Mother’s Beach is a small, family-friendly public beach on Beach Avenue in Kennebunk, Maine, part of a trio of beaches that includes Gooch’s Beach and Middle Beach. This guide covers hours, parking permits, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. In June 2026, Kennebunk’s Select Board proposed restricting discounted resident parking passes to Kennebunk-registered vehicles from 2027, then reversed the plan in late July after resident objections, so the 2026 permit rates and rules remain unchanged for now.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | No fixed gate hours; lifeguards on duty 9 am to 5 pm, mid-June through Labor Day |
| Entry fee | Free to walk onto the beach; parking permit required June 15 to September 15 |
| Parking | $30 daily, $100 weekly, $200 seasonal (non-resident, 2026 rates) |
| Address | 265 Beach Avenue, Kennebunk, ME 04043 |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Portland International Jetport is about 35 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | 1 to 3 hours |
Mother’s Beach opening hours
Mother’s Beach has no fixed gate hours and is generally accessible at any time. Lifeguards are on duty from 9 am to 5 pm, daily, from mid-June through Labor Day, and swimming outside these times or dates is at the visitor’s own risk.
Parking permits are required at all hours from June 15 through September 15, which is a longer and slightly different window than the nearby Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport.
Mother’s Beach ticket prices
There is no fee to walk onto Mother’s Beach. Parking during the permit season is a separate charge, and this was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Non-resident permits cost $30 for a day, $100 for a week, and $200 for the season, purchased at Beach Avenue kiosks by card, through the PassPortParking app, or at Kennebunk Town Hall. Resident seasonal passes cost just $10, with resident guest passes available for $30. Mother’s Beach is not part of any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
How to get to Mother’s Beach
Mother’s Beach is located on Beach Avenue, near Routes 9 and 35, at the southern end of the Kennebunk beaches close to the Kennebunkport town line. The nearest commercial airport is Portland International Jetport, about 35 minutes away by car.
There is no dedicated public transit route to the beach, though local shuttle services sometimes run to nearby Dock Square in season, from where it’s a 15 to 20-minute walk.
Parking at Mother’s Beach
Parking permits are required to park along Beach Avenue at Mother’s Beach, Middle Beach, and Gooch’s Beach from June 15 through September 15. Non-resident permits are sold at kiosks along Beach Avenue, through the PassPortParking app, or at Kennebunk Town Hall, while resident and taxpayer permits are only available at Town Hall.
Permits must be displayed on the lower right of the dashboard, except for app-based purchases, which police verify by licence plate. A permit does not guarantee an available space, and some nearby side streets offer parking without a permit.
How long to spend at Mother’s Beach
Most visitors spend 1 to 3 hours at Mother’s Beach, enough time for swimming in its sheltered, calm water and a visit to the playground. Its small size, around 750 feet of shoreline, makes it a shorter stop than the larger Gooch’s Beach nearby.
Families with young children often treat it as a morning or afternoon outing rather than a full-day beach trip. Visitors wanting a longer day sometimes combine Mother’s Beach with a walk along Beach Avenue to Middle Beach and Gooch’s Beach, since a sidewalk connects all three.
Accessibility at Mother’s Beach
Mother’s Beach has an ADA-compliant Mobi-Mat, a durable woven mat that provides a firm path from the parking area to the sand for wheelchair users and anyone with mobility difficulties.
Beach wheelchairs are also available to rent through the Kennebunk Parks and Recreation Department for a small fee, and reservations are recommended ahead of a visit.
Inside Mother’s Beach
Mother’s Beach is a compact, sheltered cove roughly 750 feet long, split by a rock outcropping into a soft sandy western side and a rockier eastern side with tide pools. Its sheltered position keeps wave action gentler than at the open, larger Gooch’s Beach nearby, making it a common choice for young or nervous swimmers.
A fenced playground with swings, slides, and climbing equipment stands at the beach entrance, making Mother’s Beach a popular choice for families with young children. A seawall and connected sidewalk run along Beach Avenue, linking Mother’s Beach to Middle Beach and Gooch’s Beach for anyone wanting to walk further along the shore. Porta-potties are available during the summer season, though there are no showers, food concessions, or picnic areas directly on-site.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive in the morning during summer, since street parking near the beach is limited. |
| Crowds | Afternoons draw the most families and can feel busier than the quieter morning hours. |
| Layout | The beach is located at the southern end of Beach Avenue, close to Middle Beach and Gooch’s Beach. |
| Entry process | There is no gate or ticket; display your parking permit on the dashboard once parked. |
| On-site logistics | Bring your own food and drink, since there are no concessions at the beach itself. |
Frequently asked questions about Mother’s Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Mother’s Beach suitable for children? | Yes. Its calm, sheltered water and on-site playground make it a popular family choice. |
| Do you need a parking permit? | Yes, from June 15 through September 15; a permit is not required outside that window. |
| Are there lifeguards at Mother’s Beach? | Yes, from 9 am to 5 pm daily, mid-June through Labor Day. |
| Are dogs allowed at Mother’s Beach? | Yes, but only before 9 am and after 5 pm from June 15 through Labor Day; otherwise anytime on a leash. |
| Is Mother’s Beach accessible for wheelchairs? | Yes, via an ADA-compliant Mobi-Mat from the parking area, plus rentable beach wheelchairs. |
Things to do near Mother’s Beach
- Gooch’s Beach: the largest of the Kennebunk beaches, popular with surfers, a short walk north.
- Middle Beach: a quieter, pebbly beach between Mother’s and Gooch’s, a short walk away.
- Dock Square, Kennebunkport: shops, galleries, and restaurants, about a 10-minute drive.
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: coastal trails popular with birdwatchers, roughly 10 minutes away.
- The Franciscan Guest House gardens: riverside monastery grounds open to visitors, about 10 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
- Goose Rocks Beach: a 3-mile stretch of sand in neighbouring Kennebunkport, about 15 minutes away.
- Ogunquit Beach: a long sandy beach with a boardwalk and dunes, roughly 25 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.
