Massachusetts beaches range from mountain lakes to ocean bluffs
Ballston Beach
Route 6 to South Pamet Road
Truro, MA 02666
Phone: 508-487-6983
Open: Third weekend of June to Labor Day
Ocean beach with heavy surf and occasional dangerous undertow. No lifeguards; no snack bar. Parking before 4 p.m. is only for town residents and guests staying in Truro (parking sticker required). All others must bicycle in. Open to everyone after 4 p.m. In-town guests may purchase stickers at the town Beach Office, 36 Shore Road, 518-349-7004. Office open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in season.
Bass Hole or Gray’s Beach
Off Center Street
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach on Cape Cod Bay, operated by the town of Yarmouth, offers a picnic area with grills and a playground; lifeguards; restrooms. Free parking. Water is very calm; good for young children. Beach adjoins the Callery-Darling Conservation Area, which offers trails through wetlands, woods, and a boardwalk over a salt marsh.
Nonresident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Bass River (Smugglers) Beach
South Shore Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02664
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This salt-water beach on Nantucket Sound features a picnic area, a food concession, three volleyball courts, a fishing pier, and a boat ramp. Many local people call this beach Smuggler’s Beach. Beach is clean and sandy with comfortable water temperatures. Life guards; restrooms; beach wheelchair available.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Bay View Beach
Bayview Street
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Beach is on Lewis Bay at the end of Bayview Street. Operated by the town of Yarmouth. No lifeguards.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Breakwater Beach
Breakwater Road off Route 6A
Brewster, MA 02531
Phone: 508-896-4511
Open: June 15-Labor Day weekend
This beach, on Cape Cod Bay, is popular with families and children because of its mild water temperature, luscious sand, gentle dunes, and tidal flats. No life guards; portable toilets.
Beach parking permits are required 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, June 15 through September 3 at all town beaches and landings. After 3 p.m. a parking permit is not required. Beaches close at 10 p.m. Permits are sold daily starting June 1 at the rear entrance of the Brewster Town Office Building, Brewster Chamber of Commerce Information Center, 2198 Main St (Route 6A) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Non-resident beach fees are $15 a day, $50 a week, and $125 for the season.
Cahoon Hollow Beach
Cahoon Hollow Road near Ocean View Drive
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Phone: 508-349-9818
Open: Mid-June to Labor Day
The ocean beach is loved for its high dunes, beach grass, and silky sand. Life guards, restrooms, snack bar. There is a popular beachside bar nearby. Parking costs $15 a day.
This is one of only three beaches in Wellfleet open to people who are not living or staying in Wellfleet. (The other two are Whitecrest Beach and Mayo Beach.) All beaches other than Cahoon Hollow, Whitecrest, and Mayo beaches require a town parking sticker, and stickers are sold only to town residents or people staying at lodgings in Wellfleet.
Cape Cod National Seashore beaches
Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown, MA
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Parking lots are open daily, year-round, 6 a.m.-midnight. Life guards are at swimming beaches from late June through August.
Cape Cod National Seashore manages six ocean beaches in the following towns: Eastham (Coast Guard and Nauset Light beaches), Wellfleet (Marconi Beach), Truro (Head of the Meadow Beach) and Provincetown (Race Point and Herring Cove beaches). All seashore beaches include showers, paved parking, rest rooms, changing rooms, drinking water, water quality testing, and lifeguards (late June through Labor Day). Two beaches, Coast Guard in Eastham and Herring Cove in Provincetown, are handicapped accessible and have wheelchairs capable of traveling over sand.
Fees: Daily vehicle, $15; season pass, $45; senior pass (age 62 or older), $10. Fees are collected daily from late June through Labor Day at all six seashore beaches, and on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to late June, and after Labor Day through Columbus Day at Herring Cove, Race Point, Nauset Light and Coast Guard beaches.
Chapin Beach Road
Dennis, MA 02660
Phone: 508-760-6159
Open: Memorial Day-Labor Day
This beach on Cape Cod Bay is loved for its easy walking on the wide tidal flats at low tide. Four-wheel vehicles allowed; there is access to fishing at Bass Hole. No life guard; restrooms; four-wheel drive trail.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
Chatham Lighthouse Beach
Shore Road
Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: 508-945-5100
Open: Year-round
This ocean beach is one of the most beautiful on Cape Cod. It was formed about a decade ago as a result of a break in the Great Barrier Beach. It is protected from heavy surf by Nauset Beach. Beautiful sand, dunes, and views, along with frequent sightings of colonies of seals (keep your distance from them). Close to the Chatham Light lighthouse and only a short distance from the center of Chatham, the beach can be reached by shuttle, on foot, or by bicycle. There is a small parking area, which fills up rapidly and has a 30-minute limit. Beachgoers can park on Main Street in the downtown and take a taxi or shuttle to the beach. Prepare for a half-mile walk across the sand. No restrooms, life guards, snack bar, or day use fees.
Doane Road near Ocean View Drive
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Coast Guard Beach is a prime swimming beach during the summer season. Other features include the Great Beach, a sandy strand that offers opportunities to study coastal beach processes; Nauset Marsh, behind the former Coast Guard Station, where people can see shorebirds working the tidal flats and observe salt marsh grass systems; and Nauset Spit, which offers the opportunity to walk onto a barrier beach system and observe shorebirds and, during the winter, seals.
For more information, see entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.
Cockle Cove
Off Cockle Cove Road
Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: 508-945-5158
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Cockle Cove is situated between Ridgevale and Forest Street beach on the warm, calm waters of Nantucket Sound. Like its neighborhing beaches this is a favorite for those with small children and makes a great launch for windsurfers and kayakers. The beach parking lot lies at the end of Cockle Cove Road in South Chatham.
This is a town-managed beach with a life guard on duty and bathroom facilities. A parking pass is required and available at the beach toll booth. Non-resident daily parking is $15, while a one-week sticker is $60 and a season sticker is $125. Non-residents must purchase passes with cash at the booth. Residents can get season stickers at the permit department at 283 George Ryder Road, 508-945-5180.
Colonial Acres Beach
Standish Way
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Beach is located on Lewis Bay at the end of Standish Way. Small beach with a marina, wodden bridge, small parking lot and seasonal Porta-John. It is operated by the town of Yarmouth. No life guards.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Corn Hill Beach
Corn Hill Road (from Castle Road)
Truro, MA 02666
Phone: 508-487-6983
Open: Third weekend of June to Labor Day
Located on Cape Cod Bay, this beach has wonderful sand and swimming in the calmer bay waters; beautiful view of Provincetown; it’s fun to watch boats heading in and out of the harbor. Restrooms; no life guards; no snack bar. Open to the general public. Parking sticker is not required; parking fee is $10 per day per car.
