The best beach near Kennebunkport for families with small children is across the river in Kennebunk. Mother’s Beach has lifeguards from mid-June through early September and a mobi-mat from the parking area to the sand, and Gooch’s Beach next door is guarded too. Kennebunkport’s own long beach, Goose Rocks, has three miles of sand but no lifeguards, and the town says everyone uses it at their own risk. Parking there costs $40 a day in summer. Whichever you pick, pack for cold water, since the NOAA sensor in Portland harbor averages about 61 degrees in July. We travel slowly with kids, one beach a day and a long afternoon on the sand, so a guarded beach near the car matters more to us than a view. By the end you will know which beach suits your family and what each one costs to park.
Before You Go: The Rules for Every Kennebunkport Beach
- Lifeguards: Kennebunk has lifeguards at Gooch’s Beach and Mother’s Beach from mid-June through early September. Kennebunkport says there are no lifeguards on duty at Goose Rocks Beach and that all visitors use it at their own risk. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
- Parking at Goose Rocks: Permits are required from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in posted spaces on Kings Highway, Dyke Road and New Biddeford Road. A day permit is $40, a week $200 and a season $325, and the kiosks take no cash. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
- Parking in Kennebunk: Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s beaches need a parking permit from June 15 to September 15. Visitors pay $30 a day, $100 a week or $200 a season at the Beach Avenue kiosks, in the PassPortParking app or at Town Hall. The town has announced changes to its permits from January 1, 2027. (Town of Kennebunk, Beach Parking Permits)
- Dogs: From June 15 through Labor Day, dogs are banned from Goose Rocks Beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on the Kennebunk beaches they are allowed only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Outside those months both towns want them leashed or under voice control, and Goose Rocks has its own seasonal schedule posted at the entrances. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information, Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Nesting birds: Goose Rocks Beach is an essential habitat for endangered piping plovers and least terns. Stay clear of the signed and caged nesting areas, and keep dogs leashed and 200 feet away from them. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
- Not allowed at Goose Rocks: Alcohol, glass, fireworks, drones, smoking and vaping, walking on the dunes, collecting live creatures and leaving deep holes in the sand. Fires need a permit. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
Kennebunkport Beaches at a Glance
| Beach | Lifeguards | Parking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother’s Beach | On duty from mid-June through early September (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) | Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15 | Toddlers and first swimmers |
| Gooch’s Beach | On duty from mid-June through early September (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) | Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15 | Families who want a long guarded beach to walk (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) |
| Goose Rocks Beach | None. The town says there are no lifeguards on duty and all visitors use the beach at their own risk (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information) | Posted spaces only, on Kings Highway, Dyke Road and New Biddeford Road | A long walk and a sand day with older kids |
| Colony Beach | None listed by the town (Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches) | Limited, and no parking pass required | A short stop close to town |
| Middle Beach | None listed, the town names only Gooch’s and Mother’s (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) | Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15 | A walk between the two guarded beaches on either side (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) |
| Parsons Beach | None listed by the town (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches) | Not published | A quieter walk |
Which Beach for Which Family
- Toddlers and first swimmers: Mother’s Beach, guarded in summer, with a mobi-mat from the car.
- A long beach walk: Goose Rocks, three miles of sand with island views (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information).
- No parking permit: Colony Beach, across from the Colony Hotel, where no pass is needed (Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches).
- A wheelchair user: Mother’s Beach and its mobi-mat, or the Goose Rocks beach wheelchair by reservation (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches).
- The dog: the Kennebunk beaches before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. in summer (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches).
The Six Kennebunkport Beaches, One by One
Mother’s Beach
Toddlers and first swimmers, since it is guarded in summer and the mat makes the walk from the car easy with a stroller. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Run by: Town of Kennebunk.
- Where: Along Beach Avenue in Kennebunk, off Routes 9 and 35, across the river from Kennebunkport.
- Lifeguards: On duty from mid-June through early September (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Parking: Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15.
- Fees: Visitor parking permit $30 a day, $100 a week or $200 a season.
- Facilities: An ADA-compliant mobi-mat from the parking area to the beach, with beach wheelchairs for rent through Kennebunk Parks and Recreation.
- Hours and season: Lifeguards mid-June through early September, and dogs only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. from June 15 through Labor Day.
- Good to know: The beaches along Beach Avenue are linked by sidewalks, so you can walk between Mother’s, Middle and Gooch’s.
- Source: Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, Town of Kennebunk, Beach Parking Permits, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Gooch’s Beach
Families who want a long guarded beach to walk, since the town describes these as long, wide sandy beaches. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Run by: Town of Kennebunk.
- Where: Along Beach Avenue in Kennebunk, at the Kennebunkport end of the string of beaches.
