Southern Maine is known for its miles of sandy beaches. Several communities have more than one beach and the town of Old Orchard Beach is named for its most notable feature – a seven-mile beach. The coastal towns and their beaches are listed from south to north.

 
Mermaid sculpture, Moody Beach

Kittery
Crescent Beach and Sea Point Beach are located just a few miles south of York Harbor and are each about 1/3 mile long. Parking is mostly for residents, but there is some limited parking for nonresidents along Sea Point Road. Dogs are allowed on both beaches as long as they are leashed, except between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM from mid-June to mid-September. Neither beach offers facilities. FMI, call Kittery Town Hall at 439-0452.

 

Fort Foster Park, located on Gerrish Island (connected to the mainland), has several beach/swimming areas, picnic spots and bathroom facilities. The 88-acre park has roads and pathways for biking and hiking, and there are military structures and batteries dating back to the late 1800s. There is a park entry fee of $10 per vehicle ($5 if senior) which includes all passengers for a full day. Season passes are available for town residents at $20 per household; season passes for nonresidents are $80. Fort Foster Park permits dogs during all open hours, but they must be leashed, and pooper-scooper laws are always in effect. Exception: Dogs are prohibited from the east side of Pier Beach; watch for signs. FMI, call Kittery Town Hall at 439-0452.

 

York
The beaches of York include Short Sands, Long Sands and Harbor beaches. Food and beverages are available near Short Sands and Long Sands beaches.  While a parking sticker is required for Harbor Beach (available at the Town Hall for $35, or $15 for seniors), Short and Long Sands beaches use parking meters from 8 AM to 9 PM. Dogs are permitted on the beach before 8 AM and after 6 PM, but they must be leashed at all times. There are no facilities. FMI, call 363-4422.

 

Ogunquit
One of southern Maine’s most popular beaches, Ogunquit Beach is a three-mile sand bar of beach and dunes bordered by the Ogunquit River and the Atlantic Ocean. Food and beverages are available adjacent to the main beach parking lot. The beach has multiple parking areas; rates and schedules differ. Perkins Cove and Cottage Street are hourly, the others daily. The main beach lot charges $25 per day in season. Dogs are prohibited from the beach from April 1 to September 30. Ogunquit Beach has restrooms, lifeguards and excellent places to surf. FMI, call 646-5139.

 

At Footbridge Beach, beachgoers walk over a historic footbridge to get to this less-crowded section of beach. There are a snack bar and restrooms. Lifeguards are on duty.

 

Wells
Wells Beach is a seven-mile barrier beach separated from the mainland by the Webhannet River. There are several sections of public beach, which is broad even at high tide. The 4000-yard-long beach is edged with sand dunes and sea grasses. Land and shore birds and waterfowl can often be spotted due to the nearby marshes. The town provides several parking lots near this beach: one is at the end of Mile Road and one at the end of Atlantic Avenue near Wells Harbor (turn left at the end of Mile Road). At the Mile Road parking area, there are restrooms, a restaurant with a take-out window, a playground and a viewing area with benches. Nearby is an arcade, shops and other eateries.

 

Elsewhere along the beach, there is limited free parking and several privately owned parking lots. Resident beach stickers are sold at Wells Town Hall, and nonresident parking passes may be purchased at any public parking lot. FMI, call Wells Town Hall at 646-5113 or the Chamber of Commerce at 646-2451.

 

Crescent Surf Beach is a fine white sand beach with salt marshes, located between Wells Beach and Moody Beach. There are tidal pools are great for children, and seals can be spotted offshore on Bucklin Rock. Parking is available on Gold Ribbon Drive, and the beach entrance is just beyond the parking area. Porta-potties are available. Parking and beach access are free, but parking is limited. The best time to go to Crescent Surf Beach is between high tides, since the beach is very narrow at high tide.

 
Gooches Beach, Kennebunk
 

Drakes Island Beach is quieter than other Wells beaches because it’s away from the main beach and abuts a much smaller residential neighborhood. The northern end of the beach borders Laudholm Farm Beach and a Rachel Carson bird sanctuary. Drakes Island Beach has plenty of parking, and daily fees are posted. Beachgoers can obtain a daily beach pass at the beach lot for $15/day or $75 for 10 days for non-residents. Due to the volume of beach goers and a limited amount of parking spaces, if a visitor needs to leave the lot with their vehicle, they must pay another $15 if they return at a later time that same day. The beach has bathroom and changing facilities, lifeguards on duty and allows dogs on the beach from April 1 to June 15. After June 15, no dogs are allowed on the beach from 8 AM to 6 PM.

