Leave Manchester–Boston Regional Airport around 7:30 AM with the rental car; the drive to York is roughly 1 hour 15 minutes via I-95 South, but allow closer to two hours door-to-door for rental-car pickup, loading bags, and Saturday traffic. Drop luggage at your York accommodation if possible, then continue to Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick. The lighthouse sits on a small offshore island reached by footbridge, so the best views are from Sohier Park, where the rocky shoreline is especially photogenic in autumn. Parking can fill by late morning; arrive near 10:00 AM and allow about an hour. The park itself is generally free, though parking arrangements and facilities can vary seasonally.
Walk or drive the short distance to Fox’s Lobster House near Sohier Park for a straightforward Maine seafood lunch—lobster roll, fried clams, or chowder typically runs about $20–40 per person. October service can be seasonal, so check the restaurant’s current hours before setting out; if it is closed, do not assume nearby waterfront restaurants will have identical hours. After lunch, head to York’s Wild Kingdom in York Beach for roughly two hours, but treat this as the day’s main booking dependency: the park often operates seasonally, and October opening dates and hours may be limited or unavailable. Confirm directly before relying on admission, and expect roughly $20–35 per person if operating. If open, leave time for the compact wildlife exhibits and rides rather than trying to cover everything.
Finish with an easy walk along York Beach and the Short Sands promenade, browsing the arcades and small shops while enjoying the broad ocean view. In October, some businesses may close early, and the beach is usually quieter than in summer, which makes this a pleasant place to slow down. Leave around 4:00 PM for Manchester–Boston Regional Airport via I-95 North and I-101 West, budgeting 1 hour 15 minutes of driving plus at least 30 minutes for traffic and rental-car return. This timing is appropriate only if the flight is comfortably later; for a same-day departure, confirm the airline’s recommended airport arrival time and move the York Beach stop earlier or shorten it rather than risking the return drive.
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