The village of Kennbunkport is quaint and has a few restaurants, galleries and gift shops, but is actually quite peaceful and shuts down rather early. To avoid the Topsfield traffic take 93 north to, Rt.495 north. 3:20 pm Kennebunkport (Maine) stay for about 1 hour. For a drive, we like to go up to Freeport, ME to have lunch at Harrasseket Lunch Lobster Pound that look over the boats in the water. My hope is to inspire you to have an unforgettable Northeast adventure of your own, and show you just how beautiful this little corner of the world truly is. Wow thank you so much for these suggestions - we are very excited about our trip and will take your suggestions. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13876394', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nantucket) feel to it, if you've ever been there. Cape Elizabeth is a town thats actually part of Portland, but its south of the main city, and youll get to this part before driving into downtown Portland. Of course, you can drive straight through in under five hours, but there is so much to see on . Alternatively, you may use. This post is all about the best places to stop on when driving Boston to Portland, Maine, and in each destination, Ill share all the best sites to see, restaurant recommendations, and the best places to stay overnight. In york beach, stop by the goldenrod for taffy and ice cream etc. and maybe walking the Eastern Promenade around sunset. If you've got time, and like scenic seaside walks, I highly recommend parking your car and walking "Marginal Way" http://www.meliving.com/marginalway/index.shtml. Then, pack up the car and head 46 kilometers northeast on Route 1, to Portland, Maine. Sample the local craft brews in Portsmouth. Thank you jsboston and wpsaukee very much! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13863629', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portsmouth. Driving directions: The Mad River Byway takes you along two of Vermont's most scenic roads, Routes 100 and 100B. - See 808 traveler reviews, 274 candid photos, and great deals for Kennebunkport, ME, at Tripadvisor. Wpsaukee (can I call you Winnie for short? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-69472356', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Boston and Kennebunkport, Portsmouth NH is a small city with some great restaurants for lunch or dinner. and leave at 4:20 pm. Alternatively, you may use. But really, spring and fall are also a great time to take this trip (especially early spring when the days are also longer). Happy driving! This drive can take anywhere from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes without any stops, and it all depends on traffic. Continue into Maine, Rt. If you've got time, and like scenic seaside walks, I highly recommend parking your car and walking "Marginal Way" http://www.meliving.com/marginalway/index.shtml. ), you can then get a better idea of how long your drive will be in total. Heres what I suggest you do in Kennebunkport when stopping during your road trip: One of the most iconic sites in southern Maine is the pier at Old Orchard Beach, and this is a cool place to stop when driving from Boston to Portland, Maine because youll kind of feel like youve stepped back in time. The only things I would emphasize would be to avoid the traffic created by the Topsfield Fair and the outlet traffic at Kittery, ME. On a nice day, you can expect a lot of foot traffic along the downtown waterfront. Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is next, and this is a fun one because you can walk across the entire breakwater and get right up to the cute little lighthouse. you might see some as you leave Boston heading north. If you are just making a day trip of this, you should probably skip the coastal areas immediately north of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Zoom up Interstate 95 for a quick route to relaxation or enjoy a leisurely drive along the coast to take in the sights. When I visited, I almost felt as if I was transported to an old-timey state fair, in a good way, of course. When in October are you coming? Visit New Englands iconic lighthouses. Distance From Boston: 1 hour and 25 minutes. To get to the Cliff House (Ogunquit), you can take Amtrak from Boston to the Wells Amtrak Train Station. You should go to Google maps and put in your start and end points. Walk across the beach to get to them, enjoy the views from there, and then have fun walking along the waterfront path nearby. Throw on your favorite playlist and head an hour and a half north to Maine Beaches region. If youre looking for a luxury stay while driving Boston to Portland, Maine, Cliff House in Cape Neddick is the perfect place for you. On average, parking costs about $20 for the day (many lots didnt offer by-the-hour parking when I visited). Most of my online pals call me WP. Hifirst time to the New England area. You might find out about that option before counting on it being in operation. 4. Best Scenic Drives Near Boston. ), 16 Best Stops To Make On A Boston To Stowe, VT Road Trip (2023), 25 Best Things To Do In Maine In The Winter (2022-2023 Season), 25 Fun Things To Do In Vermont In The Winter (2023), 21 Best New England Winter Getaways (Even For Non-Skiers!) The concept at Chaunceys is simpleorder the main, bring everything else. Will be arriving on the 5th of October (Sunday) into Logan Airport. Ogunquit is one of my favorite coastal towns in Maine, and makes for a great stop to stay the night or two. You can enjoy the view as a driver takes care of the details: try a traditional Maine lobster bake, sample blueberry pie . From there, you can walk or Uber to your hotel or your next stop. Hike the Mount Agamenticus trail for spectacular mountain views (especially amazing in the fall!). