Destination Freeport: A Visitors Guide
The Town of Freeport in Maine was originally organized as the four villages of Mast Landing, Porter’s Landing, South Freeport, and Freeport Corner - all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Harraseeket Historic District.
Freeport is just 20 minutes' drive north from Portland, bordered by the towns of Brunswick, Durham, Pownal, and Yarmouth, and situated on the northeastern shores of Casco Bay. Its tidal coastline includes barrier islands, rocky shores, and thriving ecosystems created by the estuaries of the Harraseeket River and New England's Atlantic shores.
Freeport, Maine is a haven for those in need of retail therapy, with legendary shops, outlet stores, and boutiques, but even the beginnings of the town's retail appeal stems from its rich natural recreational opportunities.
At its core, Freeport is a nature lover's paradise. The shopping just puts the bow on the destination package! Freeport is also a stop on the Amtrak Downeaster - a 145-mile regional passenger train service operating five daily round trips from Brunswick, Maine to Boston Massachusetts. If visiting by car, consider a road trip along the scenic route of Coastal Highway U.S. 1 from Portland.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park comprises nearly 250 acres just outside of downtown Freeport. Full of white pine and hemlock forests, the park offers miles of diverse hiking trails meandering through salt marshes and rocky seacoast shorelines along the Harraseeket River and Casco Bay, where flocks of osprey nest just offshore on Googins Island.
Picnic tables are located at the heads of the trails, making it an ideal place for a scenic midday lunch break. The state park also offers cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter. Your Wolfe's Neck State Park stop should also include a visit to the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & The Environment, a 600-acre nonprofit, seaside farm facility that is free and open to the public.
Wolfe's Neck Center features hiking and biking trails, boat tours, and river kayaking, as well as equipment rentals, and educational programs centered on the environment, sustainability, and organic farming. Spend a day on the Wolfe's Neck Farm to enjoy interactive, traditional family fun while learning about New England's unique coastal agriculture. Milk a cow, gather eggs, walk a goat, and dig for clams, all before enjoying a farm-to-table dinner, or selecting fresh seasonal goods for purchase at the farm store.
The pet-friendly state park is open all year from 9:00 AM to sunset each day. A minimal admission fee (Maine resident - $4, non-resident - $6, senior non-resident $2) applies year-round.
Bradbury Mountain State Park
Bradbury Mountain State Park is located in the Town of Pownal, about ten minutes outside of Freeport. One of Maine's original five state parks, Bradbury Mountain was acquired by the Federal government in 1939. The 800-acre recreational area is centered around the 500' tall Bradbury Mountain, yielding panoramic views of Casco Bay.
A series of multi-use trails provide miles of pathways for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and horseback riding with year-round access. Bradbury Mountain is the only state park in southern Maine to offer such shared-use trails, making it a prime shop to host annual community events and organized outdoor activities.
Picnicking facilities are available on-site, and the park is pet-friendly. Bradbury Mountain State Park is open year-round, from 9am till sunset. Both Wolfe's Neck and Bradbury Mountain State Parks are about 15 minutes from the Freeport Town Wharf, where Seacoast Tours of Freeport offers scenic tours of Casco Bay with excursions to Eagle Island State Park, which is only accessible by boat.
Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary
In 1962, Maine Audubon founded Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary on over 100 acres of land donated by the L.M.C. Smith family.
Today, Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary is home to expansive lush fields, apple orchards, and mature white pine and hemlock forests. The sanctuary's Mill Stream flows into the tidal waters of the Harraseeket River, setting the stage for a prime migratory habitat for shorebirds, mammals, and other resident wildlife, including woodcocks, herons, hawks, woodpeckers, deer, coyotes, hares, porcupines, frogs, muskrats, and butterflies.
More than three miles of trails provide the setting for hiking and cross-country skiing. Mast Landing is one of eight Maine Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. The sanctuaries are open to the public each day from dawn until dusk.
The Desert of Maine
Enveloped within pine forests just outside of Freeport, the Desert of Maine was once a farming site. As the story goes, the Tuttle family owned the 40-acre plot in the early 1700s when a series of circumstances led to a dramatic soil erosion that exposed glacial silt that eventually overtook the farm, leading to the land's abandonment.
The site was then purchased for a mere $300 and designated as a tourist spot in 1925. This rare New England coastal "desert" now features museums, a gift shop, playground, historic barn structure, and a cafe.
The Desert of Maine is open seasonally from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. $10 admission fee applies, which includes a guided tour and gem hunt.
Freeport Historical Society
The Freeport Historical Society started in 1941, reopening 20 years later following reestablishment after being closed down in 1944 as a result of damage from WWII and a hurricane. The society promotes the storied history of Freeport through educational programs, tours, and events, and preserved artifacts like a thirteen-star flag from 1777, period fashions, and items from the Grand Army of the Republic and the American Revolution.
Many historical buildings are still standing in Freeport thanks to the area's historical society, including Pettengill Farm. This 140-acre site includes an 1800s farmhouse, walking trails, lush gardens, and views overlooking the Harraseeket estuary, all surrounded by salt marshes and orchards.
The historical society is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Pettengill Farm site is open dawn to dusk year-round. Admission is free, and there are no on-site restroom facilities.
Freeport Shopping
The Town of Freeport Maine consists of hundreds of national and locally-owned retailers and shopping outlets, so it's no surprise that it's been named the Best Shopping Town in New England by Yankee Magazine.
