YORK COUNTY
Arundel Beach (Colony Beach)
Ocean Avenue and Atlantic Street, Kennebunkport
Great for rock exploring. Limited parking is available, no parking permit needed. No lifeguard, but good for exploring tidal pools.
Drakes Island Beach
Drakes Island Road, Wells
A half-mile long beach perfect for swimming. Public restroom and lifeguard. Dogs are allowed. Metered parking from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at lots on Drakes Island and Island Beach roads, $4 per hour (strictly enforced).
Beachgoers walk and wade at Ferry Beach State Park in Saco. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer
Ferry Beach State Park
95 Bayview Road, Saco
Known for its long stretch of Tupelo trees – a rare find this far north – and sweeping views of miles of sandy beaches. Picnic area, hiking trails, nature center, changing rooms. Fee: $5 adult resident, $7 adult nonresident.
Footbridge Beach
Ocean Street, Ogunquit
Accessed by walking across a footbridge at the end of street, over the Ogunquit River. Popular for vast space and very sandy beach but quieter than Ogunquit’s Main Beach. Snack shack open seasonally, with public restrooms located in parking lot. Parking in metered lots costs $4 per hour/$25 per day Monday through Thursday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and $5/$30 Friday through Sunday and holidays.
Fortunes Rocks Beach
Fortunes Rocks Road, Biddeford
A sandy beach with a mile of tidal pools at low tide. Lifeguards, portable bathrooms, good for surfing. Permit required to access the beach, but one-day non-resident permits may be purchased for $35 a vehicle.
People wade at Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Goose Rocks Beach
New Biddeford Road, Kennebunkport
Three miles of soft sand and a barrier reef that is visible during low tide. Parking allowed in posted spaces on King’s Highway, Dyke Road and New Biddeford Road with permit, $30 per day.
Harbor Beach
York Street, York
A locally popular, family-oriented beach with gentle surf, a cliff walk and adjacent park. Lifeguards on duty and restrooms available. Aside from resident permit-only parking, limited two-hour spaces along Route 1A.
Kennebunk Beaches (Gooch’s, Middle, Mother’s)
Beach Avenue, Kennebunk
Wide, sandy beaches for walking, relaxing or playing in the surf, all connected by sidewalks. Lifeguards on duty at Gooch’s and Mother’s Beach. Dogs allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. during summer. Parking available along beaches with permit, available for purchase at kiosks for $25 per day.
Surfing is a popular activity at Long Sands Beach in York. Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald
Long Sands Beach
Long Beach Avenue, York
A mile and a half of beach, mostly sandy with tide pools. Lifeguards on duty daily, public restrooms, volleyball court, raft and umbrella rentals, take-out food in walking distance. No dogs between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during summer months. Parking kiosks charge $2 an hour.
Main Beach
Beach Street, Ogunquit
Popular among those staying in the heart of Ogunquit, Main Beach is within walking distance of many establishments. Public restrooms and outdoor showers. Parking at metered lot (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.) is $5 per hour, $30 per day Monday through Thursday, and $6/$35 Friday through Sunday and holidays.
North Beach (Moody Beach)
Ocean Avenue, Ogunquit
A large swath of sand, even during high-tide. Public restroom, lifeguards, walking trails. Parking in metered lots costs $4 per hour/$25 per day Monday through Thursday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and $5/$30 Friday through Sunday and holidays.
Beachgoers crowd Old Orchard Beach near the pier. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Old Orchard Beach
2 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach
With an arcade, amusement park, and food and shops located within walking distance from the beach, Old Orchard Beach is fun for the whole family. Meters and paid lots located nearby; prices vary.
Short Sands Beach
Ocean Avenue, York
Only a quarter of a mile long, this beach also hosts free concerts at its gazebo in the summer. Public restrooms, playground, basketball courts, grassy park for picnics. No dogs between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during summer months. Parking kiosks charge $2 per hour.
