Does a sandy beach in Maine with gentle waves, close parking, clean bathrooms, and food options close by exist? IT DOES. Pemaquid Beach in New Harbor (Bristol), Maine has all of this and much more!
Pemaquid Beach is one of our FAVORITE beaches in midcoast Maine! Thanks to the Bristol Parks and Recreation Department, which grooms the beach each morning, visitors are rewarded with soft, warm sand, perfect for sandcastle building and easy walks to look for seaglass, shells, and hermit crabs.
Read through the blog for an in depth summary of Pemaquid Beach and IMPORTANT BATHROOM details or head straight to the summary at the bottom for quick information.
General Information:
Pemaquid Beach is located in New Harbor (Bristol), Maine and is an approximately 1.5 hour drive north of Portland. Admission costs are as follows: Adult/$5, Children 5-11/$1, Children under 4/FREE. Cash is preferred. A 2.6% charge will be added to your admission fees if you use a debit/credit card.
Keep the ticket you receive at the admission window! This will let you come/go all day long!
Planning to spend the week near Pemaquid Beach? A discounted beach pass is available for purchase at the Ellingwood Center (headquarters for Bristol’s Park and Rec Department) for $35. A non-resident season pass can also be purchased for $100.
Pemaquid Beach is open daily June-September from 8am-6pm. FREE parking is available adjacent to the beach which makes for easy work for lugging that beach gear!
You can also rent beach chairs, boogie boards, and umbrellas here. We have rented a beach umbrella on several occasions and love that it is one less thing we have to remember to pack!
Mimi’s on the Beach is right on the boardwalk to the beach and offers a good array of lunch and sweet treat options.
Be aware the seagulls can be slightly aggressive when food is left out. We always store our lunchbox in the very bottom of our bag or wagon and never leave food out on our blanket or under the beach chairs.
A couple of “No’s” that you should be aware of:
- NO lifeguard on duty- swim at your own risk.
- NO watercraft of any kind (surfboards, kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, etc.)
- NO fishing
- NO dogs from May 1st – October 15th
Pemaquid Beach also participates in the Healthy Beaches weekly water testing programs!
Our Experience:
We love to spend a day at Pemaquid Beach anytime we are camping at Sherwood Forest Camp Site. The beach is within walking distance of the campground and we look forward to our beach days here every year.
I can’t say enough positive things about a groomed beach! I know it may be a bit controversial but I love that sand fleas and other bugs aren’t around much at this beach because the seaweed is relocated.
Note: They do NOT remove the seaweed when they groom, they just move it down a bit further on the beach.
Our favorite beach spot is to the left side of the beach. Once you get down off of the boardwalk, take a left and head down a ways. The further left you go, the closer you will be to a stream, rocks for exploring, calm water, and a perfect spot to catch a bunch of hermit crabs. We also feel that the seagulls leave us alone for the most part being away from the “hub” of the beach.
Heads up: We have spotted jellyfish here on our trips. My daughter has learned to spot them well as they are typically juvenile Lion’s Mane ones. They are pretty sporadic and the welcome board where you pay for your entry will usually have updates about them.
Bathroom Rating: B+
There are sex-separated bathrooms on site as well as an all-genders/handicapped bathroom. Each of the sex-separated bathrooms also have changing rooms. You will also find shower towers outside of the bathrooms to help wash the sand away.
Bathrooms and shower towers are only open from 8am-6pm daily. If planning to stay later at the beach than 6pm (you can do this!), be sure to use the bathroom before they close!
Additional Adventures:
Looking to add on some adventures while in the Pemaquid Beach area? Here are a couple of options you add to your day:
- Damariscotta’s Shell Midden Site: Looking to add in a little history of the area? Check out the largest North American shell midden site in Damariscotta.
- La Verna Preserve: Looking to add a hike to your day? This is a great preserve with fantastic ocean views! Note: Please follow parking rules to avoid a costly ticket.
- Granite Hall Store: Penny candy, ice cream, toys, and a lovely curated shop of gifts, this is a wonderful stop on the way home!
- Harbor Ice Cream: With plenty of Gifford’s ice cream and generous portions, this conveniently located ice cream shop is our post-beach go-to!
Summary:
Pemaquid Beach is located in New Harbor, Maine and is an approximately 1.5 hour drive north of Portland. Admission costs are as follows: Adult/$5, Children 5-11/$1, Children under 4/FREE. Cash is preferred. A 2.6% charge will be added to your admission fees if you use a debit/credit card.
Pemaquid Beach is open daily June-September from 8am-6pm. Bathrooms and changing rooms as well as shower towers to rinse away sand are available to use during these open hours.
FREE parking is available adjacent to the beach which makes for easy work for lugging that beach gear! They also rent beach chairs, boogie boards, and umbrellas for an easier visit.
A couple good reminders:
- Store food well out of sight as seagulls can be a bit aggressive at this beach.
- Look out for jellyfish as they can be present from time to time here.
- No dogs on the beach from May 1- October 15th.
Happy Adventuring and thank you for reading this blog post on The Wandering Chickadee!
~Natalie
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