It really depends on what type of person you are and where you plan on finding yourself in July in Maine. Do you enjoy winter activities while having few people around? If so, Maine (especially the coast) definitely wouldn’t be the best location for you (it can be hot and crowded). But if you have an affinity for the warmth and if you like to swim in the ocean, camp, and sail, yes – I’d say Maine during mid-summer would be right up your alley.
I’ll give you a piece of advice; if you’re a hiker and would like to experience the glory of Maine’s inland mountains and forests, visit the state in late September or October. Then, the bugs and heat have all but disappeared. The word glorious comes to mind because during those two months, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable place on earth. If you were to attempt an enjoyable hike during the month of July, you’d be nothing but disappointed by the state’s sticky and insect-ridden days and nights. You’d be bitten and bothered and you’d sweat through all of it.
While what I just described applies to Maine’s inland areas, it’s coast is just about perfect during July. On average, the temperature along the shoreline is approximately 5-10° lower than the state’s interior. There are also fewer flying insects and there’s a heck of a lot to do. Think hiking, kayaking, whale watching, water parking, and relaxing on beautiful beaches. Bar Harbor, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, and Old Orchard Beach are simply teaming with life during the summer. After all, when someone tells you that they’ve vacationed in Maine during some past summer, they’re likely referring to one of these locales. During July, Maine’s highways and byways come alive with traffic and its hotels and motels are open and fully staffed. The lobster shacks are waiting to accept your cash and during your visit, you’ll likely book a stay for the following year. Stories and books have been written about summers in Maine. Coastal Maine, that is. Remember, coastal Maine.
Regarding the weather and the insects; I’d say July is the hottest and most humid month of them all. Oddly enough though, while the deer fly is a nuisance for most of the month, many of the other annoying insects seem to disappear, likely because the ground dries out almost completely when compared to May and June. It doesn’t rain much in July at all and if a person were to have planted a garden back toward the end of May, it’d be blooming and blossoming in earnest come July.
