Travel
Rockport is halfway down the Maine Coast – just off Route One. It is 90 miles north of Portland, between Camden and Rockland. You can find us on most maps. You can drive, fly, even sail into Rockport harbor – Rockport Marine 207.236.9651 can help you arrange a mooring for your boat. By car, Rockport is less than a two-hour drive from Portland, less than four hours from Boston, eight hours from New York and Montreal, and five hours from Quebec. Driving directions are included in your Acceptance Kit.
Driving Directions
Rockport is a 3.5 hour drive north from Boston; New York City and Montreal are 8 hours away. The drive through New England can be most enjoyable.
If you are coming from the South, take Interstate 95 north into Maine. Take the South Portland Exit (I-295) and follow I-295 through Portland. Continue on I-295 to the Brunswick Route 1 Exit (Exit 28). Follow Route 1 through Brunswick, Bath, Woolwich, Wiscasset, Damariscotta and Waldoboro to Warren – about 45 miles, where you’ll find Route 90 at a blinking yellow light. Take a left onto Route 90 and follow it 12 miles to the third set of stop lights. The Market Basket, a green barn, will be on your right. Turn LEFT onto Route 1 and then after 1/4 mile take a RIGHT onto Camden Street. Go through a STOP sign and Maine Media will be on your left before the hill.
If you are driving into Maine on a busy summer weekend, Route 1 may be crowded. Here is an alternate route we sometimes take: Driving north on Interstate 295, continue north, past the Brunswick exit, to the Route 201 exit, approximately 35 miles. Follow 201 East into Gardiner and drive through town and over the bridge – the second bridge. Turn RIGHT at the far end of the big bridge then the next available LEFT onto Route 226. Follow 226 for about ten miles to Route 17. Turn RIGHT and follow 17 for 30 miles to Route 90 in West Rockport. Turn LEFT and follow Route 90 for three miles to the second stop light. Turn LEFT onto Route 1 and then after 1/4 mile take a RIGHT onto Camden Street. Go through a STOP sign and the Workshops will be on your left before the hill. This alternate route adds about ten miles to the total distance, but can save half-an-hour’s driving in Maine’s summer traffic.
Flying
Delta, Jet Blue, American, Southwest, United, Cape Air, Elite, Frontier, and Sun Country all service Portland Jetport (PWM) with several flights daily.
Local Airport Option
Cape Air offers frequent commuter flights each day between the Boston’s Logan Airport and nearby Knox County Airport (RKD), which is just 20 minutes from the Workshops. Taxis are available to drive you to Rockport. Fares around $35.
Rental Cars
Rental cars are available at the Portland and at the nearby Knox County Airport. Dollar,Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Avis, National and Enterprise all service Portland while Avis, Budget, and Enterprise service RKD. We encourage our students to have a car – it makes the opportunity to explore our beautiful area much easier. A car is necessary if you are involved in a photojournalism workshop or a class that requires you to explore the region solo. Many classes travel to field locations via car-pool.
VAN SERVICE, TAXIS & Uber
Maine Media has partnered with two local transportation services:
Sterling Elite who provides scheduled van services (starting at $138 per person from the Portland Jetport (PWM) as well as private car service (starting at $276 one way per car). Visit their website for details on either service www.sterlingelite.net ph: 207.785.3100 Reservations should be made as soon as possible to assure availability. Identify yourself as a Maine Media student. We recommend booking your return at the same time.
Schooner Bay Taxi provides ground transportation services from/to Portland (PWM) and Rockport. Arrangements must be made directly with Schooner Bay Taxi, not Maine Media. Call 207.594.5000 or email [email protected]. www.schoonerbaytaxi.me Reservations should be made at least 48-72 hours in advance. Identify yourself as a Maine Media student. One way fares vary but average $185 each way, depending on the number of passengers at any given time. Rates are subject to change. We recommend booking your return at the same time.
Taxis and Uber are also available at Portland (PWM). Fares can be around $200 one way.
Bus Lines
Rockport is served by Concord Coachlines (www.concordcoachlines.com ) with daily summer service from Boston’s South Station or Logan International Airport. Bus leaves Logan at 10:45AM, departs South Station at 11:15AM, arriving in Rockport at 3:50PM. Southbound, the bus leaves Rockport at 8:30 AM, arriving in Portland at 11:00AM and South Station/Logan at 1:25 PM. Service from Portland leaves at 1:15PM, arriving Camden/Rockport at 3:50PM. (Schedules subject to change, Visit the Concord Coach website for up-to-date info or call 800-639- 3317)
Train Service
AMTRAK currently operates between Boston’s North Station and Portland. Connect to Concord Trailways there. (scheduling can be difficult). For those coming from the NYC area, take a train to Boston’s South Station, arriving before 11AM. There you would purchase a bus ticket on Concord Coachlines to Camden/Rockport – much less confusing, complicated and expensive than arriving in South Station, getting to North Station to connect to Portland and then trying to get the bus.
Travel Insurance
Whether you are traveling to Rockport, Paris, Iceland, Hawaii, Crete or one of our other varied locations, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself against: 1) unforeseen circumstances that might prevent your attendance; or 2) a course cancellation.
We suggest a plan that offers coverage for medical/dental emergencies, lost baggage, missed connections, and trip cancellation, should you unexpectedly need to cancel.
Maine Media Workshops is registered with Travel Insurance Services of Columbus, Ohio. Information & application may be found here. Three levels of coverage are available. Alternatively, by calling 800-937-1387 (please reference Producer account 240583).
We are also pleased to advise our international students that you can now purchase health/accident insurance while visiting the US. Info may be found at here.
Maine Media is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies or reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.
Please review our cancellation policy at here.
