Our main site at Portland’s East End Beach is an easy walk or bike ride from anywhere in Portland, and there are public transit options that offer fairly quick trips to the airport, bus station, ferry lines and rail station. Check out the Directions page for directions to our EEB site and information about parking, and visit our Crescent Beach webpage for information about our satellite location in Cape Elizabeth. For more recommendations on some of the best Portland has to offer, check out our things to do page!
Public Transit around Portland and the Greater Portland area
Portland and surrounding communities are served by the METRO bus, the Zoom/BSOOB Transit bus system and the South Portland city bus. Access to the larger Casco Bay islands of Portland is provided by the Casco Bay Lines ferry service.
- METRO Buses allow quick and affordable transportation around Portland
- Any of the METRO Bus stops in downtown Portland offer an easy walk to our main site, especially those that are near the ferry terminal.
- BSOOB Buses serve the cities of Saco and Biddeford, and the popular vacation destination of Old Orchard Beach, as well as connections to Scarborough, the Maine Mall, South Portland, and Portland. A full route map can be found here.
- South Portland city buses allow for transit around South Portland, including the Maine Mall, and connection to downtown Portland and parts of Cape Elizabeth.
- Casco Bay Lines ferries leave from the Maine State Pier in downtown Portland and provide access to the larger of Casco Bay’s “Calendar Islands” including Long, Great and Little Diamond, Cliff, Bailey’s, Chebeague, and Peaks Island.
- Taxi services and ridesharing apps are also readily available in Portland and trips between many locations are often quick and affordable.
Public Transit Hubs
- The Portland Transportation Center near Thompson’s Point offers rail and bus options, and is connected to the rest of Portland by local city buses, taxis and ride-sharing services.
- Concord Coachline buses run to New York City, Logan Airport, and Boston South Station. Concord Coachlines also operates buses which run from the Portland Transportation Center to points further north and east in Maine, such as Bar Harbor, Bangor, and more.
- Amtrak Downeaster is the train service between Boston North Station and the TD Garden Arena and Portland, Maine. The train continues north past Portland to the towns of Freeport and Brunswick, popular destinations for shopping, recreation, and lodging at bed and breakfasts. Between Boston and Portland the train stops at additional communities in Maine, including Old Orchard Beach, Saco/Biddeford, and Wells, as well as locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
- Greyhound has its own bus station near Portland’s city center and offers many routes connecting Portland to major cities.
- The Portland Jetport (aka PWM) is serviced by Portland METRO buses (see below for more information).
- The Portland cruise ship terminal is in the heart of downtown, on Portland’s waterfront, an easy walk, bike, or public bus ride to any destination you might have in mind, including our site at East End Beach.
Biking
Portland and the surrounding communities are very bikeable! A number of rental services exist including:
- The Tandem Mobility Portland BikeShare: – These electric bikes can be found parked along roads throughout Portland and can be rented anytime by anyone.
- CycleMania
- Gorham Bike and Ski
- The EnCYCLEpedia / SummerFeet Bike
- Lighthouse Bikes
- Pedego E Bikes
Bike routes
- The Eastern Trail and SoPo Greenbelt connect Portland, South Portland, and Scarborough, as well as communities further south, via a network of leveled gravel and paved trails.
- Portland has a number of trails through the city ranging from paved to leveled gravel to mountain biking, as well as quiet back roads and neighborhoods for peaceful rides.
Staying in and around Portland
- The greater Portland area is a recreation, tourism, and business hub! Accordingly, there are a wide range of accommodations to fit every taste and price point. Below are just a few examples of places to check out!
- Camping: Sebago Lake State Park, Bradbury Mountain State Park, the Wolfe’s Neck Center, and Winslow Park offer tent and simple RV camping.
- RV and Glamping: A number of commercial campgrounds and RV resorts exist around the Portland area. Those in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach are an easy bus ride into Portland.
- AirBnB, HipCamp, and similar services are abundant in Portland.
- There are a number of inns and bed and breakfasts around greater Portland, especially in Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, and Brunswick.
- Hotels: There are an abundance of hotels all around the greater Portland area, including in downtown Portland, and adjacent to the Portland Jetport.