Maine Beaches
Enjoy the salty air and the sounds of the waves washing on the shore….
The Maine coastline is hard to beat – especially for families. Maine’s beautiful sandy beaches and amazing seascapes, are also ideal for families with the soft sand and gentle waves. So grab your swimsuit & towel, pack your coolers if you choose, and check out some of our favorite Maine beaches.
A few questions people ask:
The best time to visit Maine is from late spring to early fall. During this time, these northern latitudes enjoy long, largely sunny days and pleasantly warm temperatures perfect for hiking, kayaking, and lounging on the beach.
Maine Beach water temperatures peak in the range 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F) on around the 8th of August and are at their lowest on about the 1st of March, in the range 2 to 3°C (36 to 37°F). The highest Maine Beach water temperatures in early to mid August require something like a 3/2mm fully sealed wetsuit.
The beauty of the Maine coast is perennial, but winter is perfect for beach walks. It is not uncommon to find yourself practically alone on the long stretches of white sand found in Old Orchard, Ogunquit, Kittery and Wells.
Old Orchard Beach | Old Orchard Beach
This is voted Maine’s #1 beach every year by Maine’s largest newspaper. Seven miles of great sand with the centerpiece Palace Playland amusement park which hosts an arcade area.
While sea glass can be found in many places along the coastline of Maine, the southern Maine Beaches region is home to two recognized sea glass hot spots.
Lobsters are harvested year-round in Maine and New Hampshire; however, the majority are caught between late June and late December, when the lobsters are the most active. Lobsters are also harvested during the winter and early spring months but in smaller quantities.
East End Beach in Portland has some of the very best Maine seashells.
The Maine Beaches offers great vacation fun for every member of the family, including Fido. Nearly every beach is dog-friendly at some point during the day. Just be sure to check ahead for days, hours, and rules regarding dogs.
Birch Point Beach State Park, Owls Head, Maine
Park is a public recreation area occupying 62 acres on Penobscot Bay in the town of Owls Head, Knox County, Maine. The state park features a sandy, crescent-shaped "pocket beach" with scenic views
Website: Birch Point Beach State Park, Owls Head, MaineHiggins Beach, Scarborough
Higgins Beach is a small beach located in the town of Scarborough. Enjoy the pleasures at Higgins Beach by simply sunbathing, kayaking, hunting for sand dollars and shells, sunrise or sunset strolls. Great family fun…
Website: Higgins Beach, ScarboroughSand Beach, Acadia National Park
Beach is a gorgeous little beach (290 yards long) nestled between mountains and rocky shores on the east side of
Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park.
Website: Sand Beach, Acadia National ParkKennebunk Beach, Kennebunk
The Kennebunk are bordered by some of the most beautiful and accessible beaches on the
Atlantic Seaboard. The beaches are great for walking, sunbathing or playing in the sun.
Website: Kennebunk Beach, KennebunkOld Orchard Beach, Maine
Old Orchard Beach is a popular summer beach destination. The downtown contains many tourist-oriented businesses, including clam shacks and T-shirt shops. A wooden pier on the beach contains many other tourist businesses, including a variety of souvenir shops. The seven mile long beach stretching away from the downtown is lined with many beach residential properties, condominiums, motels and bed and breakfasts.
Website: Old Orchard Beach, MaineOgunquit Beach, Ogunquit
For some 3 1/5 miles, Ogunquit Beach’s dunes and gleaming white sand separate the Ogunquit River and the Atlantic Ocean. This beloved seashore commonly ends up ranking high in tallies of America’s finest beaches, and one visit to its serene shores and you’ll see why. Enjoy sunbathing, swimming or simply combing the beach for treasures.
Website: Ogunquit Beach, OgunquitShort Sands Beach, York Beach
Located halfway between the villages of York Harbor and York Beach, Long Sands Beach offers a mile of white sandy beach. A busy tourist attraction from mid June to Labor Day the beach will have as many as three to five thousand visitors daily. Popular activities include swimming, sun bathing, surfing, and volleyball.
Website: Short Sands Beach, York BeachSand Beach, Acadia National Park
Beach is a gorgeous little beach (290 yards long) nestled between mountains and rocky shores on the east side of
Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park.
Website: Sand Beach, Acadia National ParkCrescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth
Crescent Beach State Park opened in 1966 and is one of Maine's finest beaches with seagulls circling over the grassy dunes. It is state-operated and a public recreation area located picturesque Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The state park features a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach for swimming and sunbathing, fishing, sea kayaking, and trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Website: Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth
Previous slide
Next slide