Best Beaches on the Maine Coast

Maine boasts more than 3,000 miles of rugged coastline along the Atlantic, but only 70 miles could be categorized as beach. The southern coast offers beautiful white sand, but also more crowds vying for the perfect spot to spend a warm summer day. Heading north along the ocean’s edge — or Downeast, as the locals who know the currents call it — pebble-strewn inlets and tidal flats offer visitors a chance to step back into a less hectic era, relax with the sound of the implacable breakers, and enjoy the timeless beauty of the Maine coast. You’ll agree with the locals who claim that a summer day spent on a Maine beach is “The way life should be.”

1. Long and Short Sands Beaches

Long and Short Sands Beaches in York are bucolic stretches of white sand that accompany a friendly southern Maine coastal town. High tide takes over most of the beach, but if you plan for low tide on a sunny summer day, you’ll be rewarded with a delightful beach experience, tide pools to explore, and a sandy playground and park area. Near York’s Wild Kingdom Amusement Park and lots of entertainment, shops, and food stops, both mile Long Sands and ¼ mile Short Sands tend to fill up quickly. Parking permits are required, but you can rent rafts and umbrellas. Lifeguards are on duty in season to watch the few brave souls who ply chilly Atlantic waves for some decent surfing. You have a great view of Nubble Lighthouse to the south on a clear day. Idyllic.

2. Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit Beach may have the softest white sand along the Maine coast, but you’ll have to test it yourself to know for sure. This delightful family-friendly beach in southern Maine is 3.5 miles of expansive gentle sand. Abenaki for “Beautiful place by the sea,” Ogunquit is a prime Maine family vacation spot all summer because it truly has it all – picturesque town, charming trolley service, delicious fresh seafood, and of course, enticing beach. Take a leisurely 3-mile walk along Marginal Way to the quintessential fishing village of Perkins Cove, complete with a working drawbridge. Or walk to less-trafficked Footbridge Beach via – you guessed it – a footbridge – to enjoy a bit more space but still benefit from lifeguard duty. You’ll find beachside snack shacks, restrooms, and rental options. Many happy tourists gather here every sunny day from June to late August.

3. Wells Beach, Crescent, Higgins, and Drakes Island Beaches

Just up the coast from Ogunquit, you’ll find Wells Beach, Crescent, Higgins, and Drakes Island Beaches in Wells. The 7 mile stretch of white sand forms most of the coastal border of the town. The coast undulates with dunes, tidal pools, waves, and some pebbly stretches. Some of the best surfing you can find in Maine is here. Lifeguards watch over the beach in season, particularly since the tides and currents can be strong in spots. You will find restrooms, snack shacks, and lots of family activities. Free parking is limited, but you can hitch a ride on the town trolley or buy a parking permit. For a change in scenery, walk the seaside trails at Wells Reserve to appreciate the native wildlife and protected seaside marshes.

4. Goose Rocks Beach

Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport is a truly stunning coastline. Perhaps the prettiest beach on the planet, a summer visit is worth the challenge of attaining one of the limited parking permits that help keep the crowds at bay (or away from it). Silky white sand forms a slight crescent that keeps the surf mild, and the evergreen islands of Goose Rocks and Timber protect it from the sea. A peninsula south, Gooch’s Beach allows dogs a place to frolic in the waves, and surfers find waves if they paddle out a bit. Connected to Middle Beach and Mother’s Beach, a boardwalk means easy walking between the three public spaces to access a playground, portable toilets, and varying crowds. Walk to the breakwater to watch boats come and go.

5. Old Orchard Beach

The most popular – or at least most populated – 7-mile strip of white sand at Old Orchard Beach is a perennial favorite. The beach is lovely of its own accord, but it hosts the last remaining seaside amusement park in the U.S. as well. No other beach can you experience from the top of a Ferris wheel! In addition, a long boardwalk known as The Pier stretches approximately 500 feet into the Atlantic. It brims with souvenir shops, restaurants, and the enticing aroma of fresh pier fries. Fireworks shows awe crowds weekly through the summer. When you need to get away from the bustle of the strip but still crave beach time, head down to Ferry Beach State Park for equally idyllic sparkling sand, but far smaller crowds.

6. Scarborough Beach State Park

Scarborough Beach State Park, just south of Portland on Prout’s Neck, is purportedly the best ocean swimming in the State. Try them all to be sure. Here you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards at a little shack, and there are restrooms and a snack bar near the dunes. Respond to the beckoning beach by actually swimming in the warm (compared to farther north) water. Beware of the strong tides; rip currents occur in certain areas. The white sands of Higgins Beach are part of a small coastal community just north of the Park, and often less busy. You may see an old shipwreck partly visible at low tide.

7. Popham Beach State Park

Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg is so beautiful that even Hollywood couldn’t resist filming Message in a Bottle on site. Driftwood, dunes, and a vast golden beach welcome many to the midcoast every summer. At low tide, you can walk out to the Fox Islands (just be sure to walk back before the tide returns!) There is a picnic area with grills, and there are restrooms and a changing area available. You could also head up to the old Fort Popham historic site to explore the stone fort ruins, or enjoy the relative solitude at Hunnewell Beach a short walk away.