Corporation Beach
Corporation Road
Dennis, MA 02638
Phone: 508-760-6159
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Located on Cape Cod Bay in the town of Dennis, this beach has warm water and calm sand, and large tidal flats at low tide. Lifeguards, a snack bar, play area, rest rooms, and handicap access.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
Craigville Beach
Craigville Beach Road
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: 508-790-6345
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, located on Nantucket Sound, is one of the most popular on Cape Cod. Great for sunbathing and swimming, and a favorite hangout of teens and college-age people. Life guards; restrooms; wheelchair accessible. Parking permit is required. For beach sticker information call Barnstable Town Hall at 508-790-6345 or stickers are available at the Kennedy Rink in Hyannis.
Dennis Pond Beach
Summer Street
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, on a fresh-water pond in the Town of Yarmouth, has lifeguards only on the weekends. Parking area, seasonal Porta-John.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
Englewood Beach
Berry Avenue
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Beach is located on Lewis Bay at the end of Berry Avenue in the town of Yarmouth. No life guards. Marina, jetty, small parking lot.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
First Encounter Beach
Samoset Road
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: 508-240-5976
Open: Third week of June to Labor Day
First Encounter is a beautiful, calm beach with warm gentle water and a small patch of grass. The tide goes way out, and the colors at sunset are spectacular. The water temperature is in the 60 to 70 degree range in the summer, and like all bay beaches, this is ideal for young children. The ice cream truck comes by several times a day.
There is a bathhouse, and a good size parking lot. This is a very popular spot to see the sunset. This is a town beach, and the Town of Eastham charges $12 per day for parking. Stickers are available for $50 per week, $90 for two weeks, or $125 per season. Stickers can be obtained at the natural Resources Building at 555 Old Orchard Road, or Sunday only at the First Encounter Parking Lot.
Flax Pond
North Main Street
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This is the recreational area for the town of Yarmouth summer activities program. Recreation area with ballfield, volleyball, basketball court, picnic area, bathroom facilities, parking. Lifeguards on duty at the fresh-water pond with pine-needle covered grounds; no sand.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Harbor Beach
Off Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657
Phone: 508-487-7097
Open: Year-round
This beach, which runs parallel to Commercial Street, the main thoroughfare, is a few steps away from the heart of downtown. Park at the public lot at MacMillan Wharf.
Hardings Beach
Hardings Beach Road, off Barn Hill Road
Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: 508-945-5158
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Hardings Beach faces south on Nantucket Sound, which is characterized by its calm, warm waters. There are two parking lots, three life guard stations, a bathhouse with shower and food service trucks in each lot. A highlight here is the hiking trail that extends benhind the beach after the second parking lot.
Anywere outside the marked swimming areas is the place to launch your sailboat or kayak.
Beach stickers for non-resident parking can only be purchased with cash at the on-site beach booth or at at the permit office at 283 George Ryder Road.
Route 6 to Head of the Meadow Road
Truro, MA 02666
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Third weekend of June to Labor Day
This ocean beach is secluded, very beautiful, with good surf, interesting sandbars, and wonderful views. Good beach for families with smaller children. Life guards, restrooms; no snack bar. Beach managed by the town of Truro and the Cape Cod National Seashore. Parking sticker is not required; daily parking fee of $10 per day per car. For more information, see entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.
Herring Cove (Cape Cod National Seashore)
End of Route 6
Provincetown, MA 02657
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Mid-April to November
Part of the Province Lands. This portion of the Cape is accreting (building) as a result of long shore transport of sand from the glacial scarps to the south. The shoreline here drops off dramatically, allowing whales (and vessels) to come close inshore. Life guards; restrooms in season (not in winter); food; wheelchair accessible.
For more information, see entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.
Kalmus Park
Ocean Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: 508-790-6345
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, in Hyannis Harbor on Nantucket Sound, is operated by the town of Barnstable. Very popular for windsurfing. Life guards, bathhouse, picnic area, snack bar, volleyball area, wheelchair access.
Parking permit is required. Fee for non-resident parking sticker is $15 a day, $50 a week, and $200 for the season. Daily permit may be purchased at the beach; weekly and seasonal permits must be purchased at the National Guard Armory, 225 South Street, Hyannis.
Long Pond
Indian Memorial Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach on a pond has a playground and a wooded area. No life guards; free parking. Operated by the town of Yarmouth.
Off Route 6
South Wellfleet, MA 02663
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
The Marconi Station Site offers a superb viewing area across this portion of the Cape from ocean to bay. Here, the outer beach is famous for its steep sand cliff (or scarp) located behind it. The uplands above the beach slope gradually westward, and provide a graceful vista of both the bay and sea horizons. From a site here, Guglielmo Marconi successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. Location: Six miles north of Salt Pond Visitor Center, off Route 6.
There is a daily parking fee. For more information, see entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.
Mayflower Beach
Dunes Road
Dennis, MA 02638
Phone: 508-760-6159
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
A favorite for families, this beach on Cape Cod Bay has a long boardwalk from the parking area across the dunes to the beach below, life guards, restrooms, concessions, handicap access.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
Mayo Beach
Kendrick Avenue
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Phone: 508-349-9818
Open: Mid-June to Labor Day
A mellow beach on Cape Cod Bay. Warm, calm water is perfect for families with children; nearby playground; rocky breakwater; beautiful views of the harbor. No life guard; no restrooms; no snack bar, but services are available nearby. Parking is free.
This is one of only three beaches in Wellfleet open to people who are not living or staying in Wellfleet. (The other two are Whitecrest Beach and Cahoon Hollow Beach.) All beaches other than Cahoon Hollow, Whitecrest, and Mayo beaches require a town parking sticker, and stickers are sold only to town residents or people staying at lodgings in Wellfleet.
Menauhant Beach
Menauhant Road
East Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: 508-548-7611
Open: Seasonally
Located on Vineyard Sound, this is the longest beach in Falmouth, and is divided into an east side and a west side by a tidal stream that connects Bourne’s Pond to Vineyard Sound. Life guards; bathhouse, mobile snack bar; porta-johns; handicap ramp; beach wheelchairs. Parking pass is $10 a day.
Monument Beach
Emmons Road, off Shore Road
Bourne, MA 02532
Phone: 508-759-0621
Open: June – September
Beach is on tiny Toby’s Island in Buzzard’s Bay. Life guards; snack bar; rest rooms. Parking sticker required; sticker may be purchased from the town for $30, with proof of a minimum of 30-day residency within the town. All others welcome to walk or bicycle to the beach.
