2022 Massachusetts Beach Guide: Info For North Shore Beaches

NORTH SHORE, MA — If the weather's giving you whiplash and you're already dreaming of summer beach days, you've come to the right place.

We've found everything you need to know about the best beaches the North Shore has to offer, from Salisbury to Revere. Before heading out for a beach day, be sure to stock up on snacks, sunscreen and all the deets:

Gloucester — Good Harbor, Stage Fort and Wingaersheek

Beaches in Gloucester are known for their soft sand, calm water and beautiful views. Good Harbor Beach was named among Travel & Leisure's 25 best U.S. beaches this year — and it's not hard to see why.

FACILITIES

Restrooms are available at Good Harbor and Wingaersheek beaches daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both beaches also have concessions stands.

PARKING

To park at Good Harbor Beach, Stage Fort Beach or Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester residents can buy a beach sticker that lets them skip the daily parking rate. The standard resident sticker costs $20 and is valid for a year, while seasonal renters will have to pay $100 for their beach sticker. Seniors can get a four-year sticker for $4.

City Hall has applications for the beach stickers, but residents can also complete the form online.

Non-resident beach passes are not available this year, in an effort to keep beach traffic at bay. Instead, non-residents will have to reserve a parking space ahead of time on the City of Gloucester's new Yodel site.

Spaces can be reserved up to 10 days in advance, and cash will no longer be accepted at the gate.

Parking rates for cars are below:

The fee to park a motorcycle at most Gloucester beaches is $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays.

RULES

Gloucester beaches have a "Carry In, Carry Out" policy, so be prepared to take any trash with you when you leave.

Alcohol, flotation devices of any kind and dogs (except service dogs) are prohibited at all Gloucester beaches.

HOURS

Lifeguards are on duty at Good Harbor and Wingaersheek beaches from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Gates open daily at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.

For the latest updates, visit the Gloucester Beaches Facebook page.

Ipswich — Crane Beach

Crane Beach's four-mile sandy shoreline makes for the perfect place to set up camp for a day. If wading through the shallow, peaceful waters isn't your thing, give the nearly six miles of hiking trails a try.

The beach is so beloved that it has its own holiday: on June 16, Crane Beach Day, elementary and middle school students spend their school day enjoying the beach. The tradition started in 1911, when the owners of the Crane Estate invited all the school children in Ipswich to the beach for their son Cornelius' birthday.

FACILITIES

Lifeguards and rangers are on duty throughout the summer season. There's also a bike rack, a beach store, picnic tables, outside showers, water fountains and an information kiosk.

The bathhouses at Crane Beach are open year-round and have toilet stalls and changing areas.

Waterproof beach wheelchairs are available for visitor use — just ask inside the beach store.

PARKING

Advance entry passes are required this year for anyone visiting Crane Beach. Booking a pass guarantees you a spot at the beach for the day and time you request, even if passes sell out.

Weekly passes are available starting each Thursday at noon for the following Friday-Thursday. Visit thetrustees.org to book your pass.

Parking rates for the summer season (May 28-September 11) are below:

Admission for additional car passengers over 6 people costs $5 each.

Parking stickers can be purchased by Trustees members and allow parking at Crane Beach with no daily fees for a year. Membership ranges in price from $50-70.

RULES

Dogs are not allowed at Crane Beach during the summer season.

Watercraft, including canoes, kayaks and paddle boards, are not allowed at Crane Beach. Boogie boards and skim boards are allowed, only with lifeguard discretion.

Snorkeling is not allowed at Crane Beach.

Drone photography is not allowed unless the Director of the Crane Estate has authorized it.

HOURS

The beach opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset daily. The entry gate closes 20 minutes before sunset.

For more information, visit thetrustees.org.

Manchester-by-the-Sea — Singing Beach

Singing Beach got its name from its sand. Also called whistling sand or barking sand, singing sand produces sound when blown by the wind or walked on.

FACILITIES

Singing Beach has a bathhouse, built in the early 1920s, that has men's and women's restrooms, showers and changing stalls.

From Memorial Day to mid-June, the bathhouse is only open on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From mid-June to Labor Day, it's open everyday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There's also a small, privately-run snack stand.

Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season.

PARKING

Non-resident parking is available for $30 on weekdays between June 20 and Labor Day (excluding July 4). At all other times, the parking at Singing Beach is resident-only.

Both residents and non-residents ages 12-65 can park elsewhere and pay a $10 walk-on fee when they arrive at the beach. Season passes are available for $35. Visitors 65 and older can walk on for free.

RULES

Dogs are not allowed at Singing Beach during the summer.

