Massachusetts beaches range from fresh-water lakes in the western mountains to the sandy flats of Cape Cod Bay and the towering bluffs of Martha's Vineyard. There's a perfect beach for everyone from small children playing in quiet tide pools to surfers riding pounding waves. Lodging for families, singles, and romantic couples is easy to find for a beach vacation in Massachusetts.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts manages a variety of beaches, from 15 saltwater ocean beaches to more than 50 inland, fresh-water beaches. Most are open between Memorial Day and Labor Day; many offer lifeguard services. Hours vary. Parking fees range from $5-15 (for residents at scenic and historic sites) to $20-40 per day (for non-residents at ocean beaches). An annual pass is $60 for residents only. Residents 62 and older pay a one-time fee of $10 for a lifetime pass. For additional information including limitations, click here.
City of Quincy Welcome Center - 1259 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700
Beach-goers will not be disappointed, with a vast variety of ocean and river locations
4 North Street Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-747-0100 Toll-Free: 800-872-1620
Swimmers and hikers, kids and adults will find that perfect beach in Plymouth
Off Wood Avenue Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-4361
Mid-June to Labor Day; beautiful, long boardwalk over marshes and dunes
Menauhant Road East Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-7611
Open seasonally; on Vineyard Sound; life guards; concessions
Route 6 to Head of the Meadow Road Truro, MA, 02666 Phone: 508-771-2144
Third weekend of June to Labor Day; good for families and small kids
Wasque Road Edgartown (Chappaquiddick Island, near the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone: 508-627-7689
Argilla Road Ipswich, MA, 01938 Phone: 978-356-4354
Ocean View Drive Wellfleet, MA Phone:
Ocean beach; water is cooler and rough; surfing allowed outside swim areas; hang gliding
Cahoon Hollow Road near Ocean View Drive Wellfleet, MA Phone: 508-349-9818
Mid-June to Labor Day. Ocean beach with high dunes, big waves, big wind, chilly water. Must walk down steep dune to reach the beach. Popular beach bar nearby.
High Head Road, Off Route 6 Truro, MA Phone:
One of three Truro beaches that do not require parking stickers; ORVs allowed with permit
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water swimming; parking fee
End of Route 6 Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone: 508-771-2144
Mid-April to November; part of Cape Cod National Seashore; great views
Off Route 6, six miles north of Salt Pond Visitor Center South Wellfleet, MA, 02663 Phone: 508-771-2144
Memorial Day to Labor Day; great views
191w Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA, 02109 Phone: 617-223-8666
Islands in Boston Harbor, and easy ferry ride from downtown. Swimming, hiking, picnicking. A fun day trip
Shore Road Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-5100
Close to downtown; lighthouse; limited parking
Corporation Road Dennis, MA, 02638 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; calm & warm Bay waters; play areas; handicap access
Ocean View Drive Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Late June-early September
Off Moshup Trail Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02535 Phone:
Race Point Road Provincetown, MA Phone:
Beach of the Cape Cod National Seashore; rough waves and strong undertow; magnificent views
Stacey Blvd. Gloucester, MA Phone:
end of Atlantic Street Gloucester, MA Phone:
Doane Road near Ocean View Drive Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-771-2144
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day; parking fee; wheelchair access
Off Route 28A and Quaker Road North Falmouth, MA, 02556 Phone: 508-548-7611
Memorial Day to Labor Day; on Buzzards Bay; warm water; life guards; beach wheelchair
Nantasket Avenue Hull, MA Phone: 781-925-1777
Ocean beach; open year-round; life guards on duty June to September
Hummock Pond Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA Phone:
Off Commercial Street Provincetown, MA Phone: 508-487-7097
Year-round use; adjacent to the town's waterfront main street
Skaket Beach Road Orleans, MA Phone: 508-240-3711
Mid-June through Labor Day; Bay beach has calmer, warmer water; lots of tidal flats at low tide
Ocean Street Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone: 508-790-6345
Memorial Day to Labor Day; excellent for windsurfing; popular with families and kids; concessions
Harbor View Way Nantucket, MA Phone:
Sea Street Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone: 508-790-9886
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day; on Hyannis Harbor; food concessions; life guards; nice of families
Off Uncle Venie’s Road Harwich, MA Phone: 508-430-7513
Memorial Day to Labor Day; nice for families; life guards and bathrooms; no permanent food concession
Easton Street Nantucket, MA Phone:
Beach Road Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Lynn Shore Drive Lynn, MA Phone: 781-485-2803
Samoset Road Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-240-5976
Third week of June to Labor Day; warm & calm water; good for families; great sunset views
Warren Avenue (Route 3A) Plymouth, MA Phone:
Next to Dutcher’s Dock, Menemsha Harbor Chilmark (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Dunes Road Dennis, MA, 02638 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good for families and kids; boardwalk; concessions
end of Hardings Beach Road (off of Barn Hill Road) West Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-5180
Memorial Day to Labor Day; very large family beach; warm and calm water; life guards; bathhouse; food
Ridgevale Road Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-5158