Nauset Beach
Beach Road
Orleans, MA 02653
Phone: 508-240-3775
Open: June 17 through Labor Day
This broad ocean beach has massive sand dunes, big ocean waves, and chilly water. It is operated by the town of Orleans; don’t confuse it with the nearby Nauset Light Beach of the Cape Cod National Seashore (parking fees and services differ). Off-road vehicles are allowed; permits must be obtained through the town of Orleans. Life guards; restrooms; food concession.
Daily parking fee is $15 and may be purchased at the beach. Parking stickers by the week and for the season may be purchased at the Nauset Beach Administration Building. Cost for visitors staying in Orleans is $50 per week and $110 for the season. Visitors staying outside Orleans must pay $150 for a season sticker.
Ocean View Drive
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Late June-early September
Nauset Light Beach consists of a broad, sandy beach that is contained by a steep glacial scarp behind it. During winter months, the beach profile is considerably lowered, sometimes exposing features such as the brick foundation of one of the earlier Three Sisters lighthouses. Location: One mile north of Coast Guard Beach on Ocean View Drive in Eastham. Restrooms open seasonally, lifeguard, paid parking, wheelchair accessible.
There is a daily parking fee. For more information, see entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.
Route 6A
Brewster, MA 02631
Phone: 508-896-3491
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Travel to the upper campgrounds in Nickerson State Park, you may think that you have been transported to the Berkshire Hills or the piney woods of the Carolinas. Nowhere are the sand dunes and salt marshes usually associated with Cape Cod. Instead, you are surrounded by woods that slope down to the banks of eight crystal clear fresh water ponds, known as kettle ponds.
Nickerson's 1,900 acres offer 420 campsites, yurt camping, an amphitheater, eight miles of roads, hiking trails, an eight-mile bike path that connects to the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, and ponds stocked year-round with trout. Cape Cod Bay is within walking or bicycling distance. You can swim and canoe at Flax Pond; birdwatch or catch-and-release fish at Higgins Pond; or join the interpretive and recreational programs offered by park staff.
Park amenities include: beaches, camping, fishing, picnicking, restrooms, bike paths, nonmotorized boating, boat ramp, yurt camping, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding trails, mountain biking, showers, cross-country skiing, swimming, trailer and RV dumping, walking trails.
Old Silver Beach
Off Route 28A and Quaker Road
North Falmouth, MA 02556
Phone: 508-548-7611
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach on Buzzard’s Bay has water is warm and pleasant for swimming. A creek divides the beach; one side is the public beach and the other side is reserved for town residents. Life guards; restrooms; bathhouse; food; handicap ramp to the beach; beach wheelchair. Non-residents who are staying at a lodging in the town of Falmouth may purchase a beach sticker at the Ellen T. Mitchell Bath House on Surf Drive. Parking pass is $20 a day.
Parker’s River Beach
South Shore Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, on Nantucket Sound, has a large parking lot and a playground. Operated by the town of Yarmouth. Life guards; bath house with restrooms; food concession, pavilion, beach wheelchair available.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Race Point Beach
Race Point Road
Provincetown, MA
Ocean beach with heavy surf. For more information, see the entry on this page for Cape Cod National Seashore beaches
Red River Beach
Off Uncle Venie’s Road
Harwich, MA 02645
Phone: 508-430-7513
Red River Beach is a Nantucket Sound Beach and the largest beach in Harwich with both lifeguards and bathrooms. There is no permanent food option here but the ice cream truck makes frequent visits to this beach. It's also a favorite launch place for kayakers, para-surfers, windsurfers, sailors and fishermen who want a short run to Monomoy Island Wildlife Refuge. Parking pass (available at the beach) is required between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Daily fee for parking is $15.
There are several roads from Route 28 near the Harwich/Chatham line that access Red River Beach. Uncle Venie's Lane is the best access; do not take Red River Road.
Ridgevale Beach
Ridgevale Road
Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: 508-945-5158
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach on Nantucket Sound is located between and Hardings and Cockle Cove beaches. Restrooms; snack bar; life guards on duty 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the season. Beach access is free to those walking or on bikes; stickers required for parking. Parking pass (available at the beach) is required between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Daily fee for parking is $15.
Sandy Neck Beach
Sandy Neck Road
West Barnstable, MA 02632
Phone: 508-362-8300
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Part of a six-mile-long barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay, this area, managed by the town of Barnstable, is undeveloped and pristine. Exposed flats and sand bars at low tide delight children; untouched dunes; birdwatching; kayaking; hiking on nature trails. Off-road vehicles are allowed with a permit costing $140 a season. Life guards, restrooms, food concession, wheelchair access and beach wheelchair.
Fee for non-resident parking sticker is $15 a day, $50 a week, and $200 for the season. Daily permit may be purchased at the beach; weekly and seasonal permits must be purchased at the National Guard Armory, 225 South Street, Hyannis.
Sandy Pond Beach and Recreation Area
Buck Island Road
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, on a freshwater pond, offers tennis courts, a basketball court, a softball field, and other playing fields, picnic area, playground, restrooms. No lifeguards. Operated by the town of Yarmouth.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Scargo Lake Beach
Scargo Hill Road
Dennis, MA 02670
Phone: 508-760-6159
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Freshwater swimming surrounded by woods. Life guards; restroom; snack bar; handicap accessible.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
Scusset Beach Road
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508-888-0859
Scusset Beach is located on Cape Cod Bay at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal. It is a popular swimming and camping area. The 98 site camping area is popular with trailer campers. For salt water anglers, the area offers a popular fish pier, a breakwater, and 1.5 miles of frontage along the canal. A picnic area and bicycling along the canal are also available. The reservation is also a popular spot for watching the variety of boats and ships passing through the canal.
Sea Street/Keyes Beach
Sea Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: 508-790-6345
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Located in Hyannis Harbor on Nantucket Sound and close to Hyannis businesses and accommodations. Life guards; bathhouse; picnic area with grills; snack bar; volleyball; handicap access. Parking permit is required. Fee for non-resident parking sticker is $15 a day, $50 a week, and $200 for the season. Daily permit may be purchased at the beach; weekly and seasonal permits must be purchased at the National Guard Armory, 225 South Street, Hyannis.
Seagull Beach
South Shore Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, on Nantucket Sound, is the town of Yarmouth’s largest beach. Large parking area, dunes, snack bar; beach wheelchair; deck onto the beach. Showers and food concession.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Seaview Beach
South Shore Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02675
Phone: 508-398-2231
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
This beach, on Nantucket Sound, has life guards and restrooms. Concrete walk on the seawall; picnic area; seasonal Porta-John.
Non-resident beach sticker fees are $15 for the day, $70 for the week, and $175 for the season. Seasonal beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 424 Route 28 West Yarmouth.
