BEACHES > MAINE

Bar Harbor
Eagle Lake Rd, Bar Harbor ME (map)
207.288.3338
Acadia_Information@nps.gov
http://www.nps.gov/acad

Sand Beach, part of Acadia National Park, is not a very large beach, but with rock walls on two sides and a perfect southern exposure it is one of the most beautiful you will ever encounter as long as you do not mind 50-degree water temperatures. There are restrooms but no concessions. Seven-day passes are available; prices vary.

Bath
Rte. 209, Bath ME (map)
207.389.1335.
http://www.visitbath.com/24-popham-beach.html

Popham Beach State Park is three miles of sandy beach at the mouth of the Kennebec River. Although the beach is often quite windy, there are tidal pools, fishing spots, and a sandbar that leads to an island at low tide to explore. After the 400 parking spaces available are filled, the beach is closed to cars. Lifeguards on duty.

Biddeford
Rte 1, Biddeford ME (map)
207.283.0841
http://www.visitmaine.net/beaches.htm

The sandy beaches offer lifeguards on duty.
— Biddeford Pool Beach. Two miles of sandy beach with a gentle surf. Bathhouse available. Parking permits, which can be obtained from Biddeford Town Hall, are required.
— Fortune's Rock Beach. Smaller beach with lifeguards on duty. Fee for parking.

Brunswick
Off Rte 24, Cook's Corner, Brunswick ME (map)
877.872.4321
info@thomaspointbeach.com
http://www.thomaspointbeach.com

Thomas Point Beach is a sandy beach overlooking Thomas Bay, and is also a nature preserve. Besides the basic lifeguard, changing, toilet, and shower facilities, Thomas Point also has a playground, softball, volleyball, and horseshoe play areas, bike trails, snack bar, gift shop, arcade, a lodge, and camping areas. Open daily from 9 am to sunset. Admission $3.50, children under 12 and seniors $2, free for children under 3 and seniors over 80, weekdays.

Crescent Beach State Park
Rte 77, Cape Elizabeth, ME (map)
207.799.5871
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=4

A classic saltwater beach park. Located south of Portland, it features clean, sudsy surf. ThereÆs a picnic area with tables and grills, playground, snack bar, and cold showers. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Admission fee.

Crescent Beach State Park
Rte 77, Cape Elizabeth ME (map)
207.799.5871
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=4

Eight miles south of Portland, sandy oceanfront beaches, saltwater coves, wooded areas, and rock ledges provide seashore recreation for beachgoers, fishing and watersports enthusiasts, and nature observers. Open through Columbus Day. Varied fees.

Ferry Beach State Park
Off Rte 9, Saco ME (map)
207.287.3261
tom.miragliuolo@maine.gov
http://www.state.me.us/spo/lmf/projects/project_detail.php?project=1535

This 117-acre park of white sand between the Saco River and Pine Point gets its name from the ferries that once lined the beach. Some black gum trees, rare at this latitude, grow here as well. Nature trails accompanied by a listening guide explain this phenomenon. The rest of the park's facilities are fairly primitive, offering only a drinking fountain and pit toilet. Open from sunrise to sunset. Admission $3, $1 for seniors and children five to 11. Open through Sept..

Freeport
Staples Point Rd, Freeport ME (map)
207.865.4198.
http://www.freeportmaine.com/winslowpark.html

Winslow Memorial Park Camping & Public Beach is a public beach with full-service facilities, and offers picnic areas, camp sites, a playground, hiking trails, fishing, and boating opportunities. Open from 8 am to 30 minutes after sunset, Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day. Day-use fee for Freeport residents $0.75 and for non-residents $1.50.

Georgetown
Rte 127, Georgetown ME (map)
207.371.2303
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=13

Reid State Park. A beautiful oceanfront park with 1.5 miles of sandy beach, divided into three swimming areas, including a saltwater lagoon. Ample swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, and picnicking opportunities. There's also a rocky area to explore. Lifeguards, toilet, shower and changing facilities, plus two snack bars and parking for 1000 cars. Adults $4.50, children 5-11 $1, and seniors & children under 5 free. Beach included on the Maine State Park season pass.

Kennebunk
Rte 9, Kennebunk, ME (map)
207.985.2102 x 1335
info@kennebunkport.org
http://www.kennebunkport.org/beaches.htm

Kennebunk beaches can be accessed via Rte 9, which hooks up with the infamously congested Rte 1. Beach permits for non-residents are available at the Kennebunk police station and cost $10 per day, $20 per week, and $50 for a season pass. Parking available only from 9 am to 5 pm.
ù Colony Beach, on Beach Ave, is a soft, sandy beach at the mouth of the Kennebunk River. It's a short walk from Gooch's Beach and easily accessible from hotels and inns, but it has limited parking and no facilities or lifeguard supervision.
ù GoochÆs Beach, on Beach Ave, links up with Mother's Beach and Middle Beach, both on Kennebunk's ocean shoreline. This is a beach with fine sands but lots of noise from the crashing waves and the hovering seagulls. Ideal surfing waves. Lifeguards on duty and portable toilets available.
ù Goose Rocks Beach, Rte 9. This is a quiet, secluded beach with soft sand. Popular with wind surfers. No facilities or lifeguard on duty, but the general store is only a short walk away.

