The best beaches in Maine
Lonely Planet Editors
1 March 2021
For millions of years, Maine s ragged coastline has been expanded by vast volcanic explosions, eroded by glaciers and the crashing north Atlantic surf, and fractured by continental drift. What remains today is a dramatic, romantic landscape dotted with postcard-perfect lighthouses, towering evergreens, and fascinating hints at the Pine Tree State s geologic past.
The water may be chilly, but Maine s coast boasts some of the most interesting, dynamic beaches in the country. Whether you re a fan of beach combing, surfing, sea kayaking, sunbathing, or hiking the winding headlands, Maine beaches have a lot to offer. With 3,478 miles of oceanfront, however, it might be hard to know where to begin. That s why we made a list of Maine s 13 best beaches, from popular city hangouts to remote coves where you ll find plenty of elbow room.
As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to Covid-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, check individual websites before you go.
Unlike many national parks, a visit to Acadia can easily stand in for a visit to the state itself. The 49,076-acre site, predominantly located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island (MDI),
is intertwined with fishing villages and tiny seasonal enclaves, and it’s not always clear where its boundaries are. Lobster boats rumble below Acadia’s cliffs as they move from buoy to buoy pulling traps. Uninhabited Bar Island, isolated from the rest of the park, is connected to downtown Bar Harbor via a strip of gravel beach, which serves as a natural sidewalk at low tide. The route to Bass Harbor Head Light, one of three lighthouses managed by the park, passes through neighborhoods where yards are filled with towers of lobster traps. The Abenaki
SANDWICH – I was skipping stones at Duck Harbor, surely about to eclipse the world record of 88, when my attention was drawn to a boat offshore. Someone was dancing around with signal flags, pausing only to sound an air horn. Oh no, I thought. Semaphore!
This was my own fault. I had commissioned Captain Lou Leaky Tubbs and his patched-up motorboat Knot 2 Shabby to patrol Cape Cod Bay seeking questions for the column. This had been a rather unsatisfactory arrangement so far: judging from his expense report, Leaky required enormous amounts of fried clams, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and STP gas treatment to even leave port occasionally.