Freeport is just north of Portland in Maine and hosts the headquarters of L.L Bean. Because of the popularity of L.L. Bean, other stores were drawn to the area and it has become a shopping destination.
Get in
By plane
The nearest large airport is in Portland (IATA: PWM). Visitors also often fly to Boston, Mass. or Manchester, NH.
By car
From the south:
Take I-95 to the Maine Turnpike, Exit 52.
Follow signs to I-295 North
Take Exit 17, 20 or 22 for Freeport.
From the north:
Take I-95S to Exit 103 to I-295S
Take I-295 Exit 22, 20 or 17.
All of these exits lead directly to U.S. Route One, which is the Main Street.
By train
- Amtrak's Downeaster. offers service twice a day from Boston and Portland, with one additional train coming from Portland only. Going North, Freeport is the penultimate stop before the line's terminus in Brunswick. $3 from Portland 2019-09-23
Other transportation
Concord Trailways can take you as far as Portland, but you're on your own getting to Freeport.
There is also cruise shipping docking in Portland, Maine. There are two convenient schedules available.
Get around
The main street in Freeport is Route 1.
There are also rental car companies located in Portland, Portland Airport, and Brunswick
See
Do
Outdoors activities
Indoor activities
- Freeport Performing Arts Center. Music, arts and entertainment.
- Maine State Music Theatre.
- Freeport Fire Museum.
- Harrington House. Home of Freeport Historical Society, exhibits and events.
Buy
Freeport is a shopper's paradise with the L.L. Bean flagship store, outlets, small shops, and specialty stores.
Retail outlets
Jewelry & crafts
Galleries
Boutiques & gift shops
- The Mangy Moose, 112 Main St.
- Betsy's, 6 Bow St.
- CO/OP Contemporary Clothing, 140 N. Main St. Worth the visit - funky boutique samples at great prices.
Eat
- Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster, Main St (at the water). Daily 11:30AM-8:30PM, closed mid Oct to May 1st. Have them pick out a live lobster and prepare it for you to eat right on the dock next to the lobster traps.
- Broad Arrow Tavern, 162 Maine St (in the Harraseeket Inn, 2 blocks from LL Bean), +1 207 865-9377. Open daily for lunch and dinner 11:30AM until. Besides extensive menu items, there is a sumptuous luncheon buffet served M-Sa 11:30AM-2PM ($16.95). Casual Maine-Lodge-like atmosphere, full bar, brick pizza oven, family friendly.
- {{eat
| name=Harraseeket Inn Main Dining Room | alt= | url=http://www.harraseeketinn.com/index.shtml (dead link: August 2018) | email=
| address=162 Maine St | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1 207 865-9377 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Nightly 5:30PM-9PM, F Sa till 9:30PM | price=
| content=Reservations suggested.
}}
- Azure Cafe, 123 Maine St, +1 207 865-1237. Hours vary by season. Northern Italian food. Indoor and patio seating, live jazz, extensive wine list. Great special occasion spot.
- The Corsican Restaurant, 9 Mechanic St (1 block off Maine St.), +1 207 865-9421. Lunch and dinner M-Sa. Casual soup and salad cafe.
- McDonald's, 155 Main St (SW corner of Main St. and Mallet Dr.), +1 207 865-9566. It is different in Freeport. Looks like a home with a very small sign out front. No speaker to hear outside, you place your order and it appears on the screen with no other feedback from the order taker. This is due to sound ordinance in Freeport.
- {{eat
| name=Jacqueline's Tea Room | url=http://www.jacquelinestearoom.com (dead link: August 2020) | email=
| address=201 Main St | lat= | long= | directions=8 doors North of McDonald's
| phone=+1 207 865-2123 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tu-Sa 10:30AM-3PM and every other weekend | price=
| content=Enjoy "Afternoon Tea", which in Jacqueline's Tea Room is a four-course meal along with tea. Select from over 70 varieties of the finest qualities of tea. Reservations are required. Gift shop includes English Teaware, baby and bridal gifts, as well as gifts for all ages of ladies.
}}
Drink
- Gritty McDuff's, Lower Main St, +1 207 865-4321. Brewpub. Very good microbrews.
- Jameson Tavern, 115 Main St (behind L.L. Bean), +1 207 865-4196. Built in 1779 and first became a tavern in 1801. Known as The Birthplace of Maine. Have a good brew, see some history and eat some good food.
- {{drink
| name=Freeport Cabaret | alt= | url=http://www.freeportcabaret.com (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=5 Depot St | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+1 207 865-1780 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| content=Freeport's first nightspot featuring live entertainment is now open. Aptly named, The Freeport Cabaret features jazz, comedy, singer- songwriters and performing artists – with gourmet appetizers, desserts, fine wines, coffees, teas and cocktails.
}}
Microbreweries
Sleep
- White Cedar Inn B&B, 178 Main St (Exit 22 off 295, head toward town, take a left at the traffic light, immediate right on Chapel St.), 43.861382°, -70.100506°, +1 207 865-9099. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. This B&B provides a full breakfast each morning in the sunroom overlooking the gardens. A/C, fireplaces, private baths, non-smoking inn. Free parking and WiFi. $150 and up
- Brewster House Bed & Breakfast (Brewster House B&B), 180 Main St (I-295, exit 22, then turn toward Freeport, left at traffic signal, blue-gray house on the right), 43.8616889°, -70.1004070°, +1 207 865-4121. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Located in an 1888 Victorian home. With 7 rooms, all with en-suite baths, free WiFi. Itinerary planning available. Gourmet hot breakfasts daily, afternoon refreshments. from $159 double occupancy
- Recompence Shore Campground, 134 Burnett Rd, 43.831056°, -70.066568°, +1 207-865-9307. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Eco-friendly campground set on 625 acres on the shore of Casco Bay. Run by Wolfe's Neck Farm, a non-profit organization. 115 sites (22 with 30-amp service), kayak, bicycle and canoe rentals, camp store & hiking trails. $25-45
- Econo Lodge, 537 US Rt. 1, +1 207 865-3777. This hotel offers all the comforts you come to expect in a hotel with a budget price.
Go next
- There are more outlet stores in Kittery.