Ogunquit Beach
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Ogunquit beach in Ogunquit, Maine is a uniquely beautiful three-mile stretch of uninterrupted sand.
What makes Ogunquit beach beautiful?
Over three miles of uninterrupted clean, soft sand.
Sparkling clear — but cold — water.
Lots of room to spread out, but with nearby amenities.
A variety of possible activities. For example, if you like adventure, the Atlantic Ocean’s waves are ever present for surfing, boogie boarding, and body surfing. Conversely, if you prefer flat water, there’s the Ogunquit River for tubing and snorkeling. Or, if you like both, kayaking and paddle boarding are unsurpassed at Ogunquit’s Main Beach.
This is the greatest walking beach I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
What makes Ogunquit beach unique?
The dramatic tidal changes. The tides’ effects on Ogunquit Beach are especially dramatic at the southern end where the Ogunquit River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The dramatic tides make Ogunquit beach a great destination for families because the incoming and outgoing tidal flows create lots of sandy bottomed tide pools. My two sons spent countless hours building cities with connecting waterways and splashing in the tide pools because the water is shallow and warm with no current. Even when they got old enough to play in the ocean, Ogunquit’s tide pools never lost their allure.
About Maine’s Tides
Tides are caused by the gravitational interaction of the Earth and Moon. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the ocean to rise in its direction. Full moons cause very full tides, but every day in Maine the tides are significant – ranging from 8-11 feet of water ebbing and flowing – up and down the shoreline, the beach, and in the rivers that flow to the ocean.
Where you place your beach gear in Maine matters. If you arrive at a Maine beach at low tide and place your things near the ocean, they may be wet in just a few hours, or have floated out to sea. At a minimum, you’ll have to move your beach gear quickly as the water reaches ever higher up the sand. On the flip side, arriving at the beach at high tide, you can feel free to get very close to the water and set up your beach blanket knowing that the water will continue to retreat for the next 5 hours.
Kayak, canoe, and paddle board excursions (at least well organized ones) vary greatly with the push and pull of the tide. Going up river with an incoming tide is great fun: you get an extra push from the incoming flow of water. Just know that if you don’t wait until slack tide or the reverse tide, it will be a stiff current and hard work returning into an incoming tide. I’ve learned this the hard way, and it wasn’t pretty.
Smart kayakers, canoers, and paddle boarders go with the flow, then have a rest, picnic, and/or swim before turning around as the tide turns – you feel like a hero both ways with the assistance of the powerful tidal current. Conversely, fighting the tide, or following an incoming mid-tide then returning into the tide can make for an exhausting workout.
Excerpted from Southern Maine Coast.com.
Don’t believe everything you read? Check out Ogunquit beach for yourself on one of the four webcams located around the town.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Ogunquit Beach Hotels
Ogunquit Hotels on the Beach
The only hotel directly on the beach in Ogunquit, Maine is The Norseman.
Ogunquit Hotels with a View of the Ocean
Many hotels have beach and/or ocean views. They include…
Other recommended Ogunquit Maine Hotels are…
Ogunquit Beach Parking
There are parking lots for a fee at Ogunquit Main Beach, Footbridge Beach, and North Beach. Although these parking lots are relatively large, they fill up early during the busy summer season.
There’s limited parking at Perkins Cove proper, but a much larger lot is located right outside the entrance to Perkins Cove.
If you’re staying in Ogunquit, the Ogunquit Trolley Company operates multiple trolleys that travel from Ogunquit’s northern Route 1 border with Wells to Perkins Cove with frequent stops. Check their schedule for operating hours and rates.
To many joyful beach experiences!
— Lisa Dworkin