Memorial Day to Labor Day; warm & calmer waters; food and life guards
Great Oak Road Mashpee, MA, 02649 Phone: 508-457-0495
Day-use beach with boardwalks, bathrooms, salt and fresh water bodies
3488 Main Street - Route 6A Brewster, MA, 02631 Phone: 508-896-3491
Inland park offers lots of camping; fresh water swimming, fishing and paddling; hiking and biking
Lobsterville Road Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Chappaquiddick Road Chappaquiddick (adjacent to the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone:
Bathing Beach Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone:
End of Miacomet Road, South Shore Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
Francis Street Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone:
Off Lighthouse Inn Road West Dennis, MA, 02670 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good for families; lighthouse nearby; volleyball
end of Katama Road Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-627-7689
Canal Street Duxbury, MA Phone:
Oceanside barrier beach; parking fee; bathhouse and services
Eel Point Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA Phone:
End of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach Edgartown (on the island of Martha's vineyard), MA Phone:
Off Center Street Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; calm water; good for kids; salt water swimming in the Bay
Off Long Point Road West Tisbury (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-693-7662
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02664 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; wheelchair accessible; concessions; playing fields
120 Dorchester St. Quincy, MA, 02205 Phone: 617-376-1251
Kendrick Avenue Wellfleet, MA, 02667 Phone: 508-349-9818
Mid-June to Labor Day; parking is free at small lot; no bathrooms or concessions on site
Starbuck’s Neck Road, off North Water Street Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Route 6 to South Pamet Road Truro, MA, 02666 Phone: 508-487-6983
Open third weekend of June to Labor Day; town residents only before 4 p.m.; parking sticker required
Wauwinet Road Wauwinet (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone: 508-228-5646
Corn Hill Road (from Castle Road) Truro, MA, 02666 Phone: 508-487-1632
Open third weekend of June to Labor Day; open to public; daily parking fee, no sticker required
Katama Road and Atlantic Avenue Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone:
Chapin Beach Road Dennis, MA, 02660 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day-Labor Day; wide tidal flats at low tide on the Bay; 4-wheel drive vehicles allowed
Open: Parking lots are open daily, year-round, 6 a.m.-midnight. Life guards are at swimming beaches from late June through August.
2010 William J. Day Blvd. South Boston, MA, 02127 Phone: 617-727-5290
Bayside string of parks and beaches easily accessible to Boston; walking, swimming, fishing
Breakwater Road off Route 6A Brewster, MA Phone: 508-896-4511
Calm and warm water; tidal flats and pools; no life guards; good for little kids & families
Emmons Road, off Shore Road Bourne, MA Phone:
June-September. Big beach; parking stickers sold only to people with at least 30-day temporary residency; all others must walk or bike to the beach
Surf Drive, off Main and Shore streets Falmouth, MA Phone: 508-548-7611
Memorial Day to Labor Day; on Vineyard Sound; lifeguards; near bike path
Beach Road Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02568 Phone:
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; beach wheelchair available; parking fee
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water swimming; parking fees
Bayview Street Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water; no life guards; no concessions
Standish Way Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; no concessions
Craigville Beach Road Barnstable, MA Phone: 508-790-6345
Memorial Day to Labor Day; big sandy beach; lots of parking; favorite of teenagers; good for families
end of Berry Avenue Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; wheelchair accessible
Off Route 127A (Thatcher Road) to Long Beach Road Gloucester and Rockport, MA Phone:
Ocean Street Hyannis, MA Phone: 508-790-6345
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good from families; shade picnic grove; play areas
Squibnocket Road Martha's Vineyard, MA Phone:
Madaket Road Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
1 Beach Road - Route 1A Salisbury, MA, 01952 Phone: 508-462-4481
MA Route 88 South to John Reed Road Westport, MA, 02790 Phone: 508-636-8816
Quincy Shore Drive Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-727-5290
Owen Park Way Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Revere Beach Blvd. Revere, MA Phone: 781-289-3020
Route 127 (Western Avenue) to Hough Avenue Gloucester, MA Phone:
119 Beach Street Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA Phone: 978-526-2019
Owen Little Way Vineyard Haven (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
20 Scusset Beach Road Sagamore Beach, MA, 02562 Phone: 508-888-0859
End of Herring Creek Road Vineyard Haven (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Beach Road Orleans, MA, 02653 Phone: 508-240-3711
Mid-June through Labor Day. Ocean beach with big waves, chilly waters; large sand dunes. Food concession.
Surfside Road Nantucket, MA, 02554 Phone:
Sandy Neck Road West Barnstable, MA Phone: 508-362-8300
Memorial Day to Labor Day; pristine beach with tidal flats and sand bars; beach wheelchair; concessions
Onset Avenue Wareham, MA Phone:
Sandy beach on Buzzards Bay; concessions and life guards
East Shore Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
Seaview Avenue Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-627-6145