Bar Harbor best: Good
Gateway to Acadia National Park and a charming harbour.
Adjacent to Acadia National Park
Vitamin D in Maine: best months for sun and a travel guide
The best months for vitamin D in Maine are June to August. In July, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.6 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too cool from September to May.
Maine month by month
Maine is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 0.3 h | 2.0 | – | – | 2°C | 10/30 |
| February | Too cold | 3.1 h | 3.1 | 17 min | 32 min | 4°C | 4/30 |
| March | Too cold | 3.7 h | 3.6 | 15 min | 28 min | 5°C | 12/30 |
| April | Too cold | 5.7 h | 5.1 | 10 min | 20 min | 10°C | 7/30 |
| May | Too cold | 6.8 h | 6.1 | 9 min | 16 min | 17°C | 3/30 |
| June | Good | 7.3 h | 6.4 | 8 min | 16 min | 23°C | 9/30 |
| July | Good | 7.6 h | 6.4 | 8 min | 16 min | 26°C | 5/30 |
| August | Good | 6.8 h | 5.9 | 9 min | 17 min | 24°C | 6/30 |
| September | Too cold | 6.3 h | 5.2 | 10 min | 19 min | 21°C | 3/30 |
| October | Too cold | 3.7 h | 3.6 | 15 min | 28 min | 17°C | 5/30 |
| November | Too cold | 0.9 h | 2.1 | – | – | 9°C | 6/30 |
| December | Too cold | 0.0 h | 1.9 | – | – | 4°C | 10/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
Travel guide: why go to Maine
Why go
Maine has rocky coastline, lighthouses, lobster rolls and cool, clear summers, rather than warm swimming.
Best for
Nature lovers, hikers and couples.
What to expect
A short, cool summer from July to early September, a cold sea for swimming, and foggy mornings. Autumn colours are a major draw.
Places in Maine
Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.
Old Orchard Beach best: Excellent
Long sandy beach with a pier and amusements.
Portland
Lively food and brewery city with lighthouses nearby.
Largest city
Kennebunkport best: Excellent
Pretty coastal town with seafood and sailing.
Acadia National Park best: Good
Granite cliffs, carriage roads and mountain views by the sea.
Preserves some of the highest mountains along the US's Atlantic Coast
Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions about vitamin D in Maine
When is the best time to visit Maine for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Maine are June to August. In July, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.6 usable sun hours a day.
Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Maine in December?
Not really. In December the sun in Maine is too low or too weak to make useful vitamin D, and afternoons are cool. Plan your sun for other months.
How long do I need in the sun in Maine?
In July, the best month, about 8 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 16 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.
Which months should I avoid in Maine?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from September to May.
What is the best place in Maine for vitamin D?
In July the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Kennebunkport. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.
Plan by month
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Too cold
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Too cold
- May Too cold
- Jun Good
- Jul Good
- Aug Good
- Sep Too cold
- Oct Too cold
- Nov Too cold
- Dec Too cold