Old Orchard Beach sits about 15 miles south of Portland, and people who have never been often ask us what it's like. Part Coney Island, part classic New England, with a summer energy that hasn't changed much in decades. Loud, fun, genuinely unpretentious. You come here because it's August and you want to be at the beach. It delivers.
We're two miles away in Saco. Guests ask us about OOB constantly, so we know this place well. Here's what's actually worth your time.
The Beach
Seven continuous miles of white sand from Pine Point in Scarborough down to Camp Ellis in Saco. Widest in Saco Bay, gently sloping, with calm enough surf that families with small kids feel comfortable. This is a social beach: volleyball, frisbee, sandcastles, people-watching. The people-watching alone is worth the trip.
Water temperatures by month: June runs cold, 55 to 60 degrees. July hits 60 to 65, cool but swimmable for most people. August peaks around 64 to 68 and that's when swimming is genuinely pleasant. September holds warmth better than you'd expect, often still 60 to 65 well into the month.
The Pier
Five hundred feet of wooden boardwalk extending straight out over the Atlantic from the foot of Old Orchard Street. The original opened in 1898, stretched nearly 1,825 feet, and had three pavilions with a casino at the end. Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman played the ballroom in its prime. The Blizzard of 1978 destroyed most of it. The current pier was rebuilt and reopened in 1980, and Reader's Digest named it one of the top five beach boardwalks in the country in 2021.
Today it's souvenir shops, seafood, and a nightclub at the far end with a deck over the water. Pier French Fries has been there since 1932. Bill's Pizza since 1949. At the far end: the Sunset Deck and the Top of the Pier Nightclub with an unobstructed view of the Atlantic.
Palace Playland
New England's only remaining beachfront amusement park has run on the same five acres since 1902. More than 28 rides plus Maine's largest arcade, 24,000 square feet with over 200 games. Free to enter. Pay per ride or buy a day pass. The Electra Wheel ferris wheel stands over 70 feet tall, and the view at the top of the full seven-mile beach is the best free panorama in southern Maine. The Speedy Coaster is new for 2026.
See our full Palace Playland guide for ride details, pricing, and timing advice.
Eating
The strip is fried dough, cotton candy, ring toss, saltwater taffy. All of it running at full capacity from July through Labor Day. If you want a sit-down meal: JJ's Eatery does the best breakfast near the pier. Jake's Eatery Too has corned beef hash and housemade pancakes.
For lobster, Johnny Shucks Maine Lobster gets consistent reviews for freshness. Bell Buoy does a hot buttered roll. For a real dinner with an ocean view, Joseph's By the Sea has been OOB's fine dining spot for over 50 years. The rooftop is worth booking ahead in July.
Weekly Events
Thursday Night Fireworks launch from the beach near the pier every Thursday, late June through late August, around 9:45 PM. Full professional shows. Free, visible from anywhere on the main beach. This is one of those things we tell every guest about because most people don't realize it's a weekly event all summer, not just for holidays.
Rock the Park Concerts at The Ballpark on 7 Ballpark Way run on select summer evenings. Free, gates at 5 PM, music from 6 to 8. In 2025: tribute acts for Queen, Elton John, Springsteen, Taylor Swift. Schedule posts each spring at oldorchardbeachme.myrec.com.
When to Come
July and August are full tilt. Everything open, fireworks weekly, beach packed on weekends, restaurants at full operation. This is OOB at its most itself.
September is the pick we give guests who ask what month to avoid the chaos. Water stays warm, often 60 to 65 degrees, sometimes warmer than peak summer. Crowds drop hard after Labor Day. Most restaurants stay open. Hotel rates come down. The Car Show in mid-September is a genuine draw. If you want the beach experience without the resort-town intensity, September is the answer.
The Quebec Connection
Between 30 and 40 percent of OOB's summer visitors are Canadian, nearly all from Quebec. This goes back to 1853 when the Grand Trunk Railroad connected Montreal to this part of Maine. OOB is the closest Atlantic beach to both Quebec City and Montreal, and that hasn't changed. Bilingual signs, French-speaking staff, the Quebec flag flying outside hotels. It's a core part of the town's identity and one of the things that makes it feel different from any other beach town in New England.
A Day Trip from Saco
Portland is 20 minutes north. Cobblestone streets, craft breweries, Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth, Maine's oldest lighthouse. Kennebunkport is 25 to 30 minutes south. Dock Square boutiques, Goose Rocks Beach, whale watching trips.
Biddeford is 10 minutes from us. Food and Wine Magazine called it one of the next great food cities. James Beard-nominated chefs, the Palace Diner in a 1927 Pollard dining car, a revitalized downtown that has nothing to do with fried dough. It's where our guests tend to end up after a day at the beach when they want an actual dinner somewhere.
We are two miles from the pier. Close enough to be there in ten minutes, far enough that you step back from resort-town pricing and noise when the day is done. Most guests split their days between the beach, Funtown Splashtown, and dinner in Biddeford. It works well, and almost everyone who's done it both ways prefers the Saco setup.