Maine is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and by mid-summer, they’ve warmed up enough to beckon swimmers off the sand and into the waves. Here are five of the best beaches in Maine, and all conveniently located just a short drive from I-95.
Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach is a seven-mile strand with a classic pier and a waterfront amusement park, arcades and fireworks. Located on the inner side of Saco Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, the town is a popular summer beach destination. The downtown contains many tourist-oriented businesses, including clam shacks and T-shirt shops. A wooden pier on the beach contains many other tourist businesses, including a variety of souvenir shops.
Directions: from I-95, exit 36, take I-195 east to ME 5 to Old Orchard Beach. Approximately 5 miles (9 minutes)
Scarborough Beach State Park
Scarborough Beach State Park: Scarborough Beach offers some of the best swimming in New England with water temps in the high 60’s through out July and August. Rip Currents do occur on a daily basis and we firmly recommend swimming in the designated lifeguard area. Parking is limited, so plan to get here early on the weekends.
Directions: from I-95, exit 42, take Haigas Parkway east to US 1 North to Black Point Road ( ME 207) east to Scarborough Beach State Park. Approximately 7 miles (13 minutes)
Ogunquit Beach
TripAdvisor rates Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit, Maine as one of the Top 25 Beaches in the United States. This long peninsula of sandy beach and grassy dunes stretches for three and a half miles, forming a natural barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River. You can swim, bodysurf, search for shells and driftwood, and rent chairs, umbrellas and floats.
Directions: From I-95 northbound, exit 7, take US 1 north to Ogunquit. Approximately 8 miles (15 minutes). From I-95 southbound, take exit 19 to ME 109 east to US 1 south to Ogunquit. Approximately 9 miles (20 minutes)
Goose Rocks Beach
Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport has three miles of soft sand and moderate surf, ideal for a family day out at the beach. A barrier reef offshore known as Goose Rocks, visible at low tide, helps protect the soft, white sands of the beach. This is a perfect spot for you to spread out the beach blankets, chairs and umbrellas for a fun day of sunbathing, relaxing, swimming and combing the shore for sand dollars.
Directions: From I-95, exit 25, take ME 35 east to Ross Road, to US 1 north to Old Post Road, to Lombard Road to Goose Rocks Road to Goose Rocks Beach. Approximately 10 miles (19 minutes)
Popham Beach
Popham Beach is a wilder beach in Midcoast Maine in Phippsburg, a beach with offshore islands. Bordering the south side of the mouth of the Kennebec River, Popham Beach State Park is truly one of Maine’s rare geologic landforms that features a long stretch of sand beach. Sunbathers relaxing on Popham’s sands can see Fox and Wood islands offshore, and the Kennebec and Morse rivers border each end of the beach.
Directions: I-95 to exit 52, then the Falmouth Spur to I-295 north to exit 28, then, US 1 north to Bath then ME 209 south to Popham Beach. Approximately 48 miles (59 minutes)
For more I-95 roadtrip info, visit www.i95exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to I-95, America’s Interstate Main Street. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Maine to Florida! Plus I-95 construction, real-time traffic and road news.
Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-4 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide , and I-75 Exit Guide.
