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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Scarborough
Scarborough, Maine
A half-day stop for Pine Point Beach and a meal, not a base: stay in Portland and drive 15 min south.
Scarborough is a coastal town 15 minutes south of Portland, best known for Pine Point Beach and a handful of chain hotels near the Maine Mall. Most travellers use it as a lunch stop or a cheaper sleep option when Portland is full. The town itself has no major sight that justifies a dedicated trip.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Scarborough, Maine
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (beach weather), Sep–Oct (fewer crowds, mild)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (cold, many seasonal places closed)
- 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 US$60–100 excl. bed · Mid US$100–180 excl. bed · High US$180+ 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 · Scarborough Police Department (non-emergency) +1 207 883-6361
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Pizza slice at Pizza Plus | US$4–6 |
| Coffee at a gas station or Dunkin' | US$2–4 |
| Beer at a bar | US$5–8 |
| Uber/Lyft from Portland to Scarborough | US$20–30 |
| Gas (per gallon) | US$3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 10 min by car; no direct public transit to Scarborough.
Typical fares
- Portland Jetport → Scarborough, Uber
- about US$20–30, 10–15 min (check)
- Scarborough → Old Orchard Beach, car
- about 10 min via US-1 S
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
A car is essential. No bus or train serves Scarborough from Portland; ride-hailing (Uber/Lyft) costs about US$20–30 each way from Portland. Biking is possible on Route 77 but narrow shoulders.
See and do
Known for
- Pine Point Beach
- Maine Mall area hotels
- Close to Portland and Old Orchard Beach
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, Maine | Car via I-95 N, about 15 min | 15–20 min |
| Old Orchard Beach | Car via US-1 S, about 10 min | 10–15 min |
| Cape Elizabeth | Car via ME-77 S, about 10 min | 10–15 min |
| Freeport, Maine | Car via I-95 N to Exit 22, about 25 min | 25–30 min |
Sleep
- Near Maine Mall / I-95 Exit 42
- Chain hotels (Candlewood Suites, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn) within walking distance of a few chain restaurants and a Walmart.
- Pine Point area
- Seasonal cottages and a handful of B&Bs; quieter, but limited dining and no grocery within walking distance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HelloHELL-oh |
| Thank you | Thank youTHANK-yoo |
| How much? | How much?HOW-much |
| Where is the beach? | Where is the beach?WHAIR-iz-the-BEECH |
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
- Pine Point Beach has no lifeguard and no facilities: bring water and sunscreen.
- Hotels near the Maine Mall fill up during Portland events (July 4, fall foliage weekends) — book ahead.
- Many restaurants close by 21:00; late-night options are limited to fast food.
Very safe. The main risks are sunburn at the beach and traffic on US-1 and I-95 during summer weekends.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Scarborough yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pine Point Beach
- Maine Mall area hotels
- Close to Portland and Old Orchard Beach
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: Scarborough (Maine), revision 4983275 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4983275
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
ScarboroughScarborough, Maine
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
- Scarborough Police Department (non-emergency)+1 207 883-6361
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada. For consular services, use the US State Department website.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/scarborough-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.