I visited Old Orchard Beach in the off-season, so most of the shops, restaurants, and amusements were closed; but I actually found that to be part of the charm. Without the summer crowds, the beach felt quiet and serene. I could walk for miles along the sand with only the sound of the waves and the gulls for company. The pier was closed, but it was still nice to see it up close and I can imagine how lively it must get in the warmer months. A few local spots were still open and the locals I met were friendly and welcoming! The chilly air gave the town a calm, coastal feel that was really refreshing. If you're looking for the classic seaside excitement, definitely come back in the summer. But if you enjoy peaceful walks, ocean views, and a slower pace, Old Orchard Beach in the off-season has its own quiet beauty. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Old Orchard Beach is the perfect mix of relaxation and fun, whether you are visiting as a couple or with the whole family. The West Grand area is especially nice with clean bathrooms, easy access to the sand, and plenty to do nearby. Staying right on the beach at places like Ocean House or Beechwood is ideal. It is so much better than commuting in and out each day. There is something for everyone, big kids, little kids, and kids at heart. From the water to the boardwalk, you will never be bored. Just remember, like at any beach, keep a close eye on the little ones in the waves. If you are not staying overnight, be prepared for parking fees ranging from 20 to 40 dollars per day. But once your feet hit the sand, it is worth every penny. Old Orchard Beach has that classic seaside charm that makes you want to come back year after year like we do. read more

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This place has lost it charm for me :( Or course like most Mainers who grew up in Southern Maine, I have fond memories of coming here as a kid and going on the amusement rides, and of the nightlife in my 20's, but now as a 50-something with a grown kid, there's nothing here for me other than mediocre food, rough sand, expensive parking and rude tourists (now that the Canadians are staying away :( ) read more

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Old Orchard Beach is a resort town in York County, Maine. Old Orchard Beach is just a beautiful place to relax and it's a great spot for vacationing. I loved the boardwalk which is the downtown area and it contains many souvenir shops, clam shacks , and T-shirt shops. A wooden pier is on the beach and restaurants and arcades are in the pier. The beach is beautiful and relaxing and to be honest, that's where I was at most of time I was there. I will definitely be back. read more

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Old Orchard Beach is beautiful!! It was clean, and it was nice. The water was cold, and the waves were big. There's not many shells to be had, and the ones that were had mostly been broken. The town itself was cute and pretty busy even in the off-season. Most businesses were closed except the occasional souvenir shop, candy shop, or fast service restaurant. I would come back!! Maybe in the summer next time. read more

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It's definitely the busiest beach I've been to, and this is coming from someone who lived in Florida for 12 years. Definitely a tourist trap, but I'll say, it's a dang good one! read more

Beach is very touristy. Little to no parking available even in off season. Pier was closed.

I don't want to offend a certain segment of the population, but frankly we visited here thinking it was going to be something special like Venice Beach or Santa Monica Pier. This place is absolutely ghetto. We came here. We were shocked that most of the establishments were closed on Friday afternoon. There was five open pizza shops... Most of the Pier was shut down, strange for a mid-May. I think the pier opens up only in June to September. Again, this is a sketchy place. Is also run down. If you want to bring the kids to a beach location and they have the ability for them to play at the pier when it's open, then go for it. If you don't have Kids stay far the far away from this place. Also, if your politics are left and progressive, don't come here. read more

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Absolutely love coming here . What a beautiful beach The arcade and the amusement park rides are so much fun. Many restaurants and bars. There were lots of parking lots but we parked at the eagles club it was only $5 . Great place to take a family read more

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Almost got hit by a train while crossing the tracks because the delicious the fried pickles (with ranch) I was eating transported me to another astral plane. 5 stars, would experience a NDE again just to taste those pickles. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Please don't bring your family to this beach. Small beach with jam packed people. After charging $30 for the beach, the water is not even worthy of swim. My daughter got fever and cough right after we back from the beach. My Vacation got spoilt. We went to the beach around 2pm and out by 5pm. I saw a rusty metal drainage pipe in the water, it definitely looks like a drainage pipe coming from some where. Now my girl is diagnosed with Puemonia. Please dnt go to this beach, thought Maine beach will be nicer and clean but not anymore. Disgusting dirty beach. read more

