2 nights on Boothbay Peninsula

Question

We fly into Portland at the end of September and are interested in staying on Boothbay Peninsula (2 nights) and then Camden area (2 nights) before our stay on Mount Desert Island (4 nights) and Schoodic Peninsula (2 nights).

The lodging we have booked so far (Acadia area) for this trip is in quiet settings at B&Bs that are not “in town.”

For Boothbay Peninsula, I think I’d like a setting that isn’t right at the main dock/pier area at Boothbay Harbor. However, I’d like to be able to walk to the cute shops etc… don’t mind a 20-30+minute walk. I’m an avid landscape and travel photographer and would like to be able to walk around town and the harbor before shops open etc.

Can you recommend some places on the Boothbay Peninsula with a large and very clean room/suite? ( Water view/waterfront would be a bonus!)

Answer

Boothbay Peninsula is a wonderful choice for a quieter stay with easy access to scenic photography locations, coastal walks, and charming harbor life. Since you prefer to avoid the busiest “in the thick of it” section of Boothbay Harbor but still want to be walkable (even if it’s a pleasant 20–30 minute stroll), there are several excellent inns and lodges located just outside the main commercial area. Many offer larger, impeccably clean rooms and beautiful water views—perfect for early-morning photo walks.

Below are carefully selected recommendations that balance peaceful surroundings, walkability, spacious rooms, and scenic value.

Top lodging recommendations on the Boothbay Peninsula:

Brown’s Wharf Inn – About a 15–20 minute walk from downtown via a scenic harbor route, located on the east side of the harbor. Rooms are known for being large, spotless, and many include balconies right over the water. A great mix of quiet setting and easy access to town, especially for photographers.
Spruce Point Inn – A classic coastal resort set on a forested peninsula with gorgeous water views. It’s a more secluded “retreat-like” environment, about a 30–40 minute walk or a quick drive to town. Rooms and cottages are spacious, polished, and excellent for those wanting both nature and comfort. Morning shoreline paths are excellent for photography.
The Tugboat Inn – Slightly closer to the center (about 10–15 minute walk) but still set just far enough from the busiest part of the pier. Rooms facing the water are particularly large and very clean. Balconies offer great sunrise angles over the harbor.
Fisherman’s Wharf Inn – Direct waterfront with large rooms. Although it’s closer to town, the rooms facing the outer harbor feel peaceful. If staying “near but not in the busiest section” is okay, this is a comfortable option with spacious accommodations.

More peaceful or scenic alternatives beyond the immediate harbor:

Ocean Point Inn (East Boothbay) – A serene oceanside inn about 3 miles from Boothbay Harbor. Rooms are very clean and many are quite roomy. Terrific rocky-coast sunrise and sunset photo opportunities, lighthouse views, and quiet walking loops. You’d need to drive into town, but it’s worth considering for photography-focused travelers who like peaceful stays.
Harborage Inn on the Oceanfront – Located slightly to the “quieter edge” of downtown. Offers large suites with oversized bathrooms, very clean modern rooms, and great water views. Walk into town is easy and pleasant.
Linekin Bay Resort – Set in a quiet wooded waterfront area with a classic Maine feel. Rooms and cabins are updated and clean, and the setting is extremely photogenic. About a 25–30 minute walk to downtown if you’re comfortable with a longer, scenic stroll; otherwise a 5-minute drive.

Additional tips for your photography and walking wishes:

Boothbay Harbor is most photogenic early morning around Footbridge Road, the pedestrian bridge, and the village’s quieter east-side docks.
For dramatic coastline shots, Ocean Point in East Boothbay is one of the peninsula’s best sunrise and sunset locations.
If you enjoy gardens, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are spectacular in late September—full of sculpture, woodland paths, and color.

Overall, Brown’s Wharf Inn, Spruce Point Inn, or Harborage Inn match your request most closely: quiet, clean, spacious rooms, water views, and walkable to Boothbay Harbor without being in the busiest part of it.