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Kennebunkport is a coastal town in southern Maine, set where the Kennebunk River meets the Atlantic. It grew as a shipbuilding and seafaring community, and many of its finest homes were built by sea captains and merchants. Today it is a resort town known for its harbor, rocky shoreline and sandy beaches, and as the summer home of the Bush family.
Dock Square, the town's lively center, has shops, galleries and seafood restaurants overlooking the river. Nearby, the historic district includes the Greek Revival Nott House, run by the local historical society. Ocean Avenue winds along the coast past Spouting Rock and Blowing Cave, where waves surge through the rocks at the right tide, and continues to the Walker's Point estate, viewed from the road. The St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery grounds offer quiet gardens and riverside paths. Beachgoers choose among Gooch's, Middle and Mother's beaches in Kennebunk, or the long, quieter Goose Rocks Beach. Cape Porpoise is a working fishing harbor with views of Goat Island Light, and the Seashore Trolley Museum houses historic transit vehicles.
Kennebunkport suits couples and families looking for a classic New England seaside stay. Summer is busy, and December's Christmas Prelude festival draws visitors.
WiserMap travel guideKennebunkport Maine Lobster Shacks and Dock SquarePlan a Kennebunkport trip: Dock Square, Ocean Avenue, Walker's Point, Cape Porpoise, Goat Island Light, sandy beaches, lobster shacks and the trolley museum.Read the guide
Dock Square is the small, busy heart of Kennebunkport, set by the Kennebunk River with shops, galleries, ice cream stands and seafood restaurants in old buildings. Lobster boats and tour boats tie up nearby. It gets very busy in summer and during the Christmas Prelude in December. Use the paid lots and walk.
Walker's Point is the oceanfront summer estate of the Bush family on a rocky point along Ocean Avenue. The house is private, but a roadside pullout offers a clear view across the water, and a flag is flown when a family member is in residence. Stop briefly and keep the roadside clear for traffic.
Goat Island Light is a small lighthouse on an island off Cape Porpoise harbor, built in 1833 and once kept by a keeper who served the Bush family as a security post. It is best viewed from the Cape Porpoise pier. In summer the local conservation trust runs tours by boat. Bring binoculars for a closer look.
The St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery sits on about 60 acres along the Kennebunk River, a former estate run by Lithuanian Franciscan friars. Its grounds are open to the public, with shrines, gardens, a grotto and a riverside walking trail. It is a peaceful break from Dock Square. Please respect quiet areas.
Kennebunkport's historic district is filled with sea captains' houses from the shipbuilding era. The Nott House, a Greek Revival home of 1853 with its original furnishings, is run by the Kennebunkport Historical Society, which offers house tours and walking tours of the district in summer. Check tour times online.
Across the river, Kennebunk has a Lower Village of shops and a Main Street with the Brick Store Museum covering local history. The Wedding Cake House on Summer Street is a yellow house with elaborate white Gothic trim, among the most photographed homes in Maine. It is private, so view it from the street.
Ocean Avenue winds along the rocky shore from Dock Square past grand summer homes. Along the way, Spouting Rock shoots spray into the air at mid-tide with strong surf, and Blowing Cave booms when waves crash in. There are a few pullouts and a sidewalk for part of the way. It is lovely by bike or on foot.
Gooch's Beach is a long sandy beach at the mouth of the Kennebunk River, joined by rocky Middle Beach and the small, family-friendly Mother's Beach with a playground. Together they form the main Kennebunk beaches along Beach Avenue. A parking permit is required in summer, or you can use the trolley.
Goose Rocks Beach is a three-mile crescent of fine sand a few miles north of Kennebunkport, with shallow, calm water and tide pools at low tide. It is quieter and less built-up than the town beaches. Parking needs a permit bought in town, and there are no shops at the beach, so bring what you need.
Cape Porpoise is a small fishing village within Kennebunkport, with a working harbor of lobster boats, a pier and a handful of restaurants serving lobster rolls. It is quieter than Dock Square and has views to Goat Island Light. Visit at sunset, and bring cash for some of the small lobster shacks.
The Seashore Trolley Museum is the oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles in the world, with over 250 streetcars, buses and trains. Visitors ride a restored trolley on a short line through the woods and walk through car barns and the restoration shop. It is open seasonally and is good for families.
The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge protects salt marshes and estuaries along the southern Maine coast. Its headquarters in Wells, just south of Kennebunk, has the Carson Trail, an easy one-mile loop through woods and along the marsh with signs about wildlife. Bring binoculars for herons and migrating birds.
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