York Beach is one of the easiest beach towns in Maine to visit with limited mobility. Long Sands and Short Sands each lend two free beach wheelchairs from the bathhouse (9:30am to 4:30pm, ask the lifeguards), and Long Sands has accessible parking and ramps by the bathhouse. Kiosk parking is $4 an hour, but free with a disability placard, for twice the time limit. Nubble Lighthouse has about 50 free spaces right at the viewpoint.
York Beach sits just over the Maine line, a few towns up the coast from Hampton. It has two main beaches on either side of a rocky point, and just off that point, Nubble Lighthouse.
What makes York stand out for visitors with limited mobility is how clearly the town lays things out. Beach wheelchairs, ramps, restroom hours and placard rules are all published by York Parks and Recreation. Here is what they say, in one place.
Long Sands Beach
The bigger of the two beaches, running along Long Beach Avenue (Route 1A).
- Accessible parking and access ramps are near the bathhouse.
- Two beach wheelchairs at the bathhouse, 9:30am to 4:30pm daily. See the lifeguards.
- Restrooms open daily from the first weekend in May through Columbus Day.
- Lifeguards daily from the last week of June through Labor Day, 9am to 4:30pm.
- Parking: metered along Long Beach Avenue.
Short Sands Beach
The smaller beach, next to York Beach village and Ellis Park, on Ocean Avenue (Route 1A). The park has a playground, a gazebo and a grassy area, so it suits families.
- Two beach wheelchairs at the bathhouse, 9:30am to 4:30pm daily.
- Restrooms: 7am to 5pm May 1 to June 15; 7am to 10pm June 16 to September 15; 7am to 5pm September 16 to October 15.
- Lifeguards on the same schedule as Long Sands.
- Parking: kiosk spaces off Ocean Avenue.
Free chairs go first. With only two per beach, they can all be out on a hot weekend. If your day depends on one, bring your own. Our beach wheelchair is $50 a day.
Parking and placards
| Where | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Long Sands kiosks | $4 per hour | 8am to 10pm, 7 days, Apr 15 to Oct 31 |
| Short Sands kiosks | $4 per hour | Same hours and season |
| Sohier Park (Nubble) | Free | About 50 spaces, no overnight parking |
| Any meter or kiosk, with placard | Free | Twice the posted time limit, under Maine law |
Residents and property owners can buy seasonal permits from the Town Clerk, but day visitors use the kiosks.
Bring a scooter to Maine
Our GoGo travel scooter comes apart to fit in a car trunk. Pick it up in Hampton Beach, drive to York, and roll the village and the sidewalks above the beach. Add a beach wheelchair if the free ones are taken.
Nubble Lighthouse (Cape Neddick Light)
Nubble Lighthouse stands on a tiny island just off Cape Neddick, between Long Sands and Short Sands. You see it from Sohier Park, which is run by York Parks and Recreation.
- Parking: free, about 50 lined spaces. Tour buses and trolleys can stop here too.
- View from the car: the lot sits right at the viewpoint, which helps anyone who cannot walk far.
- Welcome Center: restrooms and a small gift shop, open early May to mid October.
- Amenities: granite benches, a picnic lawn and a water refill station.
- The island itself is not open to the public. The only way across is by winning the park's picnic raffle ($10 a ticket).
- Holidays: a Polar Express trolley ride to see the holiday lights runs in early December for York residents.
We could not find a published accessibility statement for Sohier Park. Call York Parks and Recreation on (207) 363-1040 with specific questions.
Beach rules to know
- Dogs: not allowed on the beaches from 8am to 6pm, May 20 to September 20. Leashed outside those hours in that period.
- No smoking on the beaches.
- Carry in, carry out: there are no trash cans on the beach.
- No grills, campfires or bonfires.
A day in York from Hampton Beach
- 9am: pick up your scooter or beach wheelchair at our shop on Ashworth Ave.
- 10am: park at Long Sands with your placard, near the bathhouse ramps. Ask the lifeguards for a beach wheelchair.
- 1pm: lunch in York Beach village by Short Sands.
- 3pm: drive to Sohier Park for the lighthouse, with free parking at the viewpoint.
- Optional: carry on north to the Marginal Way in Ogunquit.
York Beach & Nubble Light: FAQ
Does York Beach have beach wheelchairs?
Yes. Long Sands and Short Sands each have two beach wheelchairs, free to use, at the bathhouse between 9:30am and 4:30pm daily. Ask the lifeguards. Harbor Beach has one.
How much is parking at York Beach, Maine?
Kiosk parking at Long Sands and Short Sands is $4 per hour, from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, April 15 to October 31.
Is parking free with a disability placard in York, Maine?
Yes. Under Maine law, a vehicle displaying a disability placard can park at meters and kiosks free of charge and for twice the posted time limit.
Is parking free at Nubble Lighthouse?
Yes. Sohier Park, where you view the lighthouse, has about 50 free lined spaces. There is no overnight parking.
Can you walk to Nubble Lighthouse?
No. The lighthouse is on a small island just offshore and is not open to the public. You view it from Sohier Park. The only public access is through a raffle run by York Parks and Recreation.
Are there restrooms at Nubble Lighthouse?
Yes, in the Welcome Center at Sohier Park, open from early May to mid October. They are closed in the off season.
When are the York Beach restrooms open?
Long Sands restrooms open daily from the first weekend in May through Columbus Day. At Short Sands they open 7am to 10pm from June 16 to September 15, and 7am to 5pm in the shoulder seasons (May 1 to June 15, September 16 to October 15).
Keep planning
Sources
Checked November 11, 2026. Venues and towns change their rules; the official source always wins. Spot something out of date? Let us know.