It's about an hour and a bit, depending on where we go and the traffic, to Bar Harbor, Hancock, Tremont, etc.; all the little coastal towns, but the beaches aren't terrific up here; too much "rock-bound coast of Maine" for laying out and getting sun regularly (or too many tourists at Sand Beach in Acadia). We usually do most of our beaching in York, as my sister and brother both live there; free places to stay, they have town parking stickers, and the beaches are gorgeous (Long Sands, Short Sands, Harbor Beach). It's about a three hour drive down, but easy to do on the weekends (or weeks- I have the summer off!).