Surf Travel Guide: Long Sands Beach, Maine

Most surfers heading up the New England coast stop at the famous names and skip right past York, Maine. That is a mistake. Long Sands Beach is a mile and a half of open sand, a short walk from a proper small town, and it is one of the only beaches in the area where surfing is actually allowed.

Why Long Sands Beach?

Long Sands sits in York, about 45 minutes north of Boston, with a sandy beach break that peels into lefts and rights over shifting sandbars. Cape Neddick Point gives it some shelter from the roughest angles, and because it rarely gets crowded, you can often find your own peak even on a decent day.

→ Long Sands is close enough to Boston for a day trip, but far enough from the city's surf crowds that you can usually find space to yourself.

↳ The beach is rarely crowded by surf industry standards, which makes it a good place to actually learn without fighting for waves.

Getting There & Getting Around

York is reachable from two airports, and a rental car is the easiest way to get around once you arrive.

Fly into Portland International Jetport (PWM) or Boston Logan International (BOS). Both airports are commonly used by visitors heading to York, with rental cars available at each.
→ York sits roughly 45 minutes north of Boston via I-95, according to local tourism guides, though we would recommend checking a live map before you drive since third party estimates vary.
↳ A car is genuinely useful here. Long Sands and its sister beach, Short Sands, are close together, but the surf shops, restaurants and Nubble Lighthouse are spread along the coast road.

Parking on Long Beach Avenue is metered, $4.00 per hour, in effect from April 15 to October 31, 8am to 10pm, and you can pay by credit card or the ParkMobile app (Town of York). Non resident season permits run about $80, with resident and senior rates lower.

When to Surf

Long Sands can be surfed for much of the year, but November tends to be the most consistent month, when nor'easters and leftover hurricane swell push in clean, surfable waves. Summer is often smaller and gentler, which makes it a solid season for beginners, while the biggest and most serious swells arrive with fall and winter storms.

Water temperature swings hard across the year: roughly 39°F in late winter, climbing to a peak around 66°F in August, and back down into the 40s by December (seatemperature.info). A 5/4mm wetsuit with boots, gloves and a hood is standard for winter sessions, while 3/2mm covers spring and fall. Even August, the warmest month, rarely gets truly comfortable without at least a thin suit.

Safety notes: Watch for rip currents and rocks, both flagged by local surf forecasters, and check the Maine Healthy Beaches program if you are concerned about water quality after heavy rain. Surfing at Long Sands is confined to designated mixed use zones marked by orange buoys, and it is worth noting that surfing is not permitted at the neighboring Short Sands Beach at all, an official Town of York rule. Lifeguards are on duty at both beaches from the last week of June through Labor Day, 9am to 4:30pm, but the surf zones themselves are not lifeguard supervised the way the swimming areas are.

Surf Breaks

Long Sands Beach: A long, sandy stretch with multiple peaks that shift with the sandbars. Reports differ on the best swell direction, with southeast most commonly cited and easterly and northeasterly swells also working.
Wave: Mellow, shifting beach break peaks, best on a clean northwest offshore wind.
Level: Beginner to intermediate, with bigger fall and winter swells drawing more experienced surfers.
Cape Neddick end: The southern end of the beach, partially sheltered by Cape Neddick Point, which can hold a bit more shape when the swell is a touch overpowered elsewhere.
Wave: Similar sandbar peaks, slightly more protected.
Level: Beginner to intermediate.

Liquid Dreams Surf Shop, with locations in York Beach and Ogunquit, rents boards and wetsuits. Expect to show a credit card or photo ID, and to be at least 18 to rent on your own.

Photographing Long Sands Beach

A mile and a half of open sand with rarely more than a handful of surfers out is a good setup for a photographer, whether you are shooting from the sand or a longer lens up on the seawall. If you spend a session capturing riders here, upload the gallery to Surf Snaps and let surfers search for their own shots by spot and date. If you were the one riding, browse Surf Snaps to see if your session got caught on camera.

Where to Stay (Hotels)

→ York Beach is small enough that most lodging is within walking distance of both Long Sands and Short Sands.

Budget ($)

Anchorage Inn & Resort, Long Beach Avenue
Sits directly across the street from Long Sands, a straightforward, no frills option for surfers who want to walk straight to the sand. Check current rates before booking.

Mid-Range ($$)

Union Bluff Hotel & Meeting House, York Beach
An oceanfront property overlooking Short Sands. TripAdvisor listed standard rooms from roughly $191 to $627 a night depending on dates and room type (approximate, seen September 2026, taxes and fees excluded).

Luxury ($$$)

Stage Neck Inn, York Harbor
The area's well known higher end oceanfront resort, a short drive from Long Sands on a small peninsula between two beaches. We did not find a verified current rate, so check availability directly.

Food & Drink

Local Institution: The Goldenrod
→ A York Beach landmark known for saltwater taffy and diner style comfort food, a short walk from Short Sands.
Seafood: Fox's Lobster House
→ A well known lobster shack near Cape Neddick and the Nubble Lighthouse, a few minutes' drive from Long Sands.

FAQ: Surfing at Long Sands Beach

What is the best time of year to surf Long Sands Beach?

November tends to bring the most consistent swell, driven by nor'easters and leftover hurricane systems. Summer is generally smaller and better suited to beginners.

Is Long Sands Beach good for beginner surfers?

Yes. The wave is generally mellow and shifts across multiple sandbar peaks, which makes it a workable learning spot most of the year, with more serious conditions arriving in fall and winter.

Can you surf at Short Sands Beach too?

No. Surfing is prohibited at Short Sands under Town of York rules. Long Sands is the designated surf beach in York.

Do you need a wetsuit at Long Sands Beach?

Yes, for most of the year. Water temperature ranges from around 39°F in late winter to a peak near 66°F in August, so a 5/4mm suit in winter and a 3/2mm in spring and fall are typical.

Where can I find photos from my surf session at Long Sands?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to look for galleries from the day you surfed.

More Underrated Surf and Kitesurf Spots

Keep exploring with the rest of this series and our other surf travel guides.