Skaket Beach
Skaket Beach Road
Orleans, MA 02653
Phone: 508-240-3775
Open: June 17 through Labor Day
Popular beach on Cape Cod Bay offering the bay’s calm, warmer waters. Expansive tidal flats at low tide expose pools of sea creatures. Westward direction of the beach offers wonderful sunset views. Life guards, restrooms, food, wheelchair accessible. Daily parking fee is $15 and may be purchased at the beach. Parking stickers by the week and for the season may be purchased at the Nauset Beach Administration Building. Cost for visitors staying in the town of Orleans is $50 per week and $110 for the season. Visitors staying outside Orleans must pay $150 for a season sticker.
Great Oak Road
Mashpee, MA 02649
Phone: 508-457-0495
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
South Cape Beach, located between Waquoit Bay and Vineyard Sound, contains a wide variety of coastal environments, including barrier beach and dunes, salt marsh, scrub oak/pitch pine woodland and "kettle" ponds. A magnificent white sand beach stretches for over a mile. Newly constructed over-the-dune boardwalks, a small parking area and bathrooms make this a lovely place to spend a day at the shore. Interpretive programs are offered during the summer months.
Surf Drive Beach
Surf Drive, off Main and Shore streets
Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: 508-548-7611
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
On Vineyard sound and accessible from Shining Sea bike path. Restrooms, lifeguard, food, wheelchair accessible. Life guards; restrooms; bathhouse; food; handicap ramp to the beach; beach wheelchairs. Non-residents who are staying at a lodging in the town of Falmouth may purchase a beach sticker at the Ellen T. Mitchell Bath House on Surf Drive. Parking pass is $10 a day.
Town Neck Beach
Off Wood Avenue
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508-888-4361
Open: Mid-June to Labor Day
This town-operated beach on Cape Cod Bay has a wonderful long boardwalk over marshes, a creek, and dunes to the beach. Great vistas of the bay and marine life. No lifeguards; no restrooms. Parking sticker required. Fee for parking is $10 a day.
Veterans Park
Ocean Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: 508-790-6345
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Located on Lewis Bay, the beach area has swings and picnic tables in a shaded pine grove. Great form families picnics. Life guards, restrooms, bathhouse, snack bar, volleyball, wheelchair accessible. Parking sticker is required. Fee for non-resident parking sticker is $15 a day, $50 a week, and $200 for the season. Daily permit may be purchased at the beach; weekly and seasonal permits must be purchased at the National Guard Armory, 225 South Street, Hyannis.
Off Lighthouse Inn Road
West Dennis, MA 02670
Phone: 508-760-6159
Open: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Located on Nantucket Sound east of the Bass River, this beach is great for families and all manner of beach activities from body surfing to volleyball. The Bass River Lighthouse is located nearby. The eastern end of the beach is for town residents only; the west end is for the public. Life guards, restrooms, paid parking, snack bar, showers, wheelchair accessible.
Non-residents and people who are not lodging in Dennis may buy a beach pass at the beach for $20 per day, which can be used that day at all public beaches. Non-residents may buy a week-long beach pass for $75 at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street.
White Crest Beach
Ocean View Drive
Wellfleet, MA
This beach, operated by the town of Wellfleet, is on the ocean side of Cape Cod, meaning that the water will be colder and rougher than on the Cape Cod Bay side. Ocean beaches offer opportunities for body and board surfing, boogie boards, and swimming. Surfing is permited at town beaches outside of the town operated areas. Hang gliders are restricted to White Crest Beach, and are allowed only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Parking along Ocean View Drive is prohibited and subject to fine and towing. Parking costs $15 a day.
This is one of only three beaches in Wellfleet open to people who are not living or staying in Wellfleet. (The other two are Cahoon Hollow Beach and Mayo Beach.) All beaches other than Cahoon Hollow, Whitecrest, and Mayo beaches require a town parking sticker, and stickers are sold only to town residents or people staying at lodgings in Wellfleet.
Wiley Park
Great Pond Road
Eastham, MA 02642
Open: Third week of June to Labor Day
This beach, on Great Pond, is great for families with small children. Life guards; restrooms; playground; picnic area. Non-residents must purchase stickers to park at Eastham town beaches. Fees are $15 a day, $60 a week, and $95 for two weeks. Stickers may be purchased at the town beach sticker office, 555 Old Orchard Road, daily except Sundays, and at First Encounter and Wiley Park beaches during the season.
Bell Pond
Belmont Street
Worcester, MA
Fresh water beach with rest facilities and lifeguards on duty. Free parking. Open year-round.
Coes Pond Beach
200 Mill Street
Worcester, MA
Fresh water beach has rest facilities and lifeguards on duty. Free parking. Open year round.
107 Wallum Lake Road
Douglas, MA
Phone: 508-476-7872
Bordering both Connecticut and Rhode Island, this popular 5,907-acre state forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating and fishing at Wallum Lake and hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on miles of woodland trails. Facilities include two pavilions, boat ramp, swimming beach, picnic area and restrooms.
The Midstate Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that extends through central Massachusetts to Mount Watatic in the north, runs through the forest.
Douglas State Forest also includes a rare example of Atlantic White Ceder swampland. A 5-acre portion of this swamp is designated as a Massachusetts Wildland. It is accessible to the public via a boardwalk trail.
90 Fitchburg Road / Route 31
Leominster, MA
Phone: 508-874-2303
Leominster State Forest is a 4,300-acre parcel of forested off of Route 2 (exit 28), and convenient from Boston and Worcester. Parking is available along Route 31. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, parking fees are charged in the paved lots. The forest offers recreational opportunities year round, ranging from mountain biking and swimming in the summer to cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
The trails at Leominster State Forest offer a wide variety of terrains. For hikers, The Midstate Trail, a 95-mile long-distance trail that runs from Rhode Island to the New Hampshire border, passes through the western edge of the park. A popular day hike along the Midstate Trail begins at Redemption Rock on Route 140 in Princeton and heads north over a scenic ridgeline which includes Crow Hill Ledges.
The terrain available to mountain bikers ranges from rolling unpaved fire roads to multi-use trails. Hiking trails are off limits to bikers. There is rock climbing at Crow Hill Ledges. Permits are required (no fee) and are available at the park headquarters between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The swimming beach at Crow Hill Pond is located next to two picnic areas with picnic tables, grills, and a modern bathhouse. Lifeguards are on duty from mid-June until Labor Day. All other ponds in the park are off limits to swimming. Kayakers, canoeists and fishing enthusiasts enjoy using Paradise Pond. Several put-ins are available. Crow Hill Pond (swimming beach side) is stocked with trout. Hunting is also allowed in the park. Winter recreation includes cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling. Snow mobiling is limited to the unpaved roads and the multi use trails. There is no camping at Leominster State Forest.
