Perkins Cove
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4.1(55)yelp
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Overview
Perkins Cove is a small harbor bay and fishing village in the town of Ogunquit in York County, Maine, United States.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeJuly and August boast warm sea breezes, while mid-September is optimal for the finest hard-shell lobster dining. The quintessential hour is 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM at dusk; watch the historic fishing fleet and charter boats return to the cove, see the unique historical pedestrian foot-operated drawbridge swing open for sailboats, and admire the reflection of crimson skies off rustic seaside shacks.
Getting ThereTucked away at the southernmost tip of Ogunquit's rugged shoreline. Drivers turn off US-1 onto Shore Road, winding south for 1.5 miles to the dead end. Because parking space in this historic cove is extremely tight and expensive, parking downtown and taking the seasonal Ogunquit Trolley straight to its Perkins Cove turnaround loop is highly recommended.
Travel Tips
- Acting as the southern terminus of Marginal Way, this historic fishing cove layout forms a dead-end neck with hyper-compressed turning radii; large trailers and RVs are barred and must decouple at outer municipal lots.
- The iconic center-draw pedestrian footbridge operates manually for incoming lobster boats; parsing the span during mechanical shifting or jumping from the timber framework triggers immediate US Coast Guard detainment.
- The harbor is an active, high-volume commercial lobstering terminal; public access is banned on working wharves and industrial pontoon ramps due to cable hazards, requiring parents to closely anchor children from water hazards.
Reviews
Positive
- A breathtakingly beautiful, historic lobster fishing cove! The narrow harbor packed with wooden boats and the manual draw-footbridge are visually striking.
- Strolling the boardwalk while watching lobster boats unload provides great fun. Packed with local galleries, ice cream shops, and fresh lobster shacks.
- It serves as the terminus of the Marginal Way and the main transport hub for lobster boat tours and deep-sea fishing. Rest benches are well-placed.
- At dusk, sitting on a seafood tavern deck watching the drawbridge lift while gulls call offers a traditional coastal lifestyle vibe that is priceless.
Heads up
- The dedicated parking lots are tiny and narrow. Spaces are extremely scarce during peak season, often under strict 2-hour enforcement time limits.