Top Old Orchard Beach Parks to Visit During Your Stay

Most visitors to Old Orchard Beach plan their days around the pier, the boardwalk, and the beach and end up missing some of the most rewarding green spaces Maine’s coast has to offer.

According to the Maine Office of Tourism 2024 Summer Visitor Tracking Report, Maine welcomed 7.7 million summer visitors in 2024, generating over $9.2 billion in spending, with outdoor activities consistently ranking among the top reasons people make the trip.

So if you are already heading to OOB, which are the Old Orchard Beach parks to visit during your stay that are actually worth your time?

Why Do Parks Matter for an Old Orchard Beach Vacation?

Old Orchard Beach is famous for its seven miles of sand and its lively boardwalk scene, but a great Maine vacation is rarely spent in one place. The parks in Old Orchard Beach Maine give families, couples, and solo travellers a quieter counterpoint to the energy of the pier. They offer shade on hot afternoons, easy walking trails for early mornings, and the kind of local colour that makes a holiday feel like more than a loop between the hotel pool and the ice cream stand.

The OOB area sits within one of New England’s most beautiful coastal ecosystems. Within a short drive of the beachfront, you have a 117-acre state park with rare trees, a 140-year-old historic village grove, and a central community park the whole family can walk to before dinner. These spaces do not compete with the beach. They complete it.

Guests staying in one of Seagrass Inn’s spacious King Suites on the first floor find this balance particularly useful for longer stays. After a morning on the sand, an afternoon exploring a shaded nature trail is the kind of rhythm that turns a good trip into a great one.

Which Old Orchard Beach Parks to Visit During Your Stay?

Here are the four parks worth putting on your itinerary, ranked by what they offer and how easy they are to reach from the OOB beachfront.

1. Ferry Beach State Park: Best for Nature Lovers

Ferry Beach State Park Old Orchard Beach is the standout nature destination in the area, sitting just two miles south of central OOB off Route 9 on Bay View Road. This 117-acre state park is managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and opens at 9:00 AM daily from Memorial Day through September 30. Admission runs around $5 for Maine residents and slightly more for out-of-staters.

The park’s 1.7-mile trail network is largely barrier-free and winds through genuinely varied ecosystems, including a raised boardwalk Tupelo Trail that cuts through one of Maine’s largest stands of Black Tupelo trees, a rare species at this latitude. Three named trails (Tupelo Trail, Red Oak Trail, and White Oak Trail) keep exploration interesting. A nature center offers free guided ranger programs with paid admission, and the picnic area has grills, tables, and a rentable covered shelter. The park earns a 4.5-star rating from 277 reviews on AllTrails, a strong signal that it delivers on its promise.

2. Ocean Park and Guild Park: Best for History and Quiet Walks

Ocean Park Old Orchard Beach is one of southern Maine’s most underrated destinations. Founded in 1881 as a Free Will Baptist summer encampment, it is often called “Chautauqua-by-the-Sea” and has operated continuously for nearly 150 years. Temple Square, the heart of Ocean Park, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and includes The Temple, the only octagonal church in Maine, seating up to 1,450 people.

Tucked within Ocean Park is Guild Park, a 10-acre old-growth white pine and spruce grove with scenic walking trails and a covered war memorial footbridge built in 1944. Entry is free. This is one of the best things to do in Old Orchard Beach besides the beach when you want calm, history, and fresh pine air without leaving the town boundary. Couples staying in Seagrass Inn’s second-floor Ocean View rooms often find an evening walk through Ocean Park a perfect way to end the day before dinner.

3. Downtown Memorial Park: Best for Families on Foot

Located on Staples and Heath Street across from the Chamber of Commerce and the Amtrak station, Downtown Memorial Park is the most accessible free park Old Orchard Beach ME has to offer. It includes a playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, a picnic area, and a veteran’s monument. No car needed, no admission fee, and it regularly hosts summer community events, making it an ideal hour-long break between beach sessions for families with young children. Seagrass Inn is a short walk away, so guests can head back to the pool or grab towels without any planning.

4. Cascade Park, Biddeford: Best for a Freshwater Day Trip

About 10 to 15 minutes by car, Cascade Park in Biddeford offers 72 acres of riverside green space on the Saco River, including walking trails, sports fields, a freshwater beach for swimming, and a boat launch. It appears on Yelp’s Top 10 Best Parks list for the Old Orchard Beach area and is a solid option when you want a completely different landscape: tree cover, river sounds, and far fewer crowds. Families with young children and guests looking for Old Orchard Beach outdoor activities beyond the coastline find this one worth the short drive.

Common Mistakes Visitors Make When Planning Park Visits

Getting the most out of the parks in Old Orchard Beach Maine means avoiding a few traps that catch first-time visitors off guard.

