L'Escarène (French pronunciation: [lɛskaʁɛn]; Occitan: L'Escarèa; Italian: Scarena, formerly) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France.

The town was a main stop along the Route de Sel during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, between the French Provence and Italian Piedmont, on the Nice to Turin road.

In place names, it refers to the edge, the steepest part of the mountain which can be reached by degrees as of a ladder.

The lordship of the town belonged to a Nice consul family, Tonduti, who bore the title of Count of L'Escarène.

The development of the Salt Road between Nice and Piedmont by L'Escarène, Lucéram, Lantosque and Vésubie Valley connected the town to the outside world.

The construction of the Royal Road (Nice-Turin) by the Col di Tenda will increase the importance of the city as a stopping point.