Maine’s iconic rock-strewn coastline exists, certainly. But there also happens to be an abundance of expansive, sandy beaches. So we took it upon ourselves to pick some of our favorite of those beaches, each for its own reasons, so you don’t have to scour all 228 (or ~3,500, depending on how you’re counting) miles of coastline.

Alright, that’s it for the preamble, here are some of our favorite beaches in Maine.

East End Beach

Portland, Maine

Let’s start close to home. The East End beach can be found in the toe of the boot that is the Portland Peninsula. On top of being a beautiful little beach that overlooks the bay, it also happens to be right next to food trucks, a playground, the vast emerald field that is the Eastern Promenade, and a kayak/paddleboard rental. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, fun-friendly. This is a wonderful beach to pop by if you’re in Portland.

FUN FACT: Allagash actually sponsors the East End Beach, and we hold monthly cleanups, to keep the beach pristine for all to enjoy!

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach, ME

The OOB is a Maine staple. An amusement park, a pier with bars and fried foods galore, shopping, saltwater taffy (does anyone buy saltwater taffy?)—this beach has it all. Go during the summer if you want the spectacle and energy of crowds, go on the shoulder seasons if you want to enjoy the gigantic, gently sloping beach. It’s worth a trip at least once, just to experience it.

Ferry Beach

Saco, ME

A state park, a picnic area, nature trails, even changing rooms. This is a beach that is more than a beach. Just a bit south of Portland, this wide crescent of soft sand, festooned with beach grass, is a wonderful spot to spend a day with the whole family. Its sand bar makes for less intense waves, and water that’s perfect for wading out.

York Beach

York, ME

Just north of Maine’s southern border, the Yorks (or the “Yawks”), feature a 1.5-mile stretch of beach. Made up of York Village, York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick, these small town centers all share a beautiful beach. So you’ll find plenty of Maine charm in the shops, food, and sites of the towns, right next to this quintessentially Maine-y beach. There’s lots of sand, some notable surf, and a whole lot of good vibes to go around.

Wells Beach

Wells, ME

Don’t let the directness of these beach names hoodwink you: this beach is another stunning natural wonder of sand and surf. Here, the town nearly abuts the surf, with a row of houses sitting just beyond the dunes. The beach itself stretches for literal miles, making it easy for you to find a spot in the sand to call your own. Sure, it can get busy during the summer, but this wide-open beach almost never feels crowded, despite being right in the heart of the southern coast of Maine.

Reid State Park

Georgetown, ME

About an hour north of Portland, you’ll wind your way past the beautiful downtown of Bath, across the New Meadows River, and then hop off of route one for a country drive out to the park. Once there, you’ll find beach, beach, and more beach. Mile and Half-Mile Beaches are both within the park, and offer fine-grained sand, ample space, and significant surf coming straight from the Atlantic. You can walk the dunes, explore the park itself, and play in the surf. Perhaps better for families with older kids than younger—because of the often oversized waves.

Popham Beach

Phippsburg, ME

If you’re looking for surf, you’ve found it. Popham is a haven for all folks searching out the swells. It’s a bit of a hike up the coast, but that’s to your benefit: more waves to go around. Sure, you can do anything here that you can do at other beaches, but this one’s for the surfers.

Seawall Beach

Phippsburg, ME

We’re staying in Phippsburg for this one. Another winner, Seawall Beach is just south of Popham, and almost directly connected to Morse Mountain, a wonderful spot for hiking. We’d recommend getting here early in the summer, because of limited parking. Because of the minor hike involved to get all the way out to the beach, you’ll be rewarded by near-unparalleled seclusion—at least when it comes to the beaches on this list. Two miles of expansive sand. Wonderful surf. This one is special.

PRO TIP: If you’re visiting during warmer weather, bring some serious bug repellent for the walk out.

Willard Beach

South Portland, ME

Back to Portland we go. South Portland, that is. But much of what there is to love in Portland (food, sights, culture), you’ll find in South Portland as well. And this beach is what you want when it comes to views of Casco Bay. You’ll see the ferry scooting back and forth from Portland Harbor to the nearby islands. You’ll see buoys bobbing. Sure, you can go for a swim too, but there’s something about this beach that just calls for strolling. An excellent year-round beach, with plenty of pups running around during the fall and winter.

Sand Beach

Bar Harbor, ME

Truly, we saved the best-named beach for last. Sand Beach is all the way Downeast in Bar Harbor, Maine. This cove-style beach sits in the eastern portion of Acadia National Park, and fits in with the wild beauty you’ll find across the rest of the peninsula. Come for the craggy cliffs and soft sand, stay for the relatively un-polluted light in the evening, for beautiful star-filled skies.

PRO TIP: Take the Island Explorer bus to this beach, because the parking lot experience can be… not so enjoyable.

And whether you want to grab a few beers to go for the beach, or if you want to have a nice relaxing beverage after a day in the sun, we’d love to have you at our tasting room. We have plenty of fresh beer, cider, snacks, and more. You can see our hours, tasting room location, and everything on tap right now through the link below.