Pepperrell Cove Anchorage (Kittery, ME)

Location: Pepperrell Cove Anchorage (Kittery, ME) – N43°04.800′ W70° 42.523′

Duration: Monday, 7/6/26 – Thursday, 7/9/26

Reason: Planned Anchorage Stop

Pros: Anchor Hold, Charm, Location, Mud Bottom, Near Channel, Proximity to Portsmouth NH, Rocky Shoreline, Scenic View, Quiet, Swing Room, Trees, Water Depth, & Wildlife

Cons: Buggy, Fishy Smell, Residential Construction Noise, Rolly, & Tides (8′)

Comments: Anchorage is known to offer solid protection from the North, West, and Southeast winds. However, the cove is completely exposed to the South and Southwest winds. If low pressure rolls in from the West or a strong Southern wind pipes up, the cove can quickly turn into a treacherous lee shore with a heavy fetch.

Attractions within walking distance: Fort McClary State Historic Site, Lady Pepperell House & First Congregational Church, and The Old Burying Yard.

Cell coverage can be spotty/weak on the floating dock. Step up to the main parking lot or inside Provisions (Kittery Point, ME).

Dinghy tie at the town wharf, for shoreside dining: Bistro 1828 (Ski Club 3rd floor dining for views), Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, and Frisbee’s Wharf.

Dinghy tie at the town wharf, for grocery shopping (very limited supplies) at Provisions (Kittery Point, ME). Even offers alcohol, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, fresh baked goods, homemade soups, ice, ice cream window, lunch sandwiches, and newspaper. Open daily from 8AM – 6PM.

Full facilities to include laundry and showers are available at the Pepperrell Cove business complex property for a nominal fee. Coordinate access with the Dockmaster or Provisions (Kittery Point, ME) for key pad numeral entry.

Lyft and Uber drivers are available from across the river in nearby Portsmouth, NH, allow 10 – 20 minutes for them to cross the bridge and reach the Kittery Point docks.

Public restroom are located directly at the Kittery Point Town Dock immediately adjacent to the private floating dock and Provisions General Store.

Harbormaster warns the bottom has good mud/rock holding, the shallow areas near Fort McClary are actually rocky ledges. Anchoring too shallow, your anchor will slip, and one risk ending up on the rocks. Aim for depths between 10′ – 20′ at low tide.

Kittery Harbormaster manages heavy-duty transient moorings. Call 207-451-0829 or text 207-332-2656. Otherwise, working VHF Channels, 9 & 68 to check availability. Anchoring is generally limited to two weeks.

Pepperrell Cove Private Dock does not accept tender reservations. Simply pull up and tie up wherever an open spot is available. Located directly in front of the Frisbee’s Wharf at the very end of Bellamy Lane. Space is strictly designated for patrons accessing the Pepperrell Cove properties: Bistro 1828, Frisbee’s Wharf, and Provisions.

Piscataqua River features incredibly swift and reversing tidal currents. Ensure you use a heavy, properly sized anchor and ample chain scope to withstand the intense pull when the tide shifts.

Portsmouth Yacht Club (New Castle, NH) maintains transient mooring balls in Pepperrell Cove (Kittery, ME) to include launch service. Maximum: Beam 20′, Draft 10′, & 50′ LOA.

Requires careful attention to the region’s notoriously powerful tidal currents and underwater terrain.

Seacoast Maritime Charters (Kittery Point, ME) operates from the Pepperrell Cove docks offering a sunset cruise or a tour out to the Isles of Shoals.

Strict No Wake Zone applies from Red Nun Buoy #4 to the Town Pier at Frisbee Wharf (Kittery Point, ME).

Took our Rockna three attempts before it would set. Observed a catamaran struggle for over an hour before giving up and taking a mooring ball. 

Town managed public pier right next to Pepperrell Cove Private Dock allows short term tying up for up to 30 minutes.

Stay Again: No

*Downgraded rating from 3 Stars Satisfaction reflects how rolly we found anchorage to be. Barely any traffic or wind during our stay but, it was so rolly, often having us feel like we were on a overnight in 1′ – 2′ swells. For the first time in all of years of owning the vessel, we actually deployed our flopper stopper, a first in all of our years of ownership. The mooring field was no better protected.