Old Orchard Beach, ME 59 Apartments for Rent

Old Orchard Beach was home to the first carousel in the United States. It was called Noah's Ark .

Old Orchard Beach has been a tourist destination right from its start, hundreds of years ago. But, when early residents fled the area after an attack, they left behind their apple orchard. The orchard survived for nearly 150 years and locals referred to the area as the "old orchard." Today, the seaside town is all grown up, with over 8,600 year-round residents, and is one of the hottest summertime destinations on the coast of Maine.

Moving to Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach is on the Saco Bay and has one of the longest stretches of sandy beach in Maine. At seven miles long, the beach is lined with plenty of motels and hotels but also has lots of condos and houses for rent.

The thing to know when looking for an apartment to rent in Old Orchard Beach is to be sure you find a long-term place that won't raise the rent sky high in order to make the summer money from all the tourists. Weekly summer rentals are a big source of income for some, so make sure you discuss the details with your prospective landlord.

Because of the seasonal nature of rentals here, it is best to look for a rental toward the end of the summer season; early September being the best time. You can usually negotiate a great deal if you are willing to agree to a winter-long rental. This usually means from about October until May.

Old Orchard Beach is a great place to dicker for your rent. What's that you say? Dickering, or bargaining, is a Maine pastime. So, if you're not totally comfortable with what you're looking at, dicker a little. If you're looking for pet-friendly apartments, negotiate the fee by offering something else that the owner needs, like shoveling the walkway for free every snowstorm. Get creative because if you're dealing with a Mainer, they sure will.

Renting in Old Orchard Beach

There are plenty of apartments and condos for rent in Old Orchard Beach, especially along the beach strand. Basically, you are either on the water, along Grand Avenue or you are inland in this town.

Grand Avenue: There are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands of rental options along Grand Avenue. There are studio, one- and two-bedroom options galore and even premier apartments such as the Sundial Oceanfront Suites. Grab a bite at JJ's Eatery or the Pier Patio Pub.

Pine Point: The northern end of Grand Avenue is in the Pine Point area. This area is north of Old Orchard Beach center, and thus a little more quiet. But this is where you will find plenty of high-rise condos for rent. The Grand Beach Cafe is a fun little joint for when you need to get out of the house.

Inland: Off the beachfront, this is the place to look for the longer term rental houses. Within a half mile of Grand Avenue are plenty of tree-lined neighborhood streets to choose from. Farther out, Old Orchard Beach becomes extremely peaceful, and if you don't venture east during summer you may never know that there are almost half a million people over there at times!

Living in Old Orchard Beach

Back in the day, before there were so many rules, Old Orchard Beach really was a playground, with airplanes taking off on the sand and car races up and down the beach. But, Old Orchard Beach is not only for tourists. It is a regular town with a vibrant local population who put up with the summer-time inundation of their town. In fact, they count on it.

Even locals enjoy some of the fun, like the historic Palace Playland. This beachside amusement park takes up four acres of prime beachfront real estate and is one of the last surviving beach amusement parks in New England. Think pinball, skeeball and cotton candy! It's been around since 1902 and still provides an easy night of entertainment for everyone.

The pier at Old Orchard Beach is another place to hang like a tourist. It's like going to the carnival complete with games, souvenirs and stall food. There is a nightclub at the end of the pier for a little music and dancing.

Getting to and from Old Orchard Beach is pretty easy with Route 1 nearby that will take you north and south and out to Interstate 95. In summer, you can even take the Amtrak Downeaster line right from Old Orchard Beach to get to Portland or straight into Boston.

The town also provides local transportation in conjunction with neighboring towns. The Shuttlebus-Zoom service will get you around town for shopping and will even pick you up at your house if you are not too far off the route.

Baseball lovers will be excited to learn they can watch ball right in town. The Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide is part of the summer baseball league and attending games is a fun way to spend a summer evening.

If you're looking for an old-time coastal town, then Old Orchard Beach is a great place to call home any time of year.