Southern Maine Beaches · Maine · United States · Atlantic Ocean

Southern Maine Beaches

Southern Maine Beaches’ beach day usually means Old Orchard Beach’s pier corridor, Ogunquit’s municipal lots, Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, or Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg — one Atlantic corridor with different access.

Old Orchard BeachOgunquit BeachGoose Rocks BeachPopham Beach

Choose your stretch

  • Old Orchard Beach — pier / downtown sand · Town of Old Orchard Beach; seasonal meters historically through Labor Day
  • Ogunquit Beach — Main Beach / Footbridge / North Beach lots · paid parking Apr 17–Oct 31, 2026
  • Goose Rocks Beach — Kings Highway corridor, Kennebunkport · posted-space permits Memorial Day–Labor Day; no lifeguards
  • Popham Beach — Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg · year-round day-use at the gate

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

Old Orchard Beach: Seasonal municipal meters / kiosks / Passport historically Friday-before-Memorial-Day through Labor Day; 2026 season reported through Sep 7. After Labor Day, check with the Town whether the meters are running and where the free spaces are.

Ogunquit Beach (Town lots): Paid parking Apr 17–Oct 31, 2026. Main Beach Lot $9.00/hr / $50/day 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Footbridge / North Beach $8/$45; Lower $8.25/$46.50; Obeds $6.25/$36. Passport or ParkMobile / meters. Failure-to-pay fine $75 plus administrative fees.

Goose Rocks Beach (Kennebunkport): Posted spaces only (King’s Highway, Dyke Road, New Biddeford Road). Permits Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day 8 a.m.–5 p.m. — non-resident daily $40 / weekly $200 / seasonal $325; taxpayers/residents $10. Kiosks at GRB General Store / Proctor & Kings Highway.

Popham Beach State Park (Phippsburg): Year-round day-use fee at booth — $6 / $8 / $2 adult ME resident / adult nonresident / senior nonresident (children 5–11 $1; under 5 free per DACF All Day Use Areas note). Open 9 a.m.–sunset. Parking can fill.

Ogunquit 2026 lot fees · Kennebunkport parking · Maine DACF day-use fees · Popham Beach State Park

Best stretches and who they’re for

Old Orchard Beach

Town of Old Orchard Beach pier / downtown sand corridor. Seasonal municipal meters historically through Labor Day (2026 season reported through Sep 7). Dogs: not allowed on the beach 9 a.m.–5 p.m. May 15–Labor Day; leash up to 12 ft on beach those dates from 5 p.m.–dusk (Town Clerk). After Labor Day, check on the day whether the meters are running.

Ogunquit Beach

Town of Ogunquit municipal beach lots (Main Beach, Lower, Footbridge, North Beach, Obeds). Paid parking Apr 17–Oct 31, 2026; Main Beach Lot $9/hr or $50/day 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Confirm dog hours on-site with the Town.

Goose Rocks Beach

Town of Kennebunkport — Kings Highway corridor. Posted-space permits Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day 8 a.m.–5 p.m. No lifeguards. Seasonal dog hours on the GRB visitor page (including Jun 15–Labor Day 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ban). Plovers/terns nesting cages — keep dogs 200 ft.

Popham Beach

Inside Popham Beach State Park (Maine DACF), Midcoast Phippsburg at the mouth of the Kennebec — separate from the York County Old Orchard–Ogunquit–Goose Rocks cluster. Day-use $6/$8/$2 year-round; open 9 a.m.–sunset. Pets not allowed on beaches Apr 1–Sep 30; leashed Oct 1–Mar 31. Strong surf / undertows; summer lifeguards noted. Park page: add 9 minutes to the Portland tide chart.

Notes before you pack

  • Dogs: On Old Orchard Beach, dogs are not allowed on the beach 9 a.m.–5 p.m. from May 15 to Labor Day and must be on a leash up to 12 ft from 5 p.m. to dusk those dates (Town Clerk). On Goose Rocks Beach, seasonal posted rules include a Jun 15–Labor Day 9 a.m.–5 p.m. dog ban and a Labor Day–Sep 15 leash-only nesting window (GRB visitor page). At Popham Beach State Park, pets are not allowed on the beach Apr 1–Sep 30 (leashed Oct 1–Mar 31). OOB dogs · GRB visitor info · Popham park profile.
  • Flags / surf: Prefer NWS Gray/Portland / marine products and on-site posted warnings. Strong surf and undertows are noted at Popham; Goose Rocks states no lifeguards.
  • Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit, and Kennebunkport are separate municipalities; Popham Beach is reached through Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg.
  • Tide: NOAA CO-OPS 8418150 Portland, Casco Bay, ME (Popham park page: add 9 minutes to the Portland chart).

FAQ

What is there to do near Southern Maine Beaches?

Near Southern Maine Beaches: sunset sails and cruises, and food tours. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust