Long Sands Beach
4.7(1.3K)google
3.6(32)yelp
SurfingSwimmingFamilyYouth-FriendlySummer RetreatOutdoorOcean ViewMust-SeeBeach
Overview
York Beach is a community within the town of York, Maine, United States. The York Beach area consists of Long Sands and Short Sands beaches on the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Maine. The two beaches are separated by Cape Neddick.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeHigh summer in July and August is peak season to enjoy this iconic, 1.5-mile continuous stretch of wide sandy coast. The definitive magic window is late afternoon from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM; the bright sun gives way to a soft rose-colored glow, and the ebbing tide reveals a massive, mirror-like sand flat reflecting the sky. Walk the coastline to capture unobstructed views of the lone Nubble Lighthouse resting offshore.
Getting ThereStretched majestically right alongside the main coastal corridor at Long Beach Avenue (ME-1A) in York. Drivers smoothly transition from US-1 North onto ME-1A North, where the highway shoulder immediately opens up to the seawall. Plentiful metered parallel parking slots line the long avenue, though spaces vanish early in July. Outstandingly, the seasonal York Trolley shuttle links downtown hotels straight to the sand.
Travel Tips
- Flanking open ocean, the Route 1A metered parking matrix undergoes 100% saturation by 09:00 daily in summer; traffic laws ban idling or cruising along the narrow coastal highway to wait for spaces, enforced by heavy fines.
- Massive tidal shifts fully submerge the sandy footprint at high tide, compressing beachgoers against the rigid stone seawall structures; visitors must query real-time hourly marine charts to prevent gear washout.
- Driven by sub-polar currents, water temperatures stall under 14°C (57°F) mid-summer; long-distance swimming without a 4mm technical thermal neoprene wetsuit invokes extreme cold-shock risks and physical incapacitation.
Reviews
Positive
- True to its name! Over a mile of endless soft sandy beach offering direct long-distance views of Nubble Light on the blue horizon. Visually stunning.
- The long boardwalk sidewalk features excellent accessibility, making it a perfect, high-value spot for barefoot strolling and family beach fun.
- Professional lifeguards patrol the entire beach in summer, ensuring strict safety management that puts families at ease. Local snack shacks are well-placed.
- Right next to the coastal highway for flawless transport convenience. Metered curbside parking spaces are abundant along the road for quick pull-offs.
Heads up
- On peak summer weekend afternoons, tourist density blows up; the sand is packed with umbrellas, and metered curbside spots are completely taken.