What to pack for Maine in May

Lows around 43°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

Lows near 43°F mean bare skin loses heat fast on the water.

UV index of 8.1 burns exposed skin in under 20 minutes.

Fourteen hours of daylight reflects off the water and snow-glare blinds.

May brings insects out as temperatures climb toward 63°F.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Rural terrain and 14+ hours away from town mean minor cuts need care.

Fits overhead bins on every airline serving Maine and skips checked bags.

Rural trails run long and a daypack holds water and layers for the cold.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wind off the coast hits 17 km/h and cuts through layers.

UV hits 8.1 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

The sun stays high for nearly 15 hours and there's no shade on rural trails.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Rural Maine means long distances between stops and easy to lose a bag.

Eleven rain days wreck anything loose in a damp bag.

Humidity at 68% means damp clothes grow mold in a closed suitcase.

Lows around 43°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Morning temperatures drop to 43°F before the sun climbs.

Lips crack in wind and high UV before you notice the damage.

Tap water is safe, but hands touch soil and animals everywhere.

Insect bites itch worse when sunburned skin is already raw.

One outlet at most guesthouses charges three devices at once.

Domestic travel still requires the locks TSA uses.

Altitude of 175 meters and humidity combine to make bathrooms damp.