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Some beautiful fall scenery in that area. Along the way you'll find Middlesex Village (Route 2); Moretown (Route 100B); Waitsfield, Warren, Granville Gulf Reservation (Route 100); Fayston, and Buels Gore to the top of the Appalachian Gap (Route 17). You could also just drive straight to Portland and spend all your time there. Plug in your earbuds and enjoy a walk through history withGloucesters self-guided harbor walk. Must visit places along the drive include: California San Diego Newburyport is a nice old seaport, and being about an hour north of Boston, might be a good place for breakfast. The iconic light is considered the most photographed lighthouse on the East Coast, and for a good reasonCape Neddick is classic New England. Each two-page document includes information about that state's scenic byways program, in addition to a listing and map of all state and national scenic byways within its borders. This route passes through the only mainland section of Acadia National Park and out to beautiful Schoodic Point. Day 7: Kennebunk and KennebunkPORt: Stay at The Grand Hotel. Turn left on the shore road, Route 1A, and follow it to where you can turn right on Route 1B. Salem is known for its history with the Salem Witch Trials, an of course, all things Halloween, but its honestly a really great little place to explore year-round. As mentioned above, York and Cape Neddick are about halfway between Boston and Portland, Maine. Heres what I suggest you do in Old Orchard when stopping during your road trip: Tip: Expect to pay for parking while visiting Old Orchard, and the closer to the beach you are, the more it will be. It is a shame you don't have more time in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Walk through downtown to visit the shops (. But, kid camp aside, the state's coastline (secretly famous for . Heres what I suggest seeing when stopping in Newburyport for a few hours: Portsmouth is one of my favorite towns in New Hampshire, and one of the best coastal destinations in the state. If you stay in Portland, I would also suggest doing a beer tasting at one of Portlands breweries, and maybe walking the Eastern Promenade around sunset. All secondary roads. NEREN, Closed. I am in a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I had never heard of that town, and I am always looking for alternatives to the same-old-same-old routes I take when out on a day trip! Drive from Portsmouth to Kennebunkport. Save. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13876394', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nantucket) feel to it, if you've ever been there. Many people assume it is a coastal route but that is far, far from the truth.". Rockport is one of the most unique towns in New England, and because it sits right along the water, its incredibly scenic. Thanks for adding the detour! Click here to book your stay at Cliff House in Cape Neddick! 7 years ago. $4.00 + $1.50 shipping . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-99222150', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');New Hampshire, going off on 1B near Portsmouth. He. We were hoping to see some fall color on our trip up- never been to Boston or Maine -we're from Texas - thanks for the suggestions. Indulge in freshMainelobster. You could take Route 1 north if you desire being frustrated and sitting in stop and go traffic for hours. In this area, youll have options from hiking mountains, visiting beaches, exploring the shops, grabbing a bite to eat and seeing one of the best lighthouses in Maine. The beginning of this road trip is 60 miles from Albany International Airport in New York, 126 miles from Logan International Airport in Boston, and 205 miles from JFK in New York City. From Newburyport, take Rte 1 north (2 lane road, speed limit in most parts) about 5 miles, and you will see signs for the beaches. I am able to get up and go on the interstate just like I love to. Free shipping for many products! 141 Port Road Kennebunk, Maine 04043 If you follow my suggestion, I estimate it's about a 40-minute ride from where you leave I-95 to downtown (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Portsmouth is another old seaport, similar in style to newburyport, but on a larger scale, with a vibrant tourist center and many restaurants and shops. New England Wanderlust contains affiliate links, and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. 1 hour 35 minutes from Boston (90 miles) . The Hi-Fi and Sticky brews are two local favorites. This hotel is a grouping of individual cottages that are uniquely decorated, and youll get to pick which one you want to stay in when you make your reservation. Portsmouth, NH and Kittery are also about halfway between the two cities. Sample the local craft brews in Portsmouth. The village of Kennbunkport is quaint and has a few restaurants, galleries and gift shops, but is actually quite peaceful and shuts down rather early. As we had a late flight, we only arrived in Newburyport at 7 pm. You could take 1A through (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you are just making a day trip of this, you should probably skip the coastal areas immediately north of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you decide to head to Kennebunkport, the drive is only about 30-40 minutes from Portland. The tolls once you are away from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is an awesome destination to stop in when driving Boston to Portland, Maine, especially if youre hoping to hear the sound of the craving waves. 1A to Rt. Days 2-3: Kennebunkport to Portland. 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