There are many dog friendly beaches in Maine.  Here is a quick reference on the dates and times dogs are allowed on town owned beaches in Maine during the Summer Season.  For more information on specific beaches, please click on the highlighted name for reviews including current weather conditions, directions and recent photos, as well as off-season dog beach rules.  Also be sure to visit our Dog Friendly Places page for additional reviews on beaches in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  There are also recommendations for Scenic Dog Walks and Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire. New reviews are added weekly!

Biddeford: Fortunes Rocks 

Dogs Allowed: May 25 – September 15 before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM

Leash Required

Parking: Permits required June 15 – Labor Day 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, available at town hall

Kennebunk: Gooch’s Beach, Mother’s Beach

Dogs Allowed: June 15 – Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM

Off-Leash/Voice Control

Parking: Permits required June 15 – September 15, available at on-site kiosk and town hall

Kennebunkport: Goose Rocks Beach, Arundel Beach

Dogs Allowed: June 15 – September 30 before 8:30 AM and after 6:00 PM.

Leash Required except 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM when dogs are allowed off-leash/voice control

Parking: Permit Required Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, available at Goose Rocks General Store, town hall, and Kennebunkport police department.  Parking Permits are not required for Arundel Beach.

Kittery: 

Fort Foster: Dogs Allowed all day

Leash Required

Parking: Entrance fee $10 per vehicle, $5 per person if walking or biking into park

Seapoint Beach: June 15 – September 10 Dogs registered to Kittery residents only before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM

Off-Leash/Voice Control

Parking: June 15 – September 10 Kittery residents permit only

Ogunquit Beach: Ogunquit Beach

No Dogs: April 1 – September 30 at any time (dogs allowed Off-Season only)

Old Orchard Beach: Old Orchard Beach 

Dogs Allowed: May 14th – Labor Day off-leash 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. No dogs allowed between 9:00 AM and 5:00
PM. Dogs must be leashed 5:00 PM to Dusk. Dogs must remain 100 feet away from restricted Plover areas.

No Dogs allowed in the public way from the top of Old Orchard Street to the beach, including “The Square,” from 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Leash Required

Parking: On-street meters and private lots

Portland: East End Beach

Dogs Allowed: Memorial Day – Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM

Off-Leash/Voice Control

Parking: Public parking at nearby boat launch

Saco: Kinney Shores

Dogs Allowed: All Day

Leash Required: April 1st through September 30th, at all times.

Parking: Limited public on-street parking and lots restricted to residents permit only

South Portland: Willard Beach

Dogs Allowed: May 1 – September 30 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Off-Leash/Voice Control

Parking: Public parking lot for 75 vehicles

Wells: Drakes Island Beach, Wells Beach

Dogs Allowed: June 16 – September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM

Leash Required

Parking: Parking lot passes available at on-site kiosk

York: Long Sands Beach, Short Sands Beach, York Harbor Beach 

Dogs Allowed: May 20 – September 20 Sunrise to 8:00 AM, and after 6:00 PM

Off-Leash/Voice Control: Sunrise to 8:00 AM. Leash Required: after 6:00 PM

Parking: Metered parking at Long Sands and Short Sands. Resident Permit Parking York Harbor