Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
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Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 68 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour worth booking?
Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour is a 1-hour experience in Portland, United States, from $17 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 68 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (68)
- Duration
- 1 hours
- From
- $17 per person
Experience historic architecture, harbor views, and rich seaside culture with this driving tour of Portland, Maine! Cross the cobbled streets of Old Port, chock full of shops, restaurants, and bars, all complemented by t
What you get
About this experience
Experience historic architecture, harbor views, and rich seaside culture with this driving tour of Portland, Maine! Cross the cobbled streets of Old Port, chock full of shops, restaurants, and bars, all complemented by the sparkling bay. Dive into the city’s long and embattled history at a church still sporting British cannonballs. See iconic Maine lighthouses and visit pristine beaches. Portland may be a small city, but it packs a big punch! Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What's included
Included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
Not included
- Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
What you'll see and do
The Maine Medical Center is home of the Barbara Bush Children’s Wing. Mrs. Bush, the wife of our 41st president and the mother of the 43rd president, she lived much of her life in Kennebunkport, Maine, 30 miles south of Portland. She passed away in 2018. Mrs. Bush did so much great work raising money for treatment of kids with terrible illnesses, and her legacy is remembered in the Children’s wing of the Maine Medical Center. Note: The tour is over 12 miles long, with more than 33 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
5 minutes here
Victoria Mansion
This is the Victoria Mansion. Built by Ruggles Morse in 1858. “the best standing example of Victorian art, architecture and decoration.” He named it “Victoria Mansion” after Britain’s Queen Victoria, It was built as his summer home.
Pass by without stopping
On the left-hand side, see the colorful brick rowhouses. These were built originally for the servant class, these rowhouses are now very nice… expensive condominiums. After all those fires, brick was used from that point on throughout the city, not a lot of wood.
Pass by without stopping
Commercial Street
Portland’s Harbor (the body of water that you just sailed in on) is a “deep water” port, it generally does not freeze over during the winters. the Gulf of Maine has very strong tides, and those tides mix the water column and bring deeper, warmer water to the surface all along the coast.
Pass by without stopping
One Longfellow Square
On the right side of the coach we’ll pass the home of Neal Dow. A former Portland mayor, Neal Dow is known as the father of the American Prohibition. In 1851, then Mayor Dow pushed through a statewide prohibition-- banning the sale and consumption of intoxicating beverages--that became the model for the National Prohibition.
Pass by without stopping
Arts District
This is the “Portland’s Arts District”. The area has many independent art galleries, working studios, Coffee houses and restaurants. Up ahead, on the right, is the Portland Art Museum.
Pass by without stopping
Just past the non-descript building on the right—the gray/brown Maine Historical Society headquarters—is the Wadsworth Longfellow House. It’s the brick building set a little back from the road, on the left. This is the house where the poet grew up. Built after the Revolutionary War by Peleg Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War General and the grandfather of Henry Longfellow, it’s the oldest brick house in Portland.
5 minutes here
On our left side is the 1st Parish Unitarian Universalist Church. This is the oldest church in Portland. The building is the second building that has housed this congregation.
5 minutes here
Portland City Hall
On the left is Portland’s City Hall, a beautiful building for a small city. This is the third City Hall building on this site. The first two building were destroyed by fire
Pass by without stopping
The tall brick and concrete building to your left is the Franklin Tower, built in the 1970s. It’s the tallest building in the state of Maine at 16 stories.
5 minutes here
Eastern Cemetery
Here’s Portland’s Eastern Cemetery, it’s the oldest cemetery in the City of Portland Some Head Stones date back to 1768. The oldest markers were wooden, and they were lost to the fires.
Pass by without stopping
Portland Observatory
Let’s go back to the 1800’s, during that time, ships entering Portland Harbor could not be seen from the docks until they rounded the point of land at Spring Point Ledge and were almost in the harbor.
Pass by without stopping
Notice that there are several examples of the “flattop triple-decker” this tenement housing style, which is very typical here in New England, were built in the 1880s to the 1920s.
5 minutes here
Off to the right is Portland Harbor. Part of Casco Bay, an inlet on the Southern Coast of the Gulf of Maine, the City of Portland sits along its southern edge and the Port of Portland lies within.
5 minutes here
Casco Bay
If you look over your right shoulder, see the land mass with the oil tanks. That's the City of South Portland.
Pass by without stopping
Eastern Promenade Trail
The Eastern Promenade is a great space where Portlanders get out and enjoy the nice weather and the sea breezes, at the foot of the Eastern Prom is a little beach called the East End Beach.
