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.
Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center - 1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-471-1700
So much to see from this city’s beautiful seaside beaches
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
High Head Road, Off Route 6 Truro, MA Phone:
One of three Truro beaches that do not require parking stickers; ORVs allowed with permit
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.
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
Argilla Road Ipswich, MA, 01938 Phone: 978-356-4354
Off Wood Avenue Sandwich, MA Phone: 508-888-4361
Mid-June to Labor Day; beautiful, long boardwalk over marshes and dunes
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
Menauhant Road East Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-7611
Open seasonally; on Vineyard Sound; life guards; concessions
Shore Road Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-5100
Close to downtown; lighthouse; limited parking
Wasque Road Edgartown (Chappaquiddick Island, near the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone: 508-627-7689
End of Route 6 Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone: 508-771-2144
Mid-April to November; part of Cape Cod National Seashore; great views
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water swimming; parking fee
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
Ocean View Drive Wellfleet, MA Phone:
Ocean beach; water is cooler and rough; surfing allowed outside swim areas; hang gliding
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
Stacey Blvd. Gloucester, MA Phone:
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
end of Atlantic Street Gloucester, MA Phone:
Corporation Road Dennis, MA, 02638 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; calm & warm Bay waters; play areas; handicap access
Doane Road near Ocean View Drive Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-771-2144
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day; parking fee; wheelchair access
Ocean View Drive Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-771-2144
Open: Late June-early September
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
End of Herring Creek Road Vineyard Haven (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Next to Dutcher’s Dock, Menemsha Harbor Chilmark (on Martha's Vineyard), MA 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
Madaket Road Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
119 Beach Street Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA Phone: 978-526-2019
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
Seaview Avenue Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-627-6145
Bathing Beach Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone:
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
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
Eel Point Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA Phone:
Dunes Road Dennis, MA, 02638 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good for families and kids; boardwalk; concessions
Route 127 (Western Avenue) to Hough Avenue Gloucester, MA Phone:
Onset Avenue Wareham, MA Phone:
Sandy beach on Buzzards Bay; concessions and life guards
End of Miacomet Road, South Shore Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
Ridgevale Road Chatham, MA Phone: 508-945-5158
Memorial Day to Labor Day; warm & calmer waters; food and life guards
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
Ocean Street Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone: 508-790-6345
Memorial Day to Labor Day; excellent for windsurfing; popular with families and kids; concessions
Great Oak Road Mashpee, MA, 02649 Phone: 508-457-0495
Day-use beach with boardwalks, bathrooms, salt and fresh water bodies
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
end of Katama Road Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-627-7689
Harbor View Way Nantucket, MA Phone:
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
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water swimming; parking fees
Canal Street Duxbury, MA Phone:
Oceanside barrier beach; parking fee; bathhouse and services
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
Standish Way Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; no concessions
East Shore Nantucket (on Nantucket), MA Phone:
120 Dorchester St. Quincy, MA, 02205 Phone: 617-376-1251
South Shore Drive Yarmouth, MA, 02664 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; wheelchair accessible; concessions; playing fields
Off Long Point Road West Tisbury (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone: 508-693-7662
Nantasket Avenue Hull, MA Phone: 781-925-1777
Ocean beach; open year-round; life guards on duty June to September
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
Revere Beach Blvd. Revere, MA Phone: 781-289-3020
Katama Road and Atlantic Avenue Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone:
Owen Park Way Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Off Commercial Street Provincetown, MA Phone: 508-487-7097
Year-round use; adjacent to the town's waterfront main street
Owen Little Way Vineyard Haven (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Off Lighthouse Inn Road West Dennis, MA, 02670 Phone: 508-760-6159
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good for families; lighthouse nearby; volleyball
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.
Beach Road Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), 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
Squibnocket Road Martha's Vineyard, MA Phone:
20 Scusset Beach Road Sagamore Beach, MA, 02562 Phone: 508-888-0859
Lobsterville Road Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
Off Route 127A (Thatcher Road) to Long Beach Road Gloucester and Rockport, MA Phone:
Francis Street Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone:
Chappaquiddick Road Chappaquiddick (adjacent to the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02539 Phone:
Beach Road Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA, 02568 Phone:
Open: Parking lots are open daily, year-round, 6 a.m.-midnight. Life guards are at swimming beaches from late June through August.
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
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
Wauwinet Road Wauwinet (on the island of Nantucket), MA, 02554 Phone: 508-228-5646
Hummock Pond Road Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA Phone:
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
Warren Avenue (Route 3A) Plymouth, MA Phone:
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
End of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach Edgartown (on the island of Martha's vineyard), MA Phone:
Easton Street Nantucket, MA Phone:
1 Beach Road - Route 1A Salisbury, MA, 01952 Phone: 508-462-4481
Bayview Street Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; salt water; no life guards; no concessions
Surfside Road Nantucket, MA, 02554 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
MA Route 88 South to John Reed Road Westport, MA, 02790 Phone: 508-636-8816
end of Berry Avenue Yarmouth, MA, 02675 Phone: 508-398-2231
Memorial Day to Labor Day; wheelchair accessible
Lynn Shore Drive Lynn, MA Phone: 781-485-2803
Ocean Street Hyannis, MA Phone: 508-790-6345
Memorial Day to Labor Day; good from families; shade picnic grove; play areas
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
Quincy Shore Drive Quincy, MA, 02169 Phone: 617-727-5290
Starbuck’s Neck Road, off North Water Street Edgartown (on Martha's Vineyard), MA Phone:
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
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