Portland Beaches

There are plenty of great reasons to visit a beach in your neck of the woods. Spending time in the sun, enjoying the water, and creating memories with your family and friends are a few examples.

Locating the perfect swimming beach in Portland with lots of room for activities on the beach is simple. Below is a collection to help you find a beach close to Portland. Enter a beach, a city, or a zip code to get started.

Portland Beaches

If there has been lots of rainfall, blocked sewage drains, or thunderstorms lately, it may result in bad water quality levels. Be sure you take a look at the website of the beach for information regarding water quality warnings.

Keep in mind that the weather on a beach is usually different than what you see in the city. Wind can be colder and unpredictible whenever it’s coming off the water.

Rules of the Beach

While different beaches in Portland will have different rules for using their beach, be prepared to abide to these common guidelines for every beach in Portland that you go to:

  • Even if the lifeguard is supervising the beach, understand that you’re swimming at risk to yourself.
  • Fires could be against the law on the majority of public beaches in Portland.
  • Never disobey an order from the lifeguard on duty. If they tell you to get out of the water, then you have to do it.
  • Only visit the beach during specified hours.
  • Do not venture outside of the swimming area.
  • Glass bottles can easily shatter, so avoid bringing glass bottles to beaches.

Portland Beach Tips

  1. Protect your eyes. Too much sun may cause permanent damage to your eyesight. Don’t be misinformed by how many clouds are in the sky – your eyes need the protection. Use a pair of sunglasses with polarization and bring a sunhat for extra shade.
  2. Avoid crowded times. Portland beaches can get crowded, especially during summer weekends. Be sure to arrive at the beach before noon if possible.
  3. Don’t swim beyond the specified swimming region. If there is a specified swim region it is likely not safe to venture outside of that region. The area may have hazardous objects under the water, be reserved for boaters, or is unsupervised by a lifeguard.
  4. Know the policy on alcohol. It is not allowed to consume alcohol at most Portland beaches. Do your research before bringing any alcohol.
  5. Know if there are restrooms. Restroom details may be the last thing on your mind when you plan your beach trip. But you don’t want to be caught in a spot where you have to go to the bathroom fast but there isn’t one open. If you’re unable to find restroom information on the website of the beach, you can assume that a public restroom or porta potty is not available. Try to use the bathroom before driving to the beach.
  6. Bring enough layers. It’s common knowledge that the temperature in Portland changes at a moment’s notice. It is particularly necessary if you’re wanting to go in the water, so pack plenty of dry items like sweaters, blankets, windbreakers, and a hat.
  7. Avoid Littering. It’s no fun to spend the day at a filty beach. Whenever you take items to the beach, you are expected clean up your garbage. Be sure to throw away your garbage in a designated trash or recycling bin.