Drakes Island Beach
Wells, ME
Drakes Island Beach sits at the end of Drakes Island Road in Wells, a residential peninsula between the Webhannet River marsh and the open ocean. The sand is wide and calm by southern Maine standards. Most of the crowd lives on the island or rents a cottage there, so the beach feels like a neighborhood one.
A calm, uncrowded beach with a good marsh backdrop, but residential parking limits make it a hassle for anyone without a rental nearby.
How we score beachesCome late in the day when the tide is out and the beach opens into a huge flat with the marsh light behind it. Leave driveways clear, since this is someone's street.
Residential parking limits apply on the island roads. Read the posted signs before leaving a car, and expect to walk.
A short walk from the road to soft sand. No boardwalk or paved path to the water.
Summer is warm enough for wading and a quick swim, though the water stays cool. Late summer and early fall are the calmest and least crowded.
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