinylhaven is an island, which is certainly going to keep things cooler.

Rockland sits along the west side of Penobscot Bay, and as you may know, it’s got some serious coastal cred. It’s home to the Maine Lobster Festival, the Farnsworth Art Museum, and that eye candy that is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. It’s also a working harbor town that hasn’t been completely overrun by tourists—yet. But one of its best-kept secrets? It stays refreshingly mild in the summer, even when the rest of Maine is melting.

According to Time and Date, average summer temps in Rockland hover around 74°F during the day and dip into the upper 50s at night. Compare that to, say, well… most of the state, where July can routinely climb into the upper 80s—even into the 90s—and stay muggy well into the evening. Even other coastal towns don’t always get the same break.

So there you go—Penobscot Bay brings in cold Gulf of Maine water, and that basically acts like a massive natural air conditioner. In other words, Rockland’s got that coastal AC running on full blast all summer long.

If you’re looking to beat the heat without losing that feel of classic Maine summer, you might want to make Rockland your next stop. And if you have a boat, take a ride out to Vinalhaven, where it’s likely even cooler.