Arguably, the L.L. Bean outfitters started it all. The world-renowned recreational retailers opened the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport more than a century ago, and today, this 220-thousand-square-foot facility welcomes guests 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The L.L. Bean company specializes in outdoor recreational apparel and gear.
The L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery School is part of the flagship store, offering outdoor activities, classes, and events all year long. Guests are encouraged to experience and learn about archery, fishing, birding, biking, photography, hunting, and more as part of the Outdoor Discovery Series. Many workshops and demonstrations are free! L.L. Bean also offers the free Summer in the Park concert series at Discovery Park, adjacent to the store. Don't miss the most famous photo op in Freeport before you go - the 16-foot tall rubber-bottom Bean boot! You can also find great deals at LL Bean outlet stores in Freeport.
But shopping isn't limited to the Bean! Quite the contrary, in fact - visitors and locals alike are invited to explore the countless designer boutiques, galleries, and brand-name shops that make up the famous Freeport outlets of the Freeport Crossing and Freeport Village shopping districts.
En route to downtown along Lower Main Street, these Freeport outlet malls welcome visitors to browse a variety of specialty shops like Carter’s, Calvin Klein, OshKosh B’gosh, Nike Factory Store, Old Navy Outlet, and more, as well as family-friendly eateries, a six-screen Nordica Movie Theatre, and free parking.
Freeport Dining
- Antonia's Pizzeria - 193 Lower Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Pizzeria
Cozy bar and grill serving Italian, Greek, and American standards, as well as from-scratch pizzas. - Arabian Sisters Kitchen - 20 Bow Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Mediterranean
Fresh, affordable Mediterranean food located inside Freeport Public Market food court. - Azure Cafe - 123 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Italian
Award-winning Italian cafe and wine bar with live music and pet-friendly garden patio. - Bow Street Market - 79 Bow Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Fresh Market
Family-owned neighborhood market offering fresh foods from local producers. - Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company - 20 Bow Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Brewery
Craft beer and locally-sourced specialty pizzas. Offering delivery and happy hour specials. - Broad Arrow Tavern - 162 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Seafood
Rustic, hunting lodge tavern with an open concept kitchen, serving steak, seafood, pizza, sandwiches, and a popular lunch buffet. - Buck's Naked BBQ - 568 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032
Barbeque
Hardwood, slow smoked BBQ, hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and seasonal brews with a kid’s play area, live music on the weekends, and a pet-friendly outdoor deck. - China Rose - 23 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Chinese
Traditional Chinese cuisine in a casual atmosphere, or available for take-out. - Derosier's - 120 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Pizzeria
Freeport’s oldest family owned business, spanning five generations. Serving pizza, subs, salads, and ice cream. - El Jefe Taco Bar - 117 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032
Mexican
Intimate taco bar serving up Mexican favorites alongside an extensive selection of craft brews and homemade margaritas. - Gritty McDuff's Freeport Brew Pub - 187 Lower Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Pub
Family-friendly, award-winning brewpub with traditional American pub fare and local craft beers. Spacious deck and backyard areas are perfect for events and lobster bakes! - Maine Harvest at Harraseeket Inn - 162 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Seafood
Elegant, inspired dining featuring “contemporary New England fare with a savory dash of French flamboyance”, focusing on local, seasonal ingredients. - Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company - 36 Main Street, South Freeport, ME 04078
Seafood
Casual, dockside lobster shack serving up fresh lobster rolls, clams, and fried seafood favorites. - Jameson Tavern - 115 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
American
Historic Revolutionary War-period tavern serving traditional American comfort foods beer. - Jeff’s Jamaican Cuisine - 20 Bow Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Jamaican
Authentic Jamaican cuisine created from traditional methods and local ingredients. - Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen - 88 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Seafood
Large indoor/outdoor eatery offering Bean family recipes from breakfast through late night. Live Lobster tank for take-home cookouts. - Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine - 88 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Seafood
Grab-and-go window service only, Featuring legendary quarter-pound butter toasted lobster rolls, award-winning clam chowder, and more. - Lobster Cooker - 39 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Seafood
Renovated barn with upper deck sports pub and full-service dining stop for lobster rolls and classic New England coastal fare. - Maine Beer Company - 525 U.S. 1, Freeport, ME, 04032
Brewery
Tasting room features 20 draft lines, wood-fired pizzas and overhead mezzanine seating. - Petrillo's - 15 Depot Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Italian
Italian, from-scratch classics with modern techniques. Daily specials, happy hour, and outdoor seating available. - Stars & Stripes Brewing Company - 8 Varney Road, Freeport, ME 04032
BreweryVeteran owned and operated craft brewery. Food available from Antonia’s Pizzeria, located next door.
- Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro - 140 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Italian
Extensive menu of Italian standards made from locally-sourced ingredients, as well as craft cocktails and Sunday Brunch. - Wanderlust Juicery - 4 Mechanic Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Juice Bar
Freeport's only cold-pressed juice bar, specializing in Maine grown organic and raw juice, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and nut mylks. - When Pigs Fly - 21 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Bakery
Old-world, artisan bread products and baked goods made fresh daily. - Wicked Whoopies - 100 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
DessertCelebrate Maine’s signature treat with the World's Best Whoopie Pie - customizable with more than two dozen flavors!
- Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections - 174 Lower Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Dessert
Family-run candy factory and store. Voted “Best Maine Chocolate” and “Best Maine Candy Shop”. Guided tours available.
- Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections - 174 Lower Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
- Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro - 140 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032