Top Beaches in New England

By The Beach Guide | Last Updated: February 9, 2023

Made up of six states, New England occupies the northeastern corner of the United States. Comprising Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, the region is best known for its beautiful scenery, quaint towns, and delicious seafood.

Whilst the biggest crowds come here in fall, when the forests turn various shades of red and gold, there are plenty of other reasons to visit New England. Chief among these is the region's fantastic coastline. Stretching from Connecticut to the Canadian border is as varied as it is long. From the rugged and remote coves of Maine to the holiday hotspots of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket in Massachusetts, take your pick.

And if you ever tire of the beach, New England has more than its fair share of history and charm.

Greenwich Point Park // Connecticut

©Jllm06

Greenwich Point Park Beach is located on a narrow peninsula of land that juts out from the northern shoreline of Long Island Sound. A private beach with public access via a day pass system costing around $10 per person plus parking, it was known to the Siwanoy people as Monakewego, or 'shining sands.'
Visit at low tide and you'll see exactly why, although most beachgoers choose to wear beach shoes or… read more »
Sand Beach // Maine

©matt.a

This imaginatively named beach can be found in the beautiful surrounds of Acadia National Park. A landscape of pine forests, lakes and glacially-carved granite peaks this is a true wilderness. The wildlife won't disappoint either with bears, moose and whales found in the area.
With a backdrop like this it wouldn't take too much for any beach to make it onto a list of Maine's best beaches. But Sand beach manages… read more »
Goose Rocks Beach // Maine

©Peter Rintels

Goose Rocks Beach is the kind of idyllic spot that conjures up images of perfect East Coast holidays. The beach runs between Cape Porpoise and Granite Point and is backed by an archetypal seaside village.
The beach itself is a picturesque sweep of white sand stretching for almost three miles. What you won't find at Goose Rocks is waves; the beach is sheltered by a number of small islands and reefs… read more »
Singing Beach // Massachusetts

©Vitor Pamplona

A picturesque crescent of soft golden sand between rocky headland is what makes Singing Beach one of the most popular on the North Shore. At around half a mile in length the beach here is backed by grassy slopes and woodland giving it a somewhat sechluded and peaceful feel.
Singing Beach is one of a select few beaches globally where the sand "sings". We put that in quotes because it is… read more »
Coast Guard Beach // Massachusetts

©Margo Tabb

When you arrive at Coast Guard Beach, you will be met with an stunning view over marshlands, sand dunes to the wide sandy beach and ocean beyond. The boardwalk runs right up to the beach, and provides disabled access.
People love the soft sand, and they come from far and wide to enjoy this pristine stretch of coast. It does get crowded in the summer, but if you walk in… read more »
Old Orchard Beach // Maine

©Tunayalcin

Set in Saco Bay, towards the southern end of Maine's Atlantic coast is the thriving little resort town of Old Orchard Beach. The town has a long and colorful history and was once dubbed "The Garden by the Sea" which featured, you guessed it, an orchard!
However it wasn't until the late 1800s that the town took off as a holiday resort, with the near seven mile stretch of sand as… read more »
Moshup Beach // Massachusetts

©William Waterway

Located on the exclusive barrier island of Martha's Vineyard, Moshup Beach aka Aquinnah Public Beach is a gem. It's also known as Gay Head or referred to by locals as "the cliffs beach" as that's what it is.
The cliffs are multicolored providing a stunning and dramatic backdrop to the beach. These cliffs are so special they are a National Landmark and are owned and protected by the Wampanoag Tribe of… read more »
Mayflower Beach // Massachusetts

©Tom Woodward

Located in the mid-Cape, Mayflower beach is off of Dunes Road in Dennis. The views from the tidal flats during low tide allow for some great photos, and the sunsets can be pretty amazing. The beach is large with lifeguards and plenty of room for games. You will find public restrooms, a boardwalk, a picnic area, and parking as well.
You can stay in a variety of accommodations from little… read more »
Hammonasset Beach // Connecticut

©Dave Ginsberg

Just over a hundred years ago, in July 2020, Hammonasset Beach State Beach opened to the public. It has been a popular destination ever since. Easy to access from I-95 Exit 62 and close to Madison, CT it attracts over a million visitors each year.
Once a settlement for native American Indians, the name "Hammonasset" means "place where we dig holes in the ground". By 1898 the Winchester Rifle Company… read more »
Marconi Beach // Massachusetts

©William DeSousa-Mauk

Named for the Italian wireless inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, Marconi Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It was from this location that Marconi sent a message from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom from this location. This was the first transatlantic radio transmission from the United States back in 1903.
Marconi Beach provides views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Cod Bay, and the… read more »
Lucy Vincent Beach // Massachusetts

©N. Friedler

Located near Chilmark on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Lucy Vincent beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand that runs along the Atlantic coast. Sadly, unless you are a resident or renting a house in town, you cannot access this beach from June 1 through September 15. Beach passes are required during that time.
The beach was originally owned by the town librarian, Lucy Vincent, and upon her death… read more »
Wingaersheek Beach // Massachusetts

©Gabrielm199

Wingaersheek Beach is located in the western part of Gloucester county at the mouth of the Annisquam River on Ipswich Bay. It is possibly the best beach in the area with its white sands and clear waters. Wingaersheek is recognizable by the huge rocks that jutt out from the center of the beach and into the river. At high tide the rocks are surrounded by water but you can climb… read more »
Crane Beach // Massachusetts

©Vitor Pamplona

Crane Beach is one of the finest beaches on the U.S. East Coast. It has clean water and miles of golden sand backed by beautiful countryside. Part of the Crane Estate, the beach is managed by the Trustees of Reservations and is known for conservation as well. It has more than five miles of marked trails through the coastal sand dunes, and it is an important nesting site for the… read more »
Madaket Beach // Massachusetts

©Eric Gross

On the far west coast of Nantucket, the beautiful beach of Madaket has soft sand that stretches seemingly endlessly along the Atlantic coast. Despite its obvious appeals the beach never get crowded with sunbathers and those looking to just relax tending to stay near the village.
Madaket beach has the strongest waves on the island, and there can be very dangerous rip tides and undertows here. This is not a… read more »
Race Point Beach // Massachusetts

©Art01852

Race Point Beach is in Provincetown, right at the very top of Cape Cod. The scenery here is both unique and beautiful, with sandy beaches, whales in the ocean, and historical lighthouses among the extensive dunes. You will love walking on the beach or relaxing in the sand.
Spring is the time to come for whale watching, you can spot various species breaching out in the ocean. From critically endangered… read more »