| Best For | Families with young kids to teenagers |
| Budget | $$$ |
| Best Time to Visit | Late June to Mid-September |
| Closest Airport | Boston Logan International Airport (~70 miles) Portland International Jetport (~35 miles) |
| Must Try Foods | Lobster, wild blueberries, Whoopie pies |
Why Should You Visit Ogunquit?
The Best Way to Get to Ogunquit
The closest major airports to Ogunquit are Portland International Jetport (PWM) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Portland is the most convenient option, located about 45 minutes from Ogunquit. However, Boston typically has more flight options and can have cheaper airfare, so it’s worth comparing both airports when planning your trip.
If you fly into Boston, expect at least a 90-minute drive to Ogunquit, and potentially much longer during the busy summer months. Friday afternoons can have very heavy traffic, so factor extra time into your travel plans if you’re arriving at the start of a summer weekend.
Where to Stay in Ogunquit
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Day one of
Take a Stroll Along Marginal Way
Marginal Way is one of those Ogunquit spots you really shouldn’t skip. This easy coastal path winds along the rocky shoreline between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove, with beautiful ocean views almost the entire way. It’s an especially nice walk with kids because there’s plenty to see along the way, and you can take your time rather than rushing to reach the end.
⏱️ Time needed: 45–90 minutes, depending on how often you stop for photos, explore, or admire the views.
📍 Distance: About 1.25 miles one way.
👟 Difficulty: Easy and mostly paved, making it manageable for families and strollers.
📷 Don’t miss:
- Lobster Point for one of the best spots to stop and take in the coastline 🦞
- Tide pools along the rocky shoreline are great for a little kid-approved exploring
- The granite benches scattered along the trail, many with beautiful ocean views
- The views approaching Perkins Cove, where the coastline gets especially scenic
🌅 Best time to go: Go early in the morning for a quieter, more peaceful walk, or head out in the early evening to catch golden hour.
Family tip: Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Between the beaches, tide pools, and countless photo-worthy views, the kids (or you) will probably want to stop along the way!
Explore the Historic Fishing Harbor of Perkins Cove
Perkins Cove is one of those places where it’s worth slowing down and letting yourself wander. This historic fishing harbor is filled with boats, small shops, local art, and plenty of spots to grab a bite. With kids, there’s enough to keep everyone entertained without feeling like you need to follow a set schedule.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on how much you shop and whether you stop for lunch.
Don’t miss:
- Watch the footbridge open as boats pass through the harbor. It’s a simple thing, but our kids enjoyed it.
- Fill a bucket with candy at Perkins Cove Candies. 🍭
- Browse the Perkins Cove Bookstore for a new beach read or that summer reading list book you meant to pick up weeks ago.
- Wander through the shops in the harbor.
Lunch: For a classic Maine lunch, grab a lobster roll from Footbridge Lobster or Barnacle Billy’s. Don’t worry if lobster isn’t a favorite, both have plenty of other options for any picky eaters in the family. 🦞
Best time to go: If you’re visiting in the summer, arrive in the morning so you can grab an earlyish lunch; lines get very long around noon.
Ride the Trolley Back to Downtown Ogunquit
It’s probably gotten to that point in the day where little legs are getting tired (or the teens have officially turned whiny). Take a break from walking and hop on the trolley back downtown. The trolleys all have fun, rhyming names like Lolly, Golly, and Polly…collecting rides on all of them became a surprisingly fun game for our kids over the weekend.
Pro Tip: Check current prices before you board. Payment is cash only and drivers do not provide change.
Spend a Relaxing Afternoon at the Beach
After a busy morning of walking and sightseeing, head to Ogunquit Beach for a few hours of sand, swimming, and doing absolutely nothing. Ogunquit Beach stretches for about 3.5 miles, so even on busy summer days, it’s usually possible to find a good spot to spread out.
If you’re visiting with younger kids, head toward the river side of the beach, where the water tends to be calmer and shallower…our 7-year-old loved splashing and playing here. For older kids and teens, the ocean side is a great spot for swimming and playing in the waves.
Fun Beach Activity: Did you know that you can float the Ogunquit River. Grab a tube or boogie board and hop in as the tide is going out for a fun, low key ride towards the Atlantic. A great place to start your float is near the first boardwalk that crosses the dunes on Main Beach.
Family Tip: Rip tides can occur in Ogunquit so keep a close eye on younger kids and swim in front of a lifeguard stand.
Grab Dinner and Call it an Early Night.
After a full day of exploring, keep dinner casual and call it an early night. There’s plenty more fun to be had tomorrow.
Day 2
Enjoy a Slow Morning at the Beach While the Kids Take a Surf Lesson
Time needed: 2–3 hours depending on whether you choose a group or private lesson
Best for: Active families, school-aged kids and teens (although I watched plenty of 5-year-olds stand up on their boards!)
