TOP TEN BEACHES IN MASSACHUSETTS (BY COUNTY)

Escape the heat at some of these MA beach spots. Find the best beaches close to you, no matter where you live!

Essex County
Crane Beach
Location: Ipswich, MA
Pros:
- 4 miles of beach
- Hiking trails accessible through beachfront
- Changing facilities, bathrooms, refreshment bars
- Sand bars
- Warm water/white sand
- Sand dollars galore
- Kayaking allowed
Cons:
- Expensive parking ($25)
- Skim boards/boogie boards prohibited

Singing Beach
Location: Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Pros:
- Singing sand! (Squeaky clean!)
- Half-mile walk from MBTA (accessible)
- Eaglehead Rock view
- Respectful beach-goers (people are clean/tidy/quiet)
- Quaint nearby town
Cons:
- Difficult parking if not a Manchester resident
- No skim boards/boogie boards/kayaks
- No alcohol allowed on beach

Suffolk County
Revere Beach
Location: Revere, MA
Pros:
- Recent renovations = beautiful scenery
- Known for amazing sandcastle contests (starts July 12th this year!)
- On Blue Line (accessible)
- Boardwalk!
- Free parking!
Cons:
- Few toilet facilities
- Cold water
- Crowded

Barnstable County
Race Point Beach
Location: Provincetown, MA
Pros:
- Paved bike trails
- Provincetown! (lots to do, lots to see)
- Many whale sightings
- Big dunes
Cons:
- Mobile homes surrounding it are eyesores
- Cold water
- Fierce riptides

Sandy Neck Beach
Location: Sandwich, MA
Pros:
- Good for long walks
- Not too crowded
- Allows 4-wheel drive vehicles to drive right onto the beach
- Fantastic snack bar!
- Fires/Camping overnight allowed
Cons:
- VERY rocky (bring water shoes or expect a painful experience)

Nantucket County
Surfside Beach
Location: Nantucket, MA
Pros:
- GIANT waves (good for surfing/boogieboarding)
- Many concessions
- Gorgeous sand
- Umbrella rentals available
- “Shell-y”
Cons:
- GIANT waves (strong undertoes, NOT suitable for young kids)
- Can be hard to reach

Bristol County
Horseneck Beach State Reservation
Location: Westport, MA
Pros:
- Inexpensive parking ($7)
- Warm water (for New England…)
- Good waves
- Great dunes
Cons:
- Gets VERY crowded
- Rocky
- Seaweed everywhere
- Dirty bathroom facilities (but renovations are in progress)

Norfolk County
Sandy Beach
Location: Cohasset, MA
Pros:
- Blocked on both sides by rocks (kids will not wander)
- VERY safe (many lifeguards/police on duty)
- Very clean
- Small/quaint
Cons:
- Difficult parking if not a resident
- Strict rules

Plymouth County
Duxbury Beach Public Park (NOT Duxbury Beach)
Location: Duxbury, MA (PC)
Pros:
- VERY clean water (almost turquoise!)
- Plenty of beach room/parking
Cons:
- Expensive parking
- Pesky flies
- Rocky

Dukes County
Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Location: Edgartown, MA
Pros:
- FREE parking*
- Jaws scenes filmed here (but don’t worry; there are no sharks here!)
- Good for stargazing at night
Cons:
- *First come, first serve parking (no official parking lot)
- Crowded
- Not many waves
- Seaweed