Waterville (Maine)

By car

From Portland: Take US Interstate I-295 North through Brunswick; this becomes I-95 North in Gardiner; follow signs for Augusta, then Waterville; Exit 127 for the Kennedy Memorial Drive which leads downtown; trip is seventy-five miles and takes seventy-five minutes.
From Bangor: Take I-95 South; Exit 130 for Main Street; continue south on Main Street past the strip malls to downtown; trip is 56 miles and takes about an hour.
From Quebec City: Take Autoroute 73 South to end; Continue on Route 273 (Route du President Kennnedy) following signs for St. Georges/Frontier; Jackman border crossing is open 24 hours/day 7 days/week; continue south on US201 to downtown Waterville; trip is 200 miles and takes about four hours.

By bus

• Vermont Transit Lines

  phone: +1 207 872-5000
  address: 80 Airport Rd
  Waterville is on the Boston-Bangor line. Tickets can be purchased upon boarding or online from Greyhound The bus stops twice daily each way at by the local airport three miles southwest of downtown.

By bus

• KV Transit

  phone: +1 207 873-2122
  A community transportation service available to the general public, operates two bus routes through the city Monday to Friday. A south line begins downtown and follows the Kennedy Memorial Drive and a north line runs between downtown and Fairfield.

Taxis

• Joe's Taxi

  phone: +1 207 660-3560
  The Best By Far! $3 flat rate in town.

• Elite Taxi

  phone: +1 207 872-2221

• Pine Tree Taxi

  phone: +1 207 465-2304

Rental cars

• Budget

  phone: +1 207 873-1188

• Enterprise

  phone: +1 207 877-6601

• Colby College Campus

  phone: +1 207 859-4828
  Student-led campus tours available from the Office of Admissions. A small liberal arts college founded in 1813. Stroll around the tree-studded hilltop campus with its fine Neo-Georgian architecture. The view from the steps of Miller Library (or from the library's tower during the few times the tower is open) stretches across the Kennebec River valley, particularly beautiful during fall foliage.

• Colby College Museum of ArtMaine's largest art museum, containing important works by John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Richard Serra.

• Perkins Arboretum and Bird SanctuaryA 128 acre forest with almost two miles of hiking trails.

• Downtown and Kennebec RiverThe city center's architecture reflects the city's textile mill past. Several large mills remain standing but closed. The 1903 Ticonic footbridge (also called the Two Cent Bridge) crosses the Kennebec between Waterville and neighboring Winslow, once allowing factory workers access to mills on either side of the river, now an interesting site to visit.

• Redington Museum

  phone: +1 207 872-9439
  address: 62 Silver St
  Maintained by the Waterville Historical Society, this house contains 18th and 19th century artifacts from its original inhabitants and other local families.

• Maine International Film Festival

  phone: +1 207 861-8138
  In mid-July, this festival showcases independent American and international film and highlights New England and Maine filmmakers.

• Colby College

  address: Mayflower Hill Drive
  The college hosts musical and theatrical performances, sports, lectures, and many other cultural events. Check the news and events page for listings.

• Railroad Square Cinema

  phone: +1 207 873-6526
  address: 17 Railroad Square
  Shows nightly and weekend matinees. One of Maine's leading independent and international movie houses and venue for the Maine International Film Festival. Art by local artists available for sale.

• Waterville Opera House

  phone: +1 207 873-7000
  address: 93 Main St
  A grand theater space offering a variety of performances throughout the year. Also a venue for the Maine International Film Festival.

• Colby Bookstore

  phone: +1 207 859-5400
  address: 5400 Mayflower Hill Dr
  Not only the source for college textbooks and all manner of Colby gear, this independent bookstore features Colby authors, books on local topics, and contemporary fiction and nonfiction.

• Maine Made Shop

  phone: +1 207 872-7378
  address: 93 Main St
  Souvenirs and Maine-made products of all kinds, from Maine maple syrup to Maine-knit socks.

Aside from these recommendations, fast-food and other chain restaurants as well as supermarkets can be found along Main Street and the Kennedy Memorial Drive between I-95 and downtown.

• Gifford's Ice Cream

  phone: +1 207 872-6631
  address: 170 Silver St
  Waterville location of a Maine ice cream chain headquartered in nearby Skowhegan. Unique local flavors include Moose Tracks, Whoopie Pie, and Grape-nuts.

• Waterville Farmers' Market

  address: Appleton Street
  Farmers' featuring a variety of locally grown, raised, or crafted products.

• Jorgensen's Cafe

  phone: +1 207 872-8711
  address: 103 Main St
  Coffee shop offering sandwiches, wine and gourmet treats.

• Mainely Brews

  phone: +1 207 873-2457
  address: 1 Post Office Square
  Bar popular with both locals and college students.

• Bootleggers

  phone: +1 207 872-4949
  address: 26 Elm St

• Big G'sA hidden gem in Winslow. They specialize in Breakfast and sandwiches and the portions are huge. Don't forget to try a whoopie pie!

Most accommodations (chain hotels and motels) are found along the Kennedy Memorial Drive and Main Street between I-95 and downtown. In addition to the following recommendations, other country inns and bed and breakfasts are located nearby in Belgrade Lakes.

• Waterville Inn

  phone: +1 207 873-3335
  address: 356 Main St

• Budget Host Airport Inn

  phone: +1 207 873-3366
  address: 400 Kennedy Memorial Dr

• Comfort Inn and Suites

  phone: +1 207-873-2777
  address: 332 Main St
  Offers breakfast and rooms with full kitchen suites.

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 207 872-5577
  address: 455 Kennedy Memorial Dr

• Hampton Inn

  phone: +1 207 873-0400
  address: 425 Kennedy Memorial Dr

• Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel

  phone: +1 207 873-0111
  address: 375 Upper Main St

• Pleasant Street Inn

  phone: +1 207 680-2515
  address: 84 Pleasant St
  A three-room B&B close to downtown.

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waterville - North

  phone: +1 207-873-2777
  address: 332 Main St

Without a car, options are limited to the bus line north to Bangor or south to Augusta and Portland. With a car, there are more possibilities:

• Waterville is a stepping-off point for the Belgrade Lakes and China Lake, two major lake areas with swimming, fishing, boating, and comfortable accommodations.
• Explore north along the Kennebec River (passing Skowhegan, The Forks, and Jackman, crossing the Appalachian mountains into the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec en route to Quebec City.
• Head east to Belfast or Camden on the Mid Coast.