For decades, bargain hunters have crossed the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth to Kittery, Maine, where Route 1 is lined with outlet malls that make the town one of the most famous shopping stops in New England. Kittery Premium Outlets is the best known of the group, with dozens of brand outlets for clothing, shoes, home goods and accessories, and the surrounding strip includes other outlet centers, a large outdoor and hunting retailer known as the Kittery Trading Post, and cafes and restaurants. For visitors based in Portsmouth, the outlets are an easy side trip, just over the bridge and ten or fifteen minutes by car, and they work well as a rainy-day plan or a half-day shopping break. The two sides of the river offer a neat contrast: Portsmouth has independent boutiques, no sales tax and walkable streets, while Kittery offers national brands at outlet prices and the car-oriented convenience of a retail corridor. Kittery is also a small Maine town with its own seafood restaurants, a lighthouse view and the Fort McClary historic site nearby, so a trip can mix shopping with a lobster roll and a coastal drive. Outlet stores, hours and promotions change often, so check the center's website before you go.
Planning the shopping
Outlet centers can be crowded, particularly on summer weekends, holiday weekends and during the autumn leaf season, when traffic backs up on Route 1 and parking lots fill by late morning. For a calmer visit, go on a weekday or early in the day, and bring a list of stores you care most about.
Store directories and maps are available online, and some centers offer coupon books or digital offers. The Maine sales tax applies to purchases, unlike New Hampshire, so compare if you are buying big-ticket items in both states. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a tote bag.
Beyond the stores
The Kittery area is not only shopping. There are local lobster pounds and seafood shacks nearby where you can sit at picnic tables with a lobster roll or fried clams, craft breweries and casual restaurants, and the Fort McClary State Historic Site, a hexagonal blockhouse overlooking the Piscataqua entrance. The Kittery waterfront has its own character, with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on its island across the water, and the coast road toward Kittery Point and York offers scenic views.
A good plan is to shop for a couple of hours, have a lobster lunch, and then drive the coast for a view of the Nubble lighthouse in York if time allows.
Logistics
From Portsmouth, drive across the Memorial Bridge or the highway bridge into Maine, and follow signs to Route 1. Public transit is limited, so a car or rideshare is the practical choice, and parking is free at the outlets. Check store hours, which often extend in the evening during peak season.
If you are traveling with kids, the outlets may be less exciting, so combine a trip with a stop at the beach or a playground. In short, treat Kittery as a flexible add-on that fills a spare half-day or a wet afternoon, and confirm current centers, store lists and hours before you drive over.
What to expect
The experience
A short drive across the river to Kittery, Maine, for outlet stores, an outdoor retailer and nearby lobster shacks and historic sites.
Best time
Weekday mornings for fewer crowds; avoid summer and fall weekends at peak.
How long
Two to four hours.
Tips
Drive or rideshare across the bridge, check store hours, compare tax rules, and plan a lobster lunch nearby.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Shoppers and anyone with a rainy afternoon to fill.
- Families
- Mixed for kids; add a lunch stop or park to keep them happy.
- Couples
- Pairs shopping with a coastal drive and a lobster roll.
- Pair with
- Fort McClary, the Nubble lighthouse in York and Portsmouth dining.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
How far are the outlets from Portsmouth?+
Roughly ten to fifteen minutes by car across the river into Maine.
Do I need a car?+
Yes, a car or rideshare is the practical way, as the stores are along a highway corridor.
When is it least crowded?+
Weekday mornings outside holiday periods. Summer and autumn weekends are busy.
Is there sales tax?+
Maine charges sales tax; New Hampshire has none. Compare for large purchases.
What else is there to do nearby?+
Fort McClary, lobster shacks and coast drives toward York and Kittery Point.
