Goose Rocks Beach is a 3-mile stretch of public sandy beach in Kennebunkport, Maine. This guide covers hours, parking permits, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. Parking permit rates rose this year to $40 daily, $200 weekly, and $325 seasonal, so guides still quoting older $25/$100/$200 figures are out of date, and seasonal and weekly permits are now sold through a new online portal rather than only at kiosks.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | No fixed gate hours; parking permits required 8 am to 5 pm, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day |
| Entry fee | Free to walk onto the beach; parking permit required in season |
| Parking | $40 daily, $200 weekly, $325 seasonal (non-resident, 2026 rates) |
| Address | King’s Highway, Kennebunkport, ME 04046 |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Portland International Jetport is about 35 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 4 hours |
Goose Rocks Beach opening hours
The beach itself has no gate or fixed opening hours, and is generally accessible at any time. Parking permits, however, are only required and enforced from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, between 8 am and 5 pm.
Outside that season and those hours, vehicles can park in the posted spaces without a permit, though spaces remain limited year-round.
Goose Rocks Beach ticket prices
There is no fee to walk onto Goose Rocks Beach. Parking is a separate charge during the permit season, and this was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026: Goose Rocks Beach Visitor Information, Town of Kennebunkport.
Non-resident daily permits cost $40 and weekly permits cost $200, both purchased by card only at kiosks outside the GRB General Store or at the corner of Proctor and King’s Highway. Seasonal permits, priced at $325, and weekly permits are also available through an online portal. A permit does not guarantee an available parking space. Goose Rocks Beach is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
How to get to Goose Rocks Beach
Goose Rocks Beach is located on King’s Highway, off Route 9, roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Dock Square in central Kennebunkport. The nearest commercial airport is Portland International Jetport, about 35 minutes away by car.
There is no public transit route to the beach, so most visitors arrive by personal vehicle, bicycle, or rideshare.
Parking at Goose Rocks Beach
Parking is allowed only in posted spaces on King’s Highway, Dyke Road, and New Biddeford Road; a printable parking map is available on the town website. During the permit season, daily and weekly permits are sold at card-only kiosks outside the GRB General Store or at Proctor and King’s Highway, while seasonal and weekly permits can also be bought online in advance.
Cars parked without a valid permit during enforcement hours are ticketed and fined. Property taxpayers and long-term renters qualify for discounted seasonal stickers through the Town Hall.
How long to spend at Goose Rocks Beach
Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours at Goose Rocks Beach, enough time for swimming and a walk along its 3-mile length. Walkers and joggers sometimes use the full stretch of sand as an out-and-back route.
Because the beach lacks food concessions or a boardwalk, many visitors treat it as a self-contained outing and bring their own supplies rather than planning a longer stay.
Accessibility at Goose Rocks Beach
A beach wheelchair is available for public use from late May through October, reserved in advance through the Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation Department by phone or online booking.
There are no lifeguards on duty at Goose Rocks Beach at any time, so all swimming is at the visitor’s own risk. Porta-potties and other facilities are limited, though the GRB General Store nearby has public restrooms.
Inside Goose Rocks Beach
Goose Rocks Beach stretches roughly 3 miles along the shoreline, with views of Timber Island just offshore and calmer water than many open-ocean Maine beaches. Harbor seals are commonly seen resting on nearby rocks and sandbars.
Much of the beach frontage is privately owned under a long-standing Beach Use Agreement, which allows property owners to mark a 25-foot “reserved area” directly in front of their homes. Visitors asked to move beyond one of these areas are expected to cooperate, while the rest of the beach remains open to the public.
The beach is also an important nesting habitat for piping plovers and least terns, with fenced-off areas marking active nests during nesting season. Dogs must stay leashed and kept 200 feet from these areas, and seasonal dog rules posted at beach entrances vary through the year.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive early on summer mornings, since posted parking spaces fill quickly. |
| Crowds | Weekends and the peak of summer bring the heaviest demand for the limited parking. |
| Layout | Access points run along King’s Highway, Dyke Road, and New Biddeford Road. |
| Entry process | There is no gate or ticket; buy a parking permit at a kiosk or online before you park. |
| On-site logistics | Bring your own food, water, and shade, since there are no concessions on the beach. |
Frequently asked questions about Goose Rocks Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are there lifeguards at Goose Rocks Beach? | No. There are no lifeguards on duty, and visitors swim at their own risk. |
| Do you need a parking permit? | Yes, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8 am to 5 pm; not required outside that period. |
| Are dogs allowed on Goose Rocks Beach? | Yes, under seasonal rules that vary through the year; check signs posted at beach entrances. |
| Are beach fires allowed? | No, unless a fire permit has been obtained in advance from the town. |
| Is the whole beach open to the public? | Most of it, though private beachfront owners may ask visitors to move beyond a 25-foot reserved area. |
Things to do near Goose Rocks Beach
- Cape Porpoise: a working fishing harbour with seafood restaurants, about 10 minutes away.
- Dock Square, Kennebunkport: the town’s main shopping and dining district, roughly 15 minutes’ drive.
- Kennebunkport Conservation Trust trails: walking trails through preserved land near the beach, a short drive away.
- Colony Beach: a smaller Kennebunkport beach with no permit required, about 15 minutes away.
- St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery: riverside gardens open to the public, roughly 15 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
- Mother’s Beach: a family-friendly beach with a playground in neighbouring Kennebunk, about 15 minutes away.
- Ogunquit Beach: a long sandy beach with a boardwalk and dunes, roughly 20 minutes’ drive.
- Wells Beach: a quieter sandy beach with dune walks, around 20 minutes away.
- Old Orchard Beach: a lively beach with a pier and amusement park, about 30 minutes away.
- Crescent Beach State Park: a sheltered cove beach in Cape Elizabeth, roughly 50 minutes’ drive.