Route 122A
Rutland, MA
Phone: 508-886-6333
Rutland State Park is a 300-acre recreation area with developed facilities for fresh water swimming, picnicking, and boating. At Whitehall Pond, there is a swimming beach and adjacent picnic area. Uses includes paddling, fishing, hiking, hunting (with restrictions) mountain biking, cross country skiing, and walking.
Shore Park Beach
Shore Drive
Worcester, MA
Rest facilities, food concession, and lifeguards on duty can be found at this beach on Indian Lake. Indian Lake is a part of the head waters of Blackstone River. The lake size is 193 acres with a mean depth of about 10.7 feet, with two public swim beaches, picnic and recreation areas and two public boat ramps.
Spencer State Forest
51 Howe Road
Spencer, MA
Phone: 508-886-6333
Spencer State Forest, a 965-acre area, provides swimming and picnicking facilities on Howe Pond. Other activities offered at Spencer include fishing, canoeing, hiking, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. The Midstate Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that extends through central Massachusetts to Mount Watatic in the north, runs close to the park.
Recreational opportunities:
Canoeing,
fishing,
hiking,
historic site,
horseback riding trails,
hunting (restrictions),
picnicking,
scenic viewing area,
skiing (cross-country),
swimming,
walking trails.
6 Streeter Point Avenue
Sturbridge, MA
Phone: 508-347-9316
This accessible area has a 100-car parking area and offers fishing, swimming and picnicking on 400-acre East Brimfield Reservoir. Boating access is from ramps located on US Army Corps of Engineers-maintained ramps on Route 20.
Route 135
Ashland, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park is operated seasonally and provides opportunities for swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing, bicycling and hiking. Beach improvements at the park include facilities for wheelchair access to the boathouse and by ramp into the pond.
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-223-8666
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area offers a quiet place to relax, explore, camp, swim, fish or picnic. Tours to Boston Light ("The ultimate Lighthouse experience," according to the Boston Globe) operate Thursday-Sunday from June to October. Ranger narrated Discovery Cruises and Sunset Cruises are offered on a frequent basis in the summer. Ranger-led activities and special events are offered on many islands for a variety of audiences. Not only are these islands a source of natural beauty and wonder--they're also rich in history and legends, with tales of pirates, shipwrecks, wars, abandoned prisons, and even ghosts! It's all right in Boston Harbor and accessible by boat or public ferry from Long Wharf downtown or the South Shore... so near, and yet so far away!
William J. Day Blvd.
South Boston, MA
Phone: 617-727-5114
This sandy beach, maintained by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, is one of the best swimming beaches in the area, with nearby public amenities and great views of the harbor. New sand, new walkways, benches, lighting, shade shelters and award winning landscaping have helped to make Carson Beach a popular destination. "Mother's Rest" and its fishing pier have also been rehabilitated, making for a beautiful picnic area with a fantastic view of the Harbor. Life guards. To reach the beach on the subway take the Red Line to JFK/UMass. Or use the bus on routes 5, 8, 11, 16, or 41. Parking available.
Route 30
Natick, MA
Phone: 508-653-9641
Cochituate State Park is a popular regional day use park featuring water-based recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, windsurfing, and fishing on its three large lakes. Picnicking, swimming, and boat launching are limited to the main area of the park on the middle lake and boaters can gain access to the other lakes through channels under roadways. Jet skis are not allowed on the lake.
Constitution Beach
Orient Heights
East Boston, MA 02205
Phone: 617-727-4708
Restrooms, lifeguard.
Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Phone: 617-727-5290
Malibu Beach, Victory Road Park, and Tenean Beach provide the public with coastal access along the extended mouth of the Neponset River. Malibu Beach offers protected swimming and bathhouse. Victory Road Park is a passive park with indigenous planting on a reclaimed landfill. Tenean Beach is a popular swimming beach with playground facilities, tennis and basketball courts. Nearby Savin Hill Beach, restored to its original Olmsted Brothers design, has a tot lot, baseball fields and protected swimming. Together these facilities are an important link in the continuous pathway and greenway system from Castle Island in South Boston to the Neponset River. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.
268 Cedar Street
Hopkinton, MA
Phone: 508-435-4303
Hopkinton State Park offers a year-round recreation, including two guarded swimming beaches, stocked fishing, a group picnic site, 12 shaded picnic areas, 10 miles of marked trails, open field space, a boat launching ramp for non-motorized watercraft, and seasonal boat rentals. The swimming areas are supervised by lifeguards from late May through Labor Day. The waterfront has a handicapped accessible ramp.
Hours: Summer, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; rest of the year, 8 a.m.-sunset. Pets on leash are welcome. Trail system is multi-use. Hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, cross country skiers are welcome. Snowmobiles are permitted when snow cover is at least four inches deep.
695 Hillside St.
Milton, MA 02186
Phone: 617-698-1802
Supervised swimming beach at this spring-fed kettle pond. Concession pavilion and Visitor’s Center open seasonally. Restrooms, telephones, and a first-aid station at the bathhouse on the beach. Lifeguards from late June through Labor Day. Handicapped ramp leads to the water.
L Street Beach
Day Boulevard
South Boston,
Phone: 617-635-5104
Restrooms, lifeguards, handicap accessible.
Off Mystic Valley Parkway
Medford, Somerville, Everett, MA
Phone: 617-727-5380
Open year round, dawn to dusk. The banks of the Mystic River are almost entirely publicly owned from the Amelia Earhart Dam at the mouth of the Mystic Lakes. The property is accessible via the MBTA public transit system. The property includes:
Mary O'Malley Park.
The park has striking views of the harbor and the Tobin Bridge over the Mystic River. A boat landing and shelter are located on an historic granite pier and a wind sculpture by William Wainwright enlivens the waterfront. Tennis courts and a large open lawn area for concerts and picnics are also available.
Torbert Macdonald Park. Macdonald Park has an award-winning landscape design of the meandering paths, trees and open lawns provides space for rest and enjoyment as well as bicycling, jogging, walking and informal games in a riverside setting.
Draw Seven Park. The Draw Number Seven Railroad Bridge, which once crossed the Mystic River, gave this park its name. This park provides field game space for Somerville and adjacent communities. Draw Seven Park offers nine acres of parkland including two soccer fields, a bikeway/walkway, a picnic area with shelter and beautiful landscaping.
Mystic Lakes. Today the Mystic Lakes are popular for freshwater swimming at Sandy Beach. Special sailing programs are available at the Tufts University Boathouse. The Upper Mystic Lake is for non-powered boats only. The Lower Mystic Lake is for power boats with no wake. Information about Shannon Beach: 617-727-5380.
