York Beach is the village in the town of York where Long Sands and Short Sands sit side by side on the Atlantic, separated by Cape Neddick. The facts most visitors need: parking at the town’s kiosks costs $4 an hour from April 15 to October 31 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week), and dogs are not allowed on the beach from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May 20 to September 20. Everything below comes from the town’s own beach page, checked November 7, 2026.
Long Sands vs Short Sands
- Long Sands: the long one. Sources put it at roughly 1.3 to 1.5 miles. Surfing is allowed here, but only in a designated area. The town says up to 3,000 to 5,000 people a day come mid-June through Labor Day.
- Short Sands: about a quarter mile, with the village right behind it. Surfing is prohibited. Parking is in the lot off Ocean Avenue.
- Which to pick: Short Sands if you want the arcade, taffy and ice cream a few steps from your towel; Long Sands if you want room to walk and a place to surf.
Parking and Fees
- Kiosk parking: $4 per hour, April 15 to October 31, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, in marked spaces.
- Long Sands parking: runs along the road from Libby’s Campground to Nubble Road.
- Short Sands parking: marked spaces in the lot off Ocean Avenue. The town lists no permit parking there.
- Season permits (valid April 15 to October 31): $60 for York-registered vehicles, $30 for seniors 65 and over, $80 for non-York vehicles.
- Cape Neddick Beach: permit parking only.
Beach access itself is free. The cost is parking, and it’s only charged in season.
Dog Rules
- No dogs or other domestic animals from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 20 through September 20.
- During those same dates, dogs must be leashed from 6 p.m. until sunrise.
- The town page lists restrictions only for May 20 to September 20, so check posted signs at other times of year.
For dog rules at other beaches, see our dog-friendly beaches in Maine guide.
Lifeguards, Restrooms and Beach Rules
- Lifeguards: daily from the last week of June through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Restrooms: Long Sands, daily from the first weekend in May through Columbus Day. Short Sands, May 1 through Columbus Day weekend: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 15, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 16 to September 15, then 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to October 15.
- Beach wheelchairs: two at the Bathhouse, available daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- No fires: grills, campfires and bonfires are prohibited.
- No trash cans: carry in, carry out.
- Surfcasting: allowed only when no swimmers are in the water or on the beach.
- Kayaks: launch only in the designated surfing area, with lifeguard approval.
The Other Beaches
York has two more beaches nearby. Harbor Beach has restrooms, kiosk parking at the same $4 rate and permit parking. Cape Neddick Beach has permit parking only, and no lifeguards or restrooms. The town notes that the Cliff Walk at Harbor Beach is closed because of storm damage.
What to Do Nearby
- Nubble Light: the Cape Neddick Light Station was first lit on July 1, 1879, and stands 41 feet tall on a small island just offshore from Sohier Park. See our Nubble Lighthouse guide for parking and viewing.
- The Goldenrod: the restaurant dates to 1896, according to Wikipedia, and sells its saltwater taffy as “Goldenrod Kisses.”
- Fun-O-Rama: a former 1940s bathhouse that is now an arcade with more than 250 rides and games in about 10,000 square feet, per New England Magazine.
York has about 12,500 year-round residents, and Wikipedia gives an estimated 52,000 in summer, which explains the parking. For the wider town, see our York guide. Comparing towns? Try Ogunquit vs York, Kennebunkport vs York or York vs Kittery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is York Beach free?
Access to the sand is free. Parking at the town kiosks is $4 an hour from April 15 to October 31, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
How long is Long Sands Beach?
Roughly 1.3 to 1.5 miles, depending on the source. The town’s own page uses both “a mile” and “1.5 miles.” Short Sands is about a quarter mile.
Are dogs allowed at York Beach?
Not from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. between May 20 and September 20. In the evening and early morning during those dates, dogs must be on a leash.
Can you surf at York Beach?
At Long Sands, yes, but only in the designated area marked with orange buoys. Surfing is prohibited at Short Sands.
When are lifeguards on duty?
Daily from the last week of June through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our details come from the Town of York Parks & Recreation beaches page (yorkparksandrec.org), Wikipedia’s York Beach entry and New England Magazine’s York Beach feature, all checked November 7, 2026. Fees, seasons and rules can change, so confirm with the town before you go.
Featured photo: Long Sands Beach at York Beach in September, by Fred Hsu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.