Travel & Accomodations

Travel Note

Getting to Downeast Maine

Flying: You can fly into Portland (PWM) or Bangor (BGR) and rent a car. Driving: Birch Harbor, Maine is a 9 hour drive from New York City, a 5 hour drive from Boston, a 3 hour drive from Portland, and a 1.5 hour drive from Bangor. Once you get to (or past) Portland, you can take several different routes to get to Downeast Maine. They differ in the amount of time they take and the different stops available along the way. We will be adding a list of our Maine road trip recommendations closer to the wedding date!

Travel Note

A Note on Accommodations

Accommodations in the area break down generally into two categories; (1) small inns/hotels/cabins and (2) VRBOs. Guests are welcome to book wherever they would like, but we’ve provided some specific recommendations below. In general, we recommend staying in Sullivan or West Gouldsboro or on “The Peninsula,” which is includes the towns of Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor, Corea and smaller areas such as Summer Harbor, Gerrishville, and South Gouldsboro.

Shuttle

Transportation To & From Venue

August 31, 2025 3:30 pm - 12:30 am

We will have a shuttle running from select accommodations to and from the venue. Accommodations on the shuttle route are clearly marked below. Exact shuttle times TBA. A note on transportation and safety: THERE ARE NO UBERS IN THE AREA. If you will be drinking and are staying somewhere that is not on the shuttle route, we highly recommend contacting one of the taxi services below in advance to schedule your transportation. Please note, this list is not exhaustive and there are other small cab companies in the nearby city of Ellsworth that can be found online. - Country Coach Charters (https://www.countrycoachcharters.com/) - Step by Step Taxi (https://www.stepbysteptaxi.com/) - Bar Harbor Coastal Cab (https://www.barharborcoastalcab.com/) Parking: For those who are driving and have a designated driver, there is parking available at the venue.

House Or Rental

VRBO List

This link includes a list of recommended VRBOs in the area. If you choose to book a VRBO it will not be on the shuttle route.

Hotel

Rest Ashoar Water front Cottages (On Shuttle Route)

Have you ever seen that lobsterman on Tik Tok or Instagram (@jknowles831)? He and his wife own these lovely cottages! They recently rebuilt them after large storms hit the area in 2023 and 2024. Though they typically have a 4-night minimum, they can reduce to a 3-night minimum if you let them know you're attending our wedding. To do this, choose your dates, choose your cabin, and then click "Submit Inquiry" with the note "Alice & Sam Wedding." They will then approve your inquiry for booking. If you have any questions about the process, feel free to call Ashley at (207) 266-8485.

Hotel

Bluff House Inn & Cabins (On Shuttle Route)

This has the largest capacity of any listed accommodations and beautiful views of Mount Desert Island.

Hotel

Flanders Bay Cabins (On Shuttle Route)

Flanders Bay Cabins offers beautiful views of Mount Dessert Island and cute, rustic accommodations. They also taking bookings through Air B&B: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/272426881 (please note, this host rents a number of other properties, the only ones on the shuttle will be say "Flanders Bay Cabins").

Hotel

Edgewater Cabins (On Shuttle Route)

Rustic cabin accommodations with gorgeous views of Mount Desert Island. They also offer boat tours of the area!

Hotel

Captain Bennis House (On Shuttle Route)

For those that love the historical!

House Or Rental

Elsa's Inn on the Harbor Bed & Breakfast (On Shuttle Route)

A picturesque bed and breakfast overlooking Prospect Harbor.