Kettle Cove State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Kettle Cove State Park — the small neighbor of Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, eight miles south of Portland: a pocket beach in a rocky cove, a walking trail around the cove, tide pools at low water and open-Atlantic views. Day-use fee $3 resident / $4 non-resident per adult, open 9 a.m. to sunset. Verified with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands as of August 2026.
Kettle Cove is where Cape Elizabeth locals go when they want the ocean without the full-beach production. The cove is a notch in the rocky shore between Crescent Beach and Two Lights, with a short sand beach at its head, ledges on either side that turn into tide pools on a falling tide, and a walking trail that follows the edge of the cove out toward the open water. By late afternoon the light comes low across the water from the west. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands manages Kettle Cove State Park as part of Crescent Beach State Park next door — same staff, same phone, a much smaller footprint and a lower fee.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Off Kettle Cove Road, Cape Elizabeth, adjacent to Crescent Beach State Park — about 8 miles south of Portland via Route 77 |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m. to sunset daily, unless otherwise posted; the beach is monitored 9:00 a.m. to a half hour before sunset |
| Day-use fee (per person) | $3 Maine resident adult · $4 non-resident adult · $1 senior non-resident · $1 children 5–11 · free under 5 and Maine residents 65+ (with proof of age) |
| Fee collection | Year-round at the entry booth by staff or self-service station; cash accepted at entry booths |
| Annual passes | Maine State Park vehicle pass $105 · individual pass $55 · senior vehicle pass (65+) $45 |
| Pets | Leashed pets welcome on the beach October 1–March 31 only; not allowed on beaches April 1–September 30 |
| Contact | Crescent Beach State Park, 7 Tower Drive, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 · (207) 799-5871 |
| Official site | Maine DACF — Two Lights, Kettle Cove and Crescent Beach |
What to Do
- Walk the cove trail. The park’s own description is “a walking trail around the cove” with coastal views — a short, easy loop that is the main reason to come outside beach season.
- Tide pools. The ledges on both sides of the beach expose pools at low tide; check a tide table and go an hour either side of low water.
- Swim. The cove beach is part of the Maine Healthy Beaches monitoring program from Memorial Day to Labor Day; water-quality advisories are posted on the state’s beach page.
- Paddle. The cove is a sheltered put-in for sea kayaks heading along the shore; Crescent Beach next door lists sea kayaking among its activities.
Kettle Cove vs. Crescent Beach vs. Two Lights
| Park | Adult fee (resident / non-resident) | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle Cove | $3 / $4 | Small cove beach, headland trail, tide pools, few facilities |
| Crescent Beach | $6 / $8 | Mile-long sand beach, bathhouse with cold showers, playground, picnic grills |
| Two Lights | $5 / $7 | Rocky headland, no beach, lighthouse views, picnicking |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Kettle Cove State Park cost?
Day-use fees are per person: $3 for Maine resident adults, $4 for non-resident adults, $1 for children 5–11, and free for children under 5 and Maine residents 65 and older (as of August 2026). Fees are collected year-round.
Are dogs allowed at Kettle Cove?
Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach from October 1 through March 31. From April 1 to September 30 pets are not allowed on Maine state park beaches.
Is Kettle Cove the same as Crescent Beach State Park?
They are adjacent but separate parks with separate fees. Kettle Cove is the small cove with the trail; Crescent Beach is the mile-long beach with the bathhouse. Both are managed from the Crescent Beach office at 7 Tower Drive.
More parks nearby: Crescent Beach State Park is next door, and Two Lights State Park is about a half mile away on the headland.
Editorial note: Fees, hours and pet rules are from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands fee schedule, park rules and the Two Lights/Kettle Cove/Crescent Beach page, checked August 2026. The state does not publish acreage or trail length for Kettle Cove; descriptions of the ledges and views are ours.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Kettle Cove State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed at most Maine state parks year-round, including trails, but must be leashed, under the handler's physical control and never left unattended.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash not exceeding 4 feet, under the physical control of the handler
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not allowed on state park beaches April 1 through September 30; leashed pets are welcome on beaches October 1 through March 31
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- No pets allowed at Sebago Lake State Park campground; park staff may assign pet owners to less congested camping areas
Are dogs allowed at Kettle Cove State Park?
Pets are allowed at most Maine state parks year-round, including trails, but must be leashed, under the handler's physical control and never left unattended. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via maine.gov. More: Maine state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Kettle Cove State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
