From Apply Now,
Your Guide to Portland, ME.
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Part One of this article covered southern Maine's beaches from Portland to Saco, including East End Beach in Portland, Willard Beach in South Portland, Crescent Beach State Park, near Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, Higgins Beach, Scarborough Beach, Western Beach, Ferry Beach, and Pine Point Beach in Scarborough, Grand Beach, Surf Side Beach, and Old Orchard Beach in Old Orchard, and Ferry Beach State Park in Saco.

A few miles south of Old Orchard Beach, the Saco River divides Saco from Biddeford. On the Biddeford side is Maine's largest lagoon, Biddeford Pool, a one-mile-wide tidal basin formed by two spits of land connecting to an island. Along these spits of land are the beautiful sandy beaches of the Biddeford Pool area, including Hills Beach on the northern side, and Biddeford Pool, Fortune Rocks and Granite Point on the southern side, known as Fletcher's Neck.

The beaches along the outer shores of Biddeford Pool are rocky, but the two barriers are made up of long stretches of fine sandy beach. To best access the other beaches, consider renting a home or cottage on the beach. Rentals are available by the week, month, or season.

Part Two of the Beaches of Southern Maine covers the beaches from Saco to Kennebunk. Part Three covers Maine beaches from Kennebunk to Wells, and Part Four covers Maine beaches from Wells to Kittery.

Camp Ellis Beach--Saco, Maine

This small beach in the Camp Ellis area of Saco is just south of Ferry Beach State Park on Route 9. Fishing off the rocks at Camp Ellis is another popular activity. Hourly parking is available.

Bayview Beach--Saco, Maine

In the Bayview area of Saco, off Route 9 south of Old Orchard Beach, is the small beach called Bayview. Public parking is available.

Hills Beach--Biddeford, Maine

Hills Beach is over 500 yards of beautiful sandy beach along Saco Bay facing Portland to the north. It's located next to the University of New England on Hill's Beach Road. You drive right through the campus to get to it. Parking is very limited. In addition to swimming, this area is popular for bird watching.

Biddeford Pool Beach--Biddeford Pool, Maine

Biddeford Pool Beach is a two-mile sandy beach with gentle surf, on the tidal basin side of Biddeford Pool, accessible from Route 208. A sticker, available at Biddeford Town Hall, is required to park. After 5:00 pm, parking is free. The beach has a bathhouse, and lifeguards are on duty during the season.

Fortunes Rocks Beach--Biddeford, Maine

Fortune Rocks Beach, accessible from Route 208 (off Route 9)in the southern part of Biddeford, is 3,740 yards of sandy beach directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Lifeguards are on duty during the season and portable toilets are available. Parking stickers, available at City Hall, are required.

Goose Rocks Beach--Kennebunkport, Maine

Take Route 9 to get to three-mile long Goose Rocks Beach. The beautiful soft silver sand is compact and makes this beach popular with walkers. Stickers are required for parking and are available at the Town Hall and police station, or you can park and take the trolley. This is a quiet beach in a residential neighborhood. There are no bathrooms, snack bars, or lifeguards. Good place to look for shells and sand dollars, take a long walk, explore an island off the northern end of the beach at ebbing tide, or enjoy quiet sunbathing.

Arundel Beach--Kennebunkport, Maine

Arundel, or north Kennebunkport, has a small beach located on Ocean Avenue across from the Colony Hotel. No parking passes are required.

Cleaves Cove Beach--Kennebunkport, Maine

This small, secluded beach off Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport has no public parking and no lifeguards.

The Colony Beach--Kennebunkport, Maine

Colony Beach is a very small (150 feet) soft sandy beach with gentle surf at the mouth of the Kennebunk River. It's easily accessible from local hotels and inns. Limited on-street parking is available. No lifeguards or public toilets.

Kennebunk Beach--Kennebunk, Maine

Across the mouth of the Kennebunk River from Kennebunkport is Kennebunk Beach, a mile and a half of fine sand along Ocean Avenue that is popular for swimming, surfing, and walking. Gooch's Beach, at the northernmost end, is the largest section of Kennebunk Beach and is followed by Middle Beach, then Mother's Beach. Gooch's Beach has soft sand and gentle surf. Middle Beach is rocky with patches of sand, and Mother's Beach is sandy with gentle surf and a playground, making it popular with families. Lifeguards are available at the Gooch's Beach and Mother's Beach sections. Gooch's Beach has public toilets. There are no snack bars or other amenities.

Stickers are required for parking at all three sections of Kennebunk Beach. Resident passes are available at Town Hall and nonresidents passes are available at the Chamber of Commerce, police station, or Town Hall.

To reach Kennebunk Beach, take Route 35 off Route 1, to Beach Street, or take Route 9A to Sea Road.

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