Old Orchard Beach - We sat infron of this. We saw the rusty metal pipe in this area. - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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Granted, my nostalgia runs deep, but I don't understand the hatred towards OOB. Sure, you could scoff at the numerous Canadians in thongs (and that's just the guys), the run down amusement park, the non-existent parking or the generally dingy vibe. But that defeats the point. I don't want to dine at Scales and Fore Street every night. Sometimes I just want to stumble into the Brass Rail, crush a moldy Jello-O shot and down a Bud Light from a draft line that was last cleaned when I was in diapers (which, in full disclosure, was far later than normal). OOB is like my unkept uncle who shows up to a wedding in shorts and a baseball cap, hits the bar hard before the ceremony and starts dancing to the processional. You may not be proud to know that guy, but he sure is fun. Listen: Take the Amtrak directly to OOB or drive and park for free on Atlantic Ave. Seat yourself on the beach in front of the Brunswick. The live cover band will start butchering J. Geils at 1 pm. Buy a six pack from Eric at the Waverly store, but grab a cup too, so the junior varsity beach cop can't make you the highlight of his summer. Get a bit tipsy, enjoy the amazing people watching and embrace the filth. Heck, maybe you'll even see my uncle. read more

Not recommend. Ridiculous parking enforcement, expensive, and very limited. It seemed as if they would prefer I not visit the town. Also run down, cheap feeling. Will not get any more of my money. read more

Rating OOB is nearly impossible because it really depends on what you are seeking from your visit. I guess the best way to explain it is this.... The 10 year old version of me would tell you this is the best place on earth.... great beach, souvenir stores, carnival rides and beach food. The 54 year old version of me would tell you that the beach is nice but absolutely mobbed on a sunny weekend, and would recommend that you get some pier fries, take a brief walk on the beach and then leave..... avoiding the junky souvenir stores and subpar restaurants. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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We had a blast at this beach when we visited. It was very pretty and had a nice boardwalk. The water was very cold for July but I found that a trend with all the east coast beaches we came across. We got to write our names in the sand play on the beach and watch the sun set. It was a great memory I will hold on to. read more

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I didn't come here during the peak season and have been to the beach closer towards the Saco direction, but spent just the afternoon around the main drag and the pier. Apparently, the pier used to be about 1800 ft in length, jutting out into the ocean. Multiple ocean storms and a blizzard cut it back to the 500 ft that it is now, jutting out into the beach and fully visible during low tide. The area reminds me of the beach towns in Florida and feels like you step back into the 20th century. It's like a carnival with all the same old timey food. The main strip has lots of little touristy beach shops, black light mini golf, candy stores, tattoo shops, and food packed with oil. The pier is much the same, with an arcade, a few places to eat, a fortune teller, and a night club at the end. Palace Playland is right there on the beach with a giant carousel and Ferris wheel. Most stuff closes outside of Memorial Day and Labor Day, but it's not completely dead in the off season. Parking is expensive and is required year round, 7 days a week from 10a to 11p, at $3.00 and hour. There's lots of beach to walk on at low tide especially and easy to access. We had a nice time walking around, there's not a ton to do but it's definitely cute and feels like a throwback to the olden days. Thursdays there's fireworks during the summer as well! read more

Had a great time at OOB last week. Hadn't been for about ten years so wasn't sure what to expect. Parking lots have come up a bit in price but not too crazy ($25). Was lucky to snag a street parking spot at just $2/hour, S-C-O-R-E! With a short walk to the boardwalk we were good to go! The bathrooms are a plenty but don't forget your cash (saw some for 50 cents per entry, while others were $3.25 for the day). Waves of nostalgia washed over me while walking around the area seeing some familiar businesses as well as some shiny and new buildings. With a slush puppy in hand I was on top of the world navigating back to my blanket (overhearing people speaking French along the way of course). While I wasn't in the mood for Pier Fries I sure did have them in mind during my drive down from the twin cities. I did however see some people enjoying them (the more vinegar the better!). The beach itself was well maintained, no noticeable trash or debris. The lifeguards were working hard keeping the boats out of the way of swimmers, and the seagulls! Oh, the seagulls! Honestly, they are right up there with the pier fries. I love to hear them, and see them in action! They were actually a bit larger than I remembered. I giggled up a storm hearing the screeches of nearby beach goers as the gulls did their best to snag bites of their lunches. Hilarious! The water was cold as expected with just a little seaweed sloshing around. Only wish I'd been able to spend more time enjoying this beach. Nothing quite like napping on the beach. read more

