Skip to main content
Entire home

The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport

Photo gallery for The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport

Comfy chairs and Fire Table on the front deck.
The house looks great in the winter snow. Christmas Prelude is a guest favorite
Exterior
Great fire table for lounging around on a cool evening.
Keypad for self check-in

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor barbecue
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Kennebunk, ME
  • Place, Kennebunkport Harbor
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Dock Square
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Kennebunkport Village Green
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Portland, ME (PWM-Portland Intl. Jetport)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Lower Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upper Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport

Come home from the beach to your private sylvan oasis. Gather around the fire pit or lounge under the party lights on the deck. Conde Nast Traveler named us one of The Best Rental Beach Houses in the U.S.!
Explore the many beaches, trails and water activities the Kennebunks have to offer. Dock Square is a mile from the house and has fantastic food, shopping and entertainment options.
The Gatehouse is a family friendly getaway. The layout works great for three generation family guests. We are located at the end of a quiet road with large yard and surrounded by woods. Our road is 1 mile from Dock Square and the beaches.
Walk to town (sidewalks), play at the beach (parking passes included) and come home to a quiet oasis in the woods. Our road is newly paved, so the kids can bring bikes, skateboards etc. We are close to Mother's Beach and playground, KBIA, Gooch's Beach, Middle Beach, Webhannet Golf Club, The Bridal Trail, The Eastern Trail, whale watching, Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, over 40 restaurants within 5 miles, and many unique shops and antiques dealers.
The house offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open first floor with kitchen, living and eating area as well as an entry room with reading/game table and washer/dryer, front and back decks, large front and back yard, outdoor grill, propane fire-table, and outdoor furniture.
The layout works great for three generation family guests. The first floor master for the grandparents with adults and children occupying the upstairs bedrooms.
The downstairs bedroom has a queen bed and full bath with tub/shower.
Upstairs has a bedroom with a king bed and a loft/bedroom with a queen bed. The upstairs bath has a stand-up shower.
The kitchen is fully stocked with typical appliances plus microwave, coffee maker and filters, toaster, lobster pot and utensils.
There is parking for up to 4 vehicles and we include two beach parking passes for use at the local beaches.
There is a TV with a Roku player and soundbar with Bluetooth. We have also provided books, games, cards, puzzles for your enjoyment. Stay up to date with us on Insta: gatehousekennebunk

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Interior
Beach Front House
Goose Rocks Beach
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (72 reviews)
Beach Front House

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Smoking in the house

Important information

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses solar energy
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Kennebunk

Located in Kennebunk, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ogunquit Beach and Marginal Way. Travelling with kids? Consider Bette-Jean's and Gardens at Historic Wallingford Hall. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating and snowmobiling.
View more Holiday homes in KennebunkOpens in a new window
Map
Kennebunk, ME

What's nearby

  • Kennebunkport Harbor - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Dock Square - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Kennebunkport Village Green - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Kennebunk Beach - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Mother's Beach - 4 min drive - 2.5 km

Getting around

  • Wells Regional Transportation Center - 13 min drive
  • Sanford, ME (SFM-Sanford Seacoast Regional) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Alisson's Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Federal Jack's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Batson River - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Mornings in Paris - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Coffee Roasters of the Kennebunks - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport?

As of 18 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport on 17 May, 2026 start from S$692, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Gatehouse - Kennebunk Cape near Beach and Kennebunkport located?

This family-friendly Kennebunk holiday home is located by the sea, within 2 mi (3 km) of Maine Art Gallery Framing, Kennebunk Beach and Mother's Beach. Dock Square and Kennebunkport Village Green are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 23 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family gathering

We visited family and despite a rainy weekend, we enjoyed the location and had the perfect setting to accommodate the family! Would recommend it !
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

Wonderful house with everything a family of four needs.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay and excellent host!

Amazing property with great location and very well stocked with amenities. Really enjoyed our stay and was very relaxing. Thank you!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend away

Property was as advertised. Clean, comfortable and very little traffic as it is away from the main road. Sign in and out was as easy as opening and closing the door.. We will consider staying at this property again..Thank you Peter for the enjoyable stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Convenient to Everything!

This lovely home was a clean & peaceful retreat. A short drive to town, shops, restaurants, beach. Definitely would stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location and very clean house

We had a wonderful long weekend stay. The house is very clean, quiet, and well-stocked. The location is great - on a very quiet road but close to downtown. The check-in and check-out process was seamless, and the Owners are very nice. We look forward to our next stay!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience

Beautiful, functional house. Very clean with responsive owners. This was our 3rd year staying here. Grateful for the time spent!!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Erika B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Clean/Private House with Wonderful Outdoor Space!

The house was just like the pictures and the hosts were very responsive and helpful! We really enjoyed the outdoor spaces and gas fire pit. Checkin and checkout were both very easy. It was nice to have a beach parking pass available because although there’s a beach only 1.5 miles away, it’s not very walk-friendly (busy roads without sidewalks). I’d definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Timothy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house, Great Location

House was clean and comfortable. Kitchen was well stocked, with nice cookware and dishes. Brand new Weber grill on the deck, and propane fire pit on front porch. Best mattresses we have ever had in a rental property. Nice front and back yards. Close to everything in Kennebunkport and Wells (beaches, restaurants, stores, etc.) We hope to return here next year.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Gatehouse

We enjoyed our stay at the Gatehouse! Great location. Short ride into Kennebunkport and beaches. After a day touring Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks beach, etc. we returned to the house and enjoyed cocktails around the firepit! Peter was quick to respond to my questions. Would like to return to the Gatehouse again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lydia G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas in Kennebunkport

Great property as described. Loved the fire pit and cozy blankets at night (yes, it was freezing but we sat outside anyway!). Well equipped kitchen for preparing Christmas dinner. The outside lights and holiday pillows throughout the house were a nice touch. Jennifer and Pete are wonderful hosts!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

simonne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a great find!

