Maitland is located in East Hants County and is met by both Highway 101 and the Evangeline Trail. The Mi'kmaq were first to inhabit the area of Maitland, and named it TwitNoock, which means "the tide runs out fast." First Europeans to Maitland where French Acadians; they aptly titled the land Acadia. The Acadians would build dykes, farm and plant fruit trees among other things. After the Acadians were expelled, the British moved in.

In the 1800s, shipbuilding became a prosperous industry in Maitland, as in-fact, the town would go on to build the largest ship of its kind, the W.D. Lawrence. This ship weighed 2459 tons, and was nearly 76.2 m (250 ft.) long. It seemed that with the death of William Lawrence, the builder of the great ship in 1886, the shipbuilding industry in Maitland perished with him. Today, Maitland's main industry is tourism.

Maitland is home to the South Maitland Village Park, which offers observation decks directed at the world famous tidal bore, walking trails, beautiful ponds, picnic areas and a caboose museum. Courthouse Hill also offers panoramic visuals of the village of East Gore. The Artistic Woodturning Studio is a unique inside look into the creation of woodturning art. Maitland is also the home of the Lawrence House Museum, the East Hants Historical Museum and The Walton Lighthouse. The Anthony Park on the shores of the Bay of Fundy is a rare red sanded beach with a park and picnic area. Maitland is 88.6 km (55.1 mi.) north of Halifax.

Maitland accommodations include bed and breakfasts, inns and cottages.