Marginal Way
A paved clifftop footpath of about a mile that follows the rocky shore between Ogunquit village and Perkins Cove, with benches, sea views and tide pools below.
45-90 minutesDetails →
Maine
Ogunquit & the Southern Maine Coast
Ogunquit is the southern Maine coast at its most inviting: a three-mile barrier beach, the clifftop Marginal Way shore path, the tiny working harbor of Perkins Cove and a village built around summer theater, galleries and ice cream.
This guide covers the shore path and the cove, Ogunquit Beach and quiet Footbridge Beach, scenic and lobstering cruises, the Ogunquit Playhouse and the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, plus easy day trips to the Nubble Lighthouse, York Beach, the Wells Reserve, the Rachel Carson refuge and the Kittery outlets. Alongside nineteen attractions you will find ten hotels across the clifftop, the village and the cove, and six guides on timing, itineraries, food and family trips.
Don't miss
Marginal Way
A paved clifftop footpath of about a mile that follows the rocky shore between Ogunquit village and Perkins Cove, with benches, sea views and tide pools below.
Perkins Cove
A tiny working harbor at the end of the Marginal Way, with a hand-operated footbridge, lobster boats, seafood shacks and small galleries.
Ogunquit Beach
Three miles of wide, fine white sand between the Atlantic and the Ogunquit River, with dunes, lifeguards in season and big tides.
Finestkind Scenic Cruises from Perkins Cove
Scenic and lobstering boat trips out of Perkins Cove, with views of the coastline and working lobster traps hauled aboard.
Things to do in Ogunquit & the Southern Maine Coast
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Perkins Cove
A tiny working harbor at the end of the Marginal Way, with a hand-operated footbridge, lobster boats, seafood shacks and small galleries.
1-3 hoursDetails →
Ogunquit Beach
Three miles of wide, fine white sand between the Atlantic and the Ogunquit River, with dunes, lifeguards in season and big tides.
2-6 hoursDetails →
Footbridge Beach and the Ogunquit River
The quieter way onto the barrier beach, reached by a long footbridge over the tidal Ogunquit River, with calm water on one side and surf on the other.
2-5 hoursDetails →
Ogunquit Trolley and Shoreline Explorer Rides
Seasonal open-sided trolley service that links the village, beaches and Perkins Cove, so you can leave the car and hop between the main sights.
Finestkind Scenic Cruises from Perkins Cove
Scenic and lobstering boat trips out of Perkins Cove, with views of the coastline and working lobster traps hauled aboard.
Ogunquit Playhouse
A historic summer theater on Route 1 that stages Broadway-style musicals and plays through the warm months, a tradition dating to the 1930s.
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
A small, well-loved museum on a cliff above Narrow Cove, with American art, a sculpture garden and sea views that make the setting as memorable as the collection.
Ogunquit Village and Main Street
The compact village center, with its shops, ice cream stands, cafes, inns and the green that anchors a summer evening stroll.
1-3 hoursDetails →
Ogunquit Art Colony and Gallery Walk
A self-guided look at the village and cove galleries that carry on the art colony tradition begun by painters at the turn of the twentieth century.
1-3 hoursDetails →
Nubble Lighthouse and Sohier Park
One of the most photographed lighthouses in America, on a small rocky island just off Cape Neddick in York, viewed from a free seaside park.
30-90 minutesDetails →
York Beach, Short Sands and Long Sands
A lively old-fashioned beach town south of Ogunquit, with two sandy beaches, an arcade, taffy and a boardwalk feel.
3-6 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort
Shore Road, oceanfront
An oceanfront resort on the Shore Road bluff above the water, aimed at travelers who want the sea outside the window and the Marginal Way close by.
Check rates →The Meadowmere Resort
Shore Road
A longtime Ogunquit resort on Shore Road, set a short distance from the shore path and the beaches, with a traditional resort feel.
Check rates →Cliff House Maine
Shore Road, Bald Head Cliff
A clifftop resort on the headland at the southern edge of Ogunquit, with sweeping Atlantic views and a quieter, more secluded feel.
Check rates →Gorges Grant Hotel
Village center
A hotel close to the village center, well placed for restaurants, shops and the trolley, and a practical base without a car.
Check rates →Ogunquit Tides Resort
Ogunquit
A resort-style property in Ogunquit that suits families and groups who want room to spread out near the beaches.
Check rates →Terrace by the Sea
Ogunquit
A smaller seaside lodging in Ogunquit that appeals to couples and travelers who prefer an intimate stay to a large resort.
Check rates →Admirals Inn Resort
Ogunquit
A moderately priced Ogunquit inn and resort with a nautical name, suitable for families and visitors who want a comfortable base without paying oceanfront rates.
Check rates →Anchorage by the Sea
Ogunquit
A classic family-run style resort on the Ogunquit coast, with a seaside name and a setting that suits longer stays and repeat visitors.
Check rates →Dunes on the Waterfront
Ogunquit River and Route 1
A long-established waterfront property of cottages and motel-style rooms on the edge of Ogunquit, with the tidal river and the dunes as its backdrop.
Check rates →Inn at Perkins Cove
Perkins Cove
A small inn on the Perkins Cove side of Ogunquit, for travelers who want the harbor, the footbridge and the Marginal Way close at hand.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Marginal WayStay
Inn at Perkins CovePerkins Cove
Do
Perkins CoveStay
The Sparhawk Oceanfront ResortShore Road, oceanfront
Do
Ogunquit BeachStay
Ogunquit Tides ResortOgunquit
Ogunquit & the Southern Maine Coast guides
Ogunquit for First-Timers: Where to Go, What to Book and How to Get Around
The essentials for a first visit to Ogunquit: how the town is laid out, the sights worth your time, when to go and how to avoid the parking squeeze.
Ogunquit in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for the Southern Maine Coast
A three-day plan for Ogunquit that mixes the shore path, the beach, a boat trip, a show and a day out to York and the Nubble Lighthouse.
Eating and Drinking in Ogunquit: Lobster Rolls, Clam Shacks and Where to Start
A guide to seafood and casual dining around Ogunquit and Perkins Cove, with tips on lobster rolls, shacks, timing and what to order.
The Best Time to Visit Ogunquit: Seasons, Weather and What Is Open
A season-by-season guide to Ogunquit: when the beaches work, when the crowds peak, what closes in winter and the best months for value.
Ogunquit with Kids: Beaches, Boats and Easy Family Days
A family guide to Ogunquit: kid-friendly beaches, boat trips, easy walks, rainy-day options and practical tips for traveling with children.
Day Trips from Ogunquit: York, Wells, Kittery and the Seacoast
Easy outings from Ogunquit: the Nubble Lighthouse, York Beach, the Wells Reserve, the Rachel Carson refuge, Kittery outlets and private guided tours.