- Lifeguards: On duty from mid-June through early September (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Parking: Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15.
- Fees: Visitor parking permit $30 a day, $100 a week or $200 a season.
- Facilities: Not listed on the town’s beach page.
- Hours and season: Lifeguards mid-June through early September, and dogs only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. from June 15 through Labor Day.
- Good to know: One Kennebunk permit covers Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s, so you can move between them on the same day.
- Source: Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, Town of Kennebunk, Beach Parking Permits, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Goose Rocks Beach
A long walk and a sand day with older kids, on three miles of beach with island views. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
- Run by: Town of Kennebunkport.
- Where: Kings Highway, at the north end of Kennebunkport.
- Lifeguards: None. The town says there are no lifeguards on duty and all visitors use the beach at their own risk (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
- Parking: Posted spaces only, on Kings Highway, Dyke Road and New Biddeford Road.
- Fees: Parking permit $40 a day, $200 a week or $325 a season, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
- Facilities: A beach wheelchair from late May to October, reserved through Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation at (207) 967-4304.
- Hours and season: Permits needed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season, and no dogs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from June 15 through Labor Day.
- Good to know: Under the town’s Beach Use Agreement, some owners may ask you to sit beyond a 25-foot reserved area in front of their property.
- Source: Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information, Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Colony Beach
A short stop close to town, since it is one of Kennebunkport’s two public beaches and needs no parking pass. (Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches)
- Run by: Town of Kennebunkport.
- Where: Ocean Avenue, across from the Colony Hotel.
- Lifeguards: None listed by the town (Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches)
- Parking: Limited, and no parking pass required.
- Fees: Free, with no parking pass.
- Facilities: Not listed on the town’s beach page.
- Hours and season: Not published.
- Good to know: Parking is limited, so it works best for a morning visit rather than a whole summer afternoon.
- Source: Town of Kennebunkport, Beaches, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Middle Beach
A walk between the two guarded beaches on either side. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Run by: Town of Kennebunk.
- Where: Along Beach Avenue in Kennebunk, between Gooch’s and Mother’s.
- Lifeguards: None listed, the town names only Gooch’s and Mother’s (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Parking: Permit spaces along Beach Avenue, June 15 to September 15.
- Fees: Visitor parking permit $30 a day, $100 a week or $200 a season.
- Facilities: Not listed on the town’s beach page.
- Hours and season: Dogs only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. from June 15 through Labor Day.
- Good to know: For a swim with a lifeguard, walk the sidewalk to Gooch’s or Mother’s.
- Source: Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, Town of Kennebunk, Beach Parking Permits, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Parsons Beach
A quieter walk, with the dog on the part of the beach where dogs are allowed. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Run by: Listed by the Town of Kennebunk, which asks visitors to follow the posted signs.
- Where: In Kennebunk, south of the Beach Avenue beaches.
- Lifeguards: None listed by the town (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches).
- The water: Atlantic, and cold. The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averages 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
- Parking: Not published.
- Fees: Not published.
- Facilities: Not listed on the town’s beach page.
- Hours and season: Dogs allowed on part of the beach under the town’s seasonal hours.
- Good to know: The town asks everyone to follow the posted signs here, so read them at the entrance before you set up.
- Source: Town of Kennebunk, Beaches, NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station, checked September 30, 2026.
Where to Stay in Kennebunkport
Staying in Kennebunkport puts Dock Square and Colony Beach close by, with the guarded Kennebunk beaches a short drive across the river. Our guide to the best family hotels with pools in Kennebunkport scores the hotels with the pools to match.
FAQs About Kennebunkport Beaches
Are there lifeguards at Goose Rocks Beach?
No. Kennebunkport says there are no lifeguards on duty at Goose Rocks Beach and that all visitors use it at their own risk. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
Which beaches near Kennebunkport have lifeguards?
Gooch’s Beach and Mother’s Beach in neighboring Kennebunk, from mid-June through early September. (Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
How much does it cost to park at Goose Rocks Beach?
A permit is $40 a day, $200 a week or $325 a season, needed from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information)
Are dogs allowed on the beaches in Kennebunkport and Kennebunk?
Not in the middle of a summer day. From June 15 through Labor Day, Goose Rocks bans dogs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Kennebunk beaches allow them only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. (Town of Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach visitor information, Town of Kennebunk, Beaches)
How cold is the ocean at Kennebunkport in summer?
The nearest NOAA sensor, in Portland harbor, averaged 61.4 degrees in July and 63.2 in August from 2019 to 2025. (NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Portland, Maine station)
More Family Travel Guides for Kennebunkport
- Things to do in Kennebunkport with kids
- The best family hotels with pools in Kennebunkport
- The best family beach vacations in the US
Every fact on this page was checked against the operator’s own page on September 30, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you go.