Old Orchard Beach (the main beach)
The downtown stretch. The Pier, Palace Playland, the boardwalk. Highest summer energy.
Where it sits
The downtown OOB stretch, the Pier district. The busiest mile of the seven-mile beach.
Character
High summer energy. Busy and active during the day, more bar-and-music after dark. Tourist-oriented; this is the beach most visitors picture when they think "OOB."
Access
Multiple public access points along East Grand Avenue. Metered street parking and several paid lots throughout downtown.
Best for
The full Pier experience: rides, food, and the busiest stretch of sand.
Lifeguards
Lifeguarded coverage at downtown public access points late June through mid-August.
Surf
Typically calmer than Surfside. Manageable shore break on most days.
Pier and Palace Playland adjacent
The Pier and Palace Playland are at the center of this stretch, you can move between sand and rides without crossing a real road.
Thursday fireworks viewing
The main beach south of the Pier is the prime viewing spot for the Thursday-night summer fireworks (9:45pm, June 20 to August 22 in 2026). See Thursday fireworks.
Compiled from Town of Old Orchard Beach, RSU 23, FEMA, Maine Revenue Service, US Census, MLS, and field interviews. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed; verify before any transaction.