The Secret to Finding Parking in One of Maine’s Busiest Tourist Towns

There is a reason why Maine is nicknamed ‘Vacationland’.

For centuries, people have been spending their leisure time in our quiet corner of New England.  Back in the 1800s, the wealthy citizens of Boston and New York would often spend their entire summers at our resorts.  Some of them even constructed elaborate vacation homes in Maine.

These days, the tourist trade is still going strong, but it is a lot different.  People of all financial backgrounds make the trip to Maine.  They come here for the outdoor activities, amazing restaurants, beaches, arts scene, and shopping.

From specialty food shops to internationally-known boutiques, Maine is quickly becoming a shopper’s paradise.

Most people would agree that the hub for all shopping in Maine is Freeport.  Not only does the town have some cool locally-owned shops, but it also has dozens of national retail chains like Coach, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Sketchers.

Of course, Freeport is also home to the massive L L. Bean flagship store.  Actually, it is more like a compound than a store.  The L.L. Bean campus includes the main store, several specialty shops, a performance space, a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream stand, and more.

Freeport really is a great place to spend the day with the family.  The one downside?  Finding parking.  During the busy summer and holiday seasons, the town is slammed with visitors.

The good news is that we have found a place with abundant free parking.

Finding parking in Freeport, Maine

If you are familiar with Freeport, you probably realize that there is an outlet village in the shopping district.  Freeport Village Station is home to a number of well-known stores, including Old Navy, Carter’s, and Sunglass Hut.  Because the shopping area is level with Main Street, you may not have realized that the village is actually the roof of a multi-level structure.  Below the ‘streets’ of the village is a parking garage.  Even better, it’s free!

The best way to get to the garage is via Depot Street. It's just a quick walk away from most of the popular downtown shops.

You can learn more about the facility from the Visit Freeport website.