Here at Living with a Golden, we are all about getting out and enjoying life with our dogs.  There’s no better way to celebrate Summer than visiting the Dog Friendly Beaches in New Hampshire and Maine!  Before heading out here’s a quick reference guide on the Dog Beach Rules for Maine and New Hampshire beaches.  For more details including parking information, best time to visit, weather forecast, photos and more, please click on the highlighted name.  Also be sure to visit our Dog Friendly Places page for our reviews on Dog Hiking Trails and Scenic Dog Walks.  A new Dog Friendly destination is added weekly on Tuesdays!  Also be sure to check back on Thursdays for our featured Dog Friendly Events in New Hampshire and Maine!

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NH State Beaches: NO Dogs allowed on New Hampshire State Beaches at any time.

The following is a list of dog rules and regulations for town owned beaches in New Hampshire during the Summer Season:

Seabrook, NH

Seabrook Beach: Dogs permitted Memorial Day through Labor Day before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.  Please note: parking is for residents only from Memorial Day to September 15.

Rye, NH 

Foss Beach: Dogs permitted on the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 7:00 PM.  Dogs allowed off-leash under voice control.

Jenness Beach: There are town owned sections where dogs are allowed.  Dogs are NOT allowed on Jenness State Beach.  Click on the highlighted name for details on specific access points where dog are allowed on Jenness Beach.  Dogs permitted the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 7:00 PM.  Dogs allowed off-leash under voice control.

Hampton, NH: According to the town ordinance, dogs are permitted on Hampton town owned beaches Memorial Day through Labor Day before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.  However, finding these town owned areas is a mystery.  After contacting local police, we were told all beaches in Hampton are state owned and therefore no dogs allowed.  As a nearby alternative, Salisbury Beach State Reservation allows dogs all day on-leash but only on the river side of the park.

North Hampton, NH: No Dogs allowed on North Hampton State Beach.  No Dogs allowed on town owned beaches May 30 through October 1.

New Castle, NH: No Dogs allowed on New Castle Beach or Great Island Common May 15 through September 15.  Dogs allowed at the New Castle Town Landing before 8:00 AM and after 8:00 PM, off-leash under voice control.

MAINE

ME State Beaches: NO Dogs allowed on Maine State Beaches April 1 through September 30.

The following is a list of dog rules and regulations for town owned beaches in Maine during the Summer Season:

Kittery, ME

Fort Foster: Dogs allowed at Fort Foster year round dawn to dusk.  Dogs must be leashed.

Seapoint Beach: Dogs licensed to Kittery residents only permitted on Seapoint and Crescent Beaches from May 15 though September 30.  From June 15 through September 10 residents’  dogs are restricted to before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.  Permit parking for residents only during the summer season.

York, ME

Long Sands Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM.  Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM.  Of the York Beaches, Long Sands Beach offers the most room for dogs to play on busy summer days.

Short Sands Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM.  Dogs must be leashed after between 6:00 PM.  Please note dogs must be leashed in the park and are not allowed in playground area.

York Harbor Beach:  Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM.  Dogs must be leashed after between 6:00 PM. Please note dogs must be leashed in Hartley Mason Park. To extend your visit, take a scenic walk along Fishermen’s Walk to the Wiggly Bridge.

Cape Neddick Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM.  Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM.  From May 15 through October 15, it is resident only permit parking.

Wells, ME

Wells Beach: Dogs permitted June 16 through September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.

Drakes Island Beach: Dogs permitted June 16 through September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.

Kennebunk, ME

Gooch’s Beach: Dogs permitted June 15 through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control.  Of the Kennebunk beaches, Gooch’s Beach has more room to play on busy summer days.

Mother’s Beach:  Dogs permitted June 15 through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control.

Kennebunkport, ME 

Goose Rocks Beach:  From April 1 to June 14, dogs are allowed off-leash between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM, and must be leashed at all other times.  From June 15 through September 15 dogs are allowed before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.  Please click on the highlighted name for more detailed information on the restricted areas for the nesting pipping plovers.

Arundel Beach:  Also known as Colony Beach, from April 1 to June 14, dogs are allowed off-leash between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM, and must be leashed at all other times.  From June 15 through September 15 dogs are allowed before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.  To extend your visit, take a scenic stroll along Parsons Way.

Biddeford, ME

Fortunes Rocks:  Dogs permitted May 25 through September 15 before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.  Dogs must be leashed.

Portland, ME

East End Beach: Dogs allowed Memorial Day through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control.  To extend your visit, take a scenic stroll along the Eastern Promenade.

South Portland, ME

Willard Beach:  Dogs permitted May 1 through September 30 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control.

Old Orchard Beach, ME (updated 2021)

Old Orchard Beach: Between May 15 through Labor Day dogs are permitted off-leash 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. NO dogs allowed on the beach between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Dogs must be on-leash from 5:00 PM to Dusk. More importantly, dogs MUST stay 100 feet away from the restricted Plover areas. There will be fines for dog owners breaking these rules. No dogs allowed in the area known as “The Square.”

Saco, ME

Bay View:  Dogs allowed all day.  April 1st through September 30th, dogs must be leashed at all times.

Kinney Shores: Dogs allowed all day. April 1st through September 30th, dogs must be leashed at all times.

Scarborough, ME 

Pine Point Beach:  Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered pipping plover shorebirds.  From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas.  In addition, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area.  In the evening from 5:00 PM to sunset Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area.  Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at for Pine Point Beach.  Of the three dog beaches in Scarborough, Pine Point one offers the most options for dogs.

Higgins Beach:  Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered pipping plover shorebirds.  From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas.  In addition, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area.  In the evening from 5:00 PM to sunset Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area.  Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at Higgins Beach.

Ferry Beach:  Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered pipping plover shorebirds.  From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas.  In addition, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area.  In the evening from 5:00 PM to sunset Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area.  Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at Ferry Beach. Of the three dog beaches in Scarborough, Ferry Beach offers dogs a very limited nonrestricted area to play, especially during high tide and due to the extremely fragile dunes. Please note similarly named Ferry State Beach in nearby Saco does NOT allow dogs.

Ogunquit, ME

Ogunquit Beach: No Dogs allowed on Ogunquit Beach or Marginal Way April 1 through September 30.

Please visit LivingwithaGolden.com for more details on our Dog Friendly Places Reviews.  

More reviews added weekly!