Popham Beach State Park
Phippsburg, ME
Popham Beach State Park sits at the mouth of the Kennebec River, a wide, dramatic stretch of sand with Fox Island visible offshore at low tide, close enough to walk to when the tide is out. It's consistently ranked among Maine's best beaches, and the crowd on a clear summer day proves it.
The walk out to Fox Island at low tide is a genuinely dramatic experience unlike most Maine beaches, though the lot fills early and the summer dog ban sends pet owners elsewhere.
How we score beachesCheck the tide chart before you go. Fox Island is only walkable at low tide, and the sandbar disappears fast once the water starts coming back in.
A day-use fee, generally $4 to $8 per adult, is collected at the entrance booth. The lot fills early on clear summer days.
A boardwalk leads from the lot to the beach. The sand itself is wide and flat, easy walking at low tide.
Dogs are banned from the beach April 1 through September 30 to protect nesting shorebirds. From October 1 through March 31, leashed dogs are welcome.
Water stays cool, rarely past the mid 60s, even in summer. The park's day-use fee and shorebird nesting closures both run the same April through September stretch, worth checking before a trip.
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