From Apply Now,
Your Guide to Portland, ME.
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Centuries ago, three miles of sparkling white sand beach and natural dunes attracted the Algonquin Indians to a seaside area snuggled between the towns now known as York and Wells in southern Maine. The Algonquins named this area "Ogunquit," which means "beautiful place by the sea." Today the small town, only four square miles, offers everything a vacationer could want (unless you're looking for quiet streets and deserted beaches).

Although Ogunquit is best known for its three miles of white sand beach, it has even more to offer. Perkins Cove, its picturesque little working harbor, is home to charter fishing boats, sight-seeing cruise boats, and whale watching boats, as well as a jumble of shops, restaurants and eateries, and art galleries. The busy little village is a Mecca for people watchers. The nightlife during the summer months is lively, with entertainment, dancing, and piano bars.

The Marginal Way is a century-old oceanside footpath that begins on Shore Road behind the Sparhawk Hotel and hugs the coastline for over a mile to just south of the Village Center, curving around a little peninsula and opening up to stunning vistas of sand so white you'd almost think you were in the Caribbean. Sit on one of the benches set along the walkway and enjoy the sight and sound of crashing surf against the rocky shore and the fragrance of sea roses which line the path.

There are two main access points to Ogunquit's beaches, each with parking, but parking spaces can be difficult if not impossible to find in the summer season. The main beach is accessible from Beach Street in the center of downtown Ogunquit near the intersection of Main Street (US Route 1) and Shore Road. Turn onto Beach Street and go over the bridge which crosses the Ogunquit River. The beach parking lots are on the other side of the bridge. Footbridge Beach, two miles north of the village, is located off Ocean Street. Each entrance is serviced by the trolley from May to mid-October. Walking and the trolley are definitely the best ways to get around Ogunquit, which becomes jammed with cars on warm summer days. The trolley can take you from your hotel to the beach or shops, for a tour around the town, or all the way to Wells, where it connects to the Wells trolley system and seven more miles of beach.

The number of quality hotels, inns, and B&Bs in Ogunquit testifies to the popularity of this town as a vacation destination. For some of the area's lodging options, see the Ogunquit Lodging link in the link box to the right of this page. There's also a wide choice of restaurants, from fine dining at restaurants like 98 Provence, Arrows, Clay Hill Farm, The Cliff House, and Raspberri's to casual seafood restaurants like Cape Neddick Lobster Pound, Ogunquit Lobster Pound, Ogunquit Seafood, Clam Digger Restaurant, Lobster Shack, and more. See the Ogunquit Dining link to the right for links to Ogunquit restaurants.

DIRECTIONS TO OGUNQUIT:

Coming from the North on the Maine Turnpike (Interstate 95), take Exit 2 for Wells. Turn right onto Route 1 and follow it to Ogunquit.

Coming from the south on Interstate 95, take the last exit before the toll booth for the Maine Turnpike. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp and then take a left at the first light onto Route 1 North. Follow to Ogunquit.