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This is a solid beach. It's not too crowded for a small beach and they have a pier with little shops, rides, and an arcade. They have a good variety of food options. The beach it's self is a lot cleaner away from the pier. Parking can be pricey so be aware of that. read more

Not at all what I remembered, rundown, no kiddy rides till 4pm, too late for little ones! No public bathrooms unless you pay! They just nickel and dime you for everything! You're much better off visiting the beaches down south! read more

Felt like we met all of Portlanders here for 4th of July weekend lol. We drove around for 30 minutes before we gave up and paid $30 for parking. Always wanted to go to Jersey Shore and I would imagine this to be somewhat close? There's the beach, pier full of bars, carnival, and blocks of window pick up pizzerias. Wasn't a huge fan of the pier being closed off and could't get a good view of the beach or the waters. It was something to do but if you're actually not going to the beach, wasn't worth it for us. read more

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Wonderful place to visit but don't buy property here. They are working to stop vacation rentals (wha?) and the code office loses half what they receive. read more

Nice and quite here up on June 4, 2012, not to busy on Monday here .. we were shopping at a place called Harold's it's a clothing store w/ lots of odds and ends in it chairs to towels for the beach ... it's free to go here but it will be cold or busy depending what time you go . Basically the beach is right off route 9 so all you have to do is fine parking in the area ... playing of restaurants and bars here too ... your in the heart of the town so your spend money here besides the beach's . There's also arcades and rides here too . There are 3 pizza joints near the train station here . My hotel is a 20 minute walk to here. Bring a blanket and a chair and enjoy the waves of the beach. read more

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Spectacular community with great restaurants, people and services. Best beach in Maine still undiscovered by the masses. read more

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June 13, 2021 I took my daughter over OOB(Old Orchard Beach) We parked at Old Orchard St. at first I didn't know that I can do 2 different parking tickets. When we came back to the car. I saw that I received $30 ticket for my parking tickets were expired. I called the parking lot office right away. I spoke with the man, he said their policy not do 2 different parking tickets. I'm was fine with that and I'm fine to pay for $30. Later on I paid $30 for extra charge and they charged another $3.00 I'm ok. Those transections were made on 06/29/2021 Yesterday 03/28/2022 I received this bill($60) it say I never paid the expired parking tickets. I remembered that I paid last year. But I can't remember how did I paying. 03/28/2022 i called them and telling them I paid for those tickets already. But the point is I can't find the receipts. After I spoke with the man. He said seem like you paid for the tickets but he can't see on record that I'm paid. He gave me $30 off. Then I paid $30 and $3.00 After i made over the phone payment, I checked my credit card account right away. You know what! After I saw the transection the my credit card account I recognized it. It's said Munici pay service fee. Then I sent the man(I spoke with before) screenshot to him to see i did pay for the EXP parking tickets. Wow he said you right you had paid for it. Can you call your credit company to stop the transaction ? Then I gave me transaction numbers. I would like to notify you guys. Please keep receipts or use credit card for any bills. BTW I don't like to use check. Hopefully my review will help someone else. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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Southern California has the Santa Monica Pier. New Jersey has both the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City. And Maine? Well, we have Old Orchard Beach. OOB is a summer destination spot in the 207 for locals and tourists alike. Every kid in Maine grew up coming here with their families (and giggling at the Canadian men wearing speedos and knee-high socks) - from Palace Playland (the amusement park that's been there since 1902; also, fun fact, did you know that supposedly the first carousel in the US was located in OOB?) to beach firework shows, from an abundance of questionable carnival-type foods to kitschy beach stores selling t-shirts and other trinkets, from the 500 foot wooden pier that extends into the Atlantic ocean (legend has it that there's money buried underneath by one of the wooden posts that holds up the pier) to the array of unique nightclubs... this place had it all. I have an abundance of good memories from Old Orchard throughout the years: the amount of french fries soaked in vinegar and salt I ate here in my youth; air hockey played with my dad that I eventually started winning the older I got; the ridiculous number of alcohol promotions I did here for Heineken Light in my early twenties; and the lovely, long walks on the beach to find geocaches and sea treasures in more recent times. So now, that's where I'm at with OOB. As an adult with no kids, I'll be honest: I'm not rushing to come back here anymore. In the summer, parking is a total nightmare and there are other less populated spots along the coast that I'd rather hide away at during the hot, hazy, humid days of July and August. I'm also not into nightclubs anymore, and my metabolism is not the same as it was at 12 or 21 so I can't sustain solely on pizza and crab rangoon. That being said, I AM a fan of exploring OOB during the off season. It's when it feels the most Maine to me: quiet, peaceful, and impressive. Walk the long length of sandy beach, explore the sleepy little town it becomes once the lights stop flashing and the rides stop banging around, and maybe... just maybe... find that buried treasure underneath the pier. read more

