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Programs

Beaches

Enjoy summer with us in York!

      The Town of York, Maine is home to the some of the best beaches in New England.  Our beaches are the reason so many visitors come to visit, and one of the biggest reasons people choose to call York home.  Our community takes tremendous pride in keeping our beaches safe, clean, and accessible to the public.

Parking passes on sale now

York residence can purchase their annual parking pass online. Discounts available for senior citizens. 

 

Long Sand Beach
  

Long Beach Avenue – Route 1A
York Beach, ME 03910


Maintained by: York Parks and Recreation (207) 363-1040

 

long sands

1.5 miles long of mostly sandy beach with some tide pools and rocky areas

Located halfway between the villages of York Harbor and York Beach, Long Sands Beach offers a mile of white sandy beach.  A busy tourist attraction from mid June to Labor Day the beach will have as many as three to five thousand visitors daily.  Popular activities include swimming, sun bathing, surfing, and volleyball.  There is a public restroom facility located at the half way point of the beach and metered parking is available along Long Beach Avenue.   Handicapped parking and access ramps are located near the bathhouse.  Surfing is allowed in “mixed use zones” delineated by orange buoys.  Dogs are prohibited from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

 

Amenities

  • Public restrooms open daily from first weekend in May through Columbus Day
  • Surfing allowed in designated surfing area only.
  • One (1) Beach Wheelchair available to the public at the Bathhouse between 9:30am and 4:30pm daily.  (See the Lifeguards)
  • Raft rentals
  • Umbrella rentals
  • Restaurants, take-out food and convenience stores within walking distance

 

Permit Parking

  • Permit parking is allowed from Libby’s Campground to Nubble Road in metered spaces.
  • Permit Parking Sticker is a resident sticker that can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office (207) 363-1003
  • Permits are valid from May 15th through October 15th annually.
  • A sticker costs $40.00 or $20.00 for Senior Citizens aged 65 and over.
  • Permit Parking Ordinance

Parking - $4/hour

Kiosks are $4.00 per hour

  • In effect from May 15th through October 15th from 8:00am until 10:00pm annually.
  • Kiosks accept Visa and MasterCard as well as cash bills.
  • Traffic Safety Ordinance

Dogs

  • No domestic animals between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm from May 20th through September 20th.
  • Required to be on a leash between May 20th and September 20th between 6:00pm and sunrise.
  • Animal Control Ordinance

Additional Information

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE:  Yes

LIFEGUARDS:

  • Seasonal Lifeguards on duty daily from the last week in June through Labor Day between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

SMOKE FREE:

  • All of York’s beaches have been posted as “Smoke Free”.  In a non-binding resolution, selectmen declared a tobacco-free zone on public beaches.  The ban is a request, not a law.

TRASH RECEPTACLES:  No.

  • Carry In – Carry Out policy started 2020.

WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Yes

SURFCASTING:  Yes – only when there are no swimmers in water or on the beach.

BUS AND RV PARKING:  No

KAYAKS:  May be launched in designated surfing area only with Lifeguard Approval

Grills, campfires, and bonfires

GRILLS, CAMPFIRES AND BONFIRES:  None May 15 – August 15.  Special Event Permit necessary.  Beach Ordinance

Short Sand Beach

Ocean Avenue – Route 1A
York Beach, ME 03910


Managed by the Ellis Park Committee

 

short sands 3

.25 miles long of mostly sandy beach with some tide pools and rocky areas

The very popular Short Sands Beach is a quarter-mile-long sandy pocket beach tucked between rocky cliffs in the village of York Beach.  Short Sands is located in Ellis Park and offers public restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, metered parking, a large sandy playground, basketball courts, a gazebo and a large grassy park area.  A promenade walkway runs along the beach and has many conveniently located benches.  The Ellis Park Trustees schedule free concerts and entertainment in their park throughout the summer.  There are several nearby shops, entertainment, attractions, restaurants and hotels making Short Sands beach very attractive to tourists.

 

Ellis Park and Short Sands Beach is owned by the Town of York and managed by a private Board of Trustees known as the Ellis Park Committee. While the Committee has oversight of the park the Town has a shared responsibility to manage and maintain park facilities.

 

Working cooperatively, the goal of the Town and Park Trustees is to make the park the very best it can be for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. For additional information or to offer suggestions, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 207-363-1040 or email parks-rec@yorkmaine.org 

 

Amenities

  • Public restrooms – The Park has restroom facility which opened in June of 2014. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for managing the facility which is open from May 1st through Columbus Day weekend. The schedule and hours of operation are as follows;
    • May 1st through June 15th, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • June 16th through September 15th, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
    • September 16th through October 15th, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Schedule may be extended, weather permitting
  • Playground
  • Gazebo
  • Covered Bandstand area
  • Basketball Courts
  • Grassy Park for picnics and play
  • Restaurants, take-out food, convenience market, shopping and arcade within walking distance
  • One (1) Beach Wheelchair available to the public at the Bathhouse between 9:30am and 4:30pm daily.  (See the Lifeguards)
  •  

