Short Sands Beach York
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Beach Personality: Old-Fashioned Family Fun
Short Sands Beach York
Short Sands Beach isn’t the greatest beach in the area (In my opinion, that designation belongs to Main Beach in Ogunquit, Maine.) but it is a really good place for families. The beach is a fairly small pocket beach in a protected cove. The cove shelters the beach from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, so the water is often calmer at Short Sands Beach York than it is at other southern Maine beaches, making it a safer spot for swimming. Kids also really enjoy climbing around the rocks along the shore when the tide is out looking for little sea creatures.
The exceptional thing about Short Sands Beach is the number of activities within a very short walk of the beach. There are a Fun-O-Rama with arcade games and a bowling alley adjacent to the beach. Not far away is a zoo and amusement park, York’s Wild Kingdom. Additionally, one of York’s best loved restaurants, The Goldenrod, is right across the street from the beach. The Goldenrod has been in business since 1896 and is famous for its Goldenrod Kisses — their own freshly made saltwater taffy — and homemade ice cream.
Beach Activities:
- Swimming
- Boogie boarding
- Skim boarding
- Tide pooling around the rocks
- Lounging
Beach Amenities:
- Public bathrooms – Yes, seasonally from mid-April through Columbus Day in October.
- Showers – Yes, seasonally from mid-April through Columbus Day in October.
- Parking – Yes, metered parking for a fee. Bring lots of quarters.
- Food – Yes, within walking distance at restaurants and hotels.
- Lifeguard – Yes, seasonally from the end of June through Labor Day.
- Dogs allowed on the beach – Yes, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM from late May through late September. Any time from late September to late May.
Additional amenities – playground, gazebo, basketball court, and seasonal events.
Beach Rentals:
Beach umbrellas and inflatable rafts are available for rent on the beach, however, with no phone number or contact information this is a hit or miss proposition.
Directions:
To reach Short Sands Beach York, take I-95, north or south, to exit 7, The Yorks/Ogunquit. Turn left onto US 1 N. Drive for approximately 3 miles to US 1A/Cape Neddick Rd. Turn right onto US 1A/Cape Neddick Road. Stay on US 1A even as it veers to the right and becomes Shore Rd. and then Main St. At the 3-way intersection of Main St., Beach St., and Country St., take a slight right onto Country St. The beach and parking lot are off of Country St. on your right.
To many joyful beach experiences!
— Lisa Dworkin
