Beaches · Massachusetts

Best beaches in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’s coast runs the full range — we’ve mapped 15 of its best beaches, from scenic, family, surf, wild shores. Find the vibe you want, then build the trip around it.

Chatham Lighthouse BeachScenicChatham · Best: Summershifting outer-Cape sandbars below the lighthouse and seal-rich Atlantic water.Coast Guard BeachScenicEastham · Best: Summer & falla wild, dune-backed Cape Cod National Seashore beach.Crane BeachFamilyIpswich · Best: Summerfour miles of soft sand and dunes north of Boston.Good Harbor BeachFamilyGloucester · Best: Summera wide, scenic Cape Ann beach with a tidal island to explore.Horseneck BeachFamilyWestport · Best: Summera long Buzzards Bay beach with dunes, warm water, and campground access.Katama BeachScenicEdgartown · Best: SummerMartha’s Vineyard south-shore sand with open ocean surf and big sky.Madaket BeachScenicNantucket · Best: SummerNantucket’s best sunset beach at the island’s western tip.Marconi BeachScenicWellfleet · Best: Summer & falltall Cape Cod bluffs, big Atlantic surf, and national seashore drama.Mayflower BeachFamilyDennis · Best: Summera Cape Cod Bay beach with tidal flats, warm shallows, and sunset color.Nahant BeachScenicNahant · Best: Summera long tombolo beach with Boston skyline glimpses and rocky North Shore edges.Nauset BeachSurfOrleans · Best: Summera long, dune-backed outer-Cape beach with real surf.Race Point BeachWildProvincetown · Best: Summer & fallthe wild outer tip of Cape Cod, great for whales and seals.Revere BeachFamilyRevere · Best: SummerAmerica’s first public beach, a broad transit-accessible crescent just north of Boston.Salisbury BeachFamilySalisbury · Best: Summera Merrimack River mouth beach with broad sand and north-shore summer energy.Singing BeachScenicManchester-by-the-Sea · Best: Summersand that "sings" underfoot on the North Shore.

Check local conditions, parking, and seasonal fees before you go — and always heed posted flags, rip-current warnings, and lifeguard guidance.