Short Sands Beach
Short Sands is the family-oriented beach at the heart of York Beach village, a short crescent of soft sand wrapped by the village's restaurants, ice cream stands, and amusements. From the Anchorage Inn, it is about a 4-minute drive or a 30-minute walk along Long Beach Avenue and through the village. The compact scale is part of its appeal. The beach, the playground, the village, and the historic Goldenrod taffy shop all sit within a few hundred yards of one another.
Address
York, ME 03909, United States
From the Anchorage Inn
By Car: 4 Min On Foot: 30 Min
The beach itself is roughly a quarter-mile of fine sand backed by Ellis Park, the small grassy waterfront park managed by York Parks and Recreation. The park has public restrooms, basketball courts, a playground, picnic spots, and a gazebo that hosts free summer concerts on weekend evenings. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM during peak season, typically late June through August. At low tide, the rocks along the cove's edges become a working tide pool, a quick, kid-friendly nature lesson with crabs, periwinkles, and small fish in the warming pools.
The village setting also means Short Sands works well outside of pure beach weather. On cloudy or windy days, you can still walk the village, get ice cream, ride the amusements, or duck into the shops along Railroad Avenue. The southern end of the cove is more sheltered, and the sand stays usable into the shoulder seasons, spring and early fall, giving you a quieter, atmospheric York Beach without the summer crowds.
Short Sands Beach
4 Min
30 Min
Address
York, ME 03909, United States
Carefully Selected Journeys
Why Visit
Short Sands packs more into a small stretch of coastline than almost anywhere else in southern Maine. The beach, the village, the tide pools, the arcade, and some of the best casual food in York are all within a few minutes' walk of each other, which makes it the easiest, most flexible stop on the York Beach itinerary.
- A compact, family-friendly beach village with lifeguards, tide pools, a playground, and free summer concerts at Ellis Park gazebo.
- The Goldenrod's famous saltwater taffy and Fun-O-Rama's classic arcade are right on the beach, no car needed.
- Oceanfront dining at Sun & Surf and village restaurants, including Norma's, Inn on the Blues, and Stone's Throw, all within a short walk.
- Works in any weather, even on cloudy days, the village, shops, and amusements make it worth the 4-minute drive from the Anchorage Inn.
Day 1 What To Do
