28 panels guide visitors through the streets of Old Orchard Beach in English and French. This project offers a distinctive introduction to local history, alongside the long beach, the Harmon Museum, and other ways to get to know the town.
Getting Here and Finding Your Way
Old Orchard Beach station is a seasonal stop on the Amtrak Downeaster line. The 2026 seasonal service runs from May 18 to mid-October; later schedules may differ. So check the schedule for your travel dates. From the station, the beach, pier, shops, restaurants, hotels, and attractions are all within a quarter-mile walk. This gives you a concrete sense of the distance to these destinations when planning your arrival and helps you use the station as a reference point for your stay.
Beach and Pier
The beach stretches for seven miles between Pine Point in Scarborough and Camp Elliot. The pier extends almost 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The two figures convey different scales: the beach forms a long stretch of coastline, while the pier provides a single landmark reaching far out over the water. When considering Old Orchard Beach as a destination, you can take into account both the shoreline and a distinctive structure on the Atlantic.
Trails on the Eastern Trail
A car-free section of the Eastern Trail offers more than eight miles of flat, easy trails and connects Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough. Alongside the coastal attractions, this gives you a longer route whose distance and flat terrain are clearly specified. From Old Orchard Beach, the trail is accessible via Cascade Road, Portland Avenue, and the Old Orchard Beach Connector. Trail work may affect access, so check access conditions before setting out. This means your options include not only destinations in town but also a clearly identified route with several access points.
Local History and Culture
The Museum in the Streets guides visitors through the streets of Old Orchard Beach with 28 panels. Information is available in English and French. Unlike a museum visit, this project is set along the streets. The Harmon Museum offers another way to explore the town’s history, presenting it through historical treasures dating back more than 200 years. Topics covered there include the Dummy Railroad and horse racing at Kite Track. Those especially interested in the town’s development will find specific historical points of reference rather than a single account of the past.
Ocean Park is also part of Old Orchard Beach’s history: it was founded in 1881 as a religious community. This founding story adds another aspect of local history to the museum topics.
Amusement Park by the Beach
Palace Playland is a family-oriented amusement park on Old Orchard Beach. On five acres, it offers more than 30 rides and attractions. Its focus sets it apart from the historical offerings and the Eastern Trail, adding a distinct, clearly defined type of experience to the range of interests you might consider for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Buxton, Ogunquit, South Berwick, Sanford, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, North Berwick and Saco.
For the broader travel overview: York.
