The summer in the US this year is going to be extremely hot. Get your backpacks ready as it is time to head to the one place where people in hot days surely think of going to. Visiting a beach with family and friends is an amazing outing. You get to see not just the sand and ocean but also the beautiful views of nature. One destination for the most beautiful beaches is the state of Maine. People visit Maine for many attractions but the beaches here stand out the most. If you are planning one trip to Maine this summer then here is a travel guide to some of the best beaches in Maine to look out for.
Maine: The Pine Tree State, But Known For Beaches
Many things make Maine a very attractive and engaging spot for travellers. It is the state with the most forests in the whole country. Almost 90% of the state is filled with vegetation that has been one of the biggest tourist attractions. But the remaining 10% includes a long coastline of almost 3,478 miles. And if you wonder are there beaches in Maine, this long coast of this state houses a good number of them. You can plan your best trip to Maine in the summer by visiting the numerous beaches it has. One can even visit those beaches that are not known to many.
A Perfect Travel Guide For Maine
There are many ways to travel in Maine the best one being travelling with your own vehicle. But public transit and charter services are also available in Maine that will make your trip very organized. Let us see what travel services Maine provides and what we should remember when travelling all by ourselves.
Public Transit
Public transport is available in Maine especially in the southern part of the state (Portland and adjacent cities). Bus services from the two important airports in the state: Boston Airport and Logan Airport, are available and help in travelling to cities like Camden and Bangor. There are bus services that connect Boston to Portland and some bus services like the Island Explorer are absolutely free to use. METRO Bus service runs in Portland and is a primary public transit used by the people. While bus services like these are available in coastal Maine, it is very limited and will affect the travelling experience.
Charter or Rental Services
For travelling not just near the shore but all over Maine without your personal vehicle, charter and rental services are also there to help. Taxi and shuttle services here can give tourists many benefits like private tours in many cities. Many Maine charter bus services provide buses for corporate, educational and personal trips. Rental car services is also available for one or two tourists can take the vehicle for their visit on an average of $80 per day. The prices would vary from place-to-place. Maine also provides such services on water transport too that includes private lake tours and island-to-island travelling.
Personal Vehicle
While driving in Portland and other coastal areas is not problematic, beware of the challenges when you are travelling in other parts of Maine, especially Downeast and Northern regions. Most of the roads are unpaved and cellular service is almost nil here. So please carry offline maps either a paper one or download it already. Drive slowly on these roads because some unwanted bypassers named deers and moose can cross your path. Let them go first then drive in the same speed because unpaved roads are normally in bad conditions. Book a room in hotel and then park your cars because parking in cities is too expensive.
Travelling Tips For The Beaches In Maine
It is one of the most wonderful feelings to travel in Maine. Every road can surprise you with a scenery you might have never seen in your life. Travelling to the beaches in Maine can be very achievable. Let us take a look at the important things to follow when you reach the coast of Maine!
- Maine Turnpike (I-95): This road is like an access point to every beach in coastal Maine. Drive on this road from the airport and take the local routes like 1 and 9 to visit your favourite beaches.
- The Right Time: The best time when you can come to these beaches is in July to September. To avoid losing any spot, reach the beach resort in the morning hours of 9-10 AM and book your slot.
- Plan B: People also prefer winter as one of the best times to visit the best beaches in Maine. This is because in this time period one can take long walks around the coast. The heat will not trouble the visitors as they can chill out on the sand looking at the cool tides of the ocean.
- Clothing: Maine beaches are not like your hot beaches from Miami where you can just wear shorts and enjoy the surf. The beaches here have rocky terrains which you have to walk down through. And the waters here are way too cool to just swim like it’s nothing. Bring multi-layered clothes which include full sleeves breathable t-shirts. Sandals and waterproof shoes are must for the slippery rocks. Do not forget to pack your sunglasses and sunscreens as the coastal sun rays can be powerful.
Hidden Beaches In Maine To Visit
Hidden is the right word for most of the beaches in Maine. There are some beaches that pull tourists from all over the country but we must look at the hidden gems that every traveller in Maine must know about.
Seawalls Beach
You have to hike for 3.8 miles in the Morse Mountains to reach the amazing white sand beach tucked away from mainland. This is a 2 mile beach where visitors often visit to have a fun time swimming, birdwatching and sunbathing and many other activities. A lot of trails lead to this beach that makes it feel like a fairly long hike. Parking is very limited, so arrive here as soon as possible. The owner of the beach Bates College does not allow anybody to bring their pets. If you are in Phippsburg drive on Route 216 to reach the Morse Mountains.
Jasper Beach
This is one of the best sea glass beaches in Maine. Jasper Beach in Machiasport is a beautiful peninsula shore which allows some of the best scenery of the ocean. The shore is filled with red and brown rocks that make a soothing sounds when the tides hit the rock bed. Keep on some good shoes with you as walking on these rocks may be a bit difficult. To travel here drive into Route 92 and then enter the Port Road. The beach will be there on the left side of the road. So just park your car or rental there and enjoy this rocky beach.
