In a perfect world, you would never have to leave your vacation resort. The point of staying in Kennebunkport, however, is to explore and experience the quaint culture and the natural beauty of the region. The benefit of staying in Kennebunkport is that this classic small Maine town makes getting around incredibly easy. You can pull in to town, park your car and walk, rent a bike locally or take a shuttle or trolley to everything. If you’re not planning on traveling outside of town, here are several places to stay in Kennebunkport that negate the need of a car as you can walk to Dock Square, the beaches, shops, Kennebunkport and Kennebunk’s best restaurants and pubs. The Downeaster Amtrak with train access from Boston to Portland has a stop in nearby Wells, just 15 minutes away.
Kennebunk Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand and a main tourist attraction 
during the summer months. For lodging right on the beach, just a short walk away from the Dock Square – Lower Village area where shops, restaurants, art galleries and most boat tours dock, stay at the Seaside Inn right on the beach and a 15 minute walk to town. The Seaside is on Kennebunk Beach with its own private beach access for guests. At the Seaside Inn, guests have access to bikes and make a trip into town for fun, shopping, art gallery browsing, dining, or getting on board a coastal boat tour.
In Dock Square the most convenient and chic hotel is the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel – with a commanding view of the Kennebunk River harbor, its own beautiful bar and restaurant downstairs. The Boathouse is steps to Kennebunkport’s best shops, art galleries, and boutiques, White Columns Museum and cafes and bars – like the local pub Alisson’s.
Nonantum Resort is an historic property on the water, out Ocean Ave, with its own heated pool, waterfront dining with live entertainment, recreational activities and boat tours onsite, there’s very little need to go far from here – it’s a pleasant walk to Kport’s Dock Square. In season, Nonantum has a free shuttle to take guest to nearby beaches and town, pick you up after dinner to bring you back to the resort.
Get on board a boat tour that departs from the Nonantum:
Rugosa Lobster Boat Tour
Pineapple Ketch Sailing Excursions
or rent a kayak or bike from Kayak Excursions
Stroll to Kennebunkport’s village, under a canopy of grand trees, or visit nearby art galleries, restaurants and shops.
The Rhumb Line Resort, also on the Trolley Route, is a great vacation spot for families with both an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tubs, fun casual onsite dining at Admiral’s Table by the pool serving fresh cooked lobster outside in summer. If you’re staying at the Breakwater, Nonantum or Rhumb Line Resorts, take a walk along Parsons Way to enjoy sidewalks and the most scenic views of Walkers Point- home of the Presidential Bush Family and Ocean Ave with its grand summer “cottages”.
Enjoy your car-free vacation in Kennebunkport! All of the Kennebunkport hotels, inns and resorts we recommend here offer free parking to their guest, so you can park your car and forget about it.
For lodging in The Kennebunks, see our Kennebunkport Lodging Guide.
See our Kennebunkport Events Page for all the goings on all year long in the Kennebunks.
Photos and Content Copyright KennebunkportMaineLodging.com 2024