Nickerson Beach
120 Dorchester St.
Quincy, MA 02205
Phone: 617-376-1251
Nickerson Beach is a very small beach which primarily serves the adjacent Squantum residential neighborhood of Quincy. This scenic coastal area, with its extensive salt marsh and mudflats, is attractive to birds and for bird watching. Owned by the City of Quincy. Access: Most access is by foot or bicycle, although limited curbside parking is available. The area is also accessible via public transportation. Take the Squantum #211 bus to the Bellevue Road & Dorchester Street stop from the MBTA Red Line's North Quincy station.
Quincy Shore Drive
Quincy, MA 02205
Phone: 617-727-5290
Quincy Shore Drive links Wollaston Beach with Caddy Memorial Park and Moswetuset Hummock. The 2.3-mile beach is popular for its jogging/bicycling trail and swimming. Caddy Park on the southern end of the beach has over 15 acres of fields and marsh as well as a play area, lookout tower and picnic tables. Moswetuset Hummock, on the beach's northern end, is a mixture of woodland trails and open marshland. The site which has a short loop trail, offers views of Quincy Bay and 144-acre Squantum Marsh. Open year round, dawn to dusk. Bathhouse open July to September.
Directions:
by MBTA: Wollaston Beach - Red Line to Wollaston Station, walk to Hancock Street, turn right and walk one block to Beach Street or take Wollaston Beach/Ashmont bus #217. Caddy Park - turn left on Beach Street and continue on Quincy Shore Drive. Moswetuset Hummock - Red Line to North Quincy Station, MBTA Bus #211 to Squantum, exit at East Squantum Street and Quincy Shore Drive, proceed to the small wooded knoll 200 yards east.
Revere Beach Blvd.
Revere, MA
Phone: 781-289-3020
Lifeguards are on duty from late June to early September. Revere Beach boasts miles of shoreline which welcomes throngs of visitors every summer. Along the boulevard there is a bandstand for summer concerts, a bathhouse and many shade shelters. Revere Beach is very accessible by public transportation which makes it a popular spot for people from all around metro Boston. Open year round, dawn to dusk.
Aquinnah Beach (also known as Moshup Beach or Gay Head Beach)
Off Moshup Trail
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02535
Surf beach off Moshup Trail. The beach is approximately a ten-minute walk from the parking lot on a cleared trail. There is a $15 parking fee in summer. Climbing on cliffs is not allowed.
Bend-in-the-Road Beach (Joseph Sylvia State Beach)
Beach Road
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Here you’ll find two miles of calm beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. This is a very popular beach, so parking can be tough. There are lifeguards at the beach in season (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend). This is an excellent beach for families.
Brant Point Beach (on the island of Nantucket)
Easton Street
Nantucket, MA
Located right at the Brant Point Lighthouse, this is not really a beach for swimming. There is some sand but the currents are very strong with lots of boat traffic and no lifeguards or restrooms. This is a nice place to sit and watch the boats go by or the artists painting the lighthouse, but swimming is not recommended.
Dike Road (on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha's Vineyard)
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: 508-627-7689
Chappaquiddick Island’s eastern edge is a barrier beach that extends for seven miles from Wasque Point past the Cape Poge Lighthouse to the Gut. The refuge offers 14 miles of beachfront and oversand vehicle and walking trails. Facilities include picnic tables, bike rack, restrooms, which are open May 30 to October 30. Fresh water is available by hand pump at the Wasque and Mytoi parking areas. Annual over-sand vehicle permits available for qualified vehicle owners. Tours include a natural history tour, a wildlife kayak or canoe tour, a fishing discovery tour, and Cape Poge Lighthouse tour. Entrance fee May 30 to October 15; free to pedestrians off season. Open year-round, daily, 24 hours. Gatehouse open May 30-October 15, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Chappy Point Beach
Chappaquiddick Road
Chappaquiddick (adjacent to the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02539
Just across the harbor from Edgartown is with 705 feet of sand and splendid views of the harbor on Cahppaquiddick. There are two beaches; one faces the inner harbor, the other looks out toward the outer harbor and Nantucket Sound. Both offer small lapping waves. Not suitable for swimming due to harbor traffic. Take the Chappaquiddick ferry to gain access to the beach.
Children's Beach (or Harbor Beach)
Harbor View Way
Nantucket, MA
Harbor Beach, an easy walk from town down South Beach Street and off Harbor View Way. Flotation devices are not permitted within the guarded area. Ideal for small children; park, playground, and bandstand; lifeguard, restrooms, showers, food service, picnic tables. Food, playground, and rest room are all accessible. Activities sponsored by Park & Recreation Commission are often held at this beach during the summer.
Cisco Beach
Hummock Pond Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Located on the western side of the south shore at the end of Hummock Pond Road, this beach is known for surfers and soft sand, very soft sand. The surf is very strong and there are limited lifeguards and restrooms.
Wauwinet Road
Wauwinet (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Phone: 508-228-5646
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is known for its historic lighthouse, white sand beaches, and world-class fishing. Rolling maritime dunes cover more than 200 acres. Refuge includes 16 miles of over-sand vehicle and walking trails and beach front. Gray and harbor seals feed in the Great Point riptide. Facilities include public restrooms between the Wauwinet Gatehouse and Great Point Lighthouse and at the lighthouse. Both are open May 1 to October 31. Bike rack at the Wauwinet Gatehouse. Seasonal tours of the Great Point Lighthouse and the natural wonders of the refuge. Hours: Year-round, daily, 24 hours (10 p.m.-5 a.m. - fishing access only). Cost: Free to all pedestrians and boaters.
Dionis Beach
Eel Point Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Located on the western side of the north shore, Dionis Beach is more remote than Jetties Beach. This beach is loaded with seashells (and seaweed). Waves are generally small and the beach is very long. Many families like this beach. Lifeguard, restrooms, showers, parking.
Eastville Beach
Beach Road
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02568
At the bridge between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven is this small beach area, just about a half-mile outside of Oak Bluffs downtown area. It's good for swimming or fishing.
Francis Street Beach
Francis Street
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Five-minute walk from Main Street. Calm harbor waters for swimming; no lifeguard. Jungle gym, kayak rentals, bathroom.
Fuller Street Beach
End of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's vineyard), MA O2539
At the end of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach. Open to all.
Gay Head Public Beach (also called Moshup Beach or Aquinnah Beach)
off Moshup Trail
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
See entry on this page for Aquinnah Beach
Jetties Beach
Bathing Beach Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Just a short walk from town, this beach has tennis courts, a skateboard park, and a playground. Since it is on the north shore, the waves are not very large. It is a nice family beach. The annual Boston Pops concert is held on Jetties. This beach has lifeguards and restrooms.
Joseph Sylvia State Beach (also called Bend in the Road Beach)
Seaview Avenue
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02539
Phone: 508-627-6145
Two miles of mild beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Gentle waves and sandy bottom. Popular with families and young children. The Edgartown end of this beach is known as Bend-in-the-Road Beach. Lifeguards in season.
