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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Wells
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Wells, Maine – beach, nature reserve and mini‑golf, then head to nearby York or Ogunquit.
Wells is a small coastal town on Maine’s Southern Coast. The beach and the Wells Reserve are the main draws; most visitors stay a day, using it as a beach stop before exploring nearby towns.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $70–$120 excl. bed · Mid $120–$200 excl. bed · High $200+ 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
- 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 at a café | $2–$4 |
| Fish & chips (beach shack) | $8–$12 |
| Mini‑golf round | $5–$8 |
| Parking near Wells Beach (hourly) | $2–$3 per hour |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 45 min drive north; Amtrak Downeaster connects Wells to Portland
Typical fares
- Amtrak Downeaster Wells → Portland
- about $30 each way (check)
- Greyhound bus Wells → Boston
- about $25–$35 (check)
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
Walk or bike the beach and reserve; rent a car for trips north to York or south to Ogunquit. Greyhound buses stop in town; Amtrak Downeaster stops at Wells Regional Transportation Center.
See and do
Known for
- Wells Beach
- Wells Reserve (National Estuarine Research Reserve)
- Mini‑golf courses
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| York, Maine | US‑1 north, 10 km (6.2 mi), 15 min driveUS‑1 north, 6.2 mi (10 km), 15 min drive | ≈30 min round‑trip |
| Ogunquit | US‑1 south, 12 km (7.5 mi), 20 min driveUS‑1 south, 7.5 mi (12 km), 20 min drive | ≈40 min round‑trip |
| Kennebunkport | US‑1 north, 20 km (12 mi), 25 min driveUS‑1 north, 12 mi (20 km), 25 min drive | ≈1 h round‑trip |
Sleep
- Misty Harbor Resort Motel
- All‑suite resort, indoor pool, kitchenettes; good base for beach visitors.
- Sea Mist Resort Motel
- Rooms with kitchenettes, indoor pool, hot tub.
- Village by the Sea
- Condo‑style suites with full kitchens, near the beach.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moiex‑kew‑zay mwa |
| Thank you | Mercimehr‑see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte?kohm‑byehn sah koot |
| Where is the bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes?oo sohn lay twah‑let |
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
- Summer weekends can make the beach crowded; arrive early for parking.
- Reserve trails close at dusk; bring a flashlight for late walks.
Wells is a low‑crime coastal town; typical beach safety applies – watch belongings, obey lifeguard flags.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Wells yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Wells Beach
- Wells Reserve (National Estuarine Research Reserve)
- Mini‑golf courses
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: Wells (Maine), revision 5143971 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5143971
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Wells
À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consular services are in Portland (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/wells-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.