Things to do in Ogunquit, Maine
with kids.
Our Ogunquit day with the girls never changes. We walk the Marginal Way along the rocks, then spend the rest of it on Ogunquit Beach. That's the whole plan, and it fills a day. Below is how that day goes, what else is in town that we haven't done with the girls, and the two beaches just down the road we go to when Ogunquit is packed.
Ogunquit, Maine attractions for families,
at a glance.
Ogunquit is the first town over the Maine line that we make a full day of. The village is small, and the two things we come for are within walking distance of each other.
| Stop | What it is | Good for | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Marginal Way | Paved cliff walk, about 1.25 miles | All ages | Every time, first thing |
| Ogunquit Beach | Long sand beach on a river mouth | A full beach day | Every time, all afternoon |
| Perkins Cove | Small harbor at the end of the Marginal Way | Boats, shops, a footbridge | Research only |
| Ogunquit Trolley | Seasonal trolley around town | Skipping the parking hunt | Research only |
| Ogunquit Playhouse | Summer theater | Older kids, a night out | Research only |
| Long Sands and Wells Beach | Beaches in the next towns over | When Ogunquit is full | Our regulars |
"Research only" means we haven't done it with the girls, so treat it as a lead, not a recommendation. Seasons, hours and parking fees change, so check each place's own site before you go.
What to do in Ogunquit, Maine first: walk the Marginal Way.
The Marginal Way is a paved footpath that follows the rocky shoreline for about 1.25 miles, from near the village center to Perkins Cove. The ocean is on one side the whole way, with benches to stop at along the path.
It is an easy walk for kids. The one thing to know is that it has no railings in spots, and the drop to the rocks is right there, so we keep small hands held near the edge. Partway along you pass a small lighthouse on the point, which makes a good turnaround if little legs are done.
How we do it: the Marginal Way first, then the beach for the rest of the day. Starting early also beats the crowds on the path and the summer parking rush.
Is Ogunquit Beach good for kids?
Yes, and it is the other half of every Ogunquit day we have had with the girls. Ogunquit Beach is a long stretch of sand, roughly three miles, on a spit with the Ogunquit River running behind it. Most families come in at the main beach at the end of Beach Street, a short walk from the village.
The river side is the detail that makes it a kids' beach. At the main beach, families with small children often set up by the river, where the water is calmer and warmer than the open ocean. The tide range on this stretch of coast is big, so the beach can look completely different at low and high tide. Check a tide chart before you pick your spot for the afternoon.
Summer parking in town is tight. The lot at the main beach fills on hot weekends, so an early arrival makes the whole day go better.
Other things to do in Ogunquit we haven't tried with the girls.
Our own Ogunquit days stop at the path and the beach, so everything in this section is research, not experience. These are the things to do in Ogunquit that come up most, and the ones we would look at for a longer stay.
Perkins Cove is the small working harbor where the Marginal Way ends, with a pedestrian drawbridge over the cove, shops, and boat tours that leave from the docks. If your kids like boats, it is the obvious add-on to the walk.
The Ogunquit Trolley runs a seasonal loop connecting the village, the beaches and Perkins Cove. Riding it back after walking the Marginal Way one way is a common plan, and it saves moving the car in summer. It charges a small fare, and the season and schedule change year to year.
The Ogunquit Playhouse is a long-running summer theater on Route 1. Its season mostly runs big musicals, so whether it works for your kids depends on the show and their age. Look at the current season before you plan around it.
Our other Southern Maine beaches, a few towns over.
We live on the New Hampshire seacoast, right at the Maine border, so beach days for us mean the same few favorites. If Ogunquit's lots are full or you want a different kind of beach day, these are the two we go to.
Long Sands Beach in York is our family's favorite. There is a bathroom right on the beach, takeout restaurants and several ice cream shops across the road, and tide pools and rocks the girls play on every time, with Nubble Lighthouse in view. Road meters run about $4 an hour and are very limited in summer. Get there before about 10am, or expect the lots to cost about $20 to $40 for the day.
Wells Beach is where we usually end up toward Labor Day. Plenty of sand and beautiful at the end of summer. It has very few restaurants, just one off the beach.
When should you go, and how far is it from Boston?
Summer, if the beach is the point, which for most families it is. Much of Ogunquit runs seasonally, including the trolley, roughly late spring into fall. The Marginal Way is open year-round, though, and on a crisp fall day it is a good walk on its own.
Ogunquit is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Boston on I-95 in normal traffic. Drive times are from Boston, since that's where most readers start. Summer weekends add to it, which is one more reason to leave early.
It pairs well with other stops on this coast. Portsmouth, NH is on the way up, and Kennebunkport is a little farther north. All of them are in our day trips from Boston guide, ranked by drive time, and our things to do in Portsmouth, NH with kids guide covers the New Hampshire side. If one day isn't enough, our weekend getaways from Boston list has Ogunquit as an overnight, and Portland and Acadia are the next steps up the Maine coast.
Where should a family stay near Ogunquit?
An overnight saves the sandy drive home. A rental in Ogunquit puts you near the beach and the Marginal Way, so you can park once. For a night away with the girls, we have stayed at the Anchorage Inn in York Beach, a few towns south.
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An Ogunquit rental, or the Anchorage Inn up the road
The Anchorage Inn has two indoor pools and an outdoor pool, across the street from Long Sands.
Rental links open Vrbo for 2 adults and 2 kids, two bedrooms minimum. Hotel links open Expedia for the same family. No dates are set.
What families ask us.
What is there to do in Ogunquit, Maine with kids?
Our Ogunquit day with the girls is always two things: the Marginal Way, a paved oceanfront footpath of about 1.25 miles from the village to Perkins Cove, and then Ogunquit Beach. Perkins Cove, the seasonal trolley and the Ogunquit Playhouse are the other big draws in town, though we haven't done those with the girls ourselves.
Is Ogunquit Beach good for kids?
Yes. It is one of the two things our girls do every time we go. It is a long, sandy beach backed by the Ogunquit River, and families with small children often settle on the river side at the main beach, where the water is calmer. The tide range here is big, so the beach changes a lot through the day. Check a tide chart before you pick a spot.
How long is the Marginal Way in Ogunquit?
About 1.25 miles one way, paved, from near the village center to Perkins Cove. It is an easy walk for kids, with benches along the way, but there are no railings in spots, so hold small hands near the edge.
How far is Ogunquit, Maine from Boston?
About 1 hour 25 minutes north on I-95 in normal traffic. Summer weekends can add to that, so leave early, which also helps with parking in town.
When is the best time to visit Ogunquit with kids?
Summer, if the beach is the point, which for most families it is. Many businesses and the trolley run seasonally, roughly late spring into fall. The Marginal Way is open year-round and works as a cool-weather walk too, but check what is open before an off-season trip.
Is Ogunquit or York better for families?
We like both. Long Sands in York is our family's favorite beach: a bathroom right on the sand, takeout and ice cream across the road, tide pools and a view of Nubble Lighthouse. Ogunquit is where we go for the Marginal Way walk and a longer, wider beach. The two towns sit close together along the coast, so pairing them in one long day is easy.
Keep exploring.
Portsmouth, Rye and Hampton, Ogunquit and Kennebunkport, ranked by drive time.
Prescott Park, Market Square, two museums nearby and the Rye and Hampton beaches.
Every drivable guide and article on the site, searchable and sortable.
Planning something further afield?
The Boston-to-Europe family flight guide: which routes run year-round, the order we book things in, and how far ahead to buy for a school vacation week.
Plus our 12-page field guide, free: where we stay, what we pack, and the eSIM, VPN and insurance we set up before every trip.
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