Pass by without stopping
After the British destroyed city in 1775, Portland’s city leaders decided that they need to build a fort. The green space on the right is the result of that decision.
5 minutes here
You'll remember earlier we spoke about the streets in Old Portland, how they were named due to their proximity to the water. They are Fore St, Middle St and Back St.
Pass by without stopping
Casco Bay Bridge
Continuing our drive here in Portland, we will make our way to the Casco Bay Bridge. The Bridge spans Casco Bay and connects the City of Portland with the City of South Portland.
Pass by without stopping
While we make our way through the City of South Portland we approach Meetinghouse Hill. Meetinghouse Hill is a kind of quintessential New England scene with the cemetery on the left and the Civil War statue on the right and a beautiful church behind the Civil War statue.
5 minutes here
Fort Williams Park
We’re now entering Fort Williams Park. You’ll notice several military installations here in the park
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Portland
The tour begins in the parking lot of the Visit Portland Information Center at 14 Ocean Gateway Pier. This is a suggested starting point, and we’re not affiliated with the information center or any businesses here, so their staff will not have any information about this tour.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour begins in the parking lot of the Visit Portland Information Center at 14 Ocean Gateway Pier. This is a suggested starting point, and we’re not affiliated with the information center or any businesses here, so their staff will not have any information about this tour.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Guide With Action
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 68 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
68 verified traveler reviews for Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
City driving in traffic makes it difficult to follow the voice messages
Directions were hard to follow. Traffic didn’t allow us to stop for the whole voice messages
Response from the operator: Allen, I’m sorry the directions were hard to follow in Portland traffic. City traffic can definitely affect the experience and is outside the tour’s control, especially when there isn’t time to slow down or hear the full audio. The good news is that my tours are valid forever, so you can try again on a less crowded day or at a quieter time and enjoy the route at a more comfortable pace.
via Tripadvisor
Portland Tour
Our experience was genuinely helpful and interesting. We enjoyed it very much!
Response from the operator: Hi there, thank you for taking my Ultimate Portland driving GPS audio tour. I’m so glad your experience was helpful, interesting, and enjoyable. If you’re planning to explore more of Maine, be sure to check out my other tours, including the Portland walk, the Bar Harbor walk, and the beautiful Ocean Path Trailhead tour. Happy exploring!
via Tripadvisor
Excellent
The app worked well. We downloaded it at our hotel to make sure we were on WiFi, as directed. The audio guide worked well. It would be nice if it connected with our gps so we could use the car map but the phone map worked fine.
Response from the operator: Debbie, thank you for taking my Ultimate Portland driving GPS audio tour. I’m so glad the app and audio guide worked well, and that downloading it on Wi-Fi beforehand helped everything run smoothly. If you’re planning to explore more of Maine, be sure to check out my other tours, especially the Portland walk, the Bar Harbor walk, and the beautiful Ocean Path Trailhead tour. Happy exploring!
via Tripadvisor
Good value
It would be nice that when you get turned around if it could locate you and direct you better
Response from the operator: Janet, thank you for taking my Portland driving GPS audio tour. I’m glad you found it a good value, though I’m sorry you got turned around. Do you remember where that happened? I can try to improve the directions at that location. Unfortunately, this is an audio tour app and not a GPS app, so it doesn’t recalculate the way we’d expect from Google Maps.
via Tripadvisor
Great tour!
Great overview tour. The app used for this tour has issues. It was a bit glitchy. Audio would end mid-sentence. Also would be nice if the map interfaced with apple car play so we could see the map on our screen instead of the tiny phone screen. It was a bargain way to see and learn a lot about Portland and I would recommend it.
Response from the operator: Elisa, thank you for taking my Portland driving audio tour. While audio playback already works through CarPlay, full map/navigation integration has been requested from Apple and is awaiting approval. Please let me know which audio files glitched when playing through CarPlay, and I will report the issue to Apple. Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 24
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Portland.
How much does Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $17 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Portland usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour take?
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Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Portland is not rushed.
Is Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 68 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Portland, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour?
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Around 24 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Portland can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Portland and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Portland within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Portland?
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Portland sells lighthouse and lobster-boat tours in Casco Bay, Old Port food and brewery walks, seal and puffin cruises, and fall foliage runs up the Maine coast. On Outty we rank every Portland experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local, Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour, A Walk Through Time Tour in Portland. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Portland?
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June to October, with peak foliage in early October. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Portland?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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