Kittery
Rte 103, Kittery ME (map)
207.439.0452
http://portlandme.about.com/cs/mainebeaches/a/Beaches4.htm

— Owls Head's Crescent Beach is 625 yards long and backed by marsh. There are no facilities and limited parking.
— Seapoint Beach is a few miles south of York Harbor with 550 yards of gentle surf backed by marsh. Great area for bird watching. There are no facilities and limited parking.
— Fort Foster Park is south of Seapoint and Crescent Beaches with several swimming areas, picnic areas, pavilion, changing area, and toilets. No lifeguards.

Lamoine State Park
23 State Park Rd, Ellsworth, ME (map)
207.667.4778
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks

Outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and boating tend to be more popular than swimming here. No lifeguards on duty. Facilities include restrooms, a playground area, a bathhouse, and a boat-launching ramp. Open until Oct 15. Admission fee $3, $1 for children ages five through 11.

Moose Point State Park
Rte 1, Searsport ME (map)
207.548.2882
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=19

The beach may be rocky, but there is plenty of swimming and tidal pools to be explored, not to mention hiking trails, a picnic area, and views of Penobscot Bay. Open through Oct 1. Included on Maine State Parks season pass, day-use fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children.

Ogunquit
Rte 1, Ogunquit, ME (map)
207.646.2939
http://www.ogunquit.org

Ogunquit is known for its art galleries and restaurants. Beaches are near Rte 1.
ù Footbridge Beach, on Ocean St, boasts white sands along the Atlantic oceanside. North of the village center, this is a relatively uncrowded area. Restrooms available. Public parking available, as well as trolley service.
ù Ogunquit Beach, Beach St.. More than three miles of soft sand. The waterÆs cold, but you canÆt find a better place to watch the waves fall. Lockers, changing rooms, and restrooms available. Not far from markets and restaurants. Lifeguards on duty. Accessible by trolley.

Old Orchard Beach
207.934.2500
info@oldorchardbeachmaine.com
http://oldorchardbeachmaine.com

Two hours north of Boston at Exit 5 on the Maine Tpk, this seven-mile stretch of beach offers amusement-park rides, a mini-golf course, arcade games, nightly entertainment, and a boardwalk chock full of shops and restaurants. For the ocean savvy, canoe and kayak tours and rentals are available, as well as lobster-boat tours and deep-sea fishing. If nothing suits you here, Old Orchard Beach is only a short drive from Funtown, USA. Garage parking available $4 per hour.

Old Orchard Beach
Rte 1, Old Orchard Beach, ME (map)
207.934.2500
info@oldorchardbeachmaine.com
http://oldorchardbeachmaine.com

Seven miles of soft and white sand along Rte 1. The carnival atmosphere, pier, bars, and take-out food attract mostly tourists. Throughout the summer enjoy amusement-park rides, free concerts, street dances, weekly fireworks, arcades, and beach sports. For the ocean savvy, canoe and kayak tours and rentals are available, as well as lobster-boat tours and deep-sea fishing. Lifeguards on duty, with a bath house with showers and changing area. Street parking available in varied locations. Private lots range from $5 to $10.

Portland
Portland ME (map)
207.874.8793
http://portlandme.about.com/cs/mainebeaches/a/Beaches1.htm

East End Beach, Eastern Promenade. Portland's only public beach. It's pebbly and lacks lifeguards and food, but great views of Casco Bay make this beach worth visiting. Changing rooms, toilets, picnic tables, and parking for 70 cars available.

Roque Bluffs State Park
145 Schoppee Point Rd, Roque Bluffs, ME (map)
207.255.3475
http://www.maine.gov/parks

Located six miles off Rte 1, this versatile beach offers a pebble shore on one side and a freshwater pond on the other. Picnic tables, grills, a bathhouse, restrooms, and a playground area available. Open until Sept 30. $3 admission.

Scarborough
Scarborough ME (map)
207.730.4000
http://portlandme.about.com/cs/mainebeaches/a/Beaches1.htm

Scarborough is home to some of the most famous surf areas in the world, thanks to painter Winslow Homer, but there are also a few sunbathing spots within the rocky coastline.
— Higgins Beach, off Rte 77. Large waves make this beach popular with surfers and teenagers. Limited parking and no lifeguards or facilities, but you can get to Scarborough Beach on foot.
— Pine Point Beach, East Grand Ave. At the northern end of Old Orchard Beach, Pine Point has white sand, dunes, and dune grasses. It also offers a snack bar, toilets, and ample parking, for $10 per day or a season-long pass ($60) for both Pine Point and Ferry beaches.
— Scarborough Beach, Black Point Road (Rte 207) near Prout's Neck. White sand beach with low sand dunes, changing rooms, toilets, lifeguards, and 500 parking spaces.
— Ferry Beach, Black Point Road (Rte 207). Long, wide beach with toilets and some parking (see above, Pine Point Beach, for fees). No lifeguards.

