In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Andover
Andover, Maine
Half a day is enough: see the Lovejoy Covered Bridge, walk the village, then move on. Not a base for exploring western Maine.
Andover is a tiny town (population about 800) in Oxford County, western Maine. Its main draw is the Lovejoy Covered Bridge, a 70-foot span over the Ellis River where locals swim in summer. The village has a handful of historic buildings but no restaurants or lodging open to travellers. Most visitors pass through on the way to Bethel or Rumford.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Andover, Maine
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (many roads and facilities closed or limited)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $0 (day trip from Bethel or Rumford) · Mid $0 (day trip) · High $0 (day trip) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 1 h 45 min drive; rental car needed
- LEW · Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive; limited commercial flights
Typical fares
- Portland Jetport to Andover
- About 1 h 45 min drive; rental car about $50–80/day
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car only. The village is walkable on foot, but the bridge and earth station are a short drive from the centre. No public transport.
See and do
Known for
- Lovejoy Covered Bridge
- Andover Earth Station (former Telstar site)
- Historic buildings on the National Register
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel, Maine | Car via Route 5 south, about 15 min | About 15 min |
| Rumford, Maine | Car via Route 5/120 east, about 10 min | About 10 min |
| Mexico, Maine | Car via Route 2 east, about 15 min | About 15 min |
| Roxbury, Maine | Car via Route 17 north, about 20 min | About 20 min |
Sleep
- No lodging in Andover
- Stay in Bethel (15 min south) or Rumford (10 min east) for motels, inns and B&Bs.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No fuel, food or accommodation in town: stock up in Bethel or Rumford.
- Lovejoy Covered Bridge is on Route 5 just north of the Rumford line; easy to miss.
- Andover Earth Station is on private land — check access before visiting.
Very safe. The main risk is driving on narrow, winding roads in winter. No crime concerns.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Andover yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lovejoy Covered Bridge
- Andover Earth Station (former Telstar site)
- Historic buildings on the National Register
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Andover (Maine), revision 4983231 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4983231
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
AndoverAndover, Maine
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No local phrases needed; English is universal.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/andover-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.