East End Beach

Dog friendly beach in Portland! We love coming to this beach whenever we visit Portland to walk our dog. It’s a nice walk from Old Portland and dogs can be off leash. Note that dogs are only allowed early morning and after 5pm (or 4?) though between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

I did not attend the beach but did go to the area to the northwest with the boat launch and Rocky area. The boat launch looks to be in very good condition and an easy place to launch a boat. Minimal parking right close but there is a trailer parking place close. The dock looks to be fairly large once you do launch your boat you should be good. 1 hour parking for cars right beside it also.

Small beach 🏖️ with many amenities. Public restrooms, boat ⛵ launch, kayak, canoe 🛶 and paddle board rentals and duck 🦆 boat access. You can visit via the Eastern Promenade Trail or by vehicle. The beach is a mixture of sand and rocks but you should be able to enter the surf without water shoes.

The reviews online said dogs were allowed, but it's more complicated than that: according to the sign posted when we went, dogs were NOT allowed on the beach from 9-5 between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Apparently they are allowed other times? The beach itself is small, part sandy and part rocky. Fairly clean. Water is cold, as you'd expect. Shallow water and low waves make it good for wading.

Great beach. Dog friendly. There are kayak rental and tours, a great running/multipurpose trail that runs along the waterfront. There is a small train that drives along the shore line. Great parking and accessibility.

June 2023 - with so much rain this Spring, we had to get out and walk on the rare occasion of a nice evening. Even with a heavy haze the views are still spectacular. We enjoy sitting and watching the dogs play after 5 PM. BEACH? No, don't come looking for a huge stretch of sandy beach and swimming. It's a small beach area. People come here for the views, the trail, the activities (kayak, boarding, train ride, food trucks). If you're looking for a beach to lounge on all day, head for Old Orchard Beach or Willard Beach or any of the options nearby. 2021 - Each time I walk or ride the Eastern Prom trail and visit East End Beach, I am reminded why so many people come to visit Maine.

What a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the sea. There is something for everyone whether you want to watch the sail boats, walk the beach and surrounding area or want to take your dog for a walk. There are nearby hills which make the views even better. You will find plenty of room to space out.

Our Airbnb host recommend that we park here and walk the Eastern Promenande trail. It's a beautiful trail that leads into Portland. Definitely worth the stop

Highlights of East End Beach: 1. It is close 2. It's dog friendly and the only beach in the area that doesn't hate dogs (coughWillardcough), even though they're not allowed from 9 to 5 during tourist season, it's still more reasonable than the 30 minute window Willard is heading towards. 3. When it's low tide its a nice sized beach. Don't even bother if it's peak high tide, it's literally a cheesecake slice of a beach. 4. It's an enclosed beach -- really only one true entrance which is also great for dogs. 5. It's a pretty "utility" focused beach -- I almost wondered if it was man made. Portland paddle will bring their kayaks here and it's a good launch point for Casco bay. The views are great and the people are friendly.

Come on City of Portland....fix the restrooms. How can you not have a public restroom at a public park and beach!? The land of taxation can't afford to fix a restroom!? 3 porta potties overflowing so awful I couldn't go in them let alone my wife. Absolutely disgusting. Step it up Portland.

I find myself here a lot in the summer because it's the closest beach to my house and it's not usually overcrowded. The tourists don't come here, mostly because it is pretty small and I don't think it is very well known. Also, I wouldn't exactly call it the cleanliest of beaches. Homeless people sleep/live here at night and I'm always careful, watching my step and such as to not step on anything dangerous. Most people come here with their dogs because they can go off-leash pretty safely. There is a "no dogs" rule from 9am-5pm from Memorial day to Labor day, but I do see this rule broken often. No one seems to really care and I don't know how this is enforced. I do bring my small dog here a lot in the "off season" and in the late afternoons, however, and he likes it a lot.. and like I said I come here in the summer with my beach chair and will sit on the beach with my head phones or a good book. I don't really recommend swimming- the sand in the water is very rocky and will hurt your feet, plus with all the boats going by I don't know how safe it would be. It's nice to wade in a little bit to cool off, though. Parking can be difficult as there basically is none on-site, but you can park up on the eastern prom and walk down.

