Right Beaches › Maine › York
Short Sands Beach
4.6★ · 1,351 Google ratings · York, Maine
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Good for kids
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 240 ft away
Walk
60 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 200 yd away
Water
64°F
Tide
7 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Length
425 yd of shoreline
Sand
300 ft from the water to the back
Water quality
Mixed · 7% of 14 over the limit · 2025
Map of Short Sands Beach

1
2
1Parking240 ft from the listing2Restrooms200 yd from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 28 visitors · 2017–2026
Go at low tide for space
Low tide exposes significantly more beach area for games and swimming without the compressed crowds of high tide.
Ideal for young families
The protected cove creates calm, gentle waves perfect for small children, plus a fenced playground steps from the sand.
Arrive before 10am in summer
The municipal parking lot fills quickly on warm days, with visitors reporting full lots by late morning.
Visit off-season for fewer crowds
Winter and shoulder seasons offer ample parking and a peaceful experience compared to July-August chaos.
Bring water shoes for rocky areas
The beach has soft sand in spots but also rocky sections that require protection when wading.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
68°F · partly cloudy
Water
64°F
Waves
2.4 ft · 7 s apart
Wind
5 mph from the W
Shelter
Cross-shore · wind running along the beach
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 05:38 | High tide | ↑ |
| 11:38 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 17:53 | High tide | ↑ |
Last updated Aug 20, 5:34 AM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 York, ME 03909
🅿 Parking 240 ft from the listing, Town of York Meter Parking Lot
🌊 Water 60 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 200 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Short Sands Beach?
The nearest mapped parking area is 240 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Short Sands Beach?
60 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Short Sands Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 200 yd from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.