Getting to Boothbay Harbor, Maine: Directions, Airports and Parking

Driving directions to Boothbay Harbor from Portland and Boston

Getting to Boothbay Harbor by car is simple once you know the two turns that matter: off the highway at Brunswick, and off Route 1 in Edgecomb. Everything else is following the road.

From Boston, Portland or anywhere south, take I-95 North, the Maine Turnpike, to Exit 52 (the old Exit 9). Follow I-295 North to Brunswick and take Exit 28 (the old Exit 22) onto Route 1 North. Stay on Route 1 for about 22 miles, through Wiscasset. After you cross the Wiscasset bridge, go seven tenths of a mile and turn right onto Route 27 in Edgecomb.

Route 27 runs about 12 miles down the peninsula to Boothbay Harbor. As you come into town, bear slightly right onto Oak Street at the First National Bank time and temperature clock. Continue to the stop sign where Oak Street meets Route 27 again (McKown Street and Townsend Avenue). Go straight through, then bear right along the waterfront. That is Commercial Street. The inns are on your right. Look for the Inns at Greenleaf Lane sign.

Greenleaf Inn is at 65 Commercial Street and Admiral's Quarters Inn is at 71 Commercial Street, a few doors apart.

• I-95 North (Maine Turnpike) to Exit 52, formerly Exit 9
• I-295 North to Brunswick, Exit 28, formerly Exit 22, onto Route 1 North
• Route 1 North about 22 miles through Wiscasset
• Seven tenths of a mile past the Wiscasset bridge, right onto Route 27 in Edgecomb
• Route 27 about 12 miles to Boothbay Harbor
• Slight right onto Oak Street at the bank clock, straight through the stop sign, right along the waterfront onto Commercial Street

How long does it take to get to Boothbay Harbor

From Portland, about an hour and fifteen minutes. From Boston, three to three and a half hours. From Bangor, coming down from the north, about two hours.

Those are off-peak numbers. From June through September, Route 1 through Wiscasset backs up, and a summer Friday afternoon can add real time. If you are arriving on a peak weekend, leave earlier than the map suggests or plan to arrive after dinner.

• Portland: about 1 hour 15 minutes
• Boston: about 3 to 3.5 hours
• Bangor: about 2 hours

Flying to Boothbay Harbor: Portland Jetport and Wiscasset Airport

The closest commercial airport is Portland International Jetport. Several major rental car companies operate right at the terminal, so you can be on the road within the hour. Reserve the car in advance during the summer season. They do run out. Limo service can also be arranged for the drive up if you would rather not drive.

Private planes can fly into Wiscasset Airport, which is much closer to the peninsula. Rental cars, taxi service and pre-arranged transportation are available there, and it is worth scheduling the ride before you land to avoid a wait.

One honest note: ride-sharing is limited in the Boothbay Harbor region compared with a city. A rental car is the practical way to get here and the easiest way to reach the gardens, the trails and the surrounding coast once you are here.

The scenic drive on Route 1 and Route 27

The drive is part of the trip. Route 1 through Wiscasset is classic Midcoast Maine, with river crossings, forested stretches and the kind of coastal villages people cross the country to see. The Wiscasset bridge is the marker. Once you are over it, you are in the good part.

Route 27 narrows the world down as you go, and the last stretch into town changes from woods to waterfront. Marina activity, harbor-side streets, and then Commercial Street itself, with boats, lobster traps and the working harbor right beside the road. It is a proper welcome.

Parking in Boothbay Harbor

Both inns provide on-site parking for guests. Follow the signage to the designated guest parking when you arrive.

Downtown parking gets tight in peak season, so our standing advice is to check in first, leave the car where it is, and do the town on foot. Restaurants, shops, galleries and the boat docks are all within a short walk of Commercial Street, and you will not need the car again until you head out to the gardens or the trails.

GPS, cell service and seasonal driving tips

For navigation, enter the inn's name and Boothbay Harbor, Maine into your GPS or phone. Cell service is reliable on the highways and can drop on the rural stretches, so download offline maps as a backup if you are coming from out of state.

Maine driving changes with the season. Summer is warm and busy. Fall brings crisp air, foliage and lighter traffic, and it is our favorite time to make the drive. Spring is cool and quiet. In winter some businesses in the area keep limited hours, so confirm what is open before you go, check road conditions the morning you leave and allow extra time.

Call us at 207 633 3100 if you get turned around in town. It happens at the bank clock more than you would think.

Once you arrive on Commercial Street

After you check in, the town is at your feet. Local restaurants, boutique shops and art galleries are steps away, and whale watching tours, harbor cruises and lighthouse trips leave from the waterfront nearby. The harbor walkway is right there for a first stroll.

Coastal trails and ocean viewpoints are a short drive away when you want them. But most guests leave the car parked for the first day and let the harbor set the pace.

Questions we get asked