Travel & stay
Getting here, and where to sleep
Most of you are coming from away. Here is everything we know.
How long the drive actually takes
Add time for a Friday afternoon in September — this is still leaf season and Route 95 knows it.
✈️
Portland Jetport (PWM)
About 1 hour 15 minutes. The easiest airport for this wedding by a wide margin. Rental cars are at the terminal.
🛫
Boston Logan (BOS)
About 3 hours 15 minutes without traffic, closer to 4 on a Friday afternoon. Cheaper flights, longer day.
🚗
Driving from Boston
About 3 hours 15 minutes up I-95. Stop in Portland if you want a decent meal on the way.
🚙
From Portland
About 1 hour 10 minutes. I-95 to Augusta, then Route 27 north through Belgrade.
🛣️
From Bangor
About 1 hour 15 minutes down I-95 and across through Waterville.
🚕
A note on rideshare
Do not count on it. Uber and Lyft are unreliable this far from Portland, especially late. Please plan to drive or take the shuttle.
Where to stay
There is no single hotel that holds a wedding this size out here, so people tend to spread across three options. All of these are worth booking early — mid-September is still busy in Maine.
On the lake, in Belgrade Lakes village, there are a small number of inn and camp rooms within about five minutes of the barn. These are the nicest option and the first to go. If you want one, book it as soon as you RSVP.
In Waterville, about 20 minutes away, there are several standard chain hotels. This is where most guests will end up, and it is where the shuttle picks up at 2:30 pm.
In Augusta, about 30 minutes away, there are more chain hotels and usually more availability if Waterville fills up.
And there are a lot of lake rentals on Long Pond and Great Pond. If you are coming as a group of four or more, a rental for the weekend is almost always better value than three hotel rooms.
On the lake, in Belgrade Lakes village, there are a small number of inn and camp rooms within about five minutes of the barn. These are the nicest option and the first to go. If you want one, book it as soon as you RSVP.
In Waterville, about 20 minutes away, there are several standard chain hotels. This is where most guests will end up, and it is where the shuttle picks up at 2:30 pm.
In Augusta, about 30 minutes away, there are more chain hotels and usually more availability if Waterville fills up.
And there are a lot of lake rentals on Long Pond and Great Pond. If you are coming as a group of four or more, a rental for the weekend is almost always better value than three hotel rooms.
If you are flying into Portland, the coast is worth a detour on the way up.
If you are making a weekend of it
You came a long way. A few things worth doing while you are here.
The Belgrade Lakes village itself is a ten-minute walk end to end, with a general store and a couple of places to eat. Good for Saturday morning coffee.
Waterville has a real downtown now — a restored theatre, an art museum at Colby, and more restaurants than you would expect for the size.
If you have Sunday and you are driving south anyway, the coast around Camden and Rockland is about an hour and a half east and is the Maine on the postcards.
And Acadia is about two and a half hours northeast. That is a whole separate trip, but people do tack it on.
The Belgrade Lakes village itself is a ten-minute walk end to end, with a general store and a couple of places to eat. Good for Saturday morning coffee.
Waterville has a real downtown now — a restored theatre, an art museum at Colby, and more restaurants than you would expect for the size.
If you have Sunday and you are driving south anyway, the coast around Camden and Rockland is about an hour and a half east and is the Maine on the postcards.
And Acadia is about two and a half hours northeast. That is a whole separate trip, but people do tack it on.
Travel questions we have already been asked
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes, unless you are staying in Waterville and taking the shuttle both ways. There is no realistic way to get around out here otherwise.
Which airport should I fly into?
Portland if you can. It is two hours closer and the drive is far easier. Boston only if the fare difference is big enough to be worth the extra day.
Is there a room block?
On a real wedding site this is where the room block code and the booking link would go, with the cut-off date.
Can I come Thursday?
Please do. The more of you who are around on Friday, the better the cookout gets.
What is the weather actually like in September?
Usually lovely — low seventies in the afternoon, fifties at night. It can also rain sideways. Bring a layer either way.