 

Kennebunk

The Kennebunk beaches consist of one mile of sandy and pebble beaches that includes Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s beaches. The longest stretch of sandy beach is Gooch’s. Public parking is available along Beach Avenue and side streets, as well as at a small lot at Mother’s Beach; however, all parking is by permit only from June 15 to September 15. Beach parking permits can be obtained at Kennebunk Town Hall. Nonresidents pay $15 for a one-day permit, $25 for a week or $50 for the season. Surfing is permitted at all of the three beaches, and dogs are allowed from June 15 to September 15 from 6 to 9 AM and any time after 5 PM. All dogs must remain on leashes, and pooper-scooper laws are always in effect. FMI, call Kennebunk Town Hall at 985-6658.

 

Kennebunkport
Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport is located three miles east of Cape Porpoise off Route 9. Known for its secluded setting and warm, shallow tidal pools, Goose Rocks Beach is a well-kept secret among residents. Parking stickers are required for parking from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Stickers are sold at the Town Office from 8 AM to noon and 1 PM to 4 PM, but after July 6, morning hours only. They are also available at the Police Department anytime, and the Goose Rocks General Store. Cost for non-residents is $12 per day, $50 per week and $100 for the season. On-street parking is available on King’s Highway from 8 AM to 6 PM. Dogs are only permitted on the beach before 8 AM and after 6 PM. Surfing is allowed, but there are no lifeguards on duty. FMI, call the Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce at 967-0857.

 
Fortunes Rocks Beach

Biddeford

Fortunes Rocks Beach, accessible from Route 208 (off Route 9) in the southern part of Biddeford, is about a half-mile of sandy beach. Lifeguards are on duty during the season, and porta-potties are available. Parking stickers, available at Biddeford City Hall, are required. FMI, call 284-9307.

 

Biddeford Pool Beach is a two-mile sandy beach with gentle surf on the tidal basin side of Biddeford Pool, accessible from Route 208. A sticker, available at Biddeford City Hall, is required to park. After 5 PM, parking is free. The beach has a bathhouse, and lifeguards are on duty.

 

Hills Beach is more than 500 yards of beautiful sandy beach along Saco Bay facing Portland to the north. It’s located next to the University of New England on Hills Beach Road. Parking is very limited. In addition to swimming, this area is popular for bird watching.

 

Saco
Ferry Beach, part of Ferry Beach State Park, is located off Route 9 on Bay View Road between Old Orchard Beach and Camp Ellis in Saco. The beach and park are named for the ferry service that once carried travelers across the nearby Saco River. The nearly mile-long beach continues to the north as Ocean Park Beach, then Old Orchard Beach, ending with Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. There are no lifeguards on the beach, but there are restrooms and changing rooms. The 117-acre state park has wooded areas, nature trails, picnic tables and a play area. Admission is $4 per person; children ages 5 to 11, $1; those over age 65 and children age 5 and under are free. Dogs are not allowed on the beach from April 1 through September 30.

 

Old Orchard Beach
With seven miles of wide sandy beach, Old Orchard Beach is the longest in the state, and one of the longest on the Atlantic coast. It is also one of Maine’s most popular recreational areas, with a large amusement park, arcade games, food vendors and plenty of nighttime entertainment as well. The beach itself offers good surf and is wide enough for beach games. Lifeguards are on duty. No parking permit is needed as most of the beach utilizes parking meters. Parking is limited, however, and car-pooling for beachgoers is recommended. Across from the entrance to Palace Playland there are bathrooms and changing facilities. FMI, call 934-2500.

Contents of this

web site are
© The Tourist News

Surf’s Up!

Surfing is an increasingly popular sport along Maine beaches. It is allowed at most times at most beaches but surfers are always asked to be considerate of those nearby enjoying other aquatic activities, such as swimming, kayaking and fishing, and to be aware of motor boating activity in the vicinity. Visitors should check with local surf shops to find the best, safest and most fun surfing areas.

Catching a wave at Kennebunk Beach
Remember that Maine is known for its rockbound coast; even on the outskirts of wide sandy beaches, there can be rocky ledges just below the surface. Also, Maine water is cold, even in the summer. Wet suits are used by many Maine surfers year-round. Several Web sites include information about surfing in Maine (and elsewhere); www.surfline.com includes details about surfing sites along the New Hampshire and southern Maine coasts, and www.surfingmaine.com is a compendium of articles and pictures about surfing in Maine dating back to the mid-1960s.