Alcoholic beverages and watercraft are prohibited at all times.

HOURS

Singing beach is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit manchester.ma.us.

Marblehead — Devereux Beach

Marblehead considers Devereux its "premier beach." With its nearly 5.5 acres of sandy shore, along with a restaurant and concession stand, it's the perfect place to spend a leisurely beach day.

The following information is from the Devereux Beach page on the Town of Marblehead's website and is dated 2021. Patch has reached out to the Town of Marblehead for updated information, and we'll update this page when we hear back.

FACILITIES

Public restrooms are available at Devereux Beach when staff is on duty, usually from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The beach has an access mat to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and walkers. Visitors can request a beach wheelchair from the parking attendant.

PARKING

Residents with a current Resident Facility Sticker can park in the resident lot.

Non-residents or residents without current stickers can pay to park in the main lot or the Riverhead lot for $15 Monday-Thursday and $20 Friday-Sunday.

RULES

No pets, bonfires, glass or alcohol are allowed at Devereux Beach.

HOURS

Lifeguards are on duty between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The parking lot closes at 10 p.m.

For more information, visit marblehead.org.

Nahant — Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation

As one of the few boat-friendly beaches on the North Shore, the Lynn Shore and Nahant Beach Reservation packs fun for the whole family.

FACILITIES

The reservation has just about everything: from restrooms and showers, to athletic fields, a bandstand, boat ramps and a picnic area. There's also a first-aid station and a lifeguard on duty.

PARKING

MA residents can park at Nahant Beach for $10 a day. Residents with a state parks parking pass or a lifetime senior parking pass don't have to pay the daily fee.

Parking for non-MA residents costs $40 a day.

You can pay for parking in advance online with Yodel.

Street parking is also available on Lynn Shore Drive.

RULES

Alcohol and dogs or other pets are not allowed at the reservation (with the exception of service animals).

HOURS

The reservation is open from sunrise to sunset.

For more information, visit mass.gov.

Revere — Revere Beach

Officially designated as "America's First Public Beach," Revere Beach holds a special place in New England History. For most of the 20th century, Revere Beach was known and loved for being New England's playground, complete with rollercoasters, carousels and dance pavilions, according to RevereBeach.com.

While today's visitors might not see an amusement park, Revere Beach has plenty left to offer.

The International Sand Sculpting Festival is back in full swing this year after scaling back in 2021 due to the pandemic. This year's theme is "Wonders of the World." From July 22 to July 24, the beach will come alive with food trucks, amusement rides, live entertainment and the festival's signature sand sculpting competition.

FACILITIES

Revere Beach has public restrooms, an info booth and a playground.

The restroom is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lifeguards are on duty from late June to early September.

PARKING

Free 4-hour parking is available on Revere Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, but you'll want to arrive early — it fills up up quickly.

RULES

Dogs are not allowed on Revere Beach during the summer season. No alcohol or fires are allowed.

HOURS

Revere Beach is open from dawn to dusk.

For more information, visit revere.org.

Rockport — Front Beach

Just a short walk from downtown Rockport, Front Beach has plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. It's a small beach, so you'll want to snag a spot on its soft sand early in the day.

FACILITIES

Front Beach has a public restroom nearby.

Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer season.

PARKING

There's metered parking along the beach front and a private lot across Beach Street. Visitors are also encouraged to park for free in the Blue Gate Lot and take one of the shuttles that runs back and forth to the beach all day.

RULES

Dogs are not allowed on Front Beach from June 1 to September 15.

Alcoholic beverages and inflatable devices of any kind are not allowed.

HOURS

Beaches in Rockport are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information, visit rockportusa.com.

Salisbury — Salisbury Beach

As the main attraction in the Salisbury Beach State Reservation, this well-kept beach is perfect for a relaxing day in the sun. If you decide to go swimming, though, stay alert — Salisbury Beach has a wicked rip current.

FACILITIES

Salisbury Beach has a boardwalk, a grilling and picnic area, a boat ramp and a playground. The restrooms and showers are available for the public to use.

Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Sunbathing wheelchairs and floating wheelchairs are available upon request.

PARKING

MA residents can park at Salisbury Beach for $14 a day. Residents with a state parks parking pass or a lifetime senior parking pass don't have to pay the daily fee.

Parking for non-MA residents costs $40 a day.

You can pay for parking in advance online with Yodel.

RULES

Salisbury Beach does not allow pets, flotation devices, alcohol, glass or fires.

Visitors are asked to stay off the dunes and only use the boardwalk when walking from the parking lot to the beach.

HOURS

The beach is open from sunrise to sunset.

For more information, visit mass.gov or salisbury-beach.org.