Ultimate 3-Day Kennebunkport Summer Itinerary: Where to Eat, Stay & Explore

Kennebunkport offers a unique blend of scenic beaches and exceptional dining, making it a standout destination along Maine’s coastline. Its coastal charm, shopping, and scenic views make it a quintessential Summer destination for both families and couples.

In this blog post, we share a detailed 3-day itinerary for exploring Kennebunkport, as well as travel tips, lodging recommendations, restaurant suggestions, transportation information, our favorite hikes, the best beaches, must-do activities, insider tips and more!

Travel Tips

  • Best time to visit: Kennebunkport is a quintessential coastal town, which means it should be enjoyed during the Summer months. If you are looking to avoid crowds, visit before schools break for summer in mid June.

  • Transportation: If you’re staying close to downtown, consider getting around by foot or bike, as there is no public transportation system and limited parking available. If you’re staying over a mile from town, you’ll definitely want a car.

  • Packing essentials: Visitors should definitely pack comfortable footwear (sandals and sneakers), beach clothes and gear, a sun hat or baseball cap, backpack, first aid kit, bug spray, rain jacket, and a reusable water bottle.

Where to Stay

Kennebunkport is home to numerous B&B’s, Inns, Hotels, and short-term rentals. Where you stay ultimately depends on what your budget is. The closer you get to downtown, the more expensive accommodations will be. If you want to be able to walk to restaurants and shops—you’ll want to stay near downtown (also known as Dock’s Square).

Luxury Stays

The Nonantum Resort (Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport)

Full of historic charm and scenic views—the Nonantum offers modern comforts and amenities for families and couples.

White Barn Inn (Beach Avenue, Kennebunk)

The White Barn Inn is home to an award-winning restaurant, rustic charm, and private waterfront cottages.

The Tides Beach Club (Kings Highway, Kennebunkport)

A stone’s throw from Goose Rocks Beach, this hotel has chic rooms and modern amenities, not to mention a delicious farm-to-table restaurant.

Mid-range Stays

The Harbor Inn (Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport)

A family-owned 8-room Inn located just a short walk from downtown Kennebunkport.

The Wanderer Cottages (Sea Road, Kennebunk)

Home to 17 beautiful clapboard cottages, the Wanderer is a classic New England getaway.

Campgrounds

Sandy Pines Campground (Mills Road, Kennebunkport)

A family-friendly campground with a variety of accommodations for every budget and every amenity you could want—a pool, playground, general store, kayak and paddleboard rentals, bathhouses with private showers, and more.

Detailed Itinerary

Our 3-day detailed itinerary was carefully curated from all our favorite vacation experiences. We hope you enjoy it.

Day 1: Play Tourist

Breakfast

Morning Activities

  • Stroll around Dock Square—explore the shops and take in the scenic views.

Lunch

  • Savor an outdoor lunch on the lawn at the Nonantum Resort, located just a 0.7-mile walk from Dock Square.

Afternoon Activities

  • After lunch, take a lobster or oyster boat tour with Rugosa Lobster Tours—they depart right from Nonantum docks.

Dinner

Dessert

Day 2: Goose Rocks Beach Day

Breakfast

  • Grab some pastries, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches from the Goose Rocks Beach General Store. While you’re there, also grab some beach drinks and snacks.

Morning Activities

  • Spend the morning at the beach—aim to arrive before 9:30 to snag a parking spot! And be sure to purchase a beach parking permit ahead of time or bring a credit card to purchase one at a kiosk.

Lunch

  • Enjoy your packed lunch at the beach or take a break from the beach and enjoy some lunch at The Tides Beach Club.

Afternoon Activities

  • Drive over to Timber Point for a short hike full of wildflowers and nature watching—if you time it correctly with low tide, you can walk across and explore Timber Island.

Dinner

  • Enjoy a golden hour dinner at Cape Pier Chowder House—they have both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Cape Porpoise Harbor.

Day 3: Visiting all the Classic Spots

Breakfast

Morning Activities

Lunch

Afternoon Activities

  • Create the ultimate souvenir—a candle with your own personalized scent! Reservations can be made by clicking here.

Dinner

Additional Activities

Hiking

Kennebunkport is known for its scenic hiking opportunities—here are a few of our favorite hikes that we always recommend to friends and family:

Timber Point

A tranquil 1.4-mile loop trail that moves through salt marshes, mixed forested areas, ocean edges and a sandy cove area. At low tide, hikers can explore Timber Island.

Edwin L. Smith Preserve

Beautiful 1,100-acre preserve with 10 miles of multi-use trails and plenty of wildlife to observe.

Alewive Woods Preserve

This preserve encompasses 625 acres of land and a 45-acre pond. It’s known for its diverse habitats, including forests, wetlands, and streams. It offers scenic walking trails and opportunities for wildlife observation.

Beaches/Swimming

You’ll need a parking permit to park at any of the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport beaches. Don’t fear—parking permits can be purchased either at the beach kiosks, via PassPortParking mobile app, or at the Kennebunk Town Hall. 

Gooch’s Beach

A long, wide sandy beach that is perfect for swimming and surfing. Parking permits are $25 daily or $100 weekly. During peak season, there are lifeguards and port-a-potties available.

Mother’s Beach

Smaller beach with tidal pools, a playground, lifeguards, and port-a-potties. Parking permits are $25 daily and $100 weekly.

Colony Beach

Quiet, small beach with free parking and a large seawall to explore.


Bicycle Rentals

The winding, scenic roads of Kennebunkport are perfect for riding bicycles. Consider using bicycles to navigate between beaches or from downtown and your accommodations. It’s fun and much faster than walking!

  • Coastal Maine Hike and Bike: A bike shop located in downtown Kennebunkport that offers pedal bike rentals, e-bike rentals and bike tours.

  • Mainely Bicycle: Located in the heart of Kennebunk, they specialize in bike repairs as well as e-bike, road, and hybrid bicycle rentals.

Leave no Trace

When it comes to enjoying time outdoors, remember the golden rule: Leave No Trace. It’s as simple as picking up after yourself, staying on the trails, and leaving nature just as beautiful as you found it. Think of it like being a good guest—keep things clean, respect the wildlife, take only memories and leave behind only footprints. By practicing Leave No Trace, you help preserve the magic of Maine for future adventurers to enjoy, so everyone can keep enjoying the same beautiful, wild world we love.

Interested in more of our Maine itineraries? You can find them all here.

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With love,

My Maine

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