Roque Bluffs State Park Beach
This beach would not have been here if 10,000 years ago our earth had decided to remain a huge ice ball. Thanks for the climate warming back to normal temperatures we can now visit this beautiful beach if we are driving along Maine’s Downeast coast. This is a half mile sandy beach with a shape of a crescent moon people love to walk on. Besides the beach people can enjoy the state park for its amazing wildlife and the beautiful orchards. Take a turn to the Roque Bluffs Road from Route 1 and keep driving until you reach the spot. Park your vehicle for free in the state park.
Birch Point State Park Beach
If you want see the beautiful Penobscot Bay from the best viewpoint, Birch Point State Park’s serenic beach is here for you. This is another sandy beach that people in Maine definitely visit once in a while but tourists often leave it behind. Swimming and fishing are two most engaging activities one can do here with photography. This state park also has a lot of wildlife that make people fascinated about the visit. Keep driving on the ME Route 72 and make a turn towards the Dublin Road. After taking the right to Ballyhac Road from here drive for a few minutes and you will reach at the park.
Seal Cove
Maybe this is one of the most beautiful hidden gem when it comes to the beaches in Maine. Located in the Mount Desert Island, this little secret has been a wonderful spot for a scenic beach experience for Maine locals. People love to click pictures with yachts and boats that stay on the shore in the mornings. There is a museum nearby by the name of Seal Cove Auto Museum to get a glimpse of boats used in older times. If you are on Route 1 turn towards Route 3 in Ellsworth and drive towards Mt. Desert Island. Drive into Route 102 and make your stop at the sign of Seal Cove.
Most Popular Beaches In Maine
There are few beaches in Maine that are highly visited by the tourists on a yearly basis. These beaches remain so busy that without early parking and arrival you won’t get to visit these shores easily.
Ogunquit Beach
Ogunquit beach attracts people due to the picturesque view of beautiful cliffs and the beach connecting the peninsula with the ocean. With three main accessible spots: Main Beach. Footbridge Beach and North Beach; visitors can enter the beach and choose their favourite spot to have a great time. Take the Exit 7 from I-95 and drive on the Route 1 for 7 miles to reach the Ogunquit town. Turn towards the Beach Street and park your vehicle or rental at the parking lots in the accessible spots. Stop by the Norseman Resort for a nice stay near the beach and visit places like Ogunquit Beach Lobster House and Dairy King for good delicacies.
Old Orchard Beach
This beach is known for the scintillating pier that stretches from the sand and stands firm in the beautiful ocean. Old Orchard Beach is also the only beach in New England with an amusement park. This is the one of the best beaches in Maine for familiesand friends as they can have all kinds of fun here. Famous restaurants like Pier French Fries and Surf 6 Oceanfront are the key to fulfill your hunger. Places like Eastern Trail and Milken Mill Woods allows you to hike near the beach on nice trails in between the nature. Taking the Exit 36 from Maine Turnpike is the way you can reach this beach. Minibus rental services from Portland are also available to reach here.
Sand Beach At Acadia National Park
You can witness the amazing Sand Beach in the Acadia National Park. All you have to do is take a stroll through the Great Head Trail. You will see two huge rocky cliffs surround one of the most sandy beaches in Maine. This gives visitors a breathtaking view of the whole beach. A nearby mountain named Beehive is also an attraction for experienced hikers. Go for a wonderful boat cruising in the ocean. You can thank the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company for the service. Sunrise Cafe here will keep your taste buds up with its delicious lobster rolls and soothing coffee. Drive into I-395 from the Turnpike and then towards Route 1A. After turning to Route 3 and driving on this road for few minutes you will arrive at the beach..
Long Sands Beach
You have to come to this amazing beach if you are in York. Nubble Lighthouse is one of the biggest attractions in Long Sands Beach but its more than that. Tourists will never get bored here as they can do exciting activities like sunbathing, boating and surfing. Also take a tour to the rock areas of the beach to get to witness some beautiful aquatic life. Long Sands Beach will have you covered with delicacies too because on the road behind the beach there are many ice cream and seafood stalls. You must be on I-95 South as you can drive into Exit 7 to reach York. Stay on Route 1A and you will reach your destinations in minutes.
Things To Avoid Doing In Maine Beaches
There are some things which you should not do when you are in Maine and travelling to the best beaches of the state. Some of these things are illegal and some can cause unimaginable damage to your life.
- Stay on the shores or near it when swimming on beaches. Do not get close to strong currents.
- Swim near piers or any similar structures that you can hold on to in case of storms.
- Walk on the paths designated by the authorities. Walking on sand dunes can affect the coastlines.
- Avoid staying close to the shore during high tides as waters can become very deep and shallow.
- Do not park your car just anywhere. Authorities can seize your vehicles if you do not park in the allotted lots.
- Littering or feeding sea animals is strictly prohibited.
- Maine has some of the coldest waters in all of the States. Better think twice before planning to swim at the beach.
Final Thoughts
Maine beaches are beautiful and visiting them in the summer is a great idea. Plan your whole trip as per the guidance provided here. Make sure you visit the hidden beaches too because they can provide you the pleasure and peace that crowded beaches can lack. The long coastline has a lot of surprises for you so do not miss the opportunity. Book your perfect holiday in Maine today!