Old Orchard Beach - Maine Beaches

Old Orchard Beach
P.O. BOX 600, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064

Chamber Office: 207-934-2500

emember the summer when you were a child, and your family left for vacation? Remember how you dreamed about what you wanted to do to make your vacation perfect? First, there had to be things to do-lots of things to do like miniature golf, games, amusements, and rides. Then, there had to be food - the type of food that you wanted, like pizza, fried dough, cotton candy, caramel popcorn. And there had to be a beach- a big, broad stretch of sand where you could build castles, run for as long as you could, or just sit and feel the sand's warmth as it ran from your fingers onto your leg.

Do you remember those thoughts and dreams? That vacation still exists at Old Orchard Beach and is waiting for your children and the child still inside of you.

It's almost impossible not to have fun at Old Orchard Beach. The low surf makes this a favorite spot for swimming, sunbathing, and making new friends. When the kids get hungry they can explore the boardwalk for pizza, french fries, hot dogs and cheeseburgers, or you can choose from the many family style restaurants around town. Try your luck on the video games, jump on a ride, treat yourself to an ice cream or a cold soda. Thrills, chills and frills-take your pick or do it all.

Catering to tourists and families is a way of life in Old Orchard Beach. The beach, the arcades and amusement rides, nightly entertainment, auto races and harness racing are favorite activities in the Old Orchard Beach area. Old Orchard's Pier is the center of the recreational activities. Extending nearly 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the Pier features shops, fast food, and games of skill. During the summer many special events are planned to entertain and mesmerize everyone in the family festivals, fairs, free concerts, street dances, and fireworks most Thursday nights. Besides the Pier, the beachfront businesses offer gift and souvenir shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and arcades.

Old Orchard Beach is easy to reach by the major highways in Maine. Exits 5 and 6 off the Maine Turnpike (I-95) take you quickly into our popular seaside resort, as does the access from U.S.. Route 1. By air, we are serviced by the Portland Jetport, 13 miles north or through Boston, from all parts of the world. Local bus services directed to the center of town where you have easy access to all accommodations.

You'll also find that Old Orchard Beach is ideally situated if your interests go beyond the lazy beach days and that perfect tan. The Route 1 corridor just west of town is a beehive of activity with two water parks, an amusement park, restaurants and shops. It also leads to the Maine Mall where over 140 stores await you.

On the northeast end of sparkling Saco Bay is a quiet vacation spot called Pine Point. Located in the town of Scarborough, it forms one end of the seven mile beach that includes Old Orchard Beach. Pine Point offers a unique selection of gift shops, restaurants, lobster pounds, convenience stores, charter fishing and lodging establishments for those who choose this end of the beach.

South along Route 9 lies the quiet seaside area of Ocean Park, a historic cottage community noted for its religious, educational, and cultural programs. The Ocean Park Association sponsors numerous lectures, concerts and other events. At the southern end of Saco Bay lies Camp Ellis. Here the mouth of the Saco River meets the sea, and memorable sailboat, whale watching expeditions, or deep-sea fishing trips await. You will also find several interesting shops, a couple of restaurants, and a long breakwater to walk.

The cities of Biddeford, Saco and Scarborough are our immediate neighbors, offering a variety of services and shopping. The Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford provides quality medical care for the region. In nearby Prout's Neck is the Winslow Homer studio where the artist worked at the turn of the century. New England's largest salt marsh is off Route 9 in neighboring Scarborough with guided walks and canoe tours. A few miles north is Portland, Maine's largest city, with a full array of stores, shops, and dozens of galleries and restaurants. The Old Port is a showcase for artists, musicians, actors and craftsmen, and its waterfront has bloomed into a business and shopping center.

North of Portland on I-95 is the bustling factory outlet town of Freeport, home of the famous L.L. Bean store. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Further north Maine's rocky coast beckons with such popular destinations as Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

Be sure to refer to our reference guides for lodging, dining, camping, and the "Things To Do" section to help acquaint yourself with our area