Lamoine State Park Beach

Acadia’s Quiet Shore

Lamoine State Park sits on the eastern shore of Frenchman Bay, directly across the water from Mount Desert Island. The view from the beach is one of the best in the region: the full profile of Cadillac Mountain rising above the bay, with Bar Harbor tucked into the shoreline below. It is the view of Acadia that most people never see because they are standing on Acadia looking the other way.

The park occupies 55 acres on a point of land in the town of Lamoine, about eight miles southeast of Ellsworth. It includes a campground with 62 sites, a boat launch ramp, picnic areas, and a stretch of rocky shoreline that serves as the park beach. It is not a sandy beach. The shore is a mix of smooth cobble, gravel, and rock, typical of this part of the coast. But the water access is good, the views are extraordinary, and the crowds are a fraction of what you will find at Sand Beach in Acadia.

The Beach

The beach at Lamoine State Park is a pebbly shoreline along Frenchman Bay. At low tide, the beach expands and tide pools appear among the rocks. At high tide, the water comes up to the cobble line. The water is cold, as all of Frenchman Bay is, with summer temperatures typically in the upper 40s to mid-50s. Wading is more common than swimming.

The real draw is the setting. You sit on the cobble beach and look across two miles of open water at the mountains of Mount Desert Island. Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Atlantic coast north of Brazil, dominates the view. On clear days, the summit road is visible as a thin line near the top. In late afternoon, the western light hits the mountains and turns them golden.

The park also operates a separate area called Lamoine Beach Park, located just up the road. Lamoine Beach Park has a paved parking lot (free, no entrance fee), picnic tables, and similar rocky shoreline access. It is dog-friendly and makes a good alternative if you do not want to pay the state park day-use fee.

Camping

Lamoine State Park has 62 campsites set in a mix of open and wooded areas. The campground is popular with visitors who want to explore Acadia but prefer a quieter base. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. The campground has drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, and an RV dump station.

Campsites are reservable through the Maine state park reservation system. The campground is open from May 15 through October 15. Sites fill quickly for July and August weekends, so book early.

Boat Launch

The park has a paved boat launch ramp on Frenchman Bay, suitable for motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes. The launch is one of the best public access points for Frenchman Bay. From here, you can explore the islands, fish for mackerel and striped bass, or paddle across to Mount Desert Island, though open-water conditions mean it pays to have solid kayaking gear before you launch.

Kayakers should be prepared for open-water conditions. Frenchman Bay can develop chop and current, especially in the afternoon when thermal winds build. Stick close to shore if conditions look rough.

Practical Details

The park is open from May 15 through October 15, 9 AM to sunset. Day-use fees are $4 for Maine residents and $6 for non-residents (ages 12-64). Maine residents 65 and older enter free. Children ages 5-11 are $1. Children under 5 are free.

Dogs are allowed on leash in the park, including on the beach.

Facilities include restrooms, picnic tables, grills, and the boat launch. There is no swimming lifeguard.

When to Go

Getting There

From Ellsworth, take Route 184 South (Lamoine Beach Road) for about eight miles to the park entrance on State Park Road. The drive from Ellsworth is about 15 minutes. From Bangor, take Route 1A East to Ellsworth, then Route 184 South. About 50 minutes. From Portland, the drive is roughly three hours via I-95 and Route 1A.

Bar Harbor is about 15 minutes from the park via Route 184 and Route 3. This makes Lamoine an easy base for day trips to Acadia National Park.

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