Katama Beach (also known as South Beach)
Katama Road
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02539
Three miles of barrier beach on the south shore at the end of Katama Road. Fine surf on one side, protected salt-pond on the other. Open to all. Vehicles with permits allowed on marked trails.
Lake Tashmoo Town Beach (Herring Creek Beach)
End of Herring Creek Road on Lake Tashmoo
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02568
You won't have to battle the crowds at this small sandy beach (just 2.5 acres), overlooking the Vineyard Sound. Take Franklin Street to Daggett Avenue and turn left. Follow the road to the end of Herring Creek Road.
Lambert's Cove Beach
Boghouse Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Walk about a quarter of a mile through forest before reaching this lovely beach, which features protected sand dunes and the Sound. Restricted to West Tisbury residents and renters.
Lighthouse Beach
Starbuck’s Neck Road, off North Water Street
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02539
A lovely spot with calm water and scenes of sailboats, the Chappy ferry, and fishing boats. Gentle waves on the outer part of the beach are safer for small children. Seldom crowded and a short walk from North Water Street. Just a short distance from downtown, offers pleasant swimming conditions and a view of the harbor and lighthouse. Take North Water Street to Starbuck's Neck.
Lobsterville Beach
Lobsterville Road
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
A calm north shore beach with good shells and sea glass. Pleasant and protected. Very limited parking.
Off Long Point Road
West Tisbury (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Phone: 508-693-7662
At more than 600 acres, Long Point is one of the largest publicly accessible properties on Martha's Vineyard. It encompasses beach, dune, and woodland. Popular in summer, the property is also an off-season treasure, especially for birders and other nature-watchers.
The property has 2.1 miles of flat trails through woods and open areas, plus beachfront. Easy walking. Hours: Mid-June to mid-September, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (gate closes at 6 p.m.). Mid-September to mid-June, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of two hours.
Facilities: Public restrooms. Picnic tables. Bike rack. Small visitor center.
Lucy Vincent Beach
Lucy Vincent Road
Chilmark (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02552
Located off a dirt road in Chilmark, there are 2,390 feet of prime south shore beachfront at Lucy Vincent Beach. Far away from the maddening crowd, this beach is restricted to Chilmark residents.
Madaket Beach
Madaket Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
As far west as you can go, six-mile bike ride on scenic, paved bike path, or take the shuttle bus. Heavy surf, lifeguard, restrooms. Famous for its incredible sunsets.
Menemsha Public Beach
Next to Dutcher’s Dock, Menemsha Harbor
Chilmark (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02552
Has a nice sandy beach on the North side of Martha's Vineyard. There is limited public parking, and public restrooms with showers. There is gas and fuel available for both car and marine use. The harbormaster's office, a small market, shops, a couple of fishmarkets, fishing shacks, thriving fishing charters, restaurants, deli and transient boat docking make Menemsha a popular summer destination.
Miacomet Beach
End of Miacomet Road, South Shore
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
At the end of Miacomet Road. Surf and rip currents can be dangerous. Parking. No facilities or food service. Families with very young children may prefer Miacomet Pond.
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Phone: 508-627-7689
This 2.5-mile-long strip of sand and dunes linked Martha's Vineyard and the island of Chappaquiddick until 2007, when a storm breached in the barrier beach. This beach provides opportunities for shellfishing, swimming, bird watching, and picnicking. In the autumn, the sandflats are used by migrating shorebirds. There are 1.8 miles of oversand-vehicle trails and 4.5 miles of walking trails and sandy roads in the upland area.
Open year-round, daily. Dogs must be kept on a leash. Free access for pedestrians.
Oak Bluffs Town Beach
Town wharf and Steamship Authority dock
Oak Bluffs (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02557
Calm, shallow water. The beach begins near the Steamship Authority dock and terminates at the first jetty heading toward Edgartown, at the end of the breakwater, marked by a fence. The beach continues again about one mile southeast of the small inlet flowing into Sengekontacket Pond, and ends at Joseph Sylvia State Beach. Open to all.
Owen Park and Beach
Owen Park Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
This harbor beach also offers quick access to Vineyard Haven. Situated at Owen Park. Off Main Street, near the center of town. Open to all.
Siasconset Beach
East Shore
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA 02554
Scionset, on the eastern shore of the island, is a beautiful beach (especially for early risers who catch the sunrise). It often has rougher waves because it faces out into the open Atlantic. Lifeguards watch over the beach and food is available.
Squibnocket Beach
Martha's Vineyard, MA 02535
Squibnocket faces the Atlantic and is known for heavy surf. In fact, it may have the most consistently powerful surf of all the Martha's Vineyard beaches. A well-established local surf spot, the beach if fairly rocky. A Town of Chilmark residential permit is required here for beach access during the summer season. No public parking is available. Directions: Located in Chlmark, Squibnocket is accessible via seasonal shuttle bus service.
Surfside Beach
Surfside Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Surfside is one of the most popular beaches with families and children. It is located at the end of Surfside Road. People often picnic, fly kites, build sandcastles, and surfcast for fish on this beach. Amenities include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and a food shack.
Tisbury Town Beach (Owen Little Way Town Beach)
Owen Little Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02568
Just moments away from Vineyard Haven, this small stretch of shorefront is nice for swimming and sunbathing. There's limited parking, but it's right next to town, with access from Main Street. Located next to the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.
Wasque Road
Edgartown (Chappaquiddick Island, near the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA 02539
Phone: 508-627-7689
One-half mile of over-sand vehicle trails and 4.5 miles of walking trails and sandy roads in upland area. Bird watchers can observe many species, including ospreys. Facilities include public restrooms, picnic tables, bike rack, soda machine at Wasque Gatehouse. Fresh water by hand pump in the parking area. Limited handicapped-accessible transportation; call 508-627-3255 for details. Natural history tours are offered by expert guides. See also the entry on this page for Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Reservation, East Beach
Forest Street
Saugus, MA 01906
Phone: 781-438-1388
Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre hardwood forest with a supervised swimming area at Pearce Lake, one of the few freshwater swimming spots north of Boston. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Argilla Road
Ipswich, MA 01938
Phone: 978-356-4354
Fax: 978-356-2143
The four miles of white sand of Crane Beach form one of the most picturesque swimming beaches in all of New England, and is also among the world's most important nesting sites for the threatened piping plover. Rustic elevated boardwalks protect an extensive dune habitat complex. In-season visitors will find lifeguards and rangers, bathhouses with toilets and changing areas, outside showers, picnic tables, bicycle racks, the Crane Beach Store, and water fountains. Voted "Best Beach" by Best of Boston three years in a row.
