When tracking the Kennebunk tides, you actually want to refer to the tide chart for the Kennebunk River. That’s the waterway that divides Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, and enters and exits the ocean near Gooch’s Beach on Beach Avenue in Kennebunk.
I learned this important fact when having lunch one day at the Boat House in Kennebunkport. Take a look at this picture I took of the bridge between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, over the Kennebunk River. The sign talks about how clearance under the bridge is much lower during high tide–that’s for people who are kayaking the Kennebunk River.
Anyway, when I started researching the Kennebunk tides for this article, I discovered that NOAA–the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–uses a “station” in Kennebunkport, on the Kennebunk River.
Tides in Kennebunk Maine: high tide vs low tide
Ever since moving to Maine, my husband and I have loved walking our dogs at the beach. This includes Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, which is dog-friendly year round. It’s just the times when the dogs can be on the beach that varies.
Quickly, we learned that we needed to consult the tidal charts if we wanted to walk the dogs on the beach or along the sidewalk that runs parallel to the beach. That’s because, like the beaches in Wells, the beaches in Kennebunk are tide dependent.
That is, when the tide comes in at the beach, aka high tide, the beach disappears at Gooch’s and other beaches in Kennebunk. Here’s a picture I snapped once of high tide at Gooch’s. You can see why we had to walk the dogs on the sidewalk and not the sand.
Then, when the tide goes out and you’re at low tide, suddenly the beach appears again. Because you have about six hours between low tide and high tide at the Kennebunk beaches, that’s enough time to take advantage of the sand reappearing.
Names of Kennebunk Beaches
Kennebunk has three beaches that border the ocean and are accessible to the public. They are:
- Gooch’s Beach
- Middle Beach
- Mother’s Beach
There is a fourth beach–Parsons Beach. This is closer to the Rachel Carson Preserve and is fed by the Mousam River into the ocean.
Technically, it’s a private beach. However, the Parsons family has been letting residents and visitors alike use the beach for years.
The only challenge is driving to Parsons Beach. During high tide, you may be stuck as the water is known to come over the road and cut you off from Route 9 until the tide goes back out again.
Between June 15 and Labor Day, you will need a parking pass or pay for parking along Beach Avenue for Gooch’s, Middle and Mother’s beaches. Residents can get a pass at town hall. Visitors can pay via the kiosks along Beach Avenue.
Times for tides in Kennebunk, Maine
Even though there are separate beaches in Kennebunk, Maines, the times for high tide and low tide are virtually the same.
So, unlike other beaches you might visit on the East Coast, when in Kennebunk, you’ll want to plan your visit to the beach based on low tide. Because what’s the point of going to a Maine beach in summer if the sandy beach isn’t there.
Again, it’s only during low tide that you’ll have sand to lay out your beach blanket or set up your umbrella or, after hours, walk your dog on the beach.
Once it is fully high tide, you won’t have any beach left.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to when low tide occurs this week. I’m only focusing on low tides during daylight hours because that’s when you’ll want to hit the Kennebunk beaches.
We’ve only listed “Kennebunk Beach” generically. However, you can feel confident that the tidal chart is as accurate as can be for Mother’s Beach, Middle Beach and Gooch’s Beach all together.
Note: We’ve rounded low tide to the nearest half hour because tides can fall at funky times. They change by about 50 minutes each day, give or take.
Here’s when you can expect low tide in Kennebunk this weekend.
What this Kennebunk tides chart covers
Also, this tides chart is for Memorial Day to Labor Day only. That’s when most people are visiting the Maine Seacoast in general, and may want to go to the beach and not be familiar with the Kennebunk tides.
Also, you usually have six hours between low tide and high tide. So, you’ll definitely have enough time to take advantage of the beach at least once every day — assuming the weather cooperates.
Source of tidal information
We’re using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Tides and Currents data. After Labor Day and before Memorial Day, we recommend you use NOAA information to determine tides.