8. Reid State Park

Though Reid State Park is gorgeous, it’s somehow never crowded. This slice of Georgetown peninsula is idyllic. Rugged dunes, fine sand, tide pools, a lagoon, sparkling water make this a delightful family destination. The facilities are clean; the park also provides grills and a green picnic area. Wildlife and unique flora abound; the dunes are home to endangered birds such as Piping Plovers. Georgetown has some top-rated lobster shacks nearby when that salty air invokes your appetite. Climbing paths give the adventurer a spectacular view from the top of the bluff. If you want to brave the brisk winter breezes, the trails are delightful for a sparkling hike in the snow or cross country ski trip. This place has it all.

9. Pemaquid Beach

Small but pristine and dazzlingly picturesque, Pemaquid Beach in New Harbor offers the midcoast a delightful seaside respite on hot summer days. Facilities have recently been redone. Beach access is accommodating, though the parking lot is known to fill up on the best days. Welcoming soft sand, grassy picnic areas, and gentle waves greet the visitor. Aromatic wild roses and lupines grace the foreground, and quaint green islands dot the blue horizon. Spend a bucolic afternoon at the ocean, wander the path to old Fort William Henry, then throw a line off the wharf and try to catch a mackerel as you watch the busy harbor life. It is also a quick drive to the end of the peninsula where you can explore Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and museum. Plan a trip during Olde Bristol Days on the second weekend in August, complete with a humorous parade, lobster boat races, and fireworks. Turns out you can get there from here.

10. Birch Point Beach State Park

Birch Point Beach State Park in Owls Head is a secluded little pocket beach with views of the Muscle Ridge Islands in the bay. Pack a picnic or bring a fishing pole and watch the kids frolic in the sand. Pay for parking on the honor system. There’s no lifeguard, but the surf is gentle in this protected cove. From there, explore the bluff surrounding Owl’s Head Light and browse the gift shop for a memento other than the sand in your shoes. It’s also an easy drive up to the Rockland Breakwater, where you can walk the rough weathered granite path to the lighthouse the guards the bay.

11. Laite Memorial Beach

Visit little Laite Memorial Beach at the edge of the harbor in Camden. The walkable seaside town draws many summer shoppers, but few seem to know about this little sandy gem where you can relax next to the busy harbor. Behind is a stunning view of Camden Hills, and adjacent is a small playground with a picnic spot providing grills, picnic tables, and well-maintained restrooms. The beach is strewn with sea-smoothed pebbles that entice young explorers to uncover geological souvenirs after their parents have browsed the shops downtown.

12. Sandy Point Beach

The farther north and east you go, the fewer sandy beaches you’ll encounter. While Sandy Point Beach in Stockton Springs isn’t smooth white sand, it offers a matchless view across the mouth of the Penobscot River to Verona Island. The rugged coastal area is a great place to explore, and there’s lots of room to sunbathe. The gravelly beach is a favorite spot for kids and is never crowded. Dogs are welcome to run while you search for shells and rocks. There is an outhouse available when nature calls you away from scenic explorations. You can see Fort Point Lighthouse to the south on a clear day.

13. Sand Beach

Sand Beach, as the name implies, is the last of its kind along the Maine coast. Located at the edge of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, between Gorham Mountain and Great Head, the pink-tinged soft sand is made of ground-up seashells more than rock. Atlantic currents coming from the north guarantee icy cold water, even mid-summer. The beach and the parking fill up quickly on beautiful summer days, so dogs are not allowed during the busy season. Seasoned travelers exclaim over their delightful visit in several languages around you. Beehive Mountain in the background provides a heart-pumping hike with breathtaking views over the beach and islands beyond. With your need for sand satisfied, take a scenic walk or short drive along the coast to Thunder Hole and listen to the waves gurgle in the rocky crags. Then head back into Bar Harbor for a delightful stroll among the shops and restaurants of the bustling seaside town. You can hike or drive the winding road up Cadillac Mountain, the first place to see the sunrise in America. The view of the island and rugged coastline is truly worth the trip.

14. Roque Bluffs State Park

Roque Bluffs State Park encompasses more than 270 miles on Schoppee Point just outside of Machias. Well-kept boardwalks through wild rose bushes and granite outcroppings overlook many islands, and you can watch lobster boats at work in Englishman Bay. The saltwater is bracing, but the waves provide static solace on the quiet coast. Adjacent 60-acre Stimpson Pond is a warmer place to soak. Hike the coastal trails through pristine evergreen forests, protected bogs, and stolid granite boulders placed by glaciers from another era. The park has a children’s play area, restrooms, trails, and delightful picnic areas. The whitewashed fishing villages that dot the coast give you a taste of the salty, stalwart Downeast culture as no other place can.

15. Quoddy Head and Mowery Bluffs

If you want a popular tropical white sand experience, then head to the tropics (or at least stick with the beaches in southern Maine). Neither Mowery Bluffs in Lubec nor the peninsula where Quoddy Head Lighthouse rests a few miles south offer warm white sand or sunbathing conditions. But for those who take the trip Downeast, the final beach options in Maine are pebble-strewn and cool even on the hottest days of summer, and lack of crowds is a given. Quoddy Head is the easternmost point in the U.S. Their rocky strip of coast guards the strong tidal sea that demands the respect of sailors. Mowery Bluffs is a bit more beach-like and equally stunning. Local clam diggers ply their trade during low tide at Mowery, and a keen eye will likely uncover some sea glass, spot seals, or even watch whales playing in the surf. You can see Campobello Island in Canada across the channel. The few who drive to the eastern edge of the nation receive a sensational view and awe of the timeless beauty of the rugged Maine coast.