I have been coming to OOB for years and this was my least favorite trip. It was less crowded due to Covid-19 but the beach was still full of trash. I have done many beach clean ups and easily spot tiny pieces of plastic etc but you don't need to have any experience to spot the bigger pieces of garbage. Lazy people combined with the small about of trash receptacles are a bad combination. The state should use some of the 6k is shelled out for taxes in April and buy some more trash receptacles. What's really outrageous is that small parts of the beach are sectioned off to protect endangered shore birds and I literally saw a man one morning come by to reinforce the "fencing" yet continued past big pieces of trash and plastic-right next to a trash receptacle. How hypocritical to care about endangered shorebirds but not give a F*CK if they get caught in trash. This visit was the first time we saw girls with their bathing suit bottoms wedged up their butts. I don't have a problem with it except most of them had butts the size of Jupiter. Apparently, they either don't own mirrors or theirs lie and tell them they are the "fairest one of all." Vomit. What we like about OOB is the boardwalk. Rocco's Pizza is worth going off a diet for and all the other food places with fried dough, slush puppies, smoothies, homemade ice cream and candy. The list is endless. read more

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Just about everything is mediocre, they charge 75 cents to use the public restrooms, most of the hotels there are outdated, the food there is outragiously expensive regardless if its seafood or regular food, theres mainly older people vacationing there rather ppl in they're 40s, 30s and 20s. The beach itself is jam packed with people. If theres a rainstorm the infrastructure cant handle the water so things do get flooded half the time. I advise anyone to go else where in Maine to vacation or any other state. Old Orchard Beach sucks!!! read more

This area has a touch of a previous nice town gone bad. Judging by the flags that are hung around the area, I can see why. We stayed in the motel area and EVERYTHING was run down. I didn't see a single building that didn't need sprucing up. The lawns were mostly patchy brown on some green. A number of houses flew the Jan 6th support flag which I guess shows you the amount of type of characters that live here as well. We did not feel safe at all. We kept our cottage locked and barricaded the door when we were in the cottaage, otherwise we drove OUT of this town to do anything. There was a fair happening around the time we were there but we did not partake. The restaurants were simply meh. Nothing special. They deep fry almost everything it seems and slather it with cheese and butter to make it taste anything at all. It is really just a shame because the beaches and views are beautiful. This place would be "family friendly" if you were of a particular ethnicity if you know what I mean. I did see a single house flying a pride flag but they looked like they were moving out! I compared this area to what you would see it nostalgic films that showcased rural, poor America. It just felt dusty, dirty, and dilapidated. This town is a classic example of what happens when people do not change with the times or take strides to upkeep the area. They seem to want to live in the 1980's and it shows. It was a mistake to stop here; we won't be doing that again. read more

Beautiful beach. We came here during the off season and it was worth the visit to bax the pier wasn't open I'm sure that would've had been nice since it was right next to the beach. The beach was extremely clean , beautiful beach, a lot of shells along with many other items. We even collected some sand to add to our collection. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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Let's start with the Pier. The sad little pier. It's where greasy food stalls and bad dive bars come together for a truly unique experience. We did not have the courage to eat or drink anything while on the pier. The downtown area has the feel of a place that is living on borrowed time. One crap store after another. Head shop, bad T-shirt shop, beach supply, and vape shops. This is like Maine's own Jersey shore. read more

