Maine Beaches

Maine Beaches

Aroostook

Aroostook State Park, Presque Isle
Located on Echo Lake with hiking on nearby Quaggy Jo Mountain. There is trout fishing on the lake and also offers campsites, bathrooms and a beach with a lifeguard.

Downeast / Arcadia

Cobscook Bay State Park, Dennysville
There are 24-foot tides, the highest in Maine. Campsites, boating and hiking available.

Shackford Head State Park, Eastport
An undeveloped peninsula with beaches, protected coves and high trails. Views of Cobscook Bay.

Roque Bluffs State Park, Roque Bluffs
Offers a pebble beach on the ocean and freshwater pond for both fresh and salt water swimming also tables, grills and bathrooms.

Greater Portland

Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth
Fine sandy beach at the top of the “crescent,” but rocky toward the water. Gentle surf popular with families. Plenty of parking available. Snack bar, picnic tables, bike racks, toilets and lifeguards.

East End Beach, Portland
Limited parking. Rocky beach with great views of Casco Bay. Picnic area. Changing rooms and restrooms. No lifeguards.

Ferry Beach, Scarborough
Sheltered from ocean winds. Ferry Beach includes 2,640′ of beach and 2 acres of land. Access to the beach is via paths through sand dunes. There is a paved parking lot for approximately 100 cars. Facilities include seasonal bathroom (outhouse type), picnic tables, benches, a boat launch ramp, moorings, and boat storage.

Higgins Beach, Scarborough
Sandy beach with large waves. Popular with surfers and teen-agers. No lifeguards.

Pine Point Beach, Scarborough
Large sandy beach popular with families. Connects with Old Orchard Beach. Parking available.

Scarborough Beach State Park, Scarborough
Sandy beach with dunes, warm water and good surf. Parking for 500 cars. Lifeguards, restrooms, bike racks. Connects with Higgins Beach.

Willard Beach, South Portland
Sandy beach with gentle surf. Excellent for families. Limited parking. Restrooms and lifeguards.

Katahdin / Moosehead

Lily Bay State Park, Beaver Cove
There are two campgrounds, two boat luanch sites, boat slips, a swim area, playground and hiking trail.

Peaks-Kenny State Park, Dover-Foxcroft
Offers a beach with lifeguards, camping and bathrooms. There is also a picnic area for day use with hiking trails.

Midcoast

Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Views of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay with hiking trail to Mt. Megunticook, the highest of the Camden Hills. There are campsites, bathrooms and salt and freshwater beaches nearby.

Reid State Park, Georgetown
Located 14 miles from Route 1 in Woolwich on Route 127. Sandy beach with rocky spots, inlets, nooks, crannies and dunes. Surf ranges from gentle to very large swells depending on weather. Two snack bars. Shower facilities, toilets and changing rooms. Lifeguards on duty.

Damariscotta Lake State Park, Jefferson
Fine sand beach for swimming with lifeguards. Offers a group use shelter, picnic tables and grills.

Lake St. George State Park, Liberty
Swimming with lifeguards in this “crystal clear” lake. Bathrooms, campsites, hiking, fishing and boat and canoe rentals also available. More information

Birch Point State Park, Owls Head
Views of Penobscot Bay with crescent-shapes sand beach for swimming. There are no lifeguards.

Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg
Follow Route 209 for 14 miles from Bath to Phippsburg. Follow signs to the park. Sandy beach with surf depending on weather conditions. A sandbar exposed at low tide becomes a path to an island off the beach. 400 parking spots available. Lifeguards on duty.

Peacock Beach State Park, Richmond
There is a small beach and swimming area with a lifeguard.

Moose Point State Park, Searsport
Tidal pools, trails, picnic area and views of Penobscot Bay.

Swan Lake State Park, Swanville
Offers picnic facilities, playground and group shelter. Swimming area with lifeguards.

Southern Coast

Old Orchard Beach
Voted Maine’s #1 beach year in and year out. Popular with tourists. Sandy beach with good waves. This 7-mile beach has a pier with restaurants and shops, amusement park and arcades for kids.

Biddeford Pool, Biddeford
Accessible from Route 208. Sandy beach with gentle surf. Sticker parking only, stickers available at City Hall. Bath-house. Lifeguards.