Wells Beach
Mile Road, Wells
A mile and a half long sandy beach with sand dunes. Snack bar, restroom, gift shop, arcade and restaurants nearby. Free parking at the end of Mile Road.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Crescent Beach
7 Tower Drive, Cape Elizabeth
More than just a beach, this state park also offers hiking trails and grills perfect to host a barbecue after a long day by the water. Snack bar, playground and bathhouse among other amenities. Fee is $6 for adult Maine residents, $8 for nonresidents.
Dundee Park
79 Presumpscot Road, Windham
Visitors take a swim in the Presumpscot River, or canoe/kayak the rapids. Basketball and volleyball courts, grills, beach area and lifeguards. Volleyballs, basketballs, life jackets, corn hole and more rec equipment available to borrow. Pedal boats, canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards available to rent for $5 an hour. Admission fee is $6 adults, $4 children ($5/$3 for Windham residents).
East End Beach
Cutter Street, Portland
Located within walking distance of the Old Port, East End beach is small, but the ocean breeze and bay views provide convenient respite from the city. Beach is dog-friendly, bathrooms available. Food trucks frequently park nearby. Free parking in lots and on street.
Ferry Beach
Ferry Road, Scarborough
One of the more unique beaches in Maine because it’s missing one thing: waves. Snack cart, public restrooms with showers, boat access. Parking is $15 per car ($5 from 3-5 p.m.).
A surfer makes his way toward the waves at Higgins Beach. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Higgins Beach
Ocean Avenue, Scarborough
Located in a quaint neighborhood, Higgins Beach is popular for its rocky, tide pool-filled beach. Bathrooms located where paid parking is. Limited street parking on Bayview Avenue, lot costs $15 per day.
Highland Lake Beach
Highland Road, Bridgton
Located just off the highway, it’s the perfect spot to go for a quick dip. Lifeguard during busy times, boat launch, grills and picnic tables, playground, restrooms. Free.
Kettle Cove
Kettle Cove Road, Cape Elizabeth (also accessible from Crescent Beach)
A hidden gem, Kettle Cove is located at the end of Crescent Beach with hiking trails and larger waves perfect for surfers. Hiking trails, but no public restrooms. Fee is $3 for adult Maine residents, $4 for nonresidents.
Kite surfer Dan Kelman leads a line of surfers at Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. Carl D. Walsh
Pine Point Beach
Avenue 5, Scarborough
Located just minutes from Old Orchard Beach, Pine Point offers a quieter experience. Food shack, shower and bathroom. Dogs are not allowed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $15 per vehicle, $30 on weekends in July and August from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $5 before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
Scarborough Beach
Sprague Way, Scarborough
A surfer’s paradise, Scarborough Beach has some of the largest waves in Greater Portland but plenty of sand for sunbathers too. Bathrooms available, dogs not allowed. Fee is $8 for adult Maine residents, $10 nonresidents; cash only.
Sebago Lake State Park
11 Park Access Road, Casco
What everyone thinks of when they think of the lakes – grilling by the water, a beach for sunbathing and water activities. Restrooms, changing rooms, grills, snack bar, fishing and camping. Fee is $6 for adults Maine residents, $8 for nonresidents.
Tassel Top Park Beach
Tasseltop Road, Raymond
Thirty-five acres of beach and woods, located just of Route 302 on Sebago Lake. Picnic tables, grills, changing rooms, snack shack, marked swimming area and a walking trail. Daily rates for Raymond residents are $5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors 62 and over; nonresidents pay $1 more.
Children explore around a drain pipe at Willard Beach. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Willard Beach
Beach Street, South Portland
One of the area’s dog-friendlier beaches, equipped with a playground and snack bar, Willard is perfect for the whole family. Bathhouse with restrooms, snack bar and outdoor showers. A short trail leads to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. Dogs are allowed in the summer, but only from 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m., with leashes required from 7-8 p.m. Free, but limited parking.
Woods Pond Beach
676 South High St., Bridgton
Large, sandy beach, with a playground for kids. Roped off swimming area with a dock and diving platforms. Free with public parking.
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