Ogunquit Beach(Ogunquit, Ogunquit Main Beach)

Located in the town of Ogunquit on Maine’s southern coast, Ogunquit Beach – also known as Main Beach and Ogunquit Main Beach – is a large beach with soft white sand.  The Ogunquit River also flows near this beach – once this river passes the beach, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.  This beach has been named the 38th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as “Mr. Beach.”  The beach was also named one of the best beaches in the United States by TripAdvisor's Travelers Choice awards in 2023, and was also listed as one of the “Best Beaches in New England” by Condé Nast Traveller in 2020.

Ogunquit Beach offers lifeguards on a seasonal basis usually between June 20th and Labor Day.  In addition to lifeguards, the beach offers many other amenities including restrooms, showers, beach equipment rental facilities, changing rooms, and concession stands.  It is important to note that many of the amenities here are located at the southern part of the beach, near the east end of Beach Street. 

Ogunquit Beach dog rules vary according to season – dogs on leash are usually allowed here between September 9th to March 31st.  However, please note that dogs are not allowed around the mouth of the Ogunquit River.

Ogunquit Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, picnicking, fishing, hiking, biking (permitted between September 15 through May 15), snorkeling, tidepooling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, skimboarding, jet-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, boating, wakeboarding, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, and wildlife watching. 

This beach is popular with surfers – the area around Ogunquit River mouth is a particularly popular surfing Ogunquit main site.  In addition to surfing, snorkelers also visit the area near the Ogunquit River mouth to explore the vibrant marine biodiversity here.  If you are planning to swim, surf, snorkel, or kayak here, we recommend being careful because the considerably cold water here has unpredictable rip currents.  In addition, the water here also occasionally has high levels of microbial contaminants.

If you like biking, there are many fun Ogunquit bike trails near the beach that offer a fun biking experience.  If you like taking pictures with excellent views, Ogunquit Beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Atlantic Ocean and the southern Mainer shoreline.  Ogunquit Beach hosts many fun activities including a spectacular 4th of July fireworks display, the Ogunquit Kite Festival, and the annual Ogunquit Sandcastle Contest.

Ogunquit Beach has a wheelchair-friendly ramp for people with disabilities.  A beach wheelchair for visitors with disabilities is also available at Ogunquit Beach.  If you want the beach wheelchair, you can contact the lifeguards posted at Ogunquit Beach for more information regarding the same – you can also contact the Ogunquit town office at (207) 646-5139 for more information regarding the beach wheelchair.

Getting to Ogunquit Beach is easy – the main entrance for this beach is located near the eastern end of Beach Street.  A paid Ogunquit Beach parking lot is also located near this entrance that charges a $7 fee per hour in summers and a $6 per hour fee in other seasons. 

As another access option, you can also access this beach by walking south from another nearby beach named Footbridge Beach – this beach is located near the eastern end of Ocean Street and the parking lot near it charges a $6 per hour fee.  We recommend visiting Ogunquit Beach early because the parking lot here fills up quickly, usually by 11 am.

It is important to note that some parts of this beach are closed to the public during summers because these portions are used as nesting sites by endangered piping plovers and least terns.  

The town and the beach’s name – Ogunquit – means “beautiful place by the sea” in the local Native American Abenaki language.  In addition, a location on the planet Mars was named after this beach.

There are many attractions near Ogunquit Beach.  Wonder Mountain Fun Park is an amusement park that has many fun activities and rides for visitors including two miniature golf courses, a human maze, an arcade and a go-kart facility.  Ogunquit Playhouse is another popular attraction near Ogunquit public beach that hosts many fun and interesting theatrical plays usually between May and October.  Perkins Cove is a small cove that offers many fun things to explore including shopping stores, restaurants, art galleries, and a nearby harbor – this cove offers amazing views of coastal southern Maine shoreline.  Marginal Way is a mile-and-a-quarter long hiking trail and it is popular with both tourists and visitors – this trail offers a unique way to explore the rugged and scenic Ogunquit shoreline and it also offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art displays modern and contemporary American artworks and its permanent collection consists of over 3,000 art works in the form of photographs, sculptures, and paintings – the museum also has beautiful sculpture gardens.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Ogunquit Beach.  The Front Porch is a piano bar and restaurant that offers many amazing dishes including seafood, steaks, chicken dishes, and salads and it also offers amazing live music performances.  M.C. Perkins Cove is an upscale waterfront restaurant that offers amazing gourmet dishes including steaks, seafood, poultry dishes, and burgers – this restaurant has been praised by many publications including the Condé Nast Traveller and Maine magazines.  Angelina’s Ristorante has a luxurious decor and it also offers amazing Italian-inspired dishes including pastas, risotto, pollo marsala, and Italian-style seafood.  Jackie’s Too is a restaurant that is known for serving amazing seafood including lobsters and its famous clam chowder and it also offers many other dishes including grilled chicken, pastas, and steaks.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, The Omelette Factory offers many amazing dishes for breakfast including eggs, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, and French toasts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Ogunquit Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 22-minute drive.  The 4.5-Star White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bistro, a seasonal pool, a marina, multiple gardens, and a spa.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Cliff House Maine that offers many amenities including multiple pools, a fitness center, a spa, multiple restaurants and bars, multiple hot tubs, a guest-use ATM, and a shopping store.  As another upscale hotel, the 4-Star Stage Neck Inn offers many amenities including a spa, a gym, two pools (including a seasonal one), a sauna, a hot tub, multiple tennis courts, a fitness center, and multiple restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Ogunquit River Inn– this seasonally open hotel offers many amenities including a pool, poolside chairs, a lawn, and picnic tables.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-StarMeadowmere Resort offers many fun amenities including a gym, a spa, multiple pools, multiple hot tubs, a screening room, a games room with an arcade, and a pub.