With a stay at The McKernan Inn in South Portland, you'll be on the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Maine Mall and Casco Bay. .This beach inn is 17.8 mi (28.6 km) from Old Orchard Beach Pier and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Southern Maine Community College.
Southern Maine Community College - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Fort Preble - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Willard Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Portland Harbor Museum - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Bug Light - 14 min walk - 1.3 km
Getting around
Portland Transportation Center - 19 min drive
Portland Intl. Jetport Airport (PWM) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Luke’s Lobster - 7 min drive
Twelve - 8 min drive
North43Bistro - 9 min walk
DiMillo's On the Water - 7 min drive
Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company - 7 min drive
About this property
The McKernan Inn
Beachfront inn for sun and fun
The McKernan Inn offers 8 accommodations with irons/ironing boards and complimentary toiletries. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Plasma televisions come with cable channels.
Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided daily.
Stay in one of 8 guestrooms featuring plasma televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include portable fans and irons/ironing boards, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
Featured amenities include luggage storage and an elevator. Planning an event in South Portland? This inn has 700 square feet (65 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free uncovered self parking on site
Limited on-site self parking
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Private picnics
Conveniences
Guidebooks
Limited-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Guest services
Concierge services
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Business services
700 square feet of conference space
Coworking space
Meeting rooms
Outdoors
Dock
Garden
On the beach
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Handrails in stairways (91 centimetre high)
Lever door handles
Lift (89 centimetre wide door)
Thin carpet in room
Well-lit path to entrance
More
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Private bathroom
Shampoo
Shower/bathtub combination
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
Plasma TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Restaurant dining guides
More
Individual decor
Individual furnishings
Iron/ironing board
Portable fan
Window screens
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Renovations and closures
The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from November 26 to November 30:
Beach
Meeting facilities
Parking area
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit: USD 25.00 per accommodation, per stay
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Property is also known as
The McKernan Inn Inn
The McKernan Inn South Portland
The McKernan Inn Inn South Portland
The McKernan Inn Reviews
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 60 out of 88 reviews
10 - Excellent
60
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 88 reviews
8 - Good
18
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 88 reviews
6 - Okay
5
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 88 reviews
4 - Poor
4
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 88 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
9.2/10
Cleanliness
9.6/10
Staff & service
8.0/10
Amenities
8.8/10
Property conditions & facilities
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
KEITH
4 Nov 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Such a unique little place. The kids staffing it were all very nice and very helpful. The room was very clean and comfortable. The location and views were everything we had hoped for for this, our anniversary trip.
The breakfast was fresh and different every morning. The sun room where it was served was quiet and had a lovely view of the bay. The room was quiet and spacious. The staff was friendly and helpful.
Location is great. We really enjoyed walking on the beach. Our room wasn’t bad but not great either. Def needs to be refreshed. The blinds in several windows were removed and the curtains didn’t block the light so we were up early. Furniture is in rough shape. Prolly wouldn’t stay here again but it was fine for one night
Strange hotel in odd neighborhood.
Stained sheets & comforter, no bedding for sofabed, all in very dated worn room with antiquated heating system, sink that didn’t drain, rusted faucets and no phone.
No staff on site after 9pm meant for weird exp with hotel to ourselves - spooky and somewhat scary deserted car park in dubious neighborhood.
It was very quiet with great views and beach right out front and we slept well, just very strange experience.
Breakfast was a nice mix of breads, yogurt, fruit, coffee and juice
Anne
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
8/10 Good
Vicki
22 Oct 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Cool old inn but in need of some TLC. Location on the waterfront was the highlight of our brief time there.
Vicki
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
10/10 Excellent
Lisa
Travelled with partner
21 Oct 2025
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Picturesque and quiet location!
Laundry facilities!
Staff was more than accommodating and a lovely ocean view with a delicious breakfast made for a memorable stay!
Lisa
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
8/10 Good
PATRICIA
Travelled with family
19 Oct 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Room comfortable but old. The view from room 208 was incredible. Bathroom seriously needs an update. Coffee was delish and nice snacks.
Our experience at McKernan Inn was so very pleasant. The room was spacious and clean. The free coffee and tea bar was a wonderful treat. The continental breakfast surpassed my expectations. The staff was efficient and accommodating. I highly recommend!
Lovely inn. Room was nice, bed was very comfortable. Staff was amazing
Bathroom was a bit dirty with pink grime in shower and dust/hair at the base of the toilet.
Gorgeous views of sunrise esp of you keep the blinds open.
Bfast was great in the morning although I'm surprised Sunday breakfast was just a bagel bar. Homemade croissant and coffee cake the day prior was delicious.
Lisa
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
6/10 Okay
Larry
Travelled with family
7 Oct 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
We could see the ocean from our room. The curtains would not close and the furniture was worn and dated. Carpet was old and had an iron spot where someone dropped the iron on the floor. They did not refill the coffee or water station over the weekend. We asked twice, but no response. We left a day early.
Great, quiet place to stay in Portland. The staff were super friendly. The breakfast was nice. The view of the lighthouse was great. Access to walking the beach was easy.
The rooms were cozy and comfortable. There were other places to hang out of you wanted. Coffee, tea and water throughout the day.
Breakfast was good, I would suggest to let people know what breakfast is when asking if they want some. Staff was courteous.
And the view was just beautiful, even on the rainy days.
Beautiful ocean view from our room. However they could add another chair so 2 adults can sit .
Bonnie
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
8/10 Good
Shannon
23 Sept 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
It was very quaint and with quaint sometimes comes less amenities. It was small, the shower was difficult, the Continental breakfast offered sub par. The views and proximity to the beach were amazing.
Excellent place to stay. Old historic property, spacious and clean rooms, fabulous staff, and steps away from the beach and lighthouse. And on another note, AC in the rooms and really good water pressure in the showers :) We really had a great trip here.