The Maine Maritime Academy is a small but highly rated college located in Castine, Maine. Those attending classes or with family or friends at the school will be happy to learn that it’s just a half hour’s drive from Captain Nickels Inn.
The Maine Maritime Academy was created in 1941 to train merchant marines for the war effort. A lot has changed at the school over the last 80 years, with the student body going co-ed and a greater diversification in programs.
The school is an excellent choice for students studying science, engineering, and marine technology. It offers 11 undergraduate majors and six graduate degrees in everything from small vessel operations and international business to marine biology and power engineering.
Though the school’s undergraduate enrollment is less than 1,000 students, it offers one the highest returns on investment in the country. A recent report comparing thousands of colleges nationwide found that a Maine Maritime Academy degree had significant long-term value, similar to Stanford and MIT.
Maine Maritime Academy in Castine
The 35-acre Maine Maritime Academy campus overlooks picturesque Penobscot Bay from its hillside in Castine. Visitors will enjoy exploring both the campus and lovely downtown Castine, with its small collection of galleries, shops, and restaurants.
One of the school’s biggest attractions is its training ship, the State of Maine. The State of Maine is a 500-foot naval research ship. When not out to sea on training missions, usually during the summer months, it can be found at the town dock.
Captain Nickels Inn hosts many visitors to the school throughout the year, including students, alumni, and their friends and family. Our location in Searsport, ME puts us conveniently near both the school and its hometown of Castine, ME.
Getting to the Academy from Searsport
Maine Maritime Academy is located at 1 Pleasant Street, in Castine, ME. As I say above, Castine is only a little over a half hour from our Searsport bed and breakfast, Captain Nickels Inn. Despite this, there’s a lot of beautiful country and attractions along the way. Making a lovely day-trip out of your journey would be a snap, if you have the time. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, just let us know. We’d love to help you plan your itinerary.
To get to Maine Maritime Academy from Captain Nickels Inn, head northeast out of town on Main Street/US-1.
Continue NE on US-1 to the Castine Road/ME-166 turn off, some 5 miles after the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.
Follow ME-166 south down the Orland and Penobscot Rivers into Castine, where it becomes Battle Avenue.
Take a left on Pleasant Street and the Academy will soon be on your right.
The Maine Maritime Academy Waterfront and the TS State of Maine are just a short distance from the school.
Continue along Pleasant Street towards the water. Take a left on Water Street, then a right on Main Street to the Castine Waterfront. Here you’ll find plenty of parking, restrooms, and the TS State of Maine, if she’s not at sea.
Learn more about the academy at mainemaritime.edu. You can also visit the academy on Facebook.
Get directions to our Inn from Portland, Maine.
Updated March 2024