Maine's Best Beaches

Find Maine's best beaches from sandy stretches to dramatic rocky coastline.

All Beaches

31 beaches across Maine

Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit, southern-maine

Three miles of sandy barrier beach in southern Maine's most charming beach town. The Marginal Way cliff walk, warm(ish) water, and a walkable village with restaurants and galleries.

Marginal way Barrier Beach Swimming

Popham Beach State Park

Popham Beach State Park

Bath, midcoast

One of Maine's finest sandy beaches, stretching wide at low tide where the Kennebec River meets the Atlantic. Tidal pools, shifting sandbars, Fort Popham, and views of Seguin Island Light.

Phippsburg Tidal Pools Fort Popham

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

Bar Harbor, acadia

A rare pocket of sand on Acadia's granite coast, framed by rocky headlands and fed by the cold Atlantic. Just 290 yards long, but one of the most photographed spots in Maine.

Swimming Great Head Ocean Path

Birch Point Beach State Park midcoast

Birch Point Beach State Park

Rockland, midcoast

A hidden pocket beach on Penobscot Bay in Owls Head. Sandy crescent cove tucked between spruce headlands, with gentle surf, warm water by Maine standards, and a peaceful, uncrowded vibe.

Sandy Beach Penobscot bay Swimming

Camp Ellis Beach southern-maine

Camp Ellis Beach

Saco, southern-maine

A jetty beach at the mouth of the Saco River in Saco. Dramatic waves, a working fishing harbor, and a tight-knit coastal community.

Saco Jetty Waves

Colony Beach southern-maine

Colony Beach

Kennebunkport, southern-maine

A small sandy beach on Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport with views of Walker's Point, the Bush family compound, and the rocky coastline.

Kennebunkport Walkers Point Bush Compound

Crescent Beach State Park greater-portland

Crescent Beach State Park

Cape Elizabeth, greater-portland

A crescent-shaped sandy beach in Cape Elizabeth, 8 miles from Portland. Calm, shallow water for families, a nature trail through the spruce woods, and one of the most accessible beaches near the city.

greater-portland

Cape Elizabeth Family Beach Swimming

Drakes Island Beach southern-maine

Drakes Island Beach

Wells, southern-maine

A quieter 2,800-foot sandy beach in Wells with tidal flats, coastal dunes, and excellent birding. The calm side of Wells.

Wells Quiet Beach Birding

East End Beach greater-portland

East End Beach

Portland, greater-portland

Portland's only public beach, a small sand-and-pebble stretch on Casco Bay at the Eastern Promenade with kayak rentals and harbor views.

greater-portland

Portland Casco bay Kayaking

Ferry Beach State Park southern-maine

Ferry Beach State Park

Saco, southern-maine

A 117-acre state park in Saco with a white sand beach, rare northern tupelo trees, a boardwalk through a bog, and 1.7 miles of nature trails through varied habitats.

easy 1.7 mi southern-maine

Saco Tupelo Trees Nature Trail

Fortunes Rocks Beach southern-maine

Fortunes Rocks Beach

Biddeford, southern-maine

A 2-mile stretch of open Atlantic beach in Biddeford with steady waves, good surfing, and far fewer crowds than Old Orchard Beach.

Biddeford Surfing Sandy Beach

Gooch's Beach

Gooch's Beach

Kennebunk, southern-maine

A sandy stretch in Kennebunk with the calm, family-friendly Mother's Beach section, walking distance to the historic district and close to Kennebunkport.

Sandy Beach Kennebunk Family Friendly

Goose Rocks Beach

Goose Rocks Beach

Kennebunkport, southern-maine

A quiet 3-mile crescent of sand in Kennebunkport, protected by a barrier reef with gentle surf, tidal pools, and no commercial development along the shore.

Kennebunkport Quiet Beach Barrier Reef

Higgins Beach

Higgins Beach

Scarborough, greater-portland

A small, iconic surfing beach in Scarborough with consistent waves, a buried shipwreck, and a tight-knit neighborhood feel just south of Portland.

greater-portland

Scarborough Surfing Sandy Beach

Jasper Beach downeast

Jasper Beach

Machias, downeast

A rare pebble beach covered in polished rhyolite stones that sing with the tide. No sand, pure geological wonder on the Downeast coast.

Machiasport Pebble Beach Rhyolite

Kennebunk Beach (Mother's Beach) southern-maine

Kennebunk Beach (Mother's Beach)

Kennebunk, southern-maine

A small, sheltered beach in Kennebunk known for calm, shallow water and a playground. The safest swimming spot for young children in the Kennebunks.

Mothers Beach Family Beach Calm Water

Kettle Cove

Kettle Cove

Cape Elizabeth, greater-portland

A small protected cove in Cape Elizabeth with rocky points, tide pools, and a quiet pebble beach, just steps from Crescent Beach and 20 minutes from Portland.

easy 2.8 mi greater-portland

Cape Elizabeth Tide Pools Rocky Coast

Laudholm Beach (Wells Reserve)

Laudholm Beach (Wells Reserve)

Wells, southern-maine

A walk-in beach at the Wells Reserve, reached by trails through salt marsh and forest. No development, no crowds, just coast and nature.

