Maine Beaches by Region: Southern, Midcoast and Downeast

Maine’s beaches are among the most beautiful in New England — and among the most varied. From the wide sandy strands of the southern coast to the wild, rocky shores of Acadia and the Bold Coast, Maine’s coastline offers a beach experience for every taste.

Planning a family beach trip? See our Maine with kids guide.

Planning a beach day? See our guides to Ogunquit Beach, Wells Beach, the Kennebunk and Kennebunkport beaches Old Orchard Beach and Popham Beach for parking, dog rules and which beach to choose. Traveling with a dog? See dog-friendly beaches in Maine.

Want our ranked picks instead? See the best beaches in Maine. This guide walks the coast region by region.

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Ogunquit Beach
• Most lively: Old Orchard Beach, with its pier and boardwalk
• Most dramatic: Popham Beach and Sand Beach in Acadia
• Quieter state park beach: Reid State Park
• Calm water for kids: Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk and the river side of Ogunquit Beach

The stretch of coast from Kittery to Portland contains Maine’s longest and most accessible sandy beaches. Ogunquit Beach is arguably the finest — three miles of white sand with calm water on the river side. Old Orchard Beach is Maine’s most popular beach destination, a classic American seaside resort with an amusement pier and carnival atmosphere. Wells Beach, Kennebunk Beach, and York Beach round out the southern coast’s offerings.

North of Portland, sandy beaches give way to the rocky shoreline that defines Maine’s iconic image. Pemaquid Beach in Bristol is one of the midcoast’s finest sandy beaches. Sand Beach in Acadia National Park is a stunning crescent of sand backed by mountains — though the water temperature rarely exceeds 55 degrees even in August.

Best Beaches in Southern Maine

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport beaches are among southern Maine’s most scenic. Gooch’s Beach (Kennebunk Beach) is the main sandy stretch, popular with families and walkers, with metered/permit parking. Mother’s Beach is the calmest and most family-friendly, with a playground and gentle water. Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport is a wide, three-mile sandy beach considered one of the best in the area, though parking requires a permit from the town office. These beaches are quieter and more residential than the boardwalk scene at Old Orchard Beach.

Ogunquit Beach is consistently ranked among the top beaches in New England — a three-mile barrier beach between the Ogunquit River and the open Atlantic. The river side offers calm, shallow water ideal for families with young children, while the ocean side has gentle surf. Parking fills early on summer weekends; take the trolley from town. See our Ogunquit guide for full details.

Old Orchard Beach is Maine’s most popular beach — a seven-mile stretch of hard-packed sand with a classic amusement pier, carnival rides, and a lively boardwalk atmosphere. The beach is wide and the water warmer than points north. One of the few Maine beaches with a true resort-town feel. See our Old Orchard Beach guide.

Kennebunk Beach is really three connected beaches along the Kennebunk shore: Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s. Goose Rocks Beach is a separate beach in Kennebunkport, about three miles of sand backed by dunes, and it has its own summer parking permit from the town. Check the town’s current permit rules before you go.

Wells Beach is a wide, sandy beach in Wells with a small village of shops and restaurants at the north end. A quieter alternative to Old Orchard Beach with excellent swimming and a more relaxed atmosphere. Drakes Island Beach just south of Wells Beach is one of southern Maine’s hidden gems — less crowded and more scenic.

York Beach actually comprises two beaches — Short Sands and Long Sands — separated by Cape Neddick. Long Sands is a classic mile-long beach popular with surfers and families. Short Sands has a more traditional seaside amusement feel with an arcade and mini golf. The Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick is one of the most photographed in Maine.

Midcoast Maine Beaches

Pemaquid Beach in Bristol is a sheltered crescent of fine white sand on Johns Bay, run as a town park by Bristol Parks and Recreation. It is open from June to early September with an entrance fee and no lifeguard, and dogs are not allowed from May 1 to October 15. The water is cold, but the setting is exceptional, and Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is a short drive away. Confirm the season and fees with the town before you go.

Popham Beach State Park near Bath is one of Maine’s most spectacular state park beaches — a long barrier beach at the mouth of the Kennebec River with shifting sandbars, tidal pools, and views of Fox Island and Seguin Island. One of the most dramatic beach settings in the state. Arrive early in summer as the parking lot fills by mid-morning on weekends. Visit Popham Beach State Park: A Complete Visitor Guide to learn more.

Reid State Park on Georgetown Island near Bath offers two sand beaches — Mile Beach and Half Mile Beach — in a stunning setting on the open Atlantic. One of Maine’s most beautiful and undervisited state park beaches, with dunes, salt marshes, and excellent birding.

Downeast Maine & Acadia Beaches

Sand Beach in Acadia National Park is one of the most dramatic beach settings in the eastern United States — a crescent of pink-tinged sand enclosed by mountains and headlands on Mount Desert Island. The water is cold (rarely above 55°F even in August) but the scenery is unmatched. Parking fills by 9am on summer weekends; take the Island Explorer shuttle from Bar Harbor.

Lamoine Beach near Ellsworth offers a quieter alternative to Acadia’s busy main beaches — a pebble and sand beach on Frenchman Bay with views of the mountains of Mount Desert Island across the water. Part of Lamoine State Park, which also has a campground.

Maine Beach Water Temperature

Maine’s ocean water is cold by most standards — a fact that surprises many first-time visitors. Southern Maine beaches (Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit, Wells) see the warmest water, typically reaching 60–65°F in July and August. Midcoast beaches are cooler, typically 55–60°F at peak summer. Sand Beach in Acadia rarely exceeds 55°F. The cold water is part of Maine’s character — locals embrace it, and the beaches are no less beautiful for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which beach should I start with in Maine?

Ogunquit Beach is widely considered the finest beach in Maine — three miles of white sand with calm river-side water for families and ocean-side surf for swimmers. Old Orchard Beach is the most popular for its classic seaside resort atmosphere. Sand Beach in Acadia is the most dramatic setting. Popham Beach State Park and Reid State Park are the best options for those who want a spectacular beach without the crowds. See our ranked list of the best beaches in Maine.

Does Maine have sandy beaches?

Yes — Maine has dozens of sandy beaches, concentrated primarily on the southern coast from Kittery to Portland. The most popular include Ogunquit Beach, Old Orchard Beach, Wells Beach, Kennebunk Beach, and York Beach. North of Portland, sandy beaches become less common as the coastline transitions to the rocky shores Maine is famous for, though exceptions like Pemaquid Beach, Popham Beach, and Sand Beach in Acadia do exist.

Are Maine beaches free?

Most Maine beaches charge for parking rather than beach access itself. State park beaches like Popham Beach and Reid State Park charge a day-use fee. Town beaches like Ogunquit and Old Orchard Beach require paid parking. Some beaches like Goose Rocks in Kennebunkport require a parking permit available from the town. A few smaller beaches have free parking, particularly on the midcoast and Downeast.

When is the best time to visit Maine beaches?

July and August are peak beach season in Maine — the weather is warmest, all facilities are open, and the water reaches its highest temperatures. Late June and early September offer good beach weather with significantly smaller crowds. Memorial Day through mid-June can be chilly for swimming but pleasant for walking the beach. Southern Maine beaches are busiest from July 4th through Labor Day.

Looking for something off the beaten path? See our guide to Hidden Beaches of Maine — lesser-known coastal spots away from the summer crowds.

Our details come from Bristol Parks and Recreation and Go Kennebunks, along with each beach’s own town or park page, checked in October 2026.

Want to see the beach before you go? Old Orchard Beach has several live cams, listed on our Old Orchard Beach webcams page.