• Arriving at Ferry Beach State Park after 11:00 AM on a hot July weekend. The small parking lot fills quickly and the gate closes when capacity is reached. Aim for a 9:00 AM start to guarantee entry.
• Bringing dogs to Ferry Beach beach during nesting season. Dogs are welcome on the trails year-round on a leash, but the beach itself bans them from April 1 through September 30 to protect nesting Piping Plovers and Least Terns.
• Skipping Ocean Park because it looks like a residential neighbourhood. The historic village grove and Guild Park walking trail are genuinely worth a 45-minute detour, and most people who walk in are surprised by how beautiful it is.
• Underestimating the July heat. Nature trails near Old Orchard Beach can feel warm even in tree cover. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat regardless of the cloud cover.
• Not checking park hours before heading out. Ferry Beach State Park’s nature centre closes earlier than the park grounds, and facilities are unavailable in the off-season even when the trails are open.
• Overlooking the picnic option. Every major park on this list has picnic infrastructure: grills, tables, and shelter. Picking up a lobster roll from a nearby stand and eating in Guild Park or Ferry Beach turns a park visit into a genuine Maine moment.

Which Park Is Right for Your Trip?

Not every park suits every guest. The table below matches park type to the kind of Old Orchard Beach vacation activities your group is looking for, and notes the best Seagrass Inn room pairing for each scenario.

Families visiting in summer often split the trip naturally. They spend mornings at Ferry Beach State Park Old Orchard Beach. The trails and quiet beach offer a peaceful start. Afternoons are perfect for Seagrass Inn’s heated outdoor pool. Later, many walk to the pier for dinner. Couples often save Ocean Park Old Orchard Beach for later in the trip. By then, the boardwalk feels calmer and more relaxing.

If you are thinking about family parks Old Orchard Beach style, Downtown Memorial Park is the clear choice. It is free, walkable, and engaging for children under 10. Groups with teenagers or adults may enjoy Ferry Beach more. The trails and natural scenery make the entry fee worthwhile.

Pack a Picnic. The Trail Can Wait.

The single most useful tip for visiting any park near Old Orchard Beach: go early. Ferry Beach State Park reaches capacity on peak summer weekends before 10:30 AM. Guild Park and Ocean Park are best in the morning before the afternoon heat settles in. Arriving before the crowds means better parking, quieter trails, and the best light for anyone walking with a phone camera. Grab coffee and pastries from a local spot the night before. Pack a cooler and enjoy a full morning before breakfast crowds arrive.

Seagrass Inn sits at 50 West Grand Ave, just 75 yards from the beach and a five-minute walk from the pier, which puts you within easy reach of every park on this list. If you are travelling with family, the Inn’s Two Queen-Sized Beds rooms on the second floor give everyone room to recover after a day of trails and swimming. Couples looking for a view can book an Ocean View King or Queen on the second floor and wake up with Saco Bay outside the window before heading south to Ocean Park. Ready to make the most of your time on the Maine coast? Visit us and reserve your room now! 

Frequently Asked Questions for OOB Park

What is there to do at Old Orchard Beach Park for families?

Old Orchard Beach park options give families a full itinerary beyond the shoreline. Downtown Memorial Park is the easiest starting point. It offers free tennis courts, a basketball court, playground equipment, and a picnic area near beachfront hotels. For bigger days out, the old orchard beach amusement park at Palace Playland sits beside the pier. It has operated since 1902 and offers 28 rides across kiddie, family, and thrill categories. It also features one of New England’s largest arcades. Between a morning at the park and an afternoon at the pier, families can easily fill an entire day. They can enjoy plenty of activities without stepping onto the sand.

Is there a playground at Old Orchard Beach for kids?

There are several playground options in and around Old Orchard Beach for younger children. Downtown Memorial Park on Staples and Heath Street is the most central location. It offers free playground equipment, basketball courts, and tennis courts in a shaded setting near the pier. Ocean Park’s Memorial Park is another family-friendly choice on Temple Avenue. It features a free playground beneath cathedral pines in a peaceful setting. Palace Playland offers paid playground-style fun with more attractions. Its kiddie and family rides are designed for younger guests along the beachfront.

What is the Old Orchard Beach amusement park and is it worth visiting?

Palace Playland is the Old Orchard Beach amusement park and New England’s only beachfront amusement park. It has been a fixture at OOB since 1902.
The park covers four acres of oceanfront property at the base of the pier. It features 28 rides across kiddie, family, and thrill categories. Visitors can also enjoy a water slide and more than 200 arcade games. Admission is available per ride or with an all-day pass, depending on the season. It is worth visiting with children or anyone who enjoys a classic seaside boardwalk experience. The playground-style kiddie zone suits children under 10 with rides designed for their age group.

How do I plan a day at OOB Park and amusement park in one trip?

The most practical way to combine both attractions is to start at a quieter park early in the morning. Begin with a 9:00 AM walk through Downtown Memorial Park or Guild Park in Ocean Park. Next, head to the Old Orchard Beach beachfront before the mid-morning crowds arrive. Enjoy a swim and relax before the beach becomes busier around lunchtime. By early afternoon, Palace Playland is in full swing with manageable ride lines from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Staying at Seagrass Inn on 50 West Grand Ave keeps everything within a five-minute walk. You can easily reach nearby parks and the amusement park entrance without needing a car.