Old Orchard Beach: Beach, Pier and Discoveries

Old Orchard Beach combines coastal scenery with a variety of ways to explore the area: The beach and the pier shape a stay here, along with an amusement park, historical museums and a section of the Eastern Trail. This lets you choose between beach time, activities and insights into local history during your vacation.

Beach and Pier on the Atlantic

Old Orchard Beach’s shoreline stretches for seven miles between Pine Point in Scarborough and Camp Elliot. This long coastline is a defining feature of the area. The Old Orchard Beach Pier extends almost 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The beach and pier offer different points of reference for spending time by the water: the beach runs along the coast, while the pier reaches out over the ocean.

Old Orchard Beach also offers activities and culture, so a trip here doesn’t have to be limited to the beach.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Old Orchard Beach station is a seasonal stop on the Amtrak Downeaster line. Seasonal service in 2026 runs from May 18 to mid-October. The beach, pier, shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions are all within a quarter mile’s walk from the station. For those arriving by train, this provides a useful point of reference: several of the area’s central destinations are within easy walking distance.

Free beach wheelchairs are among the beach’s special amenities. They are available on a “first come, first served” basis. If this amenity is important to your travel plans, keep this allocation policy in mind.

Activities and Local History

Palace Playland is a family-oriented amusement park on Old Orchard Beach. The park covers five acres and offers more than 30 rides and attractions. It’s a clearly defined destination to add to the long beach. Families can decide whether to spend more time by the water or include the park in their activities.

There are several ways to explore local history. Old Orchard Beach’s Museum in the Streets guides visitors through the town’s streets with 28 panels in English and French. The Harmon Museum presents the history of Old Orchard Beach through historical treasures dating back more than 200 years. Its materials cover topics such as the Dummy Railroad and horse racing at Kite Track. Local history can be seen both in public streets and in the Harmon Museum’s collections.

Ocean Park is also part of Old Orchard Beach’s history: it was founded in 1881 as a religious community. This adds another historical aspect to the museums’ topics and offers a different way to explore the past than the street panels or materials on the Dummy Railroad and Kite Track.

An Active Alternative: the Eastern Trail

If you enjoy being outdoors as well as the beach and local history, the Eastern Trail offers another option. A car-free section provides more than eight miles of flat, easy trails and connects Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough. From Old Orchard Beach, you can reach the Eastern Trail via Cascade Road, Portland Avenue and the Old Orchard Beach Connector. The section’s length and described character help you consider this activity as an alternative to spending time at the beach.

Explore More Places

More town pages: Sanford, Limerick, North Berwick, Kittery, Saco, Kennebunk, York and Buxton.

Back to the regional travel overview: York.