Swim in Maine

Swim in Greater Portland

Lakes, ponds, pools, and the ocean: where to actually get in the water near Portland, with the honest catches.

Swimming Sebago Lake: A Local's Guide to Maine's Cleanest Big Water

An honest local guide to swimming Sebago Lake near Portland, Maine: where the public beaches actually are, what it costs, how clean the water really is, and the closer alternatives worth knowing when the drive feels too long.

10 min read · Read the guide

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Beach Parking in Greater Portland, Maine: Passes, Stickers, and Where to Park by Town

A verified 2026 guide to beach parking near Portland, Maine, town by town, with real fees for Crescent Beach, Fort Williams, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, and where to still park free.

10 min read Swim

Dog-Friendly Beaches Near Portland, Maine

The honest, primary-sourced guide to dog-friendly beaches near Portland, Maine: exactly which beaches allow dogs in summer, the off-leash hours, and where dogs are banned outright.

9 min read Swim

The Best Beaches Near Portland, Maine

An honest, local ranking of the best beaches within 25 minutes of Portland, with the real story on parking, cold water, and resident-only lots.

8 min read Swim

Where to Swim Near Portland, Maine: Pools, Ponds, and Swim Spots

A straight-talking guide to where to swim near Portland, Maine: the new Rising Eddy pool, Reiche, and the warm freshwater ponds that beat the cold ocean.

8 min read

Quick picks

Our standing recommendations. The places we'd tell a friend about.

Sebago Lake State Park Casco day-use beach. The cleanest big water in the state, lifeguarded sand, worth the forty-minute drive.
Crescent Beach State Park Cape Elizabeth. The closest genuinely great ocean beach to downtown.
Warmer neighborhood ponds When the ocean is too cold and Sebago too far, the closer freshwater spots and the city pool.