Where to Stay in Kennebunkport, Maine

Dock Square sits where the Kennebunk River meets downtown, and it is the easiest base if you do not want to drive every meal. You can walk to Mornings in Paradise for breakfast, Federal Jack's for a beer overlooking the river, and Alisson's for chowder in under five minutes. Ocean Avenue starts right here, so morning jogs along the water are simple. Spring Street and Maine Street have most of the shops, the Brick Store Museum, and the footbridge over to Lower Village. Trade-off: it gets crowded in July and August, and parking is tight.

Best for

First-time visitorscouples without a caranyone who wants restaurants within steps

Walk times

Federal Jack's 2 min
Alisson's Restaurant 3 min
Footbridge to Lower Village 4 min

Skip if: You want quiet evenings or you are sensitive to summer crowd noise

Local tip: Park once at the public lot on Arundel Wharf and leave the car. Driving in and out of Dock Square in August is misery.

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$280per night

Ocean Avenue

Walker's Point views and grand resort hotels

Luxury $350-$900/night

Ocean Avenue runs three miles along the rocky coast from Dock Square out to Walker's Point, the Bush family compound. This is where the Colony Hotel, Cape Arundel Inn, and Hidden Pond properties sit. You get real ocean views from your window, not parking lot views. Spouting Rock and Blowing Cave are short walks, and St. Ann's Episcopal Church sits right on the water. Most places here are 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Dock Square, so it is the right balance of scenery and access. Trade-off: rates here are the highest in town, often double Dock Square in peak season.

Best for

Honeymoonersanniversary tripsanyone who wants a real ocean view

Walk times

Walker's Point overlook 8 min
Spouting Rock 5 min
Dock Square: 12 to 15 min

Skip if: You are on a budget or you plan to eat dinner downtown every night

Local tip: Walk the full length of Ocean Avenue at sunrise. Almost no one is out, the light is on the water, and the rocks at Spouting Rock are dramatic when the tide is rising.

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$392per night

Cape Porpoise

Working harbor, no tour buses

Luxury $200-$400/night

Cape Porpoise is two miles east of Dock Square on Pier Road, and it is what Kennebunkport looked like before the Bushes moved in. Lobster boats actually work out of this harbor. You eat at Cape Porpoise Kitchen for breakfast, Pier 77 for dinner with a harbor view, and grab fish off the boat at Cape Porpoise Lobster. Goat Island Lighthouse sits offshore. The inns and B and Bs here are smaller, quieter, and noticeably cheaper than Ocean Avenue. Trade-off: you need a car for everything beyond the harbor itself, and dining options are limited to four or five spots.

Best for

Repeat visitorsquiet seekersphotographers who want working boats

Walk times

Pier 77 Restaurant 3 min
Cape Porpoise Pier 2 min
Bradbury Brothers Market 4 min

Skip if: You do not want to drive to dinner or you need lots of nightlife

Local tip: Order the haddock chowder at Pier 77 and ask for a window seat upstairs. The view is better than anywhere on Ocean Avenue.

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$224per night

Goose Rocks Beach

Three miles of sand, almost no commercial strip

Luxury $275-$700/night

Goose Rocks is about four miles north of Dock Square, off Route 9. The beach itself runs three miles, the sand is soft, and at low tide you can walk to Timber Island. There is no boardwalk, no arcade, no T-shirt shops. Just houses, the Tides Beach Club, and the Goose Rocks Beach Country Store for sandwiches and coffee. Families with kids love it because the surf is gentle and the sand bar at low tide is enormous. The drive into Dock Square takes 10 minutes. Trade-off: parking permits are required in season, and dining within walking distance is one general store.

Best for

Families with young kidsbeach weekanyone who values sand over restaurants

Walk times

Beach access: 1 to 5 min
Goose Rocks Country Store 3 min
Tides Beach Club restaurant 5 min

Skip if: You are visiting off-season or you want to walk to dinner

Local tip: Buy your beach parking permit online before you arrive. The town caps daily passes and they sell out by 9 a.m. on summer Saturdays.

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$308per night