The Ultimate Guide To Marginal Way
Marginal Way, a scenic ocean-side walk along Maine's coastline!
Marginal Way, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best places to experience Maine’s gorgeous coastline, located in the quaint town of Ogunquit, featuring beautiful sandy beaches, coves, and a picturesque fishing village!
Located in the town of Ogunquit in Maine, Marginal Way is a paved walkway along the ocean, which is about 1.25 miles long and wheelchair and stroller-friendly! One end of Marginal Way is located in downtown Ogunquit, on Shore Road just south of Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort, and the other end at Perkins Cove, a lively fishing village bustling with shops and eateries. Crashing waves, seabirds, lighthouses, colorful fishing boats, beaches, and coves at Marginal Way make it one of the most enthralling and popular places to enjoy coastal vistas in New England!
Ogunquit, located in the southwest corner of Maine, is one of Maine’s most popular coastal resort towns, featuring several ocean-front resorts, beaches, coves, museums, shops, galleries, and restaurants. However, the town’s most famous attraction and the best coastal views are along the Marginal Way, an ocean-side nature trail connecting downtown Ogunquit to Perkins Cove. Perkins Cove, located on the southern end of Ogunquit, is a charming fishing community offering gorgeous coastal views and several waterfront shops and eateries!
Enjoy the coastal views, the crashing waves, and seabirds along the Marginal Way, and indulge in shopping and seafood at Perkins Cove!
The winding walk along Marginal Way is mostly flat, with very minor elevation gain, and has several benches strategically placed along the shore to allow visitors to sit and enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the Atlantic Ocean. On the way, you would pass a cute miniature lighthouse, landscaped gardens of the sea-front resorts, beaches, and coves, and then finally reach Perkins Cove. After marveling at the cove lined with several colorful fishing boats and enjoying some great seafood at Perkins Cove, you could either take Marginal Way back to the starting point or walk to your destination through the bustling town.
Here is my ultimate guide to Marginal Way, featuring essential trip-planning information, things to do, and recommendations on hotels and restaurants near Marginal Way!
Planning Your Trip To Marginal Way
Marginal Way is best enjoyed outside the winter months by flying into Portland, Maine, and staying at one of the ocean-front resorts in Ogunquit!
Best Time To Visit Marginal Way: The warmth of the coast does not hold up to the harsh winters in New England! Like other parts of Maine, Ogunquit also has long and snowy winters, making it challenging to stroll the coastline and spend time outdoors. Summer is the best time to enjoy Marginal Way and also the peak season in Ogunquit. If you don’t mind a little cooler weather, spring and fall are also a great choice to beat the crowd at Marginal Way, Ogunquit.
Marginal Way Operating Hours & Seasons: Marginal Way is open year-round, but winters are pretty chilly and snowy, and the walkway can be icy and slippery. Several other attractions in the town of Ogunquit are also closed during the winter months, but most of the resorts and a few restaurants continue to operate throughout the winter. However, if you’re planning to spend time outdoors, you should visit Marginal Way outside the winter months.
Getting To Marginal Way: Marginal Way, located in Ogunquit in the southwest corner of Maine, is pretty close to Portland International Jetport, and flying into Portland, Maine, is the best and most comfortable way to get to Marginal Way. Alternatively, you could take an Amtrak train or Greyhound bus to Portland, Maine, and then drive to Marginal Way in Ogunquit.
- Flight: Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine, is the closest major international airport to Marginal Way, located just 35 miles from Ogunquit, and is serviced by all major airlines.
- Train: Amtrak offers train services to Portland, Maine, and the Portland Transportation Center is the closest Amtrak station located about 35 miles from Marginal Way, Ogunquit.
- Bus: Greyhound offers bus services connecting a few cities in southern Maine to other cities and states in the US. The closest Greyhound bus stop near Marginal Way is about 8 miles from Marginal Way, located on Stanford Road, Wells, Maine.
Time Required At Marginal Way: While a couple of hours are sufficient to stroll along Marginal Way and exploring Perkins Cove, I recommend spending at least a day at Ogunquit, exploring the town’s several other attractions, including beaches, museums, boutique shops, and galleries.
Parking & Transportation In Marginal Way: Paid parking is available at two public parking lots and several private parking lots near Marginal Way. The two public parking lots near Marginal Way are located on either ends of the walkway, the Obed’s Parking Lot on the northern end and the other on the southern end at Perkins Cove. Ogunquit is a pedestrian-friendly town, and you can leave your car at your hotel or at a parking lot and walk or use the Ogunquit Trolley Tours to get around the city.
Lodging Options Near Marginal Way: Marginal Way is located in Ogunquit, one of the most popular coastal resort towns in Maine, and offers several excellent lodging options ranging from luxury ocean-front resorts to bread and breakfasts. Here’re my top picks for hotels near Marginal Way
Dining Options Near Marginal Way: While the best place to dine on Marginal Way is at Perkins Cove, but you will find a ton of other eateries in the town of Ogunquit. Here’re some of my favorite restaurants and top picks for restaurants near Marginal Way – Seafood at Barnacle Billy’s & Barnacle Billy’s Etc, Lobster Shack, or Oarweed Restaurant, That Place in Ogunquit for American fare, Caffe Prego for Italian food, and So Zap for Thai cuisine.
Other Attractions Near Marginal Way: Unquestionably, Marginal Way and Perkins Cove are the main attractions in Ogunquit, but while you’re in town, there’re a few other nearby attractions that you could add to your itinerary, including Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit Memorial Library, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit Fire Museum, Wells Auto Museum, Wonder Mountain Fun Park, and Moody Beach. Maine’s iconic Portland Head Light, located about 40 miles north of Ogunquit, is also a popular day-trip destination from Ogunquit.
Other Maine Attractions & Related Posts
I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Marginal Way, and I hope this will help you plan your trip to Marginal Way. You can find other attractions in Maine in my Maine Travel Guide.
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