Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Ballard Bay — Bays 42.9 Miles ESE of Chapman Inn
Kennebec County, Maine · USGS Purgatory Quadrangle · GNIS 561549
42.9 miles east-southeast of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Purgatory topographic quadrangle, Ballard Bay is a bay recorded in Kennebec County, Maine by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “bay in Kennebec County, Maine, United States of America”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Purgatory 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Ballard Bay in Kennebec County, Maine (FIPS 23/011), classified as a bay in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 561549). Catalogued in GNIS since 09/30/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Ballard Bay sits at 44.23090° N, 69.95672° W (DMS 44°13′51″ N, 69°57′24″ W).
Other bays in Kennebec County, Maine
Kennebec County, ME contains 7 bays catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Ballard Bay itself. The ones closest to Ballard Bay:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Undine Bay | Purgatory | 0.7 mi |
| True Cove | Purgatory | 0.8 mi |
| South Bay | Purgatory | 1.3 mi |
| Pinkham Sound | Purgatory | 1.7 mi |
| Hatch Cove | Rome | 21.4 mi |
| North Bay | Rome | 24.2 mi |
Features on the USGS Purgatory Quadrangle
The Purgatory 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 45 catalogued natural features alongside Ballard Bay. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.2 mi |
| Norris Point | Capes | Kennebec County, ME | 0.4 mi |
| Pine Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Merrill Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Green Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Undine Bay | Bays | Kennebec County, ME | 0.7 mi |
| Scott Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.7 mi |
| Blue Bell Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.7 mi |
| True Cove | Bays | Kennebec County, ME | 0.8 mi |
| Lovers Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.8 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 42.9 miles east-southeast (bearing ESE) of Ballard Bay. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 73 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing. At this latitude (44.231°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 42.9 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Ballard Bay track the nearby Sheep Island (0.2 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Ballard Bay
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.2 mi |
| Norris Point | Capes | Kennebec County, ME | 0.4 mi |
| Pine Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Merrill Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
| Green Island | Islands | Kennebec County, ME | 0.5 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ballard Bay located?
Ballard Bay is in Kennebec County, Maine, approximately 42.9 miles east-southeast of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Purgatory topographic quadrangle.
How far is Ballard Bay from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 73 minutes, 42.9 miles east-southeast (bearing ESE) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Ballard Bay?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Ballard Bay as a bay, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 561549 on the Purgatory quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Ballard Bay?
June through September for paddling and swimming; January through March for ice fishing.
How many other bays are in Kennebec County, Maine?
GNIS lists 6 other bays in Kennebec County, Maine.
Wikidata: Q33540648.