This is a gorgeous mile-long beach in Cape Elizabeth, ME. Our family visited here in July 2026 during a stay in South Portland (about a 15 minute drive away). This state park has lovely views, gentle waves, and a family-friendly vibe. Admission fee is $8 per person for out-of-state residents. This state park has lots of pluses. First, the sprawling parking lot is huge. On peak summer days, you will be able to find a spot. Second, a public restroom and changing station are available next to an L.L. Bean daily rental box for umbrellas, beach chairs, etc.. Third, the right side of the beach is less crowded where you can walk over to the rocks. The only blemish is a faint sulphuric smell on the right side (perhaps due to the seaweed). Also, the water temperature is a bit cold (low 60s) to be comfortable in July - but that's generally the case with Maine beaches. Overall, we would visit this state park again! read more

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Parking close to the beach. A great place to go for warm spring day. Great views Ang lots of room for walking.

Super clean, spacious beach to sand and sun. Great for families as well as all others LL Bean sponsors a "shed" where those visiting beach can borrow items for day: umbrella, beach chairs, buckets and sand toys, kites, etc. First come first served and return when done on honor system Love this. Restrooms and showers as well as kayak and canoe rentals. Food truck was on premises the day we visited. Non resident fee $8.00 A wonderful beach to relax, enjoy and respect! read more

Crescent Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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love this beach. it's an hour away but worth it to spend a beautiful day on the shore. plenty of room. lots of beach to walk or just sun all day with a good book and a cooler full of treats. highly recommend read more

Beautiful beach, great for kids the shape of the beach prevents big waves. We went in September, paid via the Honor system $4:00 each. Water was not warm but doable. read more

Huge beach! The one mile length means there is plenty of space to spread out. If you plan on doing crazy deep swimming there is one lifeguard station close to the entrance and building. Loved the crescent shape which made for amazing views of the coastline. There was also an island to one side of the forever water view, just to keep things interesting. Willard Beach in Portland doesn't have the ocean view that you get here. It is totally worth the $8 and the drive! read more

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Pretty beach but Uber expensive @$8/ person.for non residents.5 of us in the family, stayed maybe an hour. For that money they should have real restrooms open and available! Too many other wonderful things to see in Maine. I would skip this! read more

Beautiful beach. Has beautiful sand dunes and sea grass, lots of ducks swimming around at this time, water was cool and refreshing. read more

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Beautiful and well maintained! It was fairly chilly the day that I had visited, so I didn't have the chance to get into the water. There is a parking lot so you do not have to worry about that. If you're an out of state visitor, it's $8 per person. read more

Crescent Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

We learned of this beach from two locals who we met on Congress Street while walking our yellow lab. They told us Crescent was dog-friendly and upon arrival at the gate, we learned the walking trail (about 1 mile) is on-leash dog friendly but dogs are not allowed on the beach during peak hours but allowed on the "grounds". Parking is $8 per person for non-Maine residents. The public bathrooms are well planned with the toilets separate from the shower and changing area. There's also another building across from the bathrooms which houses the kayaks for rental that had a very nice covered area. We asked the young lady who was working the kayak rental whether she would mind if we set up our beach chairs near her rental booth/table near this covered area and she was totally fine with that. This was perfect as it was just at the end of the boardwalk that led to the beach so our lab could be with us for the day and we could still see the ocean and catch some rays while our lab could be shaded. It was an absolutely perfect day with MANY beach goers stopping by to say "hi" to our lab. Many were on vacation and missing their 4-legged friend(s) so as much as those "hello's" made our lab's day, he also made theirs. This also included a few of the park employees who were patrolling the beach/park. UNTIL ... around 4 pm when a particular park employee was walking toward us at the same time our lab was approaching another dog who was coming our way. Instead of walking around either my dog or the other dog (mind you there was PLENTY of room), this park employee (a man around his late 50's/maybe 60's) walks right between them. The other dog's owner was holding his leash while mine was on an extended leash tied to a pillar (the way it has been for several hours). The park employee gives me a displeased look and says "a shorter leash would help" and keeps walking. Oh...the many things that crossed my mind to reply but thank goodness the filter between my lips stayed sealed! Just having that "look" and comment ruined the 5-star experience we were having. Really?? You have this job that allows you to enjoy these spectacular days in a wonderful setting with people who are on vacation and usually happy so you have to be a jerk. Thanks! read more

Crescent Beach State Park - View from the boardwalk - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

One of the more low-key beaches in this part of Maine with ample parking, a snack shack, and lots of space. The beach is rather rocky by the water (as in, there are lots of stones), so I don't know how anyone gets into the water. Nonetheless, it was a non-pretentious beach with lots of repeat beachers. read more

I spent many a relaxing afternoon at Crescent Beach this summer, enjoying the natural beauty of Maine and wishing I could stay here forever. This is my go-to beach when I'm staying in Portland and after careful consideration, here's my pro/con list. Pros: -Huge parking lot -Beautiful views -Nice, soft sand -Lots of picnic tables -Snack bar with surprisingly good food (try the fries or the soft-serve!) -Random swing set Cons: -On nice days, it can get crowded -The part of the beach near the entrance is Kelp City -Will make you want to move to Maine and live here forever! As you can see, the pros clearly outweigh the cons, so I suggest coming here before it gets cold again! read more

