Top Beaches in New England

• Moshup Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 Aquinnah. The colors range from orange, red and mustard yellow to dark purple and were once beneath the ocean.

  Many of… read more »

• Madaket Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 great swimming spot although people do surf here. If you are looking for something more adventruous on the land, head… read more »

• Mayflower Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 shanties to large mansions along the beach. You will find mini golf and golf nearby, and there is a shopping… read more »

• Lighthouse Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Looking out over the Edgartown Outer Harbor toward Chappaquiddick Island, Lighthouse Beach has warm waters in the summer and splendid views. One of the main attractions is the Lighthouse, which many people come to see. The beach is otherwise pretty quiet and a great spot to enjoy the views of sailboats in the harbor and the ocean.

  The lighthouse itself is one of five on the island of Martha's Vineyard. It was built in 1828 on a small man-made island in the Edgartown Harbor. The original was replaced by another… read more »

• Silver Sands State Park // Connecticut

  

  Around 15 miles southwest of New Haven in Milford, Silver Sands Beach is located in the southwest corner of Silver Sands State Park, close to the Beaver's Dam scenic lookout. Running continuously with Walnut Beach, Silver Sands Beach is backed by a 1.2 km boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs and prams, which takes visitors over rehabilitated salt marsh.

  The beach is protected in part by breakwaters and The Bar (or Tombolo), a sand link with the 14-acre Charles Island bird sanctuary. This is said to be the burial place for Captain… read more »

• Marconi Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 Outer Cape. It is located in Wellfleet, and it is a large beach backed by steep grassy sand dunes. There… read more »

• Lucy Vincent Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 in 1970, her heirs worked out a deal with buyers that the town could have the beach and access to… read more »

• Race Point Beach // Massachusetts

  

  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 North Atlantic right whales to huge finback whales. So don't forget to bring your binoculars if you are visiting at… read more »

• Duxbury Beach // Massachusetts

  

  This impressive barrier beach stretches for over six miles along the Massachusetts coastline. Duxbury Beach is known for its mix of sand and pebbles, rolling dunes, and views of Cape Cod Bay. A classic New England seaside experience.

  The beach is divided into a public section, accessible from Duxbury Beach Park, and a residents-only area further north, ensuring plenty of space for visitors to spread out and enjoy the natural surroundings.

  The calm, shallow waters make it a great spot for swimming and paddleboarding, whilst the wide low-tide shoreline is… read more »

• Sandy Neck Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Set in the relative shelter of Cape Cod Bay, Sandy Neck Beach is a large, long beach with pebbly sand. In fact it is six miles long, and you can get an off-road permit for the 4x4 vehicle trails. Thse trails lead to the tip of the sandy spit and around the southside of the extensive sand dunes.

  If you go for a walk on the beach, you will see the cottages that are over 100 years old. They are mostly owned by people who are there all summer. As… read more »

• Horseneck Beach // Massachusetts

  

  Horseneck Beach, located in Westport, is a popular two-mile stretch of sandy shoreline at the mouth of Buzzards Bay. 

  The beach is part of the larger Horseneck Beach State Reservation, which features sand dunes, salt marshes, and walking trails teeming with wildlife. The waves here are typically gentle, making it a great spot for swimming, while the steady winds attract kite surfers and sailors. The adjacent marshlands provide excellent birdwatching, with species like piping plovers and ospreys frequently spotted in the area.

  Horseneck Beach also has plenty of amenities, including… read more »

• Joseph Sylvia State Beach // Massachusetts

  

  This glorious Joseph Sylvia State Beach has soft white sand and shallow water and is one of the most popular public beaches on Martha's Vineyard (many of the beaches are privately owned or for residents only).

  Stretching 5 miles between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, this easterly facing beach is on a spit, accessed across a bridge. It's a local landmark and popular for jumping off into the Nantucket Sound waters below. You may get a sense of déjà vu at Joseph Sylvia State Beach as it is best known as the… read more »

• Calf Pasture Beach // Connecticut

  

  Calf Pasture Beach is located roughly midway between New Haven and the New York state line. Facing south into Long Island Sound, the beach is officially open from May until October of each year. During these months lifeguards are on duty, while visitors can use facilities including public bathrooms.

  Some of the earliest records for Calf Pasture Beach are from the seventeenth century, when early settlers used its peninsula as cattle pasture. It made the history books a second time during the American War of Independence, after 2,600 British soldiers on… read more »

• Fairfield Beach // Connecticut

  

  Fairfield Beach comprises approximately five miles of wide sandy beach on Long Island Sound. It forms a narrow spit or peninsula which runs continuously between Pine Creek Point to the south and Shoal Point to the north, the closest stretch of land to Penfield Reef.

  Fairfield Beach's Long Island Sound location has made it a prime spot for building, with almost its entire length lined with often grandiose beachfront properties. These connect with the state's road network via Fairfield Beach Road, behind which visitors will find the waterways of Pine Creek.… read more »

• Pleasure Beach // Connecticut

  

  Pleasure Beach stands guard at the entrance to Bridgeport Harbour. On the same narrow barrier beach peninsula as the better-known Long Beach, Pleasure Beach has a much more natural appearance. Its pale sand is mixed with shingle and pebbles from Long Island Sound, alongside occasional pockets of coastal grasses and areas of washed-up seaweed.

  Brought back to life in 2014, the area around Pleasure Beach had been Connecticut's largest ghost town after its structures were abandoned following a major fire. Today, Pleasure Beach is accessible via a free water taxi… read more »

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