Gardiner Hotels: Where to Stay in Maine

Gardiner is a small Kennebec River city with a historic downtown, and we found no traditional hotel inside the city limits. Hotels in Gardiner Maine are really hotels in nearby Augusta, which sits about 6 to 8 miles north according to lodging directories. Gardiner itself offers vacation rentals, and the towns of Hallowell and Winthrop add inns and motels. This guide lists every property we could confirm, flags the gaps, and shows you how to choose a base. Rates change daily, so we do not quote them.

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Where to Stay in Gardiner, Maine

Hotels in Gardiner Maine: What We Found

Two listing sites for the 04345 zip code show the same pattern. The closest hotels sit in Augusta, not Gardiner. One directory states plainly no lodging stands in Gardiner itself. The other places the nearest hotel about 6 miles away.

Gardiner does have places to sleep. KAYAK lists nine stays inside Gardiner, and most are vacation rentals such as waterfront homes, lake houses, and a triplex near downtown. A Tripadvisor list for the zip code also names a unit on Lincoln Avenue in Gardiner. We could not confirm details for any single rental, so read each listing closely.

The state tourism site for the Gardiner area names a bed and breakfast called Second Street Bed and Breakfast. The Maine magazine guide to Augusta, Hallowell, and Gardiner also recommends the property. We could not find a working website or a street address, so we treat the property as unconfirmed. Ask the Gardiner city office at 207-582-4200 or search the name before you plan around the property.

Hotels Near Gardiner in Augusta

Augusta is the practical choice for a standard hotel room. Most of the chain hotels cluster on Western Avenue, with a second group near the Civic Center. Check the street address on your booking before you pay, because several names sound alike.

Senator Inn and Spa

The Senator Inn and Spa stands at 284 Western Avenue in Augusta. Call 207-622-8800. The official site lists 125 rooms and suites across four wings, an indoor salt-water heated lap pool, an outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, saunas, a steam room, and a gym. A full-service spa and the Cloud 9 Restaurant operate on site. The restaurant number is 207-622-0320.

The official site did not list check-in and check-out times on its home page, so ask when you book. Pick this property if you want a pool and spa day built into your trip. The Maine magazine guide also recommends the inn.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Augusta

Homewood Suites sits at 377 Western Avenue. A lodging directory lists 121 suites, an indoor pool, and a pet-friendly policy with a fee. The Maine magazine guide also names this hotel as a place to stay. Ask the front desk about the current pet fee and room types.

Suites suit families and long stays because they add living space. Confirm kitchen features and breakfast with the hotel before you book.

Hampton Inn and Super 8 on Western Avenue

Hampton Inn Augusta stands at 388 Western Avenue. One directory lists 80 rooms, an indoor pool, and a free hot breakfast. We confirmed the address in three separate listings and the amenities in one, so verify the amenity list before you book.

Super 8 by Wyndham Augusta stands at 395 Western Avenue. A directory lists a free continental breakfast. Treat the hotel as a budget option and confirm the breakfast hours by phone.

Maine Evergreen Hotel at 65 Whitten Road

Three listings place a hotel at 65 Whitten Road in Augusta. One calls the property Maine Evergreen Hotel, an Ascend Collection hotel. Another calls the same address Quality Inn and Suites Evergreen Hotel. A brand change could explain the difference, but we could not confirm one.

A directory lists 74 rooms, a pool, and a free hot breakfast. Treat those figures as unverified. Read the current name on your booking page and call the hotel to confirm the details.

Days Inn, Best Western Plus, Comfort Inn, and Fairfield Inn

Days Inn by Wyndham Augusta stands at 18 Edison Drive. A directory lists 64 rooms, no pool, and a free hot breakfast.

Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn stands at 110 Community Drive. A directory lists a restaurant and an outdoor pool. Comfort Inn Augusta stands at 281 Civic Center Drive, with an indoor pool and a restaurant listed. Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Augusta stands at 14 Anthony Avenue. A directory lists 81 rooms, an indoor pool, and a free hot breakfast.

The same directory places the Civic Center properties about 8 miles from Gardiner. Each of these amenity lists comes from one source, so confirm them with the hotel.

Motels and Inns Around Gardiner

Small motels and inns lie in Winthrop and Hallowell. A Tripadvisor list for the Gardiner zip code names each property below. We found only one source for the Winthrop motels, so we flag them as unconfirmed.

