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