Portland, Maine, Ranked One of America’s Best Staycation Destinations

Portland is a tourist mecca these days, with no signs of slowing down.

According to the Maine Office of Tourism, the Forest City welcomed over 2.8 million visitors last year. That’s quite a number. It’s like the entire population of Mississippi came to visit.

But it’s not just out-of-staters who enjoy the perks of spending time in Portland, and a new poll proves that point.

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Portland is ranked the 10th-best city in the U.S. for a staycation, out of 182 cities included in WalletHub’s survey. I have to say, that’s a strong showing for Portland—especially considering it’s the top-ranked city in the entire Northeast.

Maine scored 58.36 out of a possible 100 points. The scoring system is based on three major categories: Recreation, Food & Entertainment, and Rest & Relaxation. These categories are broken down into 42 subcategories to make the ranking as detailed as possible. You can read about the methodology here.

What Makes Maine Such a Great City for Staycations?

Maine absolutely cleaned house in the Recreation category, which comes as no surprise. It finished with the 2nd-highest ranking. Portland offers an incredible wealth of activities, from its expansive trail system to countless water sports. Plus, the city seems to be constantly adding more tours for visitors to enjoy. Heck, there’s even a donut tour.

Portland landed further down the rankings (37th) in the Food & Entertainment category, which seems insane. The city is well known for its culinary excellence. I’d put it up against any small city in America as the best in that category. So perhaps Portland slipped in the rankings due to its entertainment offerings? Even so, I’d have to disagree. There are wonderful museums, numerous pro sports teams, and iconic music venues. I’m really struggling to see how there are 36 better cities in this category.

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Portland's lowest ranking came in the Rest & Relaxation category, where the city placed 86th. The major issue here is our lovely weather—or rather, the lack of consistency. An unpredictable forecast, especially in the summer, is a real drawback. I totally get it. Nobody wants to spend a week off in a place where it might rain four out of seven days, even in the middle of July. Or worse, a surprise snowstorm in April.

What is the Best City in New England for Staycations?

Even with that low ranking, Portland still managed an impressive 10th-place finish overall and ranked as the number one New England city for staycations. The next highest was Burlington, Vermont, which came in at 52nd. So basically, Portland lapped the field when it comes to the rest of the region.

Portland wasn’t the only Maine city represented either. Lewiston also appeared in the survey, landing further down the list at 163rd. Its highest category ranking was in Rest & Relaxation, where it placed 109th.

READ MORE: Maine’s Portland Head Light Named New England’s Most Beautiful Lighthouse

So what city topped the staycation list? That would be Orlando. Well, there is certainly a lot to do there. The Florida city edged out Cincinnati, Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Honolulu, to take the top spot.

You can check out the full list here.