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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Buxton
Buxton, Maine
Skip Buxton unless you have a specific reason (family, fishing, quiet). It is a farming town with no major sights; use Portland or Old Orchard Beach as your base.
Buxton is a small farming town in the Portland Metropolitan Area with a handful of historic buildings and a museum open by appointment. Most travellers will find more to do in nearby coastal towns like Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport or Ogunquit. A half-day is enough if you have a reason to visit.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Buxton, Maine
- Best months
- May–October
- Avoid
- November–April (many attractions have limited hours or close)
- 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 $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (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 · Buxton Police (non-emergency) +1 207 929-6699
- 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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Sandwich at Low's Store | $6–10 |
| Dinner at a casual restaurant | $15–25 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 25 min drive; the main airport for the region.
Typical fares
- Portland Jetport → Buxton
- Taxi about $40–60, Uber about $30–50, 25 min
- Buxton → Old Orchard Beach
- Car about 20 min, no public transit
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. No public transit within town; Uber/Lyft available but sparse. US Route 202 and Maine State Route 22 run through Buxton.
See and do
Known for
- Buxton-Hollis Museum
- Tory Hill Meeting House
- Royal Brewster Mansion
- Skelton Dam on the Saco River
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Old Orchard Beach | Car via US 202 and ME 5, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Portland | Car via ME 22, about 25 min | 30 min |
| Kennebunkport | Car via US 202 and ME 9, about 30 min | 35 min |
| Ogunquit | Car via US 202 and ME 9, about 40 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Buxton Center
- A few motels and B&Bs; quiet, rural setting.
- Gorham
- About 10 min north; more chain hotels and dining options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom? |
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
- Many businesses close early or are seasonal; call ahead.
- Cell service can be spotty in rural parts of town.
- Skelton Dam area is private property; do not trespass.
Buxton is a safe, quiet town. Standard rural precautions: lock your car, do not leave valuables visible. The main risk is wildlife on roads at dawn/dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Buxton yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Buxton-Hollis Museum
- Tory Hill Meeting House
- Royal Brewster Mansion
- Skelton Dam on the Saco River
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Buxton-Hollis Historical Society: www.buxtonhollishistorical.org/
- Wikivoyage: Buxton (Maine), revision 4983264 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4983264
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
BuxtonBuxton, Maine
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
- Buxton Police (non-emergency)+1 207 929-6699
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada; consulates in Montreal and Toronto. For non-US citizens: check your country's embassy in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/buxton-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.