How do you get to Starboard Cove Beach and is there parking?

Starboard Cove Beach is located in the rural town of Machiasport in far eastern Maine, approximately 80 miles from Bangor. Access is via Route 92, which runs through Machiasport. As a hidden beach, parking facilities may be limited or informal roadside parking. Given its remote location, GPS is recommended, though cell service can be spotty. The nearest major town is Machias, about 5 miles away. Roads are well-maintained but rural. Visitors should arrive with a full tank of gas, as services are limited in this area of Downeast Maine.

Are there restaurants, accommodations, or amenities near Starboard Cove Beach?

Starboard Cove Beach has minimal on-site amenities, reflecting its hidden, natural character. The nearby town of Machias (5 miles) offers restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations. Accommodations include small inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and motels in Machias and surrounding towns. Visitors should bring their own food, water, and supplies for beach visits, as there are no facilities directly at the beach. The charming coastal village atmosphere of the area provides authentic Downeast Maine hospitality. For more extensive services, Lubec and Eastport are within 30 miles, offering additional dining and lodging options.

What makes Starboard Cove Beach special compared to other Maine beaches?

Starboard Cove Beach's hidden status means visitors often have the shoreline to themselves, offering peaceful solitude rare on more popular Maine beaches. The beach provides authentic Downeast Maine coastal scenery with rocky shores, dramatic tides, and unspoiled natural beauty. Its location in Machiasport places it near Bold Coast trails and the easternmost reaches of the U.S. coastline. The area is excellent for spotting seabirds, seals, and exploring tide pools. Unlike touristy beaches, Starboard Cove offers an undeveloped, raw coastal experience that showcases Maine's rugged maritime character without commercialization.

Machiasport · Maine · USA

Starboard Cove Beach

You'll find Starboard Cove Beach where Route 92 dissolves into spruce forest and the scent of rockweed hangs thick in the salt air. The beach reveals itself at low tide—a sweep of worn stones beneath cliffs streaked with lichen, where harbor seals haul out on offshore ledges and ospreys dive for mackerel in the frigid chop.

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Machiasport·Maine·USA

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8 captures from Starboard Cove Beach

About this beach

The approach tells you everything: a gravel track threading through blueberry barrens, the sudden drop where land meets the muscular swells of the North Atlantic. Starboard Cove sits in the shadow of Little Machias Bay, a half-moon of wave-smoothed stones that clatter and hiss as the water pulls back. You'll walk a beach composed not of sand but of granite r…

Where it is

Starboard Cove Beach

Machiasport, Maine, USA

44.6507°, -67.3916°

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Top things to do

At Starboard Cove Beach

Tidal Pool Portraits

Shoot crabs at low slack

Cliffside Ramble

Basalt ledges frame the bay

Paddle to Seals

Haul-out rocks one mile offshore

Picnic on Cobbles

Bring thermoses and wool blankets

Near this beach

Places, rentals, tours and events within walking and driving distance of Starboard Cove Beach.

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Good to know

Questions people actually ask about Starboard Cove Beach.

Is Starboard Cove Beach safe for swimming?

Starboard Cove Beach is best suited for wading and exploring rather than swimming. As with most Maine beaches, the water remains quite cold year-round, typically 50-60°F even in summer. The rocky shoreline and strong tidal currents common to the Machiasport area make swimming challenging. There are no lifeguards on duty. Visitors should check tide schedules before exploring tide pools and coastal areas, as tides in eastern Maine can be dramatic, rising and falling 18-20 feet. The beach is ideal for beachcombing, photography, and enjoying coastal scenery.

When is the best time to visit Starboard Cove Beach?

Starboard Cove Beach offers year-round beauty, with each season providing distinct experiences. Summer (June-August) brings the warmest weather, typically 60-75°F, ideal for beachcombing and picnicking. Fall offers stunning foliage and fewer crowds. Winter can be dramatic with storm-watching opportunities, though access may be limited by snow. Late spring and early summer are excellent for birdwatching during migration season. Fog is common throughout the year in coastal Maine. For the most comfortable visit with accessible conditions, plan for July through September when temperatures are mild and roads are clear.