Kittery Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Town

Facts and practical information

Located in the southern tip of Maine, the charming town of Kittery offers a delightful blend of natural beauty, historical landmarks, and a vibrant local scene. With its picturesque waterfront, quaint shops, and mouthwatering seafood, Kittery is a hidden gem that should not be missed.

One of the town's main attractions is its stunning coastline. Visitors can explore the breathtaking beaches, such as Crescent Beach State Park, which offers sandy shores perfect for swimming, picnicking, and relaxing under the sun. For those seeking a more adventurous experience, Fort Foster Park provides scenic walking trails, rocky cliffs, and secluded coves to discover.

Kittery is also renowned for its rich maritime history. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, located on the town's border, is the oldest continuously operating shipyard in the United States. History enthusiasts can take a tour of the shipyard to learn about its significant role in the nation's defense and witness the impressive craftsmanship that goes into building and repairing naval vessels.

In the heart of downtown Kittery, the charming streets are lined with antique shops, art galleries, and unique boutiques. Shoppers can browse through a diverse range of offerings, including handcrafted jewelry, vintage clothing, and locally made crafts. Kittery is particularly famous for its outlet shopping, with the Kittery Premium Outlets housing numerous designer stores and offering great deals on fashion, accessories, and home goods.

No trip to Kittery would be complete without indulging in its world-class seafood. From lobster rolls to clam chowder, the town is a haven for seafood lovers. Visitors can savor the fresh flavors at local restaurants and waterfront eateries, where they can enjoy picturesque views of the harbor while feasting on the catch of the day.

Alternative names: Settled: 1623Population: 4.6 thous.Area: 75.3 mi²Elevation: 52 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 43°5'21"N, 70°44'35"W

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MaineUnited States

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Kittery Top Attractions

Kittery Attractions - What to See and Explore

Kittery offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Fort McClary State Park, Fort Foster, Kittery Historical & Naval Museum, Rice Public Library. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Park • Museum • Historical place
Fort McClary State Park
Fort McClary is a former defensive fortification of the United States military located along the southern coast at Kittery Point, Maine at the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
Park
Fort Foster
Fort Foster, now part of Fort Foster Park, is a historic fort active 1901-1946 on the southwest tip of Gerrish Island in the Kittery Point area of Kittery, Maine. The park includes beaches and trails. Battery Bohlen and Battery Chapin were the major parts of the fort.
43°6'7"N • 70°44'32"W
Kittery Historical & Naval Museum
Military museum • Museum • Specialty museum

