10 best beaches near Boston

Crane Beach is part of the once private Crane Estate in Ipswich. Today, this stunning public beach is more than a place for fun in the sun—it’s a crucial nesting site for the nearly extinct piping plover bird and features a shorebird protection program to keep these feathered friends safe. Visitors can explore more than five miles of trails through coastal dunes. Tour the now-separate estate, Castle Hill, which includes the stunning Crane mansion and gardens. Kayaking season at the Crane Estate begins on Memorial Day weekend and runs through mid-October, and there are professionally guided adventures, including a fan-favorite Choate Island Kayak & Hike trip, to explore its land and waters.

Getting there: Drive the scenic coastal road, or take the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail from North Station to Ipswich.

Located about four miles from Salem, the quiet and less witchy town of Marblehead is among the America's oldest settlements. Devereux Beach is about a ten-minute walk from Marblehead's quaint Colonial center. This slim, sandy stretch includes a concession stand, pavilions, benches, picnic tables, restroom facilities, and parking.

Getting there: Take the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail from North Station to Lynn, then take bus 441/442/448/449.

Located on a peninsula that juts out from Hull and into Boston Harbor, Nantasket Beach was once the South Shore’s equivalent to the North Shore’s Revere Beach. In the 1800s, Victorian Bostonians would take a steamer across the harbor just to soak up some sun on this sandy stretch. In 1909, the Paragon Amusement Park opened adjacent to the beach, where locals could ride a colorful carousel and a breathtaking (for the time) rollercoaster. Paragon Park closed in 1985, and now, only that whimsical carousel remains. Still, beach-goers can hit up the area's arcades, taffy shops and seaside memorabilia shops. 

Getting there: Take the Greenbush commuter rail from South Station to West Hingham.

Gloucester is basically beach city, with seven oceanside areas that attract locals and almost too many tourists each summer. All are within a few minutes from the city center, which lets you have the best of both worlds: a day at the beach, followed by a night out on the town. Stage Fort Park and Good Harbor beaches flank the city to the north and south, and offer a day-long adventure with picnic and grilling areas. Try Wingaersheek for family-friendly fun floating in shallow waters or the little stretch of Half Moon Beach, known for its crescent shape ringed by large rocks and calm crystal blue waters.

Getting there: Take the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail from North Station to Gloucester.

Carson Beach as well as the M and L Street Beaches form a three-mile stretch lining Dorchester Bay, just south of Pleasure Bay and Castle Island. At its southernmost part, the beach widens and backs into Joe Moakley Park, where you can take a break from the sand to play some pick-up basketball, bring the kids to the playground or simply stretch out on the grass. On the off-season, the L Street Beach serves as the launch site for the annual New Year's Day L Street Brownies polar plunge.

Getting there: Take the Red Line to the JFK/UMass station, approximately a half-mile away.

It’s hard to imagine that South Boston’s Pleasure Bay was once literally just that: an entertainment center with ballrooms, restaurants and a beach. Pleasure Bay, a slender sliver of white sand that caresses the curving bay, features a waterside walking trail that leads to nearby Castle Island and its 1851 Fort Independence. There are public restrooms and even showers, so the throngs of Southie natives and yuppies can rinse off after a dip in the ocean. The picnic area allows grilling, and the beloved local institution Sullivan’s sells fried seafood, lobster rolls and hot dogs.
Getting there: Take the Red Line to Broadway, then walk or take bus 9 or 11 to City Point station.

As the largest public beach in the Boston harbor and part of the Quincy Shore Reservation, Wollaston Beach dates back to 1908 and consists of three, separate of areas of sand— Wollaston, Atlantic, and Fenno—which were joined together to create the largest beach on Boston Harbor. Explore its more than two miles of shoreline, in addition to its continuous waterside walkway and the concession stands peppered throughout Quincy Shore Drive. 

Getting there: Take the Red Line to North Quincy, then take the 211 bus.

The three-mile, crescent-shaped Revere Beach is America’s oldest public beach, dating back to 1896. It was designed by Charles Eliot, a Cambridge native and protégée of Frederick Law Olmsted. The boulevard abutting this seaside reservation was once a mecca for swanky restaurants, grand ballrooms and amusement rides. It still has plenty of attractions, including the original location of the famous Kelly's Roast Beef and the annual Revere Beach Sand Castle Sculpting Festival.

Getting there: Take the Blue Line to Wonderland.

Though it doesn’t have the same glamorous reputation as its Californian counterpart, Dorchester’s Malibu Beach is just as much appreciated by the local community. This seaside Dot spot spills into Savin Hill Beach and its children’s playground and ballfield, making it a must for a day of family fun. 

Getting there: Take the Red Line to Savin Hill; the beaches are a short walk from Savin Hill Avenue via Denny Street.

East Boston might seem like an odd place to create a beach, but Constitution Beach is indeed a man-made, sandy oasis tucked into an inlet just opposite Logan Airport. Because of its location, it's perfect for spotting planes, as well as the usual sunbathing and dipping your toes into the ocean. There’s a recreation area with athletic fields and tennis courts, and fishing is permitted. There’s a bathhouse with restrooms, as well as a concession stand and picnic area.

Getting there: Take the Blue Line to Orient Heights, then walk.