Maine's Best Beaches
Find Maine's best beaches from sandy stretches to dramatic rocky coastline.
Featured Beaches
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.
BEACH 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.
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.
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.
All Beaches
31 beaches across Maine
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BEACH 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.
BEACH 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.
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.
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.
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.
BEACH 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.
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.
BEACH 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.
BEACH 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.
BEACH 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.