Tons of seaweed, regular weed, and dirty beaches. Food and boardwalk are really awesome though. Prices are high as to be expected with a beach boardwalk area. read more

I grew up going to OOB and try to go back every year. The beach, the cold (very cold) salt water, the aroma of fried clams, clam cakes, fried dough, pizza and the sound of the carousel bring back wonderful childhood memories. I love the ice cold water. When the wave crashes upon me I feel that instant bite that stings and makes your skin turn red on contact makes me feel like I am home again. Having swam in these temps for many years I find it exhilarating and refreshing to swim under the big enveloping waves and bob back up to look out over the swarms of people hollering and squealing in delight. Years ago when I was younger (not shorter) I came with my dad and you could park anywhere and walk over the train tracks. They have changed that and now there are only a few places to cross to enter the beach, one being near the pier. Thus, it is bumper to bumper head to toe people on either side of the pier. This makes people watching fun but can also make me feel like a sardine so I suck it up and haul my stuff and walk a bit. There is a public bathroom off West Grand Ave across the street from the rides so bring a few extra quarters. The outside open shower and foot shower is near the carousel to get the saltwater crystals off. For $10 you can park in the big lot off Milliken and Walnut St but it is a bit of a walk. There are other spots closer to the beach front like Jimmy's Ocean Parking but you pay a bit more for convenience (which I did like). Traffic in the circle near the pier can be slow like molasses so stay away from it or plan a bathroom trip and sit and slink along. There are many hotels, motels, apts, campgrounds for tents, campers or cabin rentals so you can stay a while. There is a local Stop and Save up the street for staple foods, Palace Playland, arcade games and places like the Brunswick for live music and entertainment if you're looking for more than people watching. Or better yet grab your boogie board and surf the waves. read more

Everyone from Quebec to Massachusetts comes to the Old Orchard Beach (or OOB) during the summer time. Since OOB is connected to an amusement park, a not so great pier and bars, you get a variety of a crowd. From your children running everywhere, to your tacky drunkards, to the college kids, and everyone else, this place remains on my stay away list! Coming from Texas, you do not get nice beaches. OOB was one of the first beaches I visited when I moved to Maine. However, after wearing off the 'tourist' label, I've discovered there are several beaches along the coast line that are more worthy of visiting. Pros and cons? Pros: Plenty of parking within the neighborhood that is FREE and a variety of things to do. Cons: OOB's sand has lots of wooden debris that can prick your feet and is way too overcrowded for my liking read more

Not the cleanest beach I've ever been on.. that's why we didn't stay long. Probably won't come back here planning to spend the day. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

I truly love and enjoy myself here a little expensive but some inexpensive gems are hidden so look for the greatest in Maine

Good litmus test for whether people are pretentious and elitist. Sure the parking can be shady and many of the patrons are rough around the edges but if you down to earth and not a douche, you will have a good time. read more

A fantastic area to visit! You really should stay for a few days to fully enjoy everything, palace play land, the pier, the Clambake, and most of all the beach itself! All the restaurants up and down the streets are amazing along with the takeout spots. Plus all the little gift shops, if your coming to Maine this is a must! Plus live bands and dancing at the Brunswick and other places here! read more

Probably a good place for families. Lots of amusement rides and games. Lots of candy and beach shops. read more

Old Orchard Beach - Beaches Near Me - Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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Sorry but over priced amusement park (4 $ per ride average) Dirty everywhere with smoking allowed on the pier and butts in every flower basin. My wife and I were disgusted at the $35 parking and trash just about everywhere under foot. Won't be going back. read more

I enjoyed it here. I came here in mid October which is clearly not the traditional time to come here due to the cooler weather, but it was really nice just being one of a few people at the beach. I was able to collect some pretty solid seashells and brought my cat (yes, my cat) out for a stroll. I didn't get to see the pier or anything. I didn't really realize there was one there. My take is I entered from an area that was not in my view. This place probably gets pretty slammed in peak season. Thank goodness it wasn't busy when I went. I really think it is serene and tranquil. There were only a handful of people. Some playing beach football and others walking along the water like I did. It was clean too! The locals who were out told me that it is usually a tourist zoo. I won't complain. I loved it. read more

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