305 Middleton Road
North Andover, MA
Phone: 508-686-3391
Harold Parker State Forest, which lies in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton, comprises just over 3,000 acres of central hardwood-hemlock-white pine forest. The forest has over 35 miles of logging roads and trails and offers quiet seclusion to off-road hikers and bikers. Non-motorized boating is allowed on any of the 11 ponds. No horse, boat, or bike rentals.
Lorraine Park Campground, located about two miles from the Headquarters, at 133 Jenkins Road, contains 89 sizeable campsites that are spread out sufficiently to provide a real "forest" camping experience. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and a grill. No electric or water hookups are available; the bathrooms have hot water showers. Camping is offered late May to early September; office hours are from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Camping office phone is 978-475-7972.
Recreational opportunities: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, camping and picnicking.
Long Beach
Gloucester and Rockport, MA
This beach is on the east coast of Cape Ann. Lifeguards on duty. There is a fee for parking.
Lynn Shore Drive
Lynn, MA 01902
Phone: 781-438-1388
Boat launch at Lynn Harbor. Long Beach offers public swimming, a comfort station, and lifeguard supervision during July and August. There is a fee for parking at Long Beach from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., May to September. King’s Beach offers public swimming. There is no lifeguard. Ample on-street parking along Lynn Shore Drive is available for visitors to King’s Beach and Red Rock Park. Vast areas of hard-packed sand are exposed at low tide which can be accessed at King’s Beach and Long Beach as well as near the boat launching area on Lynn Harbor. Other interesting natural features include tide pools at Red Rock Park that are often filled with colorful marine plants and animals. Park headquarters includes Ward Bathhouse, where a visitor center, showers, and sanitary facilities are available free of charge. There is no public restroom at Lynn Shore Reservation. Open year round, dawn to dusk.
Beach Road, Route 1A
Salisbury, MA 01952
Phone: 508-462-4481
Salisbury Beach is one of the state's most popular ocean beaches, stretching 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. This 521-acre park offers swimming, boating, fishing, and camping, and is very popular with trailer campers. Facilities include a 484-site campground with renovated bathhouses, an extensive day-use parking lot, three new comfort stations for beach users with boardwalks over the dunes, and a new playground and pavilion area. The facility also has two boat ramps on the Merrimack River at the campground's southern edge. In fall and winter, harbor seals often sun themselves on the jetty.
The campground office hours are 8 a.m.–10 p.m. The camping season is from early May to mid-October. Off-season camping is available from mid-October to late November for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night stays. There is a $2 per night surcharge for camping fees at Salisbury Beach. the $2 surcharge will be added to the day-use fee for cars and buses.
Singing Beach
Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA
Full facilities, food concession are available. Lifeguards are on duty. Parking limited. Additional parking at nearby train station.
Bridge Village Heritage Park
70 Elm Street
Berkley, MA 02779
Located at the southeast abutment to the Berkley-Dighton Bridge, this half-acre gem of a park is the perfect place for canoers and kayakers to set their boats in. Motor boats and boats in tow are prohibited. It is also an ideal place for fisherman, picnickers, historians, and children.
Barney's Joy Road
Dartmouth, MA 02748
Phone: 508-636-3298 (summer)
An 1800-foot saltwater beach is backed by rambling hills of beach grass and shaded, grassy picnic sites. A broad, scenic marsh lines the Slocum River on the park's eastern edge. The beach is ideal for families with children. The Buzzards Bay surf is calm and shallow, giving rise to warm water temperatures through most of the summer. It is also a great spot to see egrets, herons, ospreys, terns and hawks.
The park is open mid-May to mid-September, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. No pets allowed on the beach. Kite surfing, skim boards, boogey boards or flotation devices are not allowed. Powerboats and jet skis are not allowed to land on the beach. Recreational uses:
Fishing, canoe/kayaking, picnicking, restrooms, showers, swimming, walking trails.
Duxbury Beach
Canal Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
Lifeguards on on duty, and there is a food concession and full facilities. There is a fee for parking.
Green Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
Phone: 508-992-4524
One of the smaller parks in Massachusetts, Fort Phoenix State Reservation combines historic features, scenic views and a variety of recreational facilities. Minutes from downtown New Bedford, the park contains a half-mile of Buzzards Bay beachfront. Adjacent to the park is Fort Phoenix, a national landmark Fort which gives the park its name. From the ramparts remnants, one can gaze across the bay where the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War was fought, to the rolling meadows of the Elizabeth Islands.
Route 88 South
Westport, MA 02790
Phone: 508-636-8816
Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, the sandy, southwest-facing, 2-mile long beach is breezy all year round, providing excellent wind surfing and a respite from sweltering inland temperatures. Behind the dunes near Gooseberry Neck is a 100-site campground.
The regular camping season is mid-May through mid-October. Swimming is permitted only at designated beaches. Pets are not allowed at swimming areas. Recreational uses: beaches, camping, picnicking, restrooms, boating (all types), boat ramp, fishing, historic site, picnicking, showers, swimming, trailer / R.V. dumping.
Humarock Beach
Marshfield Avenue
Marshfield, MA 02050
There are restroom facilities and a lifeguard on duty. There is a fee for parking.
Lower College Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: : 508-866-2526
A day-use area at College Pond offers picnicking, swimming, fishing, canoeing.
Route 3A, Nantasket Avenue
Hull, MA 02045
Phone: 617-727-5290
The reservation includes 26 acres along one-and-a-third miles of ocean. Nantasket Beach has been a popular summer destination for city dwellers since the middle of the 19th century. Attractions include the historic Paragon Carousel. Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Lifeguards, June to September.
45 Hull Shore Drive
Hull, MA 02045
Phone: 781-925-4500
Make a Reservation
Stay, Play and Relax Just Steps From the Beach
Situated on a 3-mile stretch of sandy white beach stands the Nantasket Beach Resort, tall, white and brilliant with a sense of New England charm felt from the moment you arrive. Close to Boston, Close to the Cape, Hull is your gateway to historic Plymouth, and to New England's popular tourist attractions and historic sites. Here you can stay and play just steps from the beach - with all the fun, sun, and activity.
Enjoy spectacular sunrises and views of three of Boston's historic lighthouses. Full service amenities include Concierge service, our on-site restaurant, indoor pool, full fitness club, oceanfront conference center, and an array of excellent restaurants and attractions within walking distance, scattered among eclectic shops and boutiques.
Onset Beach
Onset Avenue
Wareham, MA 02571
There is a food concession available and a parking fee.
Plymouth Beach
Warren Avenue (Route 3A)
Plymouth, MA 02360
Full rest areas, food concessions and lifeguards on duty. There is a fee for parking.
Scusset Beach
Exit 1 off Route 3
Sagamore, MA
Food concessions, rest facilities and lifeguards on duty. There is a fee for parking.
