4 Maine Beach Towns You Don’t Want to Miss
Whenever I think of Maine, the song “Sailing” by Christopher Cross drifts through my mind. For some reason, my imagination always places Maine in the summer — sailboats gliding across sparkling harbors, a fresh lobster roll from a nearby shack in hand, and the simple pleasure of sitting at a picnic table watching the lively rhythm of Maine beach towns and a seaside town unfold.
While Maine winters are famously rugged, summer along the coast feels like an entirely different world. During a weeklong trip exploring the Maine coastline, I visited four Maine beach towns that each capture a different side of coastal New England charm.
From lively boardwalks to peaceful harbor villages, here are four Maine beach towns worth adding to your summer travel list.
Somewhere along the way, I started a small tradition: blueberry ice cream in every town we visited. Sometimes it was blueberry pie instead — as long as it had blueberries in it. Maine is famous for its wild blueberries, especially in the summer, and once I had my first scoop there was really no going back. Thankfully, each of these beach towns seemed to have a charming little ice cream shop waiting for us.
Why Maine’s Beach Towns Are So Special
Maine’s coastline stretches for more than 3,000 miles and is dotted with charming seaside communities that feel straight out of a New England postcard. Some towns are lively and nostalgic with boardwalks and amusement rides, while others offer quiet harbors, scenic coastal walks, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic.
What makes Maine beach towns especially memorable is the balance between natural beauty and classic coastal culture — lobster shacks, sailing boats, rocky shorelines, and friendly small-town atmospheres that invite visitors to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Map of the Maine Beach Towns Mentioned
Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, and Bar Harbor are all located along Maine’s scenic coastline and can easily be connected during a coastal road trip.
The southern Maine towns — Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport, and Ogunquit — sit relatively close to one another, making it easy to explore several in a single day. During our trip, we started in Old Orchard Beach before continuing north along the coast toward Bar Harbor.
Located farther up the coast, Bar Harbor serves as the gateway to Acadia National Park and offers a slightly different coastal experience with rugged shoreline views and access to some of Maine’s most iconic hiking trails.
In our case, Old Orchard Beach served as our home base for the week. We stayed in a quiet, charming neighborhood just a short walk from the beach, which made it easy to settle into a slower rhythm — morning coffee walks, evening strolls, homemade breakfasts, and plenty of time spent by the water. We even brought our dogs along, which made the experience feel even more relaxed and personal.
From there, we took day trips along the coast, driving to Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, and eventually making our way up to Bar Harbor. The flexibility of having a home base while exploring different towns made the trip feel both easy and intentional — a perfect balance of movement and downtime.
Together, these four towns offer a wonderful glimpse into the variety of landscapes and personalities that make Maine’s coastline so memorable.
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
If you’re looking for a classic summer beach town, Old Orchard Beach delivers exactly that. With its lively boardwalk, colorful storefronts, and nostalgic seaside energy, the town almost feels frozen in time — in the best way possible. Walking along the main strip, it’s easy to imagine summers here decades ago, with arcade games, beach music, and families wandering between the beach and the boardwalk.
One evening we strolled along the famous Old Orchard Beach Pier, which has extended out over the Atlantic since 1898 and remains the heart of the town’s summer scene. The pier is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, making it a perfect place to grab dinner while watching the waves roll in below.
For a classic boardwalk meal, we grabbed pizza from Lisa’s Pizza before continuing our walk along the boardwalk. And if there’s one snack you absolutely shouldn’t skip here, it’s fried dough — a true beach-town staple. While several places serve it, locals will quickly tell you that Blink’s Frydoe is the place to go if you’re only trying it once.
The atmosphere felt especially festive during our visit. Live music drifted through the boardwalk while a sandcastle competition took place on Hampton Beach, adding to the lively summer energy that makes Old Orchard Beach such a fun place to visit.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport feels like the quintessential New England harbor town. Colorful boats sway gently in the marina while boutique shops, art galleries, and seafood restaurants line the charming streets of Dock Square.
Just a short drive away sits Walker’s Point, the famous summer home of the Bush family, where visitors often stop to admire the view of the historic presidential compound overlooking the Atlantic.
The town has a relaxed but elegant atmosphere, and strolling through the shops you never quite know who you might run into. During our visit, we unexpectedly crossed paths with former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan — a reminder that Kennebunkport has long been a quiet getaway for notable visitors.
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit is one of the most picturesque beach towns in Maine. In fact, the name Ogunquit comes from an Indigenous word meaning “beautiful place by the sea,” and the town certainly lives up to that description.
