Boston to Kennebunkport Day Trip & Nubble Lighthouse

A 75-Mile Drive to Maine's Most Photographed Lighthouse

You're picked up at your Boston hotel and driven 75 miles to the Southern Maine coast, stopping at Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse, walking the Ogunquit cliffs, and landing in Kennebunkport with 2.5 hours free. The trolley tour is optional and booked separately. Everything else—transport, entry, water, snacks, and the return drive—is included in the day trip price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boston to Kennebunkport day trip

• Pickup at Downtown Boston hotel
• Drive to York, Maine
• View Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse
• Walk 1.25 mile Marginal Way path
• Wander Perkins Cove, optional lobster boat tour
• Explore Kennebunkport town sights
• Optional narrated trolley tour of Kennebunkport

The Experience

Someone leans forward in the passenger seat, phone already out, as the guide points toward the water. That's the Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse coming into view—the one built in 1879 that shows up in more photographs than almost any other lighthouse in the country. You're in York, Maine now, about an hour and a quarter into the drive from Boston, and the Atlantic is suddenly everywhere. The lighthouse sits on a small rocky island just offshore, white tower against the grey-blue water, and people have been trying to capture it the same way for over a century.

After the stop at Nubble, the route takes you to Ogunquit, where you walk the Marginal Way—a 1.25-mile path that runs along the cliffs with the ocean beating against the rocks below. It's not a strenuous hike, just a path that lets you stand still and look. Then you're in Kennebunkport itself, the town where the day opens up. You get about two and a half hours to do whatever you want: eat lobster roll, walk through shops, sit on a bench, or if you want to add it on, take a separate 50-minute trolley tour that loops through town and past Walker's Point. The guide picks you up at one of five Boston locations in the morning and brings you back in the evening. The whole thing is 11 hours, which sounds long until you realize you're not driving yourself or figuring out parking or timing the stops.

The van is air-conditioned, and they hand out bottled water and snacks on the way. If you've got kids small enough for a stroller, that works. If you've got moderate fitness and no spinal issues, you're fine for the walking parts. The real constraint is that you need to be okay with a full day in a vehicle with other people—it's not a private tour, and the pace is set by the group schedule, not by how long you want to linger at any one spot.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup at one of five Boston locations, the 75-mile round-trip drive in an air-conditioned vehicle, a stop at Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse in York, a walk along Ogunquit's Marginal Way cliffside path, approximately 2.5 hours of free time in Kennebunkport for lunch and shopping, bottled water, and snacks throughout the day.
• Drop-off returns you to your Boston hotel in the evening.
• The optional 1-hour trolley tour of Kennebunkport is booked and paid for separately.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by New England Trips Inc.

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the Southern Maine coast in one day without renting a car or navigating the drive yourself—the fixed schedule and included stops mean you get the lighthouse, the cliffs, and the town all in one trip, with a guide handling the route and timing.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Boston to Kennebunkport?

About 75 miles each way. The full day trip is 11 hours including stops and free time in Kennebunkport.

Is the trolley tour in Kennebunkport included?

No. The 1-hour trolley tour is optional and purchased separately if you want it.

How much free time do you get in Kennebunkport?

About 2.5 hours to eat, shop, or explore on your own.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Boston, the 75-mile drive, stops at Nubble Lighthouse and Ogunquit's Marginal Way, bottled water, snacks, and the 2.5 hours of free time in Kennebunkport.

Is this tour good for children?

Yes, infants and small children can use a stroller. The walking sections are short and optional.

Can I do the trolley tour if I book this day trip?

Yes, but you book and pay for it separately. It's available based on schedule and availability.

Where are the Boston pickup locations?

The tour picks up at one of five strategically located Boston hotels. Your specific pickup location will be confirmed when you book.

Is this recommended for people with mobility issues?

It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. The Marginal Way walk is optional and short, but the day involves a long drive and some standing.