East End Beach
Portland, ME
East End Beach is Portland's city beach, tucked below the Eastern Promenade with views across Casco Bay to the islands. The sand is narrow and the shoreline is mixed with rocks, but it is the easiest place in the city to get your feet in the water. A trail runs along the bluff above.
Unbeatable city access and harbor views, but the beach itself is small and can be crowded.
How we score beachesWalk the Eastern Prom trail before or after your beach time. The views over the harbor and the islands are worth the extra ten minutes.
Street parking and a small lot serve the beach. Weekends fill early, so arrive in the morning.
Trail access from the promenade, then a short walk on sand and small rocks.
Summer is the busy season and the water stays cool. Fall brings clear harbor light and quieter shores.
More Atlantic Coast beaches

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Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.

Jones Beach State Park
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A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.
