Things to Do in Freeport, Maine
The best things to do in Freeport, Maine, are L.L.Bean’s flagship, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park and the Desert of Maine’s dunes. Freeport is a Cumberland County town of 8,737 people on the Harraseeket River.
In 1912, Leon Leonwood Bean opened a store in the basement of his brother’s shop to sell his Maine Hunting Shoe. It grew into a billion-dollar company, and the town now sees about 3.5 million visitors a year.
L.L.Bean Flagship Store
The flagship campus on Main Street anchors downtown, and it’s why most people come. L.L.Bean began staying open around the clock in 1951, and the flagship is still open 24 hours a day, every day. The campus also hosts free events year-round, including summer concerts.
★ Good to know L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Programs run classes and trips from here if you want to try paddling or other outdoor skills.
Downtown Freeport Outlets
Outlet stores line Main Street and the side streets around the L.L.Bean campus. It’s compact enough to park once and walk. The Harraseeket Historic District, covering the old villages of Mast Landing, Porter’s Landing, South Freeport and Freeport Corner, is listed on the National Register.
★ Good to know Visit Freeport’s website keeps a deals page and an event calendar worth checking before a shopping trip.
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
This park of more than 200 acres was given to the state in 1969 and sits about a five-minute drive from downtown. Trails cross pine and hemlock forest, a salt marsh and rocky shore on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Ospreys nest on Googins Island just offshore. The Casco Bay Trail ends at a panel naming Eagle, Cousin and the other islands in view.
★ Good to know It’s open all year, and the park charges an entry fee year-round. Text WOLF to 888-514-7527 for park alerts.
Desert of Maine
This is about 20 acres of open sand dunes in the middle of the woods, a Maine tourist stop for a century. The glacial sand was hidden under the soil until the 19th century. There’s a farmhouse museum, a geology lab, gemstone mining for kids and a mini golf course. Look closely and the sand shows flecks of purple, red and blue from crushed rock.
★ Good to know It hosts a haunted night walk in late October, and it closes some days in the shoulder season, so check the calendar.
Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment
This nonprofit farm has been an organic coastal farm for more than 60 years. It covers more than 600 acres of conserved land along Casco Bay, with education programs and a visitor center.
★ Good to know It’s on the way to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, so pair the two.
Winslow Park
The town-run park has a tidal beach, picnic tables, grills and a boat launch for kayaks and trailered boats. Wooded trails look out on the harbor and Casco Bay. The campground has 100 sites, and a summer concert series plays on Thursday nights.
★ Good to know There’s a small day-use fee in summer and no fee once the campground closes; the park is open every day of the year.
Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary
Maine Audubon’s 145-acre sanctuary sits on the Harraseeket River estuary about a mile from downtown. More than 3 miles of trails follow a stream and tidal marsh and pass through orchard, fields and forest.
★ Good to know It’s free and open sunrise to sunset, but dogs aren’t allowed, even on a leash.
Also in town
In South Freeport, the tower of Casco Castle, a 1903 hotel built to draw trolley riders, still stands; the hotel itself burned in 1914.
Is the L.L.Bean store in Freeport really open 24 hours?
Yes. The flagship at 95 Main Street is open 24 hours a day, every day, a tradition that dates to 1951.
What is the Desert of Maine?
It’s about 20 acres of sand dunes in the woods of Freeport. The glacial sand was hidden under the soil until the 19th century, and it has drawn tourists for a century.
Can you visit Eagle Island from Freeport?
Access to Eagle Island State Historic Site, Admiral Peary’s former summer home, has been restricted for several years, with no replacement pier. Check the state park’s status before planning a trip.
What other Maine towns pair well with Freeport?
Bath and its maritime museum are a short drive north; see things to do in Bath. Browse all our small towns in Maine.
Where to find them
- L.L.Bean Flagship Store 95 Main St., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Downtown Freeport Outlets Main St., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park 426 Wolfe Neck Rd., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Desert of Maine 95 Desert Rd., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment 184 Burnett Rd., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Winslow Park Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
- Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary 65 Upper Mast Landing Rd., Freeport, ME 04032 Website Directions
Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Freeport, see the official visitor site →
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Where to stay in Freeport
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