Southern Maine Beach Towns

About

Stretching along Maine's southern coastline, the trio of Ogunquit, York, and Kennebunkport delivers a classic New England beach vacation with real accessibility commitment. These towns sit within easy driving distance of each other, making it simple to explore all three during a single trip.

Ogunquit draws visitors with its famous Marginal Way, a mile-long paved clifftop path offering stunning Atlantic views. The town's beach is known for prioritizing inclusive access, and the village center is compact and walkable with shops, galleries, and restaurants clustered along Main Street. Perkins Cove, a small harbor area, adds lobster shacks and boat tours to the mix.

York brings history and variety. Short Sands Beach sits in a sheltered cove with a lively arcade and taffy shops nearby. Long Sands Beach stretches for over a mile with ocean views that feel endless. The Nubble Lighthouse, one of Maine's most photographed landmarks, is visible from Sohier Park where paved viewing areas make it easy to take in the scenery. York Hospital even provides free patient transportation throughout the region, covering Wells, Ogunquit, York, Kittery, and the Kennebunks.

Kennebunkport rounds out the experience with its postcard-perfect Dock Square shopping district and waterfront dining. Goose Rocks Beach and nearby Mother's Beach in Kennebunk both offer beach access mats and loaner beach wheelchairs. The town's coastal roads pass by historic sea captain homes and the famous Bush family compound at Walker's Point.

Practical tips: summer is peak season (June through August), so book lodging early. Shoulder season in September offers warm days, thinner crowds, and fall foliage starting to turn. Restaurants range from casual lobster pounds to fine dining. Most towns have free or metered parking, though summer weekends fill up fast. The region is about 80 miles north of Boston, making it an easy day trip or weekend getaway.

Accessibility

Southern Maine's coastal towns have made meaningful progress toward inclusive beach access. In Kennebunk, Mother's Beach features ADA-compliant Mobi-Mats that create a firm path across sand, and the town offers two beach wheelchairs available for public borrowing through Kennebunk Parks and Recreation. Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport also provides a beach access mat and a beach wheelchair available by reservation.

Ogunquit Beach prioritizes inclusive access with wheelchair ramps and paved paths. The Marginal Way walking path is paved along its full length, though it does include some slopes and uneven sections that may present challenges for some mobility device users.

York Hospital offers free door-to-door patient transportation covering a wide service area including Wells, Ogunquit, York, Cape Neddick, Kittery, Eliot, Sanford, the Berwicks, and the Kennebunks, which can be a helpful resource for visitors needing medical-related transport.

The state of Maine's tourism office promotes wheelchair-friendly activities, sensory-friendly attractions, and adaptive recreation options throughout the region. Downtown areas in all three towns feature sidewalks, though older village centers may have uneven surfaces or limited curb cuts in some spots.

For the most current information on beach wheelchair availability, accessible parking locations, and restroom facilities, contact Kennebunk Parks and Recreation, the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce, or the York Parks and Recreation Department directly. Availability of beach wheelchairs may be seasonal and first-come, first-served.

More accessible places in Maine

• Marginal Way (Ogunquit)
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay)
• Acadia NP & coastal hikes & food scene (Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor)
• Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor)
• Maine Maritime Museum (Bath)
• Portland Museum of Art (Portland)