Maine Beaches - Southern Maine Coast Beaches

Beaches on the Southern Maine Coast

Biddeford Beaches

o Biddeford Pool - Satellite View and Map - Biddeford Pool, a large tidal pool, has a two-mile sandy beach with lifeguards and bird watching, e.g., nearby East Point Sanctuary is one of most renowned birding locations along the coast. Get stickers for parking at Biddeford city hall.

o Fortunes - Almost 4,000 yard sandy beach, visible towards bottom of Hills Beach map.  Small sandy beach with lifeguards.

o Hills Beach - Small 500 yard beach for swimming and bird watching.  Very little parking available.

DOGS are allowed on Biddeford area beaches BEFORE 9 A.M. and AFTER 8 P.M.  For more details call Biddeford Parks & Recreation at (207) 283-0841.

Saco Beaches

o Bayview Beach - Off Seaside Avenue.  Public beach maintained by City of Saco.  Lifeguard in season.  Restrooms and public parking.

o Camp Ellis Beach

o Diamond Riverside Boat Ramp - Not a beach, but a 6 acre park with public boat ramp, picnic tables, charcoal grills and play structure.

o Ferry Beach State Park - Miles of white sandy beaches between the Saco River and Pine Point.  Changing room, picnic area, nature trails and guided nature  programs available.

o Kenney Shores Beach - Off Seaside Avenue.  Public beach maintained by City of Saco.  Lifeguard in season.  No restrooms.

DOGS are ALLOWED on Saco municipal beaches at any time with leash and clean-up.  Within Ferry Beach State Park, dogs are NOT ALLOWED on the beach proper, but are allowed in the park interior with leash and clean-up.

Kennebunk Beaches

The Kennebunk beach area is comprised of three sections: Gooch's Beach, Middle Beach and Mother's Beach.  There is also a separate, private beach called Parson's Beach.

o Gooch's Beach - Fine, sandy beach with gentle surf.

o Middle Beach - Rocky beach with some sandy patches.

o Mother's Beach - Sandy beach and playground.  Favored for small children.

o Parson's Beach - Remote, serene (and private) beach.  Reach it via Drakes Island Beach at low tide.  Be sure to leave before tide comes in. . As a private beach, Kennebunk Town rules (see below) do not apply.

DOGS are allowed on Kennebunk beaches BEFORE 9 A.M. and AFTER 5 P.M.  This restriction applies between June 15 until the day after Labor Day.  At other times of the year, there are no restrictions other than leash and clean-up.  For more info call the Kennebunk Town Office at (207) 985-2102 and select ext. 1306 for the Kennebunk Town Clerk.

Kennebunkport Beaches

The only two public beaches in Kennebunkport are Goose Rocks Beach and Colony Beach (which is very tiny).

o Goose Rocks Beach - No lifeguards or facilities.  Unspoiled, un-commercialized beach.

o Colony Beach - Very small beach.  Also known as Arundel Beach.

DOGS are allowed on Kennebunkport beaches BEFORE 8 A.M. and AFTER 6 P.M.  This restriction applies between June 15 and September 15.  At other times of the year, only leash and clean-up rules apply.  For more info call the Kennebunkport Town Office at (207) 967-4243.

Ogunquit Beaches

o Ogunquit Beach - Beautiful white sandy beach.  Lifeguard and restrooms.

o Foot Bridge Beach - Part of Ogunquit Beach.  Reached by footbridge over Ogunquit River.

o Moody Beach

NO DOGS ALLOWED on Ogunquit Beaches from April 1 to October 1. For an alternative try Ogunquit Dog Park. Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to dusk, the park is located at 323 Berwick Road. For more info call Ogunquit Dog Park at (207) 646-1677 or email info@ogunquitdogpark.com.

Old Orchard Beach

o Old Orchard Beach - Satellite View and Map - As evident from the satellite view, Old Orchard Beach is long.  7 miles long.  A great source for information about the area is the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce.

DOGS are allowed on Old Orchard Beach BEFORE 10 A.M. and AFTER 5 P.M.  For more details call the OOB Chamber at (207) 934-2500.

Wells Beaches

o Wells Beach - Seven mile long sandy beach.  Surfing areas.  Free parking available.

o Drake's Island Beach

DOGS are allowed on Wells beaches from April 1 to June 15 when on a leash.  From June 16 to September 15, dogs are only allowed BEFORE 8 a.m. and AFTER 6 p.m.  For more info call the Wells Town Clerk at (207) 646-2882.

South Berwick Beaches

o Vaughan Woods State Park

York Beaches

o Cape Neddick Beach aka Passaconaway Beach - Small beach with no facilities and limited parking.  Tidal pools and sandbar exposed at low tide.

o Harbor Beach aka York Harbor Beach - Off Route 1A.  Sheltered, sandy beach against a rocky shoreline.  Shops and food nearby.  Some parking available.

o Long Sands Beach - Off Route 1A.  Family beach.  Bathhouse, raft and umbrella rentals.  Surfing areas.  Shops and food within walking distance.  Parking available.

o Short Sands Beach - Off Route 1A.  Family beach.  Bathhouse, playground, summer evening concerts, shops and food nearby.  Metered parking available.

o Note regarding Wiggley Bridge / Steadman Woods (at the very York end of Route 103): There is no public beach on this spot. The Steedman Woods property, which includes the causeway leading to the Wiggley Bridge but not the Bridge itself, belongs to the Museums of Old York. (The Bridge belongs to the Town of York.) The property was given to Old York in 1978 on condition that it be kept "forever wild" and that no boat launching ramps or picnic tables be allowed. The area around the Bridge was erroneously labeled a public beach in a change to York's dog ordinance a few years ago but the error was corrected and it has been removed from York's list of public beaches. The public is welcome to walk through the Woods on the trails but is politely asked not to swim or walk around on the ecologically fragile mudflats and marsh grass.

DOGS are allowed to run without a leash on York beaches from Sunrise to 8 a.m. so long as owner is present with leash at hand.  NO DOGS ALLOWED from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  DOGS ON LEASHES are allowed from 6 p.m. to Sunrise.  These rules apply between May 20 and September 20.  At other times of year, dogs are allowed on beach so long as owner is present with a leash at hand.  Clean-up rules always apply.  For more info call the Town of York at (207) 363-1000.

Kittery Beaches

o Crescent Beach - Small 600 yard beach.

o Fort Foster Park - Beaches, trails and picnic area.

o Seapoint Beach - Small 500 yard sandy beach near Kittery Point.

DOGS are allowed on Kittery beaches BEFORE 10 a.m. and AFTER 5 p.m.  This restriction applies from June 15 to September 10.  Leash and clean-up rules always apply.  For more info call the Kittery Town Clerk at (207) 439-0452.