Nice beach, good size for even the busiest of summer days. Bathrooms, changing rooms and showers. Going to guess a problem with the shower since three of us couldn't figure out! Ice cream truck on site, paying for convenience but tasted delicious! Picnic tables available as well as kayak rental. Price per person at entrance. read more

Visited this beach from out of state and had a great day. Sandy beaches and not overcrowded. The only thing I wish they had a small snack stand or shack. But there is a great one down the road called Kettle Cove. All and all, very relaxing and clean. read more

One of our favorite Maine beaches. Excellent parking at a reasonable rate. Nice bath houses (cold showers with curtains, toilets, sinks) and a Snack bar with limited hours. If playground groups and group homes are visiting the beach, the snack bar lines are long. A couple picnic tables located near the snack bar. Decent food selection for a beach (burgers, hot dogs, fruit, candy, Chips, beverages). If eating your food on the beach, keep your eyes open for sea gulls who would like to steal your food. Using a tote bag or Cooler is recommended or hold your food. You can always find a spot on the sand. Fun for walking or jogging if the tide is on the lower side. With proper footwear, the rocks at one end can be climbed. Some pretty rocks and shells can be found for collecting. The water can be a tad bit cold as with many Maine beaches but your body will adjust. read more

Crescent Beach State Park - Birds enjoy the beach also. - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

This beach is really cool! They have the little river that feed out so that is neat to see. The rest of the beach though is a little typical, really big, and has tons of people on it. If you're looking for something a little more low key, try a different beach. read more

It's $8 a person, so if you don't have a park pass, come early to really get a whole day of entertainment on the cheap. The beach is clean and lovely. Lots of space to get off on your own. The water is crisp, and there are Interesting boats and homes and birds to see. We spent all day here. Loved it. read more

Crescent Beach State Park - It's both cold and hot at the same time. I love it - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Crescent Beach is an awesome place to go if you want sand at your feet and not a lot of people. Since they charge per person (unless you get a state park pass) most people don't seem to want to go, but I think that's to your advantage if you decide to visit. They have a large parking lot, that can fit like 600 cars, but I probably counted 20 cars total. They have a nice bathroom facility with showers and a snack bar (which wasn't open). There are picnic benches for you to enjoy your food before you get to the sand, but keep in mind, this beach is a carry in/carry out park so please plan accordingly as I saw a few pieces of garbage in the water which was unfortunate. Overall, this place is a great beach to spend the day so grab your portable chairs, towels and get in your car! It's only like 20 minutes from Portland! read more

Beautiful, beautiful, Crescent Beach. There's a full concession stand, clean changing rooms and bathrooms, vigilant life guards, and of course the gorgeous beach! The beach is roughly a mile long and in the shape of a, ready for it...crescent! There's boulders on one end great for kiddies to climb on, and the other end just sort of tapers off into the water. The sand is lovely. Nice and fine. There are somewhat rockier sections, but it's New England after all. There's also some seaweed on the sand, but the maintenance crew does a good job of keeping it under control. In addition to the beach, there are some great walking trails to explore. The drive in from the entrance is also quite nice, cutting through a patch of forest, with thick woods on either side of you. The only question I have about Crescent Beach is how it's not more crowded. Sure, it gets busy during the peak summer days, but my wife, toddler, and I went there over a dozen times this summer, and not once did we struggle to find a parking spot or a nice patch of real estate one the sand. My family and I built some wonderful memories there this year, and as Summer draws to a close, I'm already feeling nostalgic about them. I can't wait to make some more next Summer. read more

I love to visit state parks when on vacation. Parking is easier, there's changing areas and the beaches are less crowded than the tourist spots. There's not much extras - no ferris wheel or boardwalk but I'm happy with just the ocean and sand. I've been coming to this particular state park every summer for a number of years now. My only complaint every year are the bathrooms. They're old and a bit dirty. The curtains in the changing area need extra hooks - they fly up with just the slightest breeze. Once you get passed that and head to the beach, it's all good. There's waves to listen to and always plenty of space for people to spread out. read more

Crescent Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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If you want to go to the beach and not have to deal with the OOB crowds Crescent Beach is a terrific alternative. Charge for non Maine residents, but now that we live here I guess we're in the club. Big parking lot, changing facilities, snack bar. Looking forward to going next summer! read more

Very clean and expansive sandy beach for the area. Unfortunately we could not access beach with our dog. So we walked the dirt path parallel to the beach. Although buggy it provided impressive beach views. Path eventually led back to beach parking lot. Clean bathrooms were appreciated. read more

Every southern Maine resident knows about Crescent. It hasn't really changed since I first recall coming here when I was about 4. (I'm 31 as of next month.) They have facilities for both male and female. I don't think they have non gender areas for changing, but in my experience, places like this let you go where you feel and present yourself as needing to be. (Tho as a non-transgendered person, I admit I'm not speaking first hand here.) Coolers are allowed, but a snack bar/shop still remains by the changing area. Parking is not overly ample, but it can get very crowded very quick in summer. (Read as July and the first week of August.) There is a charge for non Maine residents tho. Which irks me a bit, since I no longer technically qualify, but it goes toward park maintenance and restoration, so I let it go as a minor annoyance. It used to a real trip to get there from where we lived, but it's now a stone throw from my folks house, so we go when we can. read more

