Travel by Plane
Boston’s Logan Airport is often least expensive and most direct. Heading to Maine, the Concord Coach is easy to catch from Logan. Be sure to coordinate air travel with daily bus service to and from Colby because Colby stops are limited from Logan or Portland’s Transportation Center (more plentiful at standard school break times).
Colby is about an hour and 15 minutes from the Portland Jetport. Students need to take a city bus shuttle or taxi from the airport to Portland Transportation Center (the drive takes about five minutes) and then catch the northbound bus to Colby. Families are encouraged to compare travel times/cost of using Boston’s Logan airport for direct flights with what’s available to Portland’s Jetport. Often, by the time a student stops/changes planes to get to Portland’s Jetport, it can be faster and less expensive to fly into Boston and then take the bus from Logan.
Airports in Bangor (1 hour from campus) and Augusta (20 minutes from campus) offer limited flights compared to Portland or Boston.
Travel by Bus
Concord Coach offers daily bus service to and from Colby. For information regarding the current northbound and southbound schedule, click here. For information regarding special peak/holiday service and student discounts for round-trip service to Logan Airport, visit the Concord Coach Lines website. Note that all southbound and northbound buses stop at Portland Transportation Center. The Colby stop is always in front of the Harold Alfond Athletic Center.
Students and parents are strongly encouraged to contact Student Financial Services (207-859-4125 or kjpinney@colby.edu) before booking a bus or shuttle service other than Concord Coach Lines.
Travel by Car
The Colby Visitor Center has directions and information on distances.
Local Transportation
Colby’s Student Government Association (SGA) web pages provide information on local services and transportation options.The Colby Jitney service provides safe and convenient transportation for students.
Zipcar is available on campus for students and can provide easy access to a vehicle on an as-needed basis.
Accommodations
Accommodation options recommended by Colby parents include
The Colby visitor center offers a comprehensive list of area accommodation options.
Restaurants
The greater Waterville area has a variety of restaurants including Mainely Brews, Pad Thai Too, Grand Central Café, The Last Unicorn, Mirakuya, Riverside Farm, 18 Below, Silver Street Tavern, and Joseph’s Fireside Steakhouse. The Colby visitor center offers a comprehensive list of restaurants in the Colby area. Hallowell is a small town right outside of Augusta that has a few popular restaurants. It is about a 20 minute drive from campus, near exit 109A on I-95. Families can find good atmosphere and food at the Liberal Cup, Slates, and Joyce’s.
For meals other than dinner, families might opt for Jorgensen’s Cafe or Selah Tea in Waterville, Big G’s Deli in Winslow, or Kennebec Cafe or Purple Cow in Fairfield.
Portland is a restaurant mecca that many parents enjoy visiting as they travel to and from campus. Feel free to contact the Office of Parent Programs for suggestions.