Help me with planning this college trip

Our trip begins in CT driving to New Hampshire to visit Keene on to Maine for a visit to University of Southern Maine located in Portland. I am embarassed to say I have only traveled to Maine once.

We would like to find a place to stay near the beach for a couple of nights at the same time we would also like to explore Portland. We have travelled through Europe many times always planning our trip carefully . but for some reason I am lost planning a trip to Maine . where shoud we stay and should we stay longer. than 2 nights ????????

Thanks for your advise.

Help me with planning this college trip

I%26#39;m not too familiar with the quality of the hotels, but Google hotels/motels in Old Orchard Beach, or looking in that forum on TrpAdvisor for more info. That will be the closest town with sandy beaches. USM is right off the highway, so running back and forth from school to OOB is no problem. Two nights will probably suffice.

Help me with planning this college trip

USM also has a campus in Gorham. Depending on your proposed field of study, you might have the majority of your classes on that campus, so make sure you also go there.

Old Orchard Beach has a long sandy beach and the whole amusement park atmosphere, but the hotels/motels vary greatly in quality. Nicer hotels (and also nice beaches) are in the Ogunquit and Wells Beach area, but that is not as close to USM.

Portland is a fun city to explore, so you may want to make the beach a day trip and stay in Portland. Depends on which you think you will enjoy more!

Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, just south of Portland is a very nice place to stay.