Fortunes Rocks Beach, Biddeford
Take Route 9 to Route 208. Sandy beach. Sticker parking only. Lifeguards.

Hills Beach, Biddeford
Located next to the University of New England, minimal parking at this beach.

Arundel Beach, Kennebunkport
Located on Ocean Avenue across from the Colony Hotel. No parking pass needed.Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport Take Route 9 to get to this 3-mile long beach. Soft sand. Good walking beach. Parking with sticker only. Stickers can be bought at Town Hall and police station Trolley access to beach. No lifeguards.

Gooch’s Beach, largest part of Kennebunk Beach
Take Route 35 to Beach Street, or Route 9 to Sea Road. Powdery sand with gentle surf. Sticker parking only. Lifeguards.

Middle Beach, part of Kennebunk Beach
Around the corner from Gooch’s Beach. Rocky beach with small sandy patches. Excellent for walkers. Sticker parking only. No lifeguards.

Mother’s Beach, part of Kennebunk Beach
Very sandy and well protected with gentle surf and playground. Sticker parking only. No snack bar. Lifeguards.

The Colony Beach, Kennebunkport
Soft sandy beach, gentle surf. Limited on-street parking. Restaurants a short walk away. No lifeguards.

Kennebunk beach parking: Parking passes required for the beaches. Resident passes are available at Town Hall for $1. Residents can 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.

Fort Foster Park, Kittery
Large complex with a pavilion, picnic areas and many beaches, including kid-friendly shallow water spots. Gentle surf. Sticker parking available. Changing area and toilets. No lifeguards.

Seapoint Beach, Kittery
A popular spot for dog-walkers, this beach off Route 103 has limited parking. Sandy beach with gentle surf. Parking sticker required.

Moody Beach, Ogunquit
Off Bourne Avenue in Moody Beach. Parking at Moody is $12 a day. There is also a parking lot in town. Trolley service available throughout the day to all the beaches.

Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit
Accessed by Beach Road through the center of town. Soft sand and warm surf. Main beach is popular with families. Several snack bars. Lockers, restrooms and changing areas at main beach. Lifeguards.

Camp Ellis Beach, Saco
Lie on the beach or go fishing off the rocks at Camp Ellis, where there are also several restaurants nearby.

Bayview, Saco
Small beach with public parking.

Ferry Beach State Park, Saco
Off Maine Route 9 on Bay View Road between Old Orchard Beach and Camp Ellis in Saco. Gentle surf. Nature trails and guided tours. Lifeguards.

Drakes Island Beach, Wells
Located on Drake’s Island Road off Route 1. Limited parking in two parking lots costs $6 per day. Same parking policy as Wells Beach. Lifeguards.

Wells Beach, Wells
Accessible from Exit 2 off the Maine Turnpike – take Mile Road east to find this beach. This is a 7-mile barrier beach separated from the mainland by the Webhannet River. It offers mostly sandy beaches and rocky ridges and tide pools. Lifeguards and toilet facilities available. Parking fees are $6 per day.

Cape Neddick Beach, York
This is more of a local, rocky beach. There are parking meters near the beach.

Harbor Beach, York
Also known as “Mothers’ Beach” because there is a shaded area with a playground. Sandy beach with gentle surf. Limited parking. Lifeguards.

Long Sands Beach, York
Sandy beach with designated surfing area. Metered parking along the beach. Changing areas and toilets. Lifeguards.

Short Sands Beach, York
First exit after the tollbooth at the end of the Maine Turnpike. Sandy, family-oriented beach offers large bathhouse, outside shower, playground, basketball courts, metered parking, boardwalk, arcade and bowling alley. Shops and restaurants within walking distance; private parking lots nearby. Lifeguards.

Western Lakes & Mountains

Sebago Lake State Park, Naples
There are sandy beaches with lifeguards, picnic tables, grills, bathrooms and a boat ramp. Also offers a camping area and showers.

Range Ponds State Park, Poland
There is a picnic area, ballfield and swimming area with lifeguards.

Mt. Blue State Park, Weld
Hosts a campground, sandy beach, bathrooms, boat launch, canoe rentals and amphitheater. Also have picnic area and hiking trails and shelters are available for large group use.