Maine has plenty of beaches where dogs are welcome, but the rules change from town to town and from season to season. Most southern beaches only allow dogs early in the morning and in the evening during summer, and state park beaches ban them entirely from April through September. This guide lists the rules beach by beach, so you can plan before you load the car.
Quick Answers
- Summer on southern Maine beaches: Usually dogs only before about 8 or 9 a.m. and after 5 or 6 p.m.
- Maine state park beaches: No pets from April 1 to September 30. Leashed pets are welcome from October 1 to March 31.
- Easiest in summer: Fort Foster in Kittery, Bayview Beach in Saco, Mitchell Field in Harpswell and Lamoine Beach Park all allow dogs during the day, with leash rules.
- Best time overall: Fall, winter and spring, when most restrictions lift.
- Mitchell Field, Harpswell: A 120-acre waterfront park where dogs are allowed all day. They must be leashed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and under owner control at other times.
- Sandy Point Beach, Stockton Springs: Dogs are welcome, leashed or under owner control.
- Lamoine Beach Park: Dogs are allowed all day on a leash. Dogs are not allowed at the neighboring Lamoine State Beach.
- Go early: Morning windows are the longest and the beaches are quietest.
- Respect nesting areas: Piping plovers nest on many beaches. Keep dogs well away from posted or roped areas.
- Bring water and shade: Sand gets hot, and many beaches have no fresh water.
- Pick up waste: Some beaches have no bins, so carry a bag out.
- Travel off-season: Fall and spring are the easiest times for dogs.
Rules are set by each town and can change, so check the town’s website before you go. Always bring waste bags, keep dogs away from posted bird nesting areas and follow the leash rules.
Maine State Park Beaches
Maine’s state parks do not allow pets on their beaches between April 1 and September 30. From October 1 through March 31, leashed pets are welcome. Pets must be on a leash and under the handler’s physical control at all times. This covers beaches such as Popham Beach State Park, so plan a different beach for a summer trip with a dog. See our guide to Maine state parks.
Southern Maine
Kittery: Fort Foster
Fort Foster is open to dogs all year, dawn to dusk. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, and on weekends in May and September, dogs must be leashed from 10 a.m. to sunset. Dogs are not allowed on the children’s beach. Carry your own waste bags.
York: Long Sands, Short Sands, York Harbor Beach and Cape Neddick
From May 20 to September 20, dogs are allowed before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Outside those dates the restriction lifts. Dogs must be leashed in the parks and are not allowed in the playground area at Short Sands. Parking at York Harbor Beach and Cape Neddick can be limited to residents.
Ogunquit
Dogs are allowed on Ogunquit Beach from September 9 to March 31, and not from April 1 to September 8. They are never allowed in the Ogunquit River estuary. Full details are in our Ogunquit Beach guide.
Wells
From June 16 to September 15, dogs are not allowed on the beach from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They may be on the beach on a leash from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. See the Wells Beach guide.
Kennebunk and Kennebunkport
At Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s beaches in Kennebunk, dogs are allowed only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. from June 15 through Labor Day, and at any time the rest of the year, under voice control or on a leash. Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport follows a similar early and late pattern in summer, with leashes required. See the Kennebunk and Kennebunkport beaches guide.
Biddeford: Fortunes Rocks
From May 25 to September 15, dogs are allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., on a leash.
Saco: Bayview Beach
Dogs are allowed all day. From April 1 to September 30 they must be on a leash no longer than 12 feet, and they must stay clear of protected nesting areas. This is one of the few southern beaches that allows dogs during the day in summer. Ferry Beach State Park in Saco follows the state rule, with no dogs from April 1 to September 30.
Old Orchard Beach
From May 15 to Labor Day, dogs are not allowed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. they must be leashed, with a leash no longer than 12 feet, and before 9 a.m. they may be unleashed under sight and voice control. See the Old Orchard Beach guide.
Greater Portland
South Portland: Willard Beach
From May 1 to September 30, dogs are allowed in two windows, 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and they must be on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in the dune area, and dog toys that are thrown, such as Chuckits, are prohibited during that period.
Portland: East End Beach
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, dogs are allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., on a leash. The Eastern Promenade above the beach lets dogs off leash under voice control in the same hours, with the owner within 50 feet.
Scarborough: Pine Point, Higgins Beach and Ferry Beach
From May 15 to Labor Day, dogs are not allowed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early mornings allow dogs off leash under voice control in unrestricted areas, and evenings require a leash. Some areas are closed to protect nesting birds from April through Labor Day.
Midcoast and Downeast
Tips for Beach Days With a Dog
More Maine Beach Guides
See our guides to Maine beaches and the best beaches in Maine.
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Maine FAQ
Are dogs allowed on Maine beaches in summer?
Some are. Many southern Maine beaches allow dogs only early and late in the day, state park beaches ban them from April through September, and a few, like Bayview Beach in Saco, allow dogs all day on a leash.
Are dogs allowed at Popham Beach?
Not from April 1 to September 30, because it is a state park beach. Leashed dogs are welcome from October 1 to March 31.
Which Maine beach is best for dogs?
In summer, Fort Foster in Kittery, Bayview Beach in Saco and Mitchell Field in Harpswell allow dogs during the day. In the off-season, almost every beach is open to leashed dogs.
Can dogs be off leash on Maine beaches?
Only where posted. Some beaches allow off-leash dogs under voice control during certain morning hours or in the off-season. Always follow each town’s rules.