Parking - $4/hour

Kiosks are $4.00 per hour

  • In effect from May 15th through October 15th from 8:00am until 10:00pm annually.
  • Kiosks accept Visa and MasterCard as well as cash bills.
  • Traffic Safety Ordinance

Dogs

  • No domestic animals between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm from May 20th through September 20th.
  • Required to be on a leash between May 20th and September 20th between 6:00pm and sunrise.
  • Animal Control Ordinance

Grills, campfires, and bonfires

GRILLS, CAMPFIRES AND BONFIRES:  None May 15 – August 15.  Special Event Permit necessary.  Beach Ordinance

Additional Information

LIFEGUARDS:

  • Seasonal Lifeguards on duty daily from the last week in June through Labor Day between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

SMOKE FREE:

  • All of York’s beaches have been posted as “Smoke Free”.  In a non-binding resolution, selectmen declared a tobacco-free zone on public beaches.  The ban is a request, not a law.

TRASH RECEPTACLES:  No.

  • Carry in – Carry out started 2020.

WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Yes

SURFCASTING:  Yes – only when there are no swimmers in water or on the beach.

BUS AND RV PARKING:  No

Harbor Beach
  

York Street/Route 1A
York Harbor, ME  03911


Maintained by: York Parks and Recreation (207) 363-1040

 

harbor beach 2

Mostly sandy beach with some tide pools, rocky areas

Tucked away just off York Street/Route 1A you will find the scenic York Harbor Beach.  This beach offers public restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, gentle surf, the Cliff Walk path and neighboring Hartley Mason Park.  Hartley Mason Park borders the beach and offers benches and shade trees.  This is a very family orientated beach, with a high local population.  Parking is limited and requires a resident Permit Parking Sticker from the Town Clerk’s Office.  Additional parking is available along Route 1A but is limited to 2 hours.

 

Amenities

  • No Public Restrooms available
  • Restaurants within walking distance

Permit Parking

  • Permit Parking Sticker is a resident sticker that can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office (207) 363-1003
  • Permits are valid from May 15th through October 15th annually.
  • A sticker costs $40.00 or $20.00 for Senior Citizens aged 65 and over.
  • Permit Parking Ordinance

Dogs

  • No domestic animals between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm from May 20th through September 20th.
  • Required to be on a leash between May 20th and September 20th between 6:00pm and sunrise.
  • Animal Control Ordinance

Grills, campfires, and bonfires

GRILLS, CAMPFIRES AND BONFIRES:  None May 15 – August 15.  Special Event Permit necessary.  Beach Ordinance

Additional Information

LIFEGUARDS:

  • Seasonal Lifeguards on duty daily from the last week in June through Labor Day between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

SMOKE FREE:

  • All of York’s beaches have been posted as “Smoke Free”.  In a non-binding resolution, selectmen declared a tobacco-free zone on public beaches.  The ban is a request, not a law.

TRASH RECEPTACLES:  No.

  • Carry in – Carry out started 2020.

WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Yes

SURFCASTING:  Yes – only when there are no swimmers in water or on the beach.

BUS AND RV PARKING:  No

Cape Neddick Beach
  

Shore Road

Cape Neddick, ME 03902

 

Maintained by: York Parks and Recreation (207) 363-1040

 

cape beach

Cape Neddick Beach is a small, privately owned beach that has a public access point. There are no lifeguards or restroom facilities, and parking is extremely limited and requires a resident parking sticker.

 

Amenities

  • Public restrooms open daily from first weekend in May through Columbus Day
  • Restaurants within walking distance

Permit Parking

  • Permit Parking Sticker is a resident sticker that can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office (207) 363-1003
  • Permits are valid from May 15th through October 15th annually.
  • A sticker costs $40.00 or $20.00 for Senior Citizens aged 65 and over.
  • Permit Parking Ordinance

2 Hour Parking spaces along Route 1A

Dogs

  • No domestic animals between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm from May 20th through September 20th.
  • Required to be on a leash between May 20th and September 20th between 6:00pm and sunrise.
  • Animal Control Ordinance

Grills, campfires, and bonfires

GRILLS, CAMPFIRES AND BONFIRES:  None May 15 – August 15.  Special Event Permit necessary.  Beach Ordinance

Additional Information

LIFEGUARDS:

  • Seasonal Lifeguards on duty daily from the last week in June through Labor Day between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

SMOKE FREE:

  • All of York’s beaches have been posted as “Smoke Free”.  In a non-binding resolution, selectmen declared a tobacco-free zone on public beaches.  The ban is a request, not a law.

TRASH RECEPTACLES:  No.

  • Carry in – Carry out started 2020.

WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Yes

SURFCASTING:  Yes – only when there are no swimmers in water or on the beach.

BUS AND RV PARKING:  No

FAQs

Beach FAQ

Want more summer fun in York?

Visit our event calendar to view special events and seasonal programs.