Best Beaches in Wells

Wells Beach is the main draw at 100 Atlantic Ave, and with a 4.7 rating from over 1,000 reviews, it's easy to see why people keep coming back year after year. It's a long, wide sandy beach where you can spread out, play frisbee, and find room even when it's moderately busy. Low tide here is a treat: the beach expands dramatically, and you'll find rocky tidal pools with small crustaceans and sea creatures tucked into the rocks. There's also a jetty to explore.

Parking is free for two hours, though it fills fast during peak season. Your best bet is to arrive early or come outside July and August when you'll have a better shot at a spot. Restrooms and a snack bar sit at one end of the beach, with more restrooms near the jetty. Dogs are welcome, and the mix of locals and visitors creates a friendly atmosphere. The breeze and ocean smell are pretty much constant, which regulars say is part of the appeal.

Drakes Island Beach (28 Foster Ln) has earned a 4.7 rating and feels a bit less frantic than Wells Beach proper. It's spacious enough that even on busy weekends, you can find room to set down a chair or towel. The sand is tightly packed and excellent for swimming, and when the tide is low, the beach becomes genuinely expansive. Parking is $5 per hour via pay-by-plate kiosk and is usually plentiful.

Dogs are allowed off-leash here now, though if you want to bring your pet during peak hours, stick to before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Visitors rave about the sunrises and sunsets, which have an almost otherworldly quality. There's a jetty for walking (carefully), and the beach draws nature lovers who want to explore the inlet without the crowds that sometimes hit nearby areas. The water here warmed up nicely even into late August in recent years.

Crescent Beach (24 Gold Ribbon Dr) is the quieter option for visitors who don't want to fight crowds. It holds a 4.7 rating and appeals especially to people who like a more low-key vibe. The beach is walkable from nearby rentals and restaurants, and the view of the marsh adds a calm, meditative quality that some people find more relaxing than a busy sandy strand.

Parking is affordable, and the beach is good for shell hunting. A recent visitor mentioned finding plenty of shells along the shore. Because it tends to be less crowded than Wells Beach or Drakes Island, it's a solid choice if you're visiting in summer but want to avoid peak-season chaos.

Moody Beach (in Wells, ME 04090) is rated 4.6 from 76 reviews and is known for its expansive width, especially at low tide. One visitor who arrived an hour before low tide around 9 a.m. said the beach rival Florida gulf coast beaches in width, with a flat, rock-free surface that's excellent for walking. Parking costs $6 per hour, and the lot has a foot shower and bathrooms.

Dog rules can be unclear here, so call ahead or check signage before bringing your pet. The water tends to be clear, and while it's cold even in late August, plenty of swimmers brave it. Visitors have been coming to Moody Beach for decades, and several note that recent winters smoothed out the shoreline nicely, creating an especially flat, pleasant walking surface.

Ocean Front Beach (3 Ocean Ave) earns a 4.7 rating and lives up to its name: you're right on the ocean, not set back behind a boardwalk or development. It's a scenic spot where you'll see pipers feeding in the surf and indifferent seagulls going about their business. The beach works well as part of a longer waterfront walk.

Note that this spot has a smaller public area and abuts private property, so if you're traveling with kids, watch where they run. It can get crowded on nice days. Come if you want dramatic waves and wildlife watching; it's less about lounging and more about the experience of being right at the water's edge.