Kennebunk Beach
Kennebunk, ME
Kennebunk Beach is really three connected beaches, Gooch's, Middle, and Mother's, running along Beach Avenue past the summer homes that give this stretch of coast its postcard reputation. The sand stays cool and the crowd stays local, even with the Bush family compound just up the road in Kennebunkport.
Three connected beaches and a genuinely upscale, quiet stretch of coast make this a local favorite, though the permit system and narrow dog hours take some getting used to.
How we score beachesA parking permit is required June 15 through September 15, sold at Town Hall or the beach kiosks. Buy it before you park, since enforcement here is consistent.
A parking permit (daily, weekly, or seasonal) is required June 15 through September 15 for all three beaches. Outside that window, parking is unrestricted.
The beach is flat sand, easily reached from the Beach Avenue lots.
Dogs are allowed on the beach before 9am and after 5pm from June 15 through Labor Day. From Labor Day through June 15, they're allowed off leash under voice control, no retractable leashes permitted either way.
Water stays cool, generally in the 60s, even at the height of summer, typical of the Maine coast. Early fall keeps mild weather with the summer permit requirement lifted.
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