One of the highlights of visiting Ogunquit is walking the famous Marginal Way — a scenic coastal path that stretches along the rocky shoreline and offers stunning ocean views at every turn.
With its charming harbor at Perkins Cove, art galleries, and cozy restaurants, Ogunquit feels polished, refined, and incredibly inviting. It’s the kind of place where you can spend hours wandering through town, stopping for seafood, coastal views, and — of course — another scoop of blueberry ice cream along the way.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Serving as the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor offers a slightly different coastal experience than many other Maine beach towns.
Instead of sandy beaches and boardwalks, visitors are greeted by dramatic rocky coastlines, forested mountains, and some of the most scenic landscapes in New England. The harbor itself is lively with sailboats, restaurants, and travelers preparing to explore Acadia’s famous hiking trails and coastal viewpoints.
Bar Harbor is also a great place to get out on the water, and one of the best ways to experience the area is by taking a boat tour of the harbor. From sightseeing cruises to whale watching excursions, these tours offer a unique perspective of the coastline and surrounding islands while giving you a chance to fully take in the beauty of Maine’s rugged shore.
After exploring the waterfront, we spent some time simply strolling through town — one of the best ways to take it all in. Bar Harbor is filled with charming little shops and boutiques selling everything from coastal knickknacks to classic Bar Harbor sweatshirts and tees. Between the shops, there are plenty of inviting restaurants and spots to stop and enjoy the atmosphere, making it easy to spend an afternoon wandering without much of a plan.
And, of course, this is where our blueberry ice cream tradition continued — another scoop enjoyed while taking in the harbor views.
Whether you’re setting out to hike Cadillac Mountain, explore the rugged shoreline, or simply enjoy a lobster roll overlooking the water, Bar Harbor offers an unforgettable blend of seaside charm and outdoor adventure.
FAQ About Maine Beach Towns
What is the best beach town in Maine?
Many travelers consider Ogunquit one of the most beautiful beach towns in Maine thanks to its scenic Marginal Way coastal walk and charming village atmosphere. Old Orchard Beach, on the other hand, offers a lively boardwalk experience.
Which Maine beach town is closest to Acadia National Park?
Bar Harbor serves as the primary gateway to Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit Maine beach towns?
Summer is the most popular time to visit Maine’s coast. During our trip in June, the towns felt lively but not overly crowded, making it a wonderful time to explore the coastline.
Best Time to Visit Maine Beach Towns
Summer is the most popular time to visit Maine’s beach towns, when the coastline comes alive with warm weather, seaside festivals, and bustling harbor towns filled with shops and restaurants.
During our trip in June, we found the timing to be especially enjoyable. The weather was beautiful, the towns felt lively but not overcrowded, and it was easy to explore places like Old Orchard Beach and Kennebunkport without the peak summer crowds that often arrive later in July and August.
Summer is also the perfect time to enjoy Maine’s famous wild blueberries, which appear in everything from blueberry ice cream to fresh jams and baked goods throughout the coastal towns.
All in All
All in all, these Maine beach towns each offered something a little different, but all shared that same slow, coastal charm that makes you want to linger just a bit longer. From long walks on the beach to fresh seafood and quiet moments by the water, it’s the kind of trip that stays with you.
And something I didn’t expect to love as much as I did—the sweetest little shops tucked into each town. Every stop seemed to have its own collection of knickknacks, coastal treasures, and handwritten quotes that made you pause, smile, and maybe even reflect a little. I found myself wandering in and out, taking it slow, and capturing those small, meaningful moments along the way.
If you’re planning a trip, I can’t recommend carving out time to explore each of these towns at your own pace—pop into the shops, grab the blueberry ice cream, and let yourself fully settle into the rhythm of the coast.
To set the scene
Movie: We had a rainy day during our trip and stayed in our Old Orchard Beach house, cozied up on the couch, popped popcorn, and watched Steel Magnolias. It ended up being the perfect movie to watch with family—so heartfelt, a little emotional, and centered around the kind of love and connection that makes trips like this so meaningful.
Music: Our song of the trip was “Reelin’ in the Years” by Steely Dan. It played everywhere—blaring through the car speakers as we drove from town to town, during karaoke at the house, and even at our little bonfire picnic while we played cornhole and spent time together. One of those songs that will always take me right back to this week.
Books: I was reading The Alchemist during quiet moments throughout the trip, which felt fitting in a place that encourages you to slow down and reflect. And if you’re looking for something with a similar nostalgic, summer-by-the-water feeling, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune is another one I love.
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