Visiting Old Orchard Beach

Year-round vs seasonal map of OOB

Downtown (Pier district + Old Orchard Street) flips seasonal, most businesses run Memorial Day to Labor Day. Ocean Park, the residential west end, and the inland communities (Surfside, Grand Beach) stay quieter year-round. The town's anchor services (Library, Town Hall, schools, Hannaford in Saco) run 12 months.

Where to park

• Downtown municipal lots, paid in season, free off-season.
• Beach access lots at Kinney Shores, Ferry Beach State Park, and several public access points.
• Amtrak Downeaster platform parking, 3-night max via the OOB Chamber of Commerce.
• Ocean Park has its own parking; many lots are restricted to OPA member tags.

Where to swim

Lifeguarded beaches at Kinney Shores (late June to mid-August). The main Pier district has the highest crowds and the easiest food access. Ocean Park is the calm, family-oriented stretch.

Top 10 things to do

• The Pier and Pier Fries.
• Palace Playland.
• The Ballpark, Rock the Park concerts.
• Eastern Trail bike ride.
• Ferry Beach State Park.
• Scarborough Marsh kayak tour.
• Long beach walks at low tide.
• Thursday-night fireworks.
• Ocean Park Temple summer concerts.
• Day trip to Portland or Kennebunkport.

Best for families

Palace Playland, Pirates Cove mini-golf, Funtown Splashtown USA (Saco, 5 min), and Aquaboggan Water Park (Saco, 7 min).

Best for couples

Ocean Park for quiet beach days, Eastern Trail bike rides, the Saco Drive-In for a summer movie, and Lone Pine Brewing in Portland.

Best for groups

Pier district and downtown bar scene, Brunswick Patio Bar for outdoor day-drinking, and the Ballpark concert series.

Day trip from Boston

Amtrak Downeaster runs directly from Boston North Station to OOB during the seasonal stop window (~May 18 to mid-October). About 2 hours each way; you're walking distance to the beach off the platform.

Day trip from Portland

20 minutes by car. I-95 to Exit 36 (Saco), then Route 5 into OOB. Off-peak Sunday breakfast trip is the move.

Where Quebec families go

Downtown OOB has been the Quebec summer destination for over a century. "Bienvenue" signage is real, French is widely spoken on the Pier in July, and St. Margaret's still holds French-language sermons in summer. See Quebec heritage.