Carrabassett Valley Golf Trip Planning Guide
Sugarloaf is Maine's top mountain course: a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design carved into the Western Mountains with a brutal, beautiful 'string of pearls' river stretch. A remote, scenic golf-and-ski-town base for a crew that wants quiet, dramatic golf and a lodge to themselves.
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
PWM (150 min drive)
$25–$166
$300/night
2 of 3
~$283/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Carrabassett Valley. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Sugarloaf Golf Club — mountain, $100–$166 · 4.7★
Robert Trent Jones Jr. mountain masterpiece with the famous Carrabassett River 'snowfields' stretch — Maine's best course
The Bag & Kettle — brewpub, $$ · 4.4★
Sugarloaf's iconic base-area pub — wood-fired pizza, burgers, and beers after the round
The Rack BBQ & Bar — sports bar · Open late
Sugarloaf's après bar with BBQ, big screens, and live music — the social anchor
Day 2
Mingo Springs Golf Course (Rangeley) — mountain, $45–$75 · 4.5★
Scenic, walkable Rangeley-area course with lake-and-mountain views — a relaxed second round
Carrabassett River Fly Fishing — half day, $120–$250/pp
Guided fly fishing for brook trout and salmon on the Carrabassett
One Stanley Avenue (Kingfield) — upscale, $$$ · 4.6★
Beloved Victorian-house fine-dining spot in Kingfield for the splurge night
The Bag & Kettle Bar — brewpub
House Bag-brewed beers in the iconic base-area pub
Day 3
Sugarloaf Academy (par-3) — mountain, $25–$50
Short course and academy for a warm-up loop or a quick betting game
Sugarloaf ATV / UTV Tours — 2-3 hours, $120–$220/pp
Ride the Western Maine trail network through the mountains
Rolling Fatties — casual, $ · 4.5★
Burritos and quick eats in the valley — easy fuel before or after golf
Widowmaker Lounge — patio
Base-lodge lounge with a deck and mountain views — easy group après spot
Course-by-Course Guide
Carrabassett Valley has 3 courses worth playing, including 1 bucket-list tier layout. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Carrabassett Valley has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $300/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$400–$1200 /night
Sugarloaf base-area condos and slopeside houses — walking distance to golf and the village
$300–$800 /night
Carrabassett Valley / Kingfield cabins along the river ~15 min from the course
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Bag & Kettle
$$Sugarloaf's iconic base-area pub — wood-fired pizza, burgers, and beers after the round
One Stanley Avenue (Kingfield)
$$$Beloved Victorian-house fine-dining spot in Kingfield for the splurge night
Rolling Fatties
$Burritos and quick eats in the valley — easy fuel before or after golf
Tufulio's
$$Valley Italian spot with pizza and pasta — reliable big-group dinner
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 1 stay open past midnight.
The Rack BBQ & Bar
Late nightSugarloaf's après bar with BBQ, big screens, and live music — the social anchor
The Bag & Kettle Bar
House Bag-brewed beers in the iconic base-area pub
Widowmaker Lounge
Base-lodge lounge with a deck and mountain views — easy group après spot
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Carrabassett River Fly Fishing
Guided fly fishing for brook trout and salmon on the Carrabassett
Sugarloaf ATV / UTV Tours
Ride the Western Maine trail network through the mountains
Sugarloaf Mountain Biking
Lift-served and cross-country trails right off the base — a real rest-day workout
Dead River / Kennebec Whitewater Rafting
Run the Dead or Kennebec — some of the East's best whitewater ~45 min away
Getting There
Fly into Portland International Jetport (PWM) — it's a 150-minute drive to Carrabassett Valley. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Sugarloaf Explorer and Northern Charter (Portland)). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.