Phippsburg, ME Road Trips

The location where the popular movie Message In A Bottle was filmed, Phippsburg includes some of the best beaches in the area.

Phippsburg Historical Society, 24 Parker Head Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-2393. Seasonal local history museum. On Facebook.

While the beaches are the main tourist attraction, fishing is good if you have access to a boat. Most local convenience stores sell tackle supplies. There's a good striper fishing spot on Parker Head Road at the mouth of Mill Pond, and fishing off the beach is popular. Set eels out on a hook on the beach or use a simple shad to catch them at the Mill Pond dam. Popham Beach State Park, 10 Perkins Farm Lane (office), ☏ +1 207 389-1335. Sandy beach, picnic area. Largest beach in the area. Day-use fee, parking available for a few dollars. 1 Fort Popham State Historic Site, 10 Perkins Farm Land, ☏ +1 207 389-1335. Civil War-era coastal defence fortification at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Phippsburg. Open 9AM-sunset daily from April 15th to October 30th. Fee charged. Parking is limited (an alternative is to pay to park at nearby Popham Beach). 2 Fort Baldwin. A former coastal defense fortification constructed between 1905 and 1912, overlooks Fort Popham. 3 Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, ☏ +1 207 786-6078. Mountain surrounded by salt marshes, beach and dense Maine woods. Privately owned by Bates College for research and recreation. Small Point Beach. A good place to hike the rocks, as Popham is mainly beach. 4 Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. Ten acre island located in the mouth of the Kennebec River, wildlife preserve accessible by private boat. Closed to the public during nesting season.

Spinney's, 987 Popham Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1122. Seafood restaurant. On Facebook. The Lobster House, 395 Small Point Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1596. Scallops, lobster, seafood. On Facebook. Waters Edge Restaurant, 75 Blacks Lndg Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-1803. Eatery on the wharf of the former Down Easter and Sebasco Estates Foods clam processing facility, a mile past Sebasco Resort golf course.

One may buy liquor at a grocery store for takeaway. There is a local pub, the Ledges Pub (+1 207 371-5113) at the Sebasco Resort.

The 1774 Inn, 44 Parker Head Rd, Phippsburg, ☏ +1 207 389-1774. Bed and breakfast in 1774-era heritage home in the village. $230. Meadowbrook Camping Area, 33 Meadowbrook Rd, ☏ +1 207 443-4967. RV camping, cabins, paintball, lobster restaurant, camper rental. On Facebook. Sebasco Resort, 29 Kenyon Rd, ☏ +1 207 389-9060, toll-free: +1-800-225-3819. A golf resort with hotel, restaurant and pub just over 5 mi (8.0 km) southwest of Phippsburg, near the ocean. On Facebook.

There is no local or intercity public transport. Portland has air and rail service. From there, I-95 north to I-295 north leads to Brunswick. Exit onto US Route 1 north, following the coast up to Bath. Exit right to State Route 209, which goes through Phippsburg.

You will need a vehicle. As roads (with the exception of Route 209) are mostly narrow with no shoulder, biking can be awkward; motorcars run 40 mph on the back roads and there can be high traffic on the way to the beach in summer's high season. As most of the town is surrounded by water, many places are easily accessible by boat.