East End Beach in Portland, Maine is otherwise known as the dog beach. This is a great location, perfect for a summer evening stroll, or winter snowshoe, moon gazing or stargazing, or just sitting on the side of the Casco Bay enjoying the view! Eastern Promenade also runs adjacent to the East End beach. The parking lots share the same space. There are public restrooms during the nice weather! If you have a boat you could use the boat launch. Oh yeah don't forget your picnic basket and blanket, you may want to take a nap on the hill overlooking the beach.! Enjoy!

Great little spot for some solid views of the ocean! Went "off season" in mid September, great spot to take my holy donut and tea and just sit on the rocks for a bit. Seemed pretty empty and very dog friendly (this was a Friday morning, late morning time)

East end beach is a relatively small pebbly beach near the eastern promenade. It is filled with a diverse mix of tourists and locals, dogs and kids. Portland Paddle launches standup paddle boards and kayaks. There are restrooms and water fountain during the summer. There are also port a potties but they are usually nose plug condition. On the other side of the restroom s is a boat launching area and some parking. there is more parking further up the hill toward the promenade. Usually there aren't any food vendors so bring what you need. You can often hear the Maine Narrow Gage railroad go up and down its tracks between the railroad bridge and its home base near India street. Weather you are a tourist or local its one of the places that you should visit. Bring sunscreen !

It's basically a dog park. And that's fine. The downtown Portland area is running out of parks and really any green space to be able to walk or play with your dog, so it's kind of great that all of the Portland dog loving masses have this. That being said, while it's the only "beach" within city limits, it's not what most people would think of as a proper Maine beach, as it's pretty small, it's not what you would call "pristine", and yeah, dogs everywhere, mostly in the evening (there's a no dogs before 5:00pm-ish law, that some adhere to). And often some crusty dudes standing at the fence behind the beach checking out the ladies sunbathing. Nonetheless, if you don't have any transportation to get out of the city on a hot day, I suppose this is a godsend, and I've had some fun times here after dark (not like that. Mind out of the gutter, people). I love the path that runs along this for bike rides, etc. and the Eastern Promenade, which sits above the beach, is still the jewel of the city in my opinion. I still like driving 20-30 minutes south to an actual beach on a beautiful day, but we're spoiled in this state with so many options.

Small and rocky. Not really a beach. Right off of eastern promenade area and train tracks. Not many people there are in a Friday afternoon. Lots of trucks around. This is more of a dog beach or place to chill. Nice stop off or end point after walk.

Would be a 5 star review if it wasnt for the "no dogs" from 9am to 5pm Memorial day to Labor day.. But before 9 and after 5 and labor day to memorial day it gets 5 + stars.. Totally reminds me of a miniature version of Ocean Beach in San Francisco - the lighthouse kind of makes me feel at home a thousand miles away from home.. My dog gives it ten stars. Two different ways you can go down the "boardwalk" to exercise. Lots of picnic area. Sea shells.. Old school train rides. Just a cool place to be outdoors on a nice day, dog owner or not.

East End beach isn't the most scenic or beautiful beach in the world, but at night and during the off season, it turns into a fantastic dog friendly beach. during the season, after 5:00, dogs are allowed and it quickly turns into a party. People are pretty friendly and mostly have their dogs under control though there can still be incidents. The beach is fenced in and nice and long so it's a good place to find your own space. I don't think I'd come to the beach to lay out all day here, but for a dog, it's fantastic.

This is advertised as a dog park on Yelp. Do not be mistaken, is it is not an off leash dog park. Memorial Day through Labor Day 9am through 5 pm no dogs on the beach. There are also multiple signs saying leashes are required all season long. Try Quarry Run Park or St. John's street. Those are truly off leash dog parks.

Who said this place is closed? It's not..... Love to bring my dog here before the tourist season hits!

What an awesome place for a small beach. I probably wouldn't come here to chill in peak season, but in winter it's empty and dog friendly. We had our pup run up and down the beach for a while to tire him out before our walk down the waterfront. It's kept pretty clean, but there are a lot of shells here- guess that's reasonable considering its a beach tho ;)