Beaches in Southern Maine

Beaches in Southern Maine

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach has a wonderfully sandy beach with good waves. Very popular with tourists and visitors, Old Orchard Beach is 7 miles long and has a scenic pier complete with shops restaurants and an amusement park and arcades.

The town of Old Orchard Beach offers a variety of events throughout the summer months including concerts, dances and festivals.

Parking is available at Memorial Park across from the Chamber of Commerce for up to $7.00/day. Nearby privately owned parking lots range from $5.00 - $10.00.

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Ferry Beach State Park, Saco

Ferry Beach is a 100-acre area of beach between the Saco River and Pine Point. It boasts a gentle surf, miles of white sand beaches, and the rare tupelo (black gum) tree.

Nature trails with guided tours are nearby and lifeguards are on duty.

Parking is limited to keep the beaches open and uncrowded, so plan to arrive early. Take Maine Route 9 on Bay View Road between Old Orchard Beach and Camp Ellis in Saco. Parking is free before Memorial Day and after the first of October.

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Camp Ellis Beach, Saco

Camp Ellis Beach is a quiet beach in Saco where visitors will enjoy lying on the beach or fishing off the rocks. Saco offers shopping and restaurants after a day in the sun. Hourly parking is available.

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Bayview Beach, Saco

Off Seaside Avenue in Saco, Bayview Beach is a small beach used by both visitors and residents. It offers public parking, restrooms, and lifeguards daily from 10:00-5:00 during the summer months.

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Biddeford Pool, Biddeford

The beach at Biddeford Pool is a sandy beach with a gentle surf. There is a bath house and lifeguards are on duty, but parking is only available with a sticker obtained at the City Hall in Biddeford. Parking is off Route 208.

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Fortunes Rocks Beach, Biddeford

Fortunes Rocks Beach is another sandy beach that is small and guarded by the locals. The only amenities offered are portable bathrooms, but lifeguards are on duty and the beach is beautiful. Parking is only available with a sticker obtained at the City Hall in Biddeford. Parking is off Route 208.

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Hills Beach, Biddeford

Hills Beach is located next to the University of New England in Biddeford. It is centered around a community of homes so there is very little parking.

* * Note on Biddeford Beaches Parking: Permits are $5 for Biddeford residents or out-of-state property owners. Nonresident passes are $50. All passes can be bought at City Hall. Parking at the beaches after 5 p.m. is free.

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Kennebunk Beaches

Gooch's Beach, largest part of Kennebunk Beach

Route 35 to Beach Street, or Route 9 to Sea Road. Very soft sand with gentle surf. Lifeguards are on duty and portable toilets are available. Sticker parking only.

Middle Beach, part of Kennebunk Beach

Just past Gooch's Beach, Middle Beach is a rocky beach with small sandy patches. It is popular with beach walkers and collectors. There is no lifeguard on duty and parking stickers are required.

Mother's Beach, part of Kennebunk Beach

This is a very sandy and well protected beach with gentle surf and a playground, hence the name. There are lifeguards on duty, but all other amentities will be found at Gooch's beach. Sticker parking only.

Note on Kennebunk Beaches Parking: Parking passes are required for the beaches. Resident passes are available at Town Hall for $1 apiece. Residents can also buy guest passes for $5. Nonresidents can buy day passes for $10, week passes for $20, and summer passes for $50 at either the Chamber of Commerce or Town Hall.

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Arundel Beach, Kennebunkport

This tiny beach is located on Ocean Avenue across from the beautiful Colony Hotel. No parking pass is needed.

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Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport

Goose Rocks is a 3-mile long beach with soft sand and good surf. There are no lifeguards or bathrooms, but there are restaurants a short walk away and there is trolley access to the beach. Parking stickers can be bought at the town hall and police station. The prices are $5 daily, $20 weekly and $50 for the season. Residents can purchase a season pass for $3.

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The Colony Beach, Kennebunkport

Yet another soft sandy beach with gentle surf. There is limited on-street parking but restaurants a short walk away. No amenities, but easy access to the beach from hotels and inns.

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Drakes Island Beach, Wells

Located on Drake's Island Road off Route 1. This beach has limited parking in two parking at $6 per day. Drake's Island Beach offers toilet facilities and a lifeguard is on duty.

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Wells Beach, Wells

Wells Beach is a beautiful 7-mile barrier beach separated from the mainland by the Webhannet River. Sandy beaches are complemented by rocky rides and tide pools. Lifeguards are on duty and toilet facilities are available. Resident parking stickers are available at the town hall. Parking fees are $6.00 per day with ten-visit punchcards available for $35.00. Exit 2 off the Maine Turnpike; take Mile Road east. Parking is free after 4 p.m.

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Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit

This beach has soft sand and often warm surf. It is popular with families, with its snack bars and gourmet lunches. Ogunquit beach is accessible by trolley and many parking areas in town. Lockers, restrooms and changing areas are available, and lifeguards are on duty. Parking is $4.00 per hour.

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Moody Beach, Ogunquit

Off Bourne Avenue in Moody. Parking at Moody and Footbridge is $12 a day. There is also a parking lot in town, and another behind the Town Hall. Trolley service runs throughout the day to all the beaches.

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Cape Neddick Beach, York

Cape Neddick Beach is known as the Passaconaway Beach to locals. It is a rocky beach with little sand and it is primarily known as a locals beach. There are parking meters nearby.

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Harbor Beach, York

Harbor Beach is also known as "Mothers' Beach" because there is a shaded area with a playground. It has a sandy beach with gentle surf and limited parking. Portable restrooms are available and there is a lifeguard on duty.

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Short Sands Beach, York

Short Sands Beach in York is a large, sandy, family-oriented beach with a large bathhouse, outdoor shower, playground, pavilion, arcade and bowling alley. There are benches along the boardwalk and metered parking.

Just a short walk away are York's Wild Kingdom Zoo and Amusement Park. Shops and restaurants are within walking distance and many private parking lots can be found nearby. Concerts are often held in the area on summer evenings and lifeguards are on duty.

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Long Sands Beach, York

This, like the name implies, is a long, sandy beach with a designated surfing area. It offers a changing area, restrooms and lifeguards, and food is available at shops across the street. Metered parking is available.

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Fort Foster Park, Kittery

Fort Foster Park is a large complex complete with a pavilion, picnic areas and several beaches, including shallow water spots for children. The surf is gentle but there are no lifeguards here. A changing area and restrooms are available and parking is by sticker only.

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Seapoint Beach, Kittery

Seapoint Beach is a popular beach for people with dogs. It is a sandy beach with gentle surf. There is limited, sticker-only parking, and there are no lifeguards or other amenities.