Ogunquit is the southern Maine beach town we recommend most often for families seeking a calmer, more curated experience than Old Orchard Beach. After thirty years sending families to Maine, we’ve found Ogunquit works particularly well for families with younger kids or for parents who want a beach trip that feels like a real Maine village rather than a summer-attraction strip. It also works for families with mixed ages, since older kids and parents can find adult-quality dining, art, and the famous Marginal Way clifftop walk while younger kids enjoy a genuinely excellent beach. Less rowdy than OOB, less expensive than Kennebunkport, and consistently the destination that families who try it return to year after year.
Quick answer: Ogunquit is best for families with kids ages 0-10 or for mixed-age families that include adults wanting a more refined experience. Three-mile sandy beach, walkable village, the Marginal Way clifftop walk, good dining. More expensive than OOB, calmer in atmosphere. Drive: 35 min south of Portland, 75 min north of Boston. Best months: mid-June or September.
Why Ogunquit Works for Families
Ogunquit is small enough to feel manageable with kids and large enough to have everything you need. The downtown village clusters around Main Street with art galleries, small shops, ice cream, and family-appropriate restaurants. The beach is a short trolley ride or pleasant walk from the village center. The Marginal Way, a paved coastal trail with railings, runs between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove — one of the easiest “real” coastal walks in Maine and doable with kids as young as 4 (about a mile each way). Perkins Cove itself is a working harbor with lobster boats, shops, and seasonal restaurants.
The Beach
Ogunquit Beach is consistently rated among Maine’s best beaches and is genuinely family-friendly. Three miles of fine white sand, gentle slope, and water that’s shallow for a meaningful distance out — kids can play safely in waist-deep surf. The main beach access has lifeguards in summer, bathhouses with showers, snack bars, and beach equipment rentals. Parking is the main constraint: the main beach lot runs $35-40/day in peak summer and fills by 9:00 AM. The Footbridge Beach access (a 10-minute walk from town across the marsh) is less crowded and easier to park near. The North Beach access offers the quietest beach experience.
A note specific to families: high tide at Ogunquit’s main beach reduces the wide sandy area considerably — the beach narrows dramatically. Check tide charts before your visit. Low tide reveals dramatically wider beach.
The Marginal Way
The Marginal Way is the postcard Ogunquit experience and a genuinely family-accessible walk — paved, mostly level, with railings throughout. From Ogunquit Beach to Perkins Cove is about a mile, with stunning Atlantic views the entire way. With young kids, plan 90 minutes for the round trip (kids walk slowly, plus stops to look at the ocean). With school-age kids, an hour is realistic. The trail has benches every few hundred feet for breaks. Most families do it once during their stay and remember it as the photo from the trip.
Perkins Cove
The fishing-village-turned-tourist-destination at the end of the Marginal Way. Working lobster boats, restaurants overlooking the cove, shops, and a small drawbridge that opens for sailboats (a hit with kids who happen to be there at the right time). Lobster boat tours depart from the cove daily in summer — about 90 minutes on the water, kid-friendly narration, sees lobster traps hauled. A solid family activity for any age 4 and up. Restaurants in the cove are generally pricier than village restaurants; lunch at Barnacle Billy’s or Lobster Shack is the family classic.
By Age
Toddlers (0-3)
Ogunquit is excellent for toddlers. Beach is gentle and safe. The village is walkable. The trolley runs all the routes, eliminating most driving with car seats. Lodging tends to be in low-key inns and small hotels that accommodate young families.
Young Kids (4-9)
The sweet spot. Kids this age can do the full Marginal Way, enjoy a lobster boat tour, swim safely, and appreciate the small-town atmosphere. They’re old enough for the Ogunquit Playhouse summer shows — kid-friendly productions are common in the schedule. This is also the age where the Ogunquit Museum of American Art’s family programs work well.
Tweens (10-12)
Still a strong fit. Tweens can be given more independence — walking the village with friends, swimming without constant supervision (with strong-swimmer caveats), exploring Perkins Cove on their own. Bike rentals are common and the area is generally bike-friendly, though Route 1 itself is not.
Teens (13+)
Ogunquit works for teens better than OOB does, primarily because there’s adult-quality dining and activity (the playhouse, art galleries, surf shops, kayak rentals at Perkins Cove). Teens who appreciate small-town charm enjoy Ogunquit. Teens looking for excitement may find it slow.
Where to Stay With Kids
Ogunquit lodging skews toward boutique inns, small hotels, and family-run motels. Family-friendly options cluster in two zones: village-walking-distance lodging (priciest but most convenient) and Route 1 motels just outside the village (cheaper, requires driving or trolley). Booking 4-6 months in advance is essential for July/August. Many properties have minimum-stay requirements during peak summer (3-night minimums on weekends are common). For families, look for: pool (essential for cool-water days), shorter walk to the beach or village, and family-friendly room configurations.
Where to Eat With Kids
Ogunquit’s dining is meaningfully better than OOB’s. For families with adventurous-eater kids, this is a real perk. Casual options include the Ogunquit Lobster Pound (classic outdoor seating with kid-friendly menu), Barnacle Billy’s at Perkins Cove (lobster, chowder, harbor views), and Bread and Roses Bakery (excellent breakfast and pastries). The village has multiple ice cream options. Dinner reservations are wise in peak summer — most popular restaurants book up by 5:00 PM on weekend evenings.
Getting There and Around
Ogunquit is on Route 1, easily reached from Portland (35 min south on I-95 + Route 1) or Boston (75 min north on I-95). The town runs a comprehensive trolley system in summer that connects the village, beach, Perkins Cove, and outlying lodging — essential for families who want to leave the car parked at the hotel. The trolley costs about $2/ride and eliminates almost all driving once you arrive. The Amtrak Downeaster stops in nearby Wells; trolley connects Wells station to Ogunquit.
A Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive midday. Settle into lodging. Late afternoon beach time. Dinner at a casual village restaurant.
Day 2: Morning at the beach. Lunch in the village. Walk the Marginal Way from Ogunquit Beach to Perkins Cove (slow pace with kids). Mid-afternoon lobster boat tour or harbor exploration. Dinner at Perkins Cove with views.
Day 3: Morning beach. Afternoon trolley to Wells or day-trip to Kennebunkport. Final evening in the village.
Our Honest Take
If your kids are 10 or under and you want a beach trip that doesn’t feel like an attraction park, Ogunquit is the right answer. If your kids are teens who want excitement, look elsewhere. The Ogunquit family vacation works because it doesn’t try too hard — the beach is excellent, the village is small, the dining is unhurried, and the Marginal Way is genuinely beautiful. The pace of the town matches the pace a family with young kids actually wants to move at. After thirty years of sending families to Ogunquit, we’ve yet to hear from one that didn’t return.
For broader family Maine planning, see our Maine with Kids guide. Compare with Old Orchard Beach with kids (louder, cheaper) or Kennebunkport with kids (similar feel, slightly upscale). For the region, see Southern Maine.