I have been coming to Crescent Beach in the nearby town of Cape Elizabeth for most of my life. I can remember as a young boy with the Boys & Girls Club taking the short trip from Portland across the Casco Bay Bridge for a day at the beach. The beach is a state park and has a fantastic sandy "crescent" shaped beach that is a mile long. When the tide is out there are plenty of rocks located at one end for you to investigate all the living creatures from crabs to sea worms in the tide pools. This is a great education adventure if you have youngsters. There are individual picnic areas with grilles if you plan on barbequing or you could simply purchase your lunch at the "traditional"beach snack bar with greasy hamburgers, hotdogs and fries. Changing rooms and restrooms are large and have cold water showers. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, however if this is a must for you note that they generally leave the week before Labor Day. So, if you are looking for a nice day at the beach then I would highly recommend spending it at Crescent Beach State Park. read more

Nice beach only 15-20 min from downtown Portland. There may be an entrance fee but their system was down when we arrived so we didn't have to pay. There's lifeguards, plenty of parking and restrooms w. showers to rinse off. Great for a daytime getaway if you're visiting Portland and it's close to Two Lights State Park. read more

Crescent Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Beautiful beach with awesome views and nice sand. Lots of space, so it didn't seem too crowded. Coming in there was a sign that said water temp was 68 degrees, but there is no way because it was FRIGIDLY cold! read more

I have lived in Maine for a little over 7 months now and I am really glad I found this beach! There isn't much scenery and clean beaches from my neck of the woods, but Crescent Beach is quite the contrary. For starters, you'll pay an entrance fee of $4.50 per person if you're a Maine resident, $6.50 if you're not, and a whopping $2.00 for the elderly! Move to Maine so you'll pay less...just an option :) Park passes are available at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/park_passes_fees_rules/park_day_use_fees.shtml. There is ample parking which is great because you're not forking out $15.00 or more for that. This gorgeous beach has a lot to offer. From the hot sand between your toes as you walk around, to the beautiful scenery as you tan or people watch, to the the rock climbing to the right of where you are and, the blast of cold water as you take a plunge...it'll be a fun day! You'll definitely like tanning at this beach on a hot day, but don't forget the sunscreen and aloe like I did! Like I said, I've only been in Maine for not too long and this is the first beach that I fell in love with. read more

Probably one of my favorite beach, you can come here at 9ish, 10 ish to find this beach all to your self... Many a moments I have fallen asleep after a quick deep in the nice cold cold Atlantic sea to find throngs of people gaze at me in awkward curiosity... "Was I snoring?" "Did a crab, or sorry we're in Maine, lobstah crawl in my nose?" "Or is it because my dark complexion has become even darker under the blazing sun" whatever it was is totally worth it...I love to find time from my busy schedule to come here and ease my body on to the sand and stare at the deep blue to find my soul restored again. read more

This beach and state park have it all! Great for kiddos, bathrooms on site, lots of parking (not long trek to the beach with all your gear) AND a snack shack!! It's all right there! Crescent Beach is beautiful and laid back and you only have to pay a small entrance fee. read more

Another great find thanks to Yelp reviews. This beautiful and quiet beach was the perfect spot to relax during our trip to Maine. Parking lot is HUGE and it wasn't crowded which is what I love! I'm anxious to go back to relax there and enjoy the beautiful ocean views away from the crowds! read more

We may have timed our visit to Crescent Beach perfectly: 4pm on a Friday, after spending some time earlier in the day at Old Orchard Beach. Crescent beach was just what we were looking for: quiet, scenic, no crowds, white sand. The entrance fee is worth it. We will definitely come back if we find ourselves in the area again. read more

Nice little public beach with tide pools. Lots of rocks and seaweed but I have been spoiled by the Caribbean beaches. They have a snack bar if you did not bring your own cooler of food and beverage. Nice facilities. read more

Great beach! There is a lot of beach area and the ocean is beautiful. The beach is clean/taken care of and it is an overall fantastic place. I come here all the time and it is a great area for dog walking in October-April. read more

A gem of a beach. Never crowded, nice changing rooms and showers, plenty of picnic sites with charcoal grills. Windy, but with great views. Highly recommended. read more

Nice beach, but if you're from California, it may not seem particularly special. Exorbitant entrance fee--we paid $19 for one day ($6.50 per person), though it's less if you're under 12 or 65 & older. Wouldn't return because of the fee. read more

Came on a very warm weekday so it was less busy than usual. Absolutely beautiful view with clean, clear water, though cold even on a hot day. Costs about $6 per adult to get in, but definitely worth the price. Nice for relaxing or taking a run in the sand, though you probably don't want to get in the water until it warms up (on an 80+ degree day the water was about 53 degrees). Bathrooms were very clean and well stocked with soap and TP. read more