Scarborough Beach
4.0(33)google
4.4(16)yelp
SurfingSwimmingFamilyYouth-FriendlySummer RetreatOutdoorOcean ViewLocal FavoriteBeach
Overview
Scarborough Beach or Scarboro Beach may refer to any of the following:
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeHigh summer in July and August is prime for experiencing this sweeping, sandy beach celebrated for having some of Maine's warmest ocean surf. Arriving in the late afternoon from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM is highly recommended; the intense glare mellows into golden twilight, the high midday vehicle parking fees reduce, and local longboarders hit the breaks as the setting sun blankets the sand in crimson.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned along the coast at 418 Black Point Road in Scarborough. To drive, head south from downtown Portland via US-1 South, turn left onto ME-207 South (Black Point Road), and drive south straight for 3.5 miles to spot the prominent entrance gates on the right; a large dedicated paid customer lot wraps the sand dunes. Public mass transit does not serve this beachfront corridor.
Travel Tips
- The beachhead lot features tightly restricted capacity, hitting 100% saturation by 09:00 daily in July; park staff enforce immediate one-in, one-out vehicle holds, and idling on adjacent access highways invokes immediate moving citations.
- The unsheltered coastline triggers erratic, highly dangerous rip currents and heavy groundswells; when beach lifesavers hoist red warning flags, all open-water swimming is legally suspended across the surf line.
- Local environmental sanitary bylaws enforce an ironclad seasonal canine exclusion ban; no domestic dogs are permitted on the sand flakes from April 1 through November 30, carrying steep summary financial penalties.
Reviews
Positive
- It boasts some of the most comfortable water temperatures and rolling waves in Maine! The endless soft sandy crescent beach offers stunning vistas.
- The rolling surf is consistent and perfectly sized, making it a famous New England paradise for surfing and body-boarding fun.
- High-density professional lifeguards patrol for strict safety assurance and orderly line control; main gates feature outdoor shower amenities.
- Right off the Route 1 highway corridor, driving transit convenience is flawless. The premium parking fee lives up to its high-quality beach value.
Heads up
- On boiling July and August weekend afternoons, tourist density explodes; the main lot frequently fills up and flags closed by noon, stranding drivers.
- The combined admission and vehicle pricing ranks among the highest in Maine; the single food concession shack spending offers low value.
- Walking from the lots to the beach requires trekking over a long, soft-sand natural boardwalk; accessible rolling is tough for heavy wheels.
- Influenced by tidal ocean currents, certain afternoons bring heavy mounds of black seaweed washed ashore, which can smell bad without prompt cleanup.