The Gatehouse was the perfect spot for us! We we in town for a wedding in late September. The Gatehouse had every amenity that we could have asked for! The beds were luxurious and bedrooms / baths were spacious and immaculate! The front deck offered so much space during daytime and the outdoor lighting on the deck let us enjoy into the evenings. This home was well appointed and was certainly a pleasure to stay in! We enjoyed the privacy as well. Can’t wait to find an opportunity to stay again! Thank you again Peter for lending us your beautiful home👍
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar, 2020
Simonne was a great guest. She communicated well and took great care of the Gatehouse. We would be happy and honored to have her and her group return in the future.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Above and beyond

We had a great stay at the Gatehouse. We found the home to have enough space for all of us (6 adults and a baby), and it was well equipped with everything that we needed, including a crib! Additionally, we really appreciated the beach towels, umbrellas, chairs, and parking passes, which made our beach day perfect. The house comes with a guide book with everything you need to know about the area, as well as recommendations about activities and restaurants. Very helpful! What we all appreciated most of all was the kindness and helpfulness of the hosts. They were quick to respond questions, and really helped us out when our flight was unexpectedly cancelled. They contacted some of their friends, and found us another place to stay for the night. They even loaned us a portable crib and allowed us to use the beach chairs/passes for the day! This was truly above and beyond and will be remembered.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debra L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, quiet but near everything

Nestled out of the way on a quiet country rode, we felt secluded and silent (welcomed change for us). Safe for the kids to play outside. Pete and Jen went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. They volunteered a sprinkler for the kids to play. When asked, they brought us a wrench to fix a bike tire. So thoughtful. We were there as two families. It was a little tight as far as living space (not enough couches/lounge chairs for all of us) but we made do. The bedrooms were perfect. The kids got the two twin beds and both parental units got a bedroom. The families split the bathrooms. The kitchen was perfectly stocked and appreciated the coffee! The outside sitting was great!!! So close to downtown Kennebunkport, like 3 minutes. I brought my bike and took some nice 3+ mile rides by the beach. Kayaking was fun, and Portland is 30 minutes away. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

5 stars is not enough

What a special place!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gregg T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short title

Great stay
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ellen A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

LOVELY PLACE

We were all comfortable in this home--2 children, 2 parents, and one grandparent. The home is one mile from Kennebunk. But the most spectacular was the beach with during low tide is an expansive magnificent beach. When we were there the beach was uncrowded--ite was as if it was our own beach. The hosts were available and kind to us, and also respected our privacy.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bob M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gatehouse 8/23

Wonderful stay! Everything was clean, well-equipped, comfortable with AC units in all rooms. Beds were great. Very quiet location but only a 5 minute drive to KBport & just a little longer to the beach. Peter was very helpful - meeting us upon arrival and giving us the quick tour. We would definitely stay here again!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug, 2021
Bob, was a great guest and communicated well with us. His group left the house in great shape. Would happily welcome them back.
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Greg P.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Not as advertised. Beware.

Stay away. This was advertised as a quiet property. Upon arrival, there was heavy logging equipment scattered through the backyard. Skid steers, cranes, etc. dealt with loud noise most days. Owner is a spin doctor. Said things like “kids will love the logging equipment” Also, owners office is directly in the back yard. Owner provided no warning ahead of arrival even though he knew they would be active. . Two small air conditioners manage the whole house so it was hot in the rooms that did not have ac.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, lovely home!!

Our annual trip to Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport was extra special this year due to the lovely home we stayed in. Complete with lovely Christmas touches, an immaculate and fully stocked home greeted us. Off on a quiet road but less than an mile to downtown Kennebunkport, the location is ideal. Owners were very easy to deal with and communicated regularly. We also enjoyed meeting Rowdy and Coal on the snowy mornings!! We so enjoyed it and will most certainly be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gabriel R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet Maine getaway.

Cute spot just out of town. It is a cozy cabin and very guest friendly. We enjoyed our stay and would gladly go back.
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar, 2020
We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you again. Pete
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Geraldine P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Cottage in the woods

Excellent trip and staying at The Gatehouse. It was a perfect girls and daughters weekend retreat. Quiet yet close to everything. Clean and cozy 👍🏼👍🏼
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar, 2020
Thank you for the great review Geraldine! We enjoyed having and hope you come back again. Pete
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous 4th of July family getaway!

Rented the house with our daughter and grandkids. House was conveniently located for beaches and Dock Square. Process was smooth and house was cozy, comfortable and well stocked. Met the owner who was very welcoming and accommodating. Had a great stay and hope to go back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar, 2020
Michelle's family was an absolute dream to have stay at our home. We are so happy that you liked it. Please come again!

About the host

Hosted by Peter Rouillard

Host profile image
In 2013 Jennifer and I moved back to Kennebunk after 25 years in Chatham, New Jersey. We grew up here and after the kids went off to college, decided to come home. We live nextdoor to the Gatehouse. We are happy to engage with our visitors, but will take your lead. If you want to be left alone, no problem. We are nearby in case you need anything.

Why they chose this property

Our property is a unique combination of a quiet setting surrounded by woods yet one mile from the beaches and Dock Square. Since we are at the end of the road, there is minimal road traffic.

What makes this property unique

So many of our guests have offered the exact same statement about the Gatehouse: "I don't know why, but it just feels good being in there". That seems like a fairly unique thing to us.

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Go further with the Vrbo app

  • Easily message your host
  • Access, share and manage your trip
  • Earn OneKeyCash on holiday rentals
Scan the QR code with your device camera and download our app
QR code to download the app