Town of Jonesport, Maine

A working fishing and lobstering town 50 miles south of the Canadian border, Jonesport also includes the villages of Monsapec, Mason Bay, and West Jonesport. And while this little community has few tourist attractions and amenities to offer visitors, Jonesport plays to its strengths—they work hard on the water every day, but they play hard, there, too.

Exploring Jonesport Maine

If you’re lucky enough to be in the area when one of the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association’s 11 annual events comes to town, you’re in for a real Maine treat.

Captains of what the town claims to be the fastest lobster boats in the world look forward all year to this local summertime highpoint—their chance to race across Moosabec Reach, each trying to claim the speed (such as it is—these boats are not built for racing) record…and the glory.

It’s said the best place to watch the races is from the water, so if you have access to a boat, pack a cooler, some sunscreen, and prepare for what could be described as a giant, floating tailgate party.

If listening to the roar of boat engines straining to go faster than they should is not your idea of a relaxing day on the coast of Maine, there are other options if you are looking for less raucous things to do in Jonesport.

Outdoor Activities

The Maine Sculpture Trail—a sprawling, 273-mile-long trail of 34 sculptures—meanders from Old Town to Calais; an installment is featured in Jonesport’s Lincoln Park alongside a historic settler’s cemetery.

The sculpture, entitled “Connection,” is made of Maine granite, as are all of these amazing works from around the world. Another option for a peaceful respite is Sandy River Beach, which overlooks Chandler’s Bay and Roque Island.

This hidden gem is particularly magical at low tide; if you head right from the parking lot access path, the beach becomes rocky, which allows tide pools to form—perfect for treasure hunting. But better still, there’ll be a sand bar connecting the mainland to Bar Island.

Just make sure to time your trek properly—because unless you plan on taking an extended swim, you’ll be spending much longer than you probably planned to on this tiny spit of land just offshore.

Other Activites

It seems there’s a museum for everything—even tiny, oily fish. The Maine Coast Sardine History Museum is the culmination of a labor of love for Ronnie and Mary Peabody, and its walls contain all manner of exhibits portraying the rise and fall of sardine production history.

As many of Maine’s sardine factories began closing in the late 20th century, Ronnie and Mary began collecting every related artifact they could—processing equipment, photographs, labels, documentation—and eventually were able to raise enough money to open their museum: An homage to all things sardine (which are actually baby herring—who knew?).

Other than the local Dollar General store, Jonesport has limited retail options. For fabric, sewing notions, handcrafted gift items and household goods, or paintings of local scenery (by Jolene herself), try Jolene’s Originals gift shop.

Sweet Pear Studio is another option if you are on the hunt for local artwork—Robin S. Rier’s oil painting studio is open by chance or appointment, so be sure to contact her before making the trip.

Dining Options in Jonesport

For filling your road-trip cooler (or the fridge in your lodging of choice), try Manaford’s grocery store or Stewart’s Grocery and Take-Out. While Stewart’s offers limited seating for its diner (the diner is seasonal), their take-out sandwiches, burgers, seafood, pizzas, and salads are great options for boaters and road trippers.

This multi-tasking establishment also features a gas station and well-stocked convenience store (beer and wine, too), as well as an Agency liquor store.

The Jonesport Pizza Shop and Retta’s Snack Shack and Dairy Bar are pretty much the only other games in town when it comes to dining options in this little fishing hamlet, but their menus have a little bit of something for everyone, and while Retta’s is take-out only, Jonesport Pizza offers both take-out and dine-in service.

Places to Stay in Jonesport, Maine

Lodging is also limited in Jonesport. Most visitors rely on by-owner-style accommodations, such as this VRBO rental or The Barn at Mary Jim’s Shore, the latter of which is a lovingly-renovated, waterfront barn overlooking Roque Island.

This property features 2 baths, sleeps four, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the peaceful sounds of waves rolling over the stony beach. Another option is the waterfront Cranberry Cove Cottage Studio, which can accommodate up to 4 adults, and offers 16 acres of trails and complimentary use of kayaks for aquatic exploring.

The Harbor House Hotel offers several clean, comfortable units with mini-kitchens and sweeping views of the harbor, as well.

And if you don’t mind roughing it a bit, there’s always the Jonesport Campground. This seasonal spot does not offer electrical hookups and only features portable toilet facilities. RVs up to 45 feet can be accommodated, and there are 20 tent sites as well.

Jonesport, with its true-to-life Maine personality and vibe, is the antithesis to many of the state’s tourist hotspots—but that aspect in itself is what draws folks back. Knowing that the sights and sounds of Jonesport’s daily ebb and flow await them, year after year—this is what many visitors yearn for: The comfort of returning to the unchanging familiarity of this rugged, hardscrabble little seaside retreat.

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