Scarborough
Rte 1, Scarborough, ME (map)
207.883.2416
support@ci.scarborough.me.us
http://www.scarborough.me.us/

Scarborough is home to some of the most famous surf in the world, thanks to painter Winslow Homer, but there are also a few sunbathing spots within the rocky coastline.
ù Higgins Beach, off Rte 77, is a flat sand beach with large waves and a rocky coast. Attracts mostly surfers and teenagers. No lifeguards or facilities, but you can walk to Scarborough Beach. Little public parking available.
ù Scarborough Beach, off Rte 207, is a long sandy beach with dunes, marshes, and warm ocean surf. Popular with locals. Lifeguards on duty, with changing rooms and toilets. Parking for about 500 cars; rates vary. Admission $4 for adults, $2 for children five to 11, free for seniors.

South Portland
Willow St, South Portland ME (map)
207.767.7670
Willard Beach has one mile of fine sand and gentle surf. Willard also offers views of Spring Point Lighthouse and Fort Preble. Restrooms, lifeguards, and 75 parking spaces are provided.

Thomas Point Beach
Brunswick, ME (map)
207.725.6009
http://www.thomaspointbeach.com/

Off Rte 24 in Brunswick. Campgrounds and playground area. Thomas Point also offers arcade games, a gift shop, and a snack bar. Open daily from 9 am to sunset. No pets allowed. $3.50 admission charge, $2 for children under 12, $2 for seniors on weekdays. Free parking.

Wells
Rte 1, Wells ME (map)
207.646.2451
http://www.wellschamber.org

The town of Wells boasts seven miles of oceanfront, much of it sandy and picturesque. There is a nominal fee for parking to help cover the cost of lifeguards, stationed at all beaches. Permits are available at the Municipal Building on Rte 109 West.
— Drakes Island Beach. Limited parking in lot at the eastern end of Drake Island Road. Toilet facilities available.
— Wells Beach. Also has toilet facilities. For parking stickers, head to Town Hall.
— Crescent Beach. A lesser-known section of beach located between Wells and Moody. Parking at Gold Ribbon Ave lot, from Webhannet Dr.

Wells
Rte 1, Wells, ME (map)
207.646.5113
http://www.wellschamber.org/

Take Exit 2 off I-95, and follow signs for Rte 1. Parking $15 between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Ten-visit punch cards can be purchased at the town hall for $50.
ù DrakeÆs Island Beach, Drake's Island Rd, is the home of the Wildlife Bird Sanctuary, which makes it more quiet and significantly less crowded than Wells Beach. Good fishing toward the end of the beach. Lifeguards on duty and restrooms available. Limited parking.
ù Wells Beach is nearly swallowed by the high tide, but it's a great place for tide pools and rocky ridges at low tide. Near plenty of restaurants and motels. Lifeguards on duty and restrooms available.

York
Rte 1, York ME (map)
207.363.4422
info@yorkme.org
http://www.gatewaytomaine.org

York is an old, colonial town, rich in Victorian culture and architecture.
— Cape Neddick Beach (a/k/a Passaconaway Beach) is located at the mouth of the York River where it meets with the Atlantic. This is a small, relatively uncrowded tidal beach offering deep-sea fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, golfing, and shopping. Parking meters near the beach.
— Long Sands Beach. A very popular beach with two miles of sand and a designated surfing area. Food is available at the nearby shops and restaurants. Lifeguards on duty. Changing area, and restrooms available. Parking meters near the beach.
— Short Sands Beach. A family-oriented beach with gentle surf, large bathhouse, and outdoor shower. Playground area, arcade games, bowling alley, and basketball courts available. Regular nightly entertainment. Lifeguards on duty. Metered parking along the beach.

York
207.363.4422
info@yorkme.org
http://www.gatewaytomaine.org/

York is an old colonial town, rich in Victorian culture and architecture. Beaches are off Rte 1A. Take Exit 4 from I-95.
ù Cape Neddick Beach (a/k/a Passaconaway Beach) is located at the mouth of the York River where it meets with the Atlantic. This is a small, relatively uncrowded tidal beach offering deep-sea fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, golfing, and shopping. Parking meters near the beach.
ù Long Sands Beach. A very popular beach with two miles of sand and a designated surfing area. Food is available at the nearby shops and restaurants. Lifeguards on duty. Changing area and restrooms available. Parking meters near the beach.
ù Short Sands Beach. A family-oriented beach with gentle surf, large bathhouse, and outdoor shower. Playground area, arcade games, bowling alley, and basketball courts available. Regular nightly entertainment. Lifeguards on duty. Metered parking along the beach.