Sand Beach, Acadia National Park

Know before you go

Getting in

On the Park Loop Road just past the entrance station at Schooner Head Road; a national park entrance pass is required (standard passes $20–$35; non-US residents 16+ pay an extra $100 unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass). The beach is reached by a 37-step staircase and is not wheelchair-accessible.

Parking & transport

Main lot plus an upper lot; when both fill, cars park along the Park Loop Road. The free Island Explorer bus stops at the edge of the main lot.

Lifeguards

No lifeguards at Sand Beach; swimming is at your own risk.

Water quality

The park monitors Sand Beach weekly for bacteria from June through August; it is also a participating Maine Healthy Beaches site, where an Enterococcus result above 104 MPN/100 mL triggers an advisory and Precautionary Rainfall advisories typically follow an inch or more of rain in 24 hours.

Season

Open year-round; swimming is a summer activity, with bacteria monitoring June through August.

Watch for

• Very cold water, normally 50–60°F (10–15°C) depending on the time of year
• Strong tides and rogue waves

Facilities

Restrooms and changing rooms with accessible stalls · Showers · Foot-rinse faucets · Drinking water · Shaded bus pavilion · Trailheads for Ocean Path, Beehive Loop and Gorham Mountain Loop

Sources: nps.gov, nps.gov, nps.gov, maine.gov, apps.web.maine.gov

How was your swim?