Nature Reserve Salt Marsh Walk in Beach

Long Sands Beach

Long Sands Beach

York, southern-maine

A mile-long sandy beach in York along Route 1A, popular for surfing, family swimming, and sunset views with Nubble Lighthouse visible from the northern end.

York Surfing Sandy Beach

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach

Saco, southern-maine

A 7-mile sandy beach with a historic pier, Palace Playland (New England's only beachfront amusement park), and a boardwalk that has drawn visitors for over a century.

Boardwalk Amusement Park Pier

Pemaquid Beach Park

Pemaquid Beach Park

Damariscotta, midcoast

A quarter-mile sandy beach in Bristol near Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, with calm swimming, a snack bar, and family-friendly facilities.

Sandy Beach Family Friendly Bristol

Pine Point Beach greater-portland

Pine Point Beach

Scarborough, greater-portland

A wide, four-mile sandy beach at the edge of Scarborough Marsh. Calmer and less crowded than Old Orchard Beach next door, with good walking, family-friendly waters, and a local lobster shack.

greater-portland

Sandy Beach Family Friendly Scarborough Marsh

Reid State Park

Reid State Park

Bath, midcoast

Maine's first state-owned saltwater beach, featuring Half Mile Beach and Mile Beach, rare sand dunes, rocky headlands, and views of three lighthouses.

Georgetown Sandy Beach Swimming

Roque Bluffs State Park

Roque Bluffs State Park

Machias, downeast

A 274-acre Downeast park with a rare sand-and-pebble ocean beach on Englishman Bay, warm freshwater swimming at Simpson Pond, and six miles of coastal trails.

easy 6 mi downeast

Ocean Beach Simpson Pond Freshwater Swimming

Sandy River Beach downeast

Sandy River Beach

Jonesport, downeast

A remote white sand beach in Jonesport with a tidal sandbar to Bar Island, sea glass, and views of Chandler Bay. Downeast Maine's hidden gem.

Jonesport sea Glass bar Island

Scarborough Beach State Park greater-portland

Scarborough Beach State Park

Scarborough, greater-portland

A sandy beach with New England's best surfing, just 10 minutes south of Portland. Consistent waves, surf lessons, and a no-frills beach experience close to the city.

greater-portland

Surfing Swimming Sandy Beach

Short Sands Beach

Short Sands Beach

York Beach, southern-maine

A small sandy cove at York Beach village with the Fun-O-Rama arcade, saltwater taffy shops, restaurants, and a classic New England beach town vibe.

Sandy Beach York Beach Family Friendly

Thomas Point Beach greater-portland

Thomas Point Beach

Brunswick, greater-portland

An 85-acre private beach park in Brunswick with sandy tidal beach, camping, and picnic groves. Former home of Maine's legendary bluegrass festival.

greater-portland

Brunswick Bluegrass Tidal Beach

Wells Beach southern-maine

Wells Beach

Wells, southern-maine

Seven miles of sandy shoreline in southern Maine. Wide at low tide, lifeguards in summer, and restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Sandy Beach Swimming Family Beach

Willard Beach

Willard Beach

South Portland, greater-portland

A small, welcoming neighborhood beach in South Portland tucked into Simonton Cove. Views of Portland Head Light, a dog-friendly off-season schedule, and the Spring Point Shoreway just steps away.

greater-portland

dog Friendly Neighborhood Beach Portland Harbor

York Harbor Beach southern-maine

York Harbor Beach

York, southern-maine

A small, scenic sandy beach in York Harbor with gentle surf, rocky headlands, and views of Stage Neck. Quiet and charming.

Scenic Beach Stage Neck Small Beach

Types of Maine Beaches

🏖️

Sandy Beaches

Long sandy stretches perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and building castles.

🪨

Rocky Coastline

Dramatic granite shores for tidepooling, photography, and coastal hiking.

🏊

Freshwater Beaches

Warm lake beaches with calm water, ideal for families and swimming.

Maine Beach Tips

* Water temperatures range from 50-65F in summer. Much warmer at freshwater beaches and southern sandy beaches.
* Tides matter. Sandy beaches can shrink dramatically at high tide. Check tide charts before you go.
* Parking fills early at popular spots like Sand Beach (Acadia) and Old Orchard. Arrive before 10 AM in peak season.
* Pack layers. Even on warm days, coastal breezes can make it cool, especially in the afternoon.

Maine Beach Day Kit

Essentials for sandy shores and rocky coves along the Maine coast.

KEEN Newport H2 Sandal $145

Rocky beaches & river crossings

Merrell Hydro Moc $55

Rocky beaches & streams

Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag 8L $20

Packable gear protection

JOTO Waterproof Phone Pouch $8

Lake & beach phone protection

Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen $16

Beach & lake days

PackTowl Personal $25

Quick-dry travel towel

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