Library • Romanesque architecture
Rice Public Library
The Rice Public Library is the public library of Kittery, Maine. It is located at 8 Wentworth Street in the central Kittery Foreside village, in an architecturally distinguished Romanesque Revival building built in 1889 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in...
Island
Seavey's Island
Seavey's Island, site of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, is located in the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Maine, opposite Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It encompasses 278 acres.
Memorial
Samuel Badger Monument
The Samuel Badger Monument is one of the most distinctive examples of funerary art in the United States state of Maine. Located in a small private cemetery in Kittery, it depicts the locally important shipbuilding magnate Samuel Badger.
43°4'58"N • 70°42'10"W
Bray House
The Bray House is a historic house at 100 Pepperell Road in Kittery Point, Maine, United States. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the state.
43°5'9"N • 70°44'3"W
William Whipple House
William Whipple House at 88 Whipple Road in Kittery, Maine is one of the oldest houses in Maine and was the birthplace of Revolutionary War General and Declaration of Independence...
Neighbourhood
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Founded in 1800, PNS is U.S. Navy's oldest continuously operating shipyard.
43°6'3"N • 70°45'35"W
Dennett Garrison
The Dennett Garrison is a historic First Period house at 100 Dennett Road in Kittery, Maine. With an estimated construction date of 1710, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the state of Maine. When listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it was still owned by descendants of its builder, John Dennett.
43°4'53"N • 70°43'0"W
Lady Pepperrell House
The Lady Pepperrell House is an American historic house in Kittery Point, Maine. It stands on State Route 103, opposite the First Congregational Church and Parsonage.
Greek Revival architecture
Robert and Louisa Traip House
The Robert and Louisa Traip House is a historic house at 2 Wentworth Street in Kittery, Maine. Built about 1839, it is a rare statewide example of a Greek Revival house with colonnaded sides.
Greek Revival architecture
Mark F. and Eliza J. Wentworth House
The Mark F. and Eliza J. Wentworth House is a historic house at 9 Wentworth Street in Kittery, Maine. Probably built in the second quarter of the 19th century and given Italianate styling c. 1866, it is notable for its association with Mark Fernald Wentworth, a distinguished physician and decorated veteran of the American Civil War.
Interesting neighbourhood
John Paul Jones Memorial Park
John Paul Jones Memorial Park is a municipal park in the town of Kittery, Maine. The trapezoidal park, flanked by the lanes of United States Route 1 approaching the Memorial Bridge across the Piscataqua River, was established in 1926 and named for American Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones.
43°4'59"N • 70°42'13"W
William Pepperrell House
The William Pepperrell House is a historic house at 94 Pepperrell Road in Kittery Point, Maine. Built about 1682 and later enlarged and restyled, it was at the time of its construction the grandest house in what is now the state of Maine.
43°4'51"N • 70°42'45"W
William Dean Howells House
The William Dean Howells House is a historic house at 36 Pepperrell Road in Kittery Point, Maine. Built c. 1870, this house was for many years the summer residence of writer and editor William Dean Howells, best known as editor of Atlantic Monthly magazine. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Neighbourhood
Piscataqua River border dispute
The Piscataqua River border dispute was a dispute between the US states of Maine and New Hampshire over ownership of Seavey’s Island in the Piscataqua River, which forms the border between Maine and New Hampshire. The dispute was settled in 2002 by the US Supreme Court in favor of Maine.
Universities and schools
Kittery Community Center
The Kittery Community Center is located in the former Frank C. Frisbee Elementary School at 120 Rogers Road in Kittery, Maine. The building, built in 1943 by the United States government as part of war-related expansions of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 for this association.

Day trips

Kittery – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Kittery, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Funtown Splashtown USA (Saco), Wentworth by the Sea (New Castle), Cape Neddick Light (York).

34 milesNE
Theme park, Amusement park, Water park
Funtown Splashtown USA, Saco
Funtown Splashtown USA is a vibrant amusement park nestled in the city of Saco, Maine, offering a delightful blend of thrills and spills for visitors of all ages. As Maine's largest water and amusement park, it presents a perfect summer escape with a diverse range of...
2.2 miSE
Hotel, Spa, Golf
Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle
Nestled in the serene coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, Wentworth by the Sea marries the charm of a historic grand hotel with the comforts of modern hospitality. This elegant hotel, which has graced the shores of New Hampshire since 1874, offers guests a...
9.3 miNE
Lighthouse, Vernacular architecture
Cape Neddick Light, York
Perched on a rocky island off the craggy coast of York, Maine, the Cape Neddick Light stands as a picturesque sentinel over the Atlantic Ocean. Known affectionately as "Nubble Light" to locals, this charming lighthouse has been guiding mariners since its establishment...
28 milesS
Palatial seaside estate and gardens
Castle Hill, Ipswich
Castle Hill is a 56,881 sq ft Tudor Revival mansion in Ipswich, Massachusetts built 1926-1928 as a summer home for Mr. and Mrs. Richard Teller Crane, Jr. It is also the name of the 165-acre drumlin surrounded by sea and salt marsh the home was built atop. Both are part of the 2,100-acre Crane Estate located on Argilla Road.
32 milesS
Lighthouse
Cape Ann Light Station, Rockport
The Cape Ann Light Station on Thacher Island, off Cape Ann in Rockport, Massachusetts, is nationally significant as the last light station to be established under colonial rule and the first station in the United States to mark a navigational hazard rather than a harbor entrance.