Motels in Winthrop

Cobbossee Motel stands at 7 Carlton Pond Road in Winthrop. The old version of this post listed Cobbossee Motel as a Gardiner property, but the listing places the motel in Winthrop. We also could not confirm the pool, grills, and room features the old text described, so we dropped them.

Winthrop Motel stands at 1385 US Route 202 in Winthrop. Lakeside Motel and Cabins stands at 77 Turtle Run Road in East Winthrop. We found no amenity details for either property. Call before you plan around them, and ask about room types, parking, pets, and payment.

Inns in Hallowell

Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center stands at 11 Inn Road in Hallowell. The state tourism site lists the inn in its Gardiner area guide. The Maine magazine writers stayed there and describe a Victorian era farm turned inn with suites overlooking 70 acres of woodland.

The Tripadvisor list also names the Hallowell Rooming House at 132 Second Street in Hallowell. We found no further details, so confirm the property by phone.

Camping Near Gardiner

Campers can look at Foggy Bottom Campground in Farmingdale, which the state tourism site names. A Tripadvisor list also names the Augusta Gardiner KOA at 30 Mallard Drive in Richmond. We did not confirm hookups, season dates, or fees, so ask when you call.

Things to Do Near Gardiner Hotels

Gardiner rewards a walk. The downtown sits on Water Street and holds a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. The state tourism site calls the downtown a grand brick district with shops and restaurants.

Johnson Hall and Downtown Gardiner

Johnson Hall Opera House stands at 280 Water Street. Call 207-582-7144. The venue began in 1864 as a livery stable and calls itself the oldest opera house in Maine. Check its calendar for concerts, plays, and films during your stay.

Christ Church dates to 1820 and the state tourism site names the church the first Gothic style church in Maine. The Gardiner Public Library draws praise for its stained glass windows. A historic walking trail uses blue sturgeon symbols to mark the route.

Kennebec River Rail Trail and Waterfront Park

The Kennebec River Rail Trail runs 6.5 miles between Gardiner and Augusta for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Gardiner Waterfront Park hosts free Friday concerts in summer, according to the state tourism site. The Swine and Stein Oktoberfest takes place in October.

The Maine magazine guide also points visitors to A1 Diner, a Worcester diner car. The guide says the diner appeared on Food Network in 2007. Check hours before you go.

Getting to Gardiner and Getting Around

Gardiner sits in Kennebec County on the west bank of the Kennebec River, south of Augusta. Wikipedia reports a 2020 population of 5,961, and many residents commute to Augusta, Bath Iron Works, or Portland. Most visitors arrive by car. We did not source driving times, so check a map for current conditions.

Downtown Gardiner works on foot once you park. If you stay in Augusta, plan to drive or ride the rail trail to reach Gardiner. The city office at 6 Church Street can answer visitor questions at 207-582-4200.

How to Choose Where to Stay in Gardiner

Spa lovers should start with the Senator Inn and Spa. The pools, saunas, and restaurant stay on one property.

Families and long stays should compare Homewood Suites and Fairfield Inn. Suites and listed pools give children and parents more room.

Budget travelers should compare Super 8 and Days Inn by phone. We do not quote rates, so ask for the total with taxes and fees.

Travelers who want a quiet lake base should look at the Winthrop motels or a Gardiner vacation rental. Confirm the property exists and read recent reviews.

Travelers who want character should call Maple Hill Farm Inn in Hallowell.

Before you pay, confirm the property name, the cancellation policy, parking, breakfast hours, and late arrival rules. Compare the total on two booking sites and by phone.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We checked the Senator Inn and Spa details against its official site. We checked Johnson Hall details against its official site. We took Gardiner attractions from the state tourism site and the Maine magazine guide. We took city facts from Wikipedia. We took hotel addresses and distances from several lodging directories and a Tripadvisor list.

We could not confirm current rates, check-in times for most hotels, the Second Street Bed and Breakfast address, or the brand of the hotel at 65 Whitten Road. We dropped the Ramada in Lewiston from the old post because Lewiston is a different city and not a Gardiner area stay. Phone numbers and policies change, so confirm each detail before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Hotels in Gardiner Maine mostly mean Augusta hotels a short drive north. The Senator Inn and Spa, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, and Super 8 give you the clearest choices. Winthrop motels, Hallowell inns, and Gardiner vacation rentals add options once you confirm the details. Call ahead, check the current property name, and book early for fall weekends.

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