What’s provided: Wetsuit + board
Bring: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, water
Price Range: $50 to $150 per person (depending on the type of lesson)
Grab breakfast to go from The Backyard or Loveshack Juicery, then head to the beach for a morning surf lesson. 🏄♀️
Liquid Dreams offers both group and private surf lessons in Ogunquit and nearby York. Meet at their shop where they will outfit you with a wetsuit and board. The waves are generally manageable for beginners so it’s a fun way to get the kids out of their comfort zone and into the water.
If you’ve never surfed before, consider booking a private lesson. We did the Kids Night and while they had 4 students per instructor, our 7-year-old felt a bit overwhelmed and gave up quickly. Since he’s a more hesitant kid, he probably would have done better with 1:1 attention.
Family tip: Book your lesson in advance, especially during the busy summer months. A morning lesson also leaves you plenty of time to spend the rest of the day at the beach.
Challenge Each Other to a Round of Miniature Golf
A summer beach vacation isn’t complete without a game of miniature golf! Head to Wonder Mountain Fun Park, just over the town line in Moody. You can choose from one of two mini-golf courses—or play both if you have the time. They also have go-karts, a maze, and an arcade, making this an easy stop when the kids need a break from the beach.
Family tip: This is a great option for a late afternoon or evening when you’re looking for something to do after a day at the beach.
Dinner and Ice Cream
Catch a Show at the Ogunquit Theater or the Leavitt Theater
If you’re looking for something to do after a day at the beach, check the schedule at the Ogunquit Playhouse or Leavitt Theatre. The Ogunquit Playhouse is known for its larger musical and theater productions, and the shows can feel much more like a big-city theater experience than you might expect from a small coastal town. Productions often feature Broadway and off-Broadway actors, and they typically have at least one or two kid-friendly shows each season.
The Leavitt Theaters is more adult oriented with a mix of live music, comedy, and burlesque shows. They do offer free movies about once a week that are generally good for older kids (think movies like Jaws or ET).
Day 3
Where to Eat in Ogunquit
Breakfast
The Backyard: Best for breakfast sandwiches
The breakfast sandwiches are yummy and it’s hard to walk out without one of their baked goods (including several vegan options).
Swell (technically in York): Best for a rainy morning.
Great coffee and breakfast burritos. You’ll find old school boardgames scattered around the café so it’s a fun place to hang out on a dreary morning.
Loveshack Juicery: Best for a smoothie on the go
Lunch/Dinner
Footbridge Lobster: Best for a traditional lobster roll at a great price
They serve generously packed lobster rolls at a great price for what you get. Footbridge Lobster has become popular on Instagram, so expect a line in the summer that can stretch all the way down the street. This is a grab-and-go spot with no seating, so plan to take your lobster roll with you and find a spot nearby to enjoy it.
Barnacle Billy’s: Best for a traditional lobster shack experience
Barnacle Billy’s has two locations just down the street from each other. Billy’s Etc. is a sit-down restaurant with a broader menu but the wait for a table can be long. Billy’s Original, offers a more traditional lobster-shack experience with counter service (they do have seating and a bar in the back). The original serves classics like boiled lobster and clam chowder, but don’t expect fried seafood.
Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company: Best for pizza and craft beer
This is a fun spot for a casual dinner with a good selection of pizzas and burgers. Give the blueberry pizza a try—it wasn’t my personal favorite, but it’s kind of an unwritten rule that you must try all the blueberry-flavored foods and drinks when in Maine. Check when trivia night is happening, too. Our family enjoyed some friendly competition!
Treehouse Taqueria: Best for tacos and margaritas
Beach Fire Bar and Grille: Best if you love leftovers
The restaurant is best known for its huge outdoor fire pit, which adds to the fun, casual atmosphere. The menu focuses on smoked meats and BBQ. The portions here are huge…an adult meal can easily feed two or three younger kids, making this a great option for families.
The Front Porch: Best for a fancier meal.
Note that they only have booster seats available.
Pro Tips
- Keep traffic in mind: Traffic through downtown is very heavy in the summer, especially around dinnertime. We learned this after it took us more than 20 minutes to drive two miles and almost missing the kids’ surf lesson.
- Park once and walk: Parking downtown and at Perkin’s Cove parking can get expensive. The lots offer hourly and full day rates, so we found it most economical to park for the whole day and walk from there.
- Check the tide charts before heading to the beach: The beach can look very different depending on the tide. Low tide is a great time for exploring and tide pools. To float the river, the most fun ride is when the tide is going out. The time of the high tide changes daily so be sure to check the tide charts to plan out your day.
- Rent your beach gear: Beach gear rental
