York is a town of 13,723 people (2020 census) on the southern Maine coast, made up of five sections: Bald Head, York Village, York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick. Europeans first settled it in 1624 and it was incorporated in 1652, which makes it one of the oldest towns in Maine. The short version for a visit: beaches and the Nubble in summer, the historic buildings of Old York in York Village, and Mount Agamenticus for a view in any season. The Old York buildings are closed until May 31, 2027, so plan around that.
The five villages of York
- York Village: the historic center, where the Old York Historical Society runs its museums (details below).
- York Harbor: the Stage Neck Inn, York Harbor Beach and the Sayward-Wheeler House.
- York Beach: Long Sands and Short Sands, the arcade and taffy shops. Our York Beach guide has parking fees, dog rules and which beach to pick.
- Cape Neddick: the northernmost section, with Cape Neddick Beach (permit parking only; the town sells non-York permits for $80).
- Bald Head: the southernmost section, mostly residential.
Beaches
Long Sands runs more than a mile between York Beach and York Harbor, and the town lists four sandy beaches in all. Kiosk parking at the town beaches is $4 an hour from April 15 to October 31, and dogs are not allowed on the main beaches from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. between May 20 and September 20. For the full rules see our York Beach guide, and for dogs specifically our dog-friendly beaches page. For other southern Maine sand, see our Maine beaches guide.
Nubble Lighthouse
Cape Neddick Light, known as the Nubble, sits on a small island just off Sohier Park. Its image is on the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Parking, viewing spots, the island raffle and cruises are in our Nubble Lighthouse guide. Fox’s Lobster House at 8 Sohier Park Rd looks across at it; a listing on maine.com (checked September 16, 2026) shows it open year round, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no reservations taken, so call (207) 363-2643 before you drive out in winter.
Old York: museums and history
Old York is the town’s history center. General admission is $20 and covers the Museum Center, Remick Gallery, Jefferds Tavern, York Corner Schoolhouse and the Old Gaol; children 18 and under are free. Perkins House has guided tours on Saturdays at 1 p.m. for $10. The Emerson-Wilcox House is temporarily closed. The historic buildings are closed for the season and reopen on Monday, May 31, 2027.
- Old Gaol: a National Historic Landmark on the site of colonial Maine’s first prison, built in 1656; the site was in use until 1860.
- Jefferds Tavern: built in 1750 in Wells, then moved to York and restored in 1941.
- Candlemas Massacre, 1692: Abenaki raiders destroyed York during King William’s War. About 50 people were killed and nearly 100 taken captive, including the minister’s wife and son.
Sayward-Wheeler House
Historic New England runs this house at 9 Barrell Lane Ext in York Harbor. It dates to about 1718, stayed in one family from 1719 to 1977, and is described as one of the best-preserved colonial interiors in the country. In 2026 tours ran on Saturdays from June 6 to October 10, on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $7 for students and children. Check Historic New England for the 2027 schedule.
Mount Agamenticus
Mount Agamenticus is a little under 700 feet high, but on a clear day it gives 360-degree views from Ogunquit to Portsmouth and out to the Isles of Shoals. You can drive to the summit parking lot, which the town’s Parks and Recreation Department runs. The conservation region covers about 10,000 acres and has around 40 miles of multi-use trails, and the one-mile Big A trail from the summit is ADA accessible.
Where to stay
The Stage Neck Inn, at 8 Stage Neck Road in York Harbor next to York Harbor Beach, has 58 rooms and says it is open year-round. Dogs are accepted in select rooms by reservation for $50 a night. Several hotels around York Beach are summer-only and mostly close afterward, so check dates if you are visiting after Labor Day.
Family stop: York’s Wild Kingdom
York’s Wild Kingdom combines a zoo and an amusement park near York Beach. Its site listed the 2026 season with admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and last entry at 4 p.m. in peak season; check yorkswildkingdom.com for current dates and prices before you go.
Treats
The Goldenrod in York Beach has been making saltwater taffy since 1896. For a sit-down meal with a view of the Nubble, see Fox’s above.
Nearby towns
Ogunquit is up the coast with the beach and Marginal Way, Kennebunkport is farther north, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire is just south across the river from Kittery. Our comparison pages can help you pick a base: Ogunquit versus York, Kennebunkport versus York and York versus Kittery.
Sources: Wikipedia (population, history, villages), Old York Historical Society admission, Old York buildings, Historic New England, NRCM on Mount Agamenticus, Stage Neck Inn, maine.com on Fox’s Lobster House, York’s Wild Kingdom. Checked November 7, 2026; hours and prices change, so confirm before you go.
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