Sand Beach

Sand Beach is the only sandy beach in Acadia

Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia

Quick Facts

Location:

Park Loop Road

Amenities

12 listed

Benches/Seating, Bus/Shuttle Stop, Parking - Auto, Recycling, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Showers, Toilet - Flush, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable

Sand Beach is a popular year-round destination along the Park Loop Road. Surrounded by cliffs, this small stretch of coast is the largest sandy beach in Acadia. Come relax by the waves, or head out on a nearby trail. Ocean Path, Beehive Loop, and Gorham Mountain Loop can all be accessed here. Sand Beach is also a spectacular spot for stargazing. In summer, check the park calendar for night sky ranger program times. Or, check out this timelapse video of stars over Sand Beach.
 

NOTE: Sand Beach itself is not wheelchair-accessible, as the beach can only be reached via a staircase down the cliffside. 

Stay alert when swimming. The ocean water can be shockingly cold, even in summer. The normal range is 50-60° F (10-15° C) depending on the time of year. Strong tides and rogue waves can surprise even experienced swimmers.

 

Getting to Sand Beach 

The entrance to Sand Beach is located along the left side of Park Loop Road, shortly after the Entrance Station at the intersection with Schooner Head Road. Drivers will find five angled accessible parking spaces and two access lanes located in the first aisle to the right, closest to the sidewalk and the Island Explorer Bus stop. There is an additional lot above the main lot, however it does not have accessible spaces, and is accessed via a stairway. When these parking lot fill, cars park along Park Loop Road and visitors walk down to the beach. 

Visitors can also use the free Island Explorer Bus to visit this destination. The bus drops off and picks up at regular intervals throughout the day at the Island Explorer sign located at the edge of the parking lot. There is a shaded pavilion with seating located behind the bus stop. An electronic digital display notes scheduled bus arrival times. 

What to Expect 

From the main parking lot, there are bathrooms and changing rooms both with wheelchair-accessible stalls. On both ends of the changing rooms there are low-ground faucets to rinse your feet, and a water fountain on the left side of the building facing the main parking lot with multiple spouts, including a bowl at ground level for dogs and service animals. There is a bathroom facility that can be accessed by a concrete ramp located to the right of the changing station, or by two separate five-step stairways on either side of the bathroom facility.  

Along a wide asphalt pathway with wooden railings on either side are two wayside exhibits and the stairway for beach access. The stairway to the beach has 37 steps and four landings with metal railings on both sides. 

From Sand Beach, visitors can access entrances to multiple trailheads including Ocean Path. To access Ocean Path from Sand Beach, visitors can follow the asphalt and dirt path behind the changing station and bathrooms to a 51-step stairway. This stairway also leads to the upper parking lot. 

Tags: acadia national park, beach, sand beach, park loop road, acadia, trails, swimming, ocean, atlantic ocean, geology

Open Transcript  Open Descriptive Transcript

Transcript

This video shows a lined parking lot along the Park Loop Road. It is surrounded by trees, and to the side of the lot are several waysides, restrooms, a trash receptacle, changing areas, a water bottle filling station, and a bus stop. The video cuts to the area following the path that goes through the visitor amenities. The path forks in several directions. On the left, it continues along several hiking trails, while the right path leads to some stairs that go down to the beach.

Descriptive Transcript

This video shows a lined parking lot along the Park Loop Road. It is surrounded by trees, and to the side of the lot are several waysides, restrooms, a trash receptacle, changing areas, a water bottle filling station, and a bus stop. The video cuts to the area following the path that goes through the visitor amenities. The path forks in several directions. On the left, it continues along several hiking trails, while the right path leads to some stairs that go down to the beach.

Duration:

44.177 seconds

A video, accessible description and transcript of the Sand Beach parking lots in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)