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The coast of New England is well known. Artists have been using lighthouses, dramatic views, and tidal pools in their work for hundreds of years. Beachside seafood shacks that serve dishes that are unique to the area and can please any taste are a draw in and of themselves.
Maine is way up north. It has a rocky coast and steep cliffs, and is one of the best beach towns in New England. On the other hand, Long Island Sound meets the calm, sandy beaches of Connecticut. From one end to the other, these five states have more than 1,000 miles of coastline. (Vermont, the sixth New England state, does not have a coastline.) This gives sun worshippers a wide range of options. More tourist attractions make these top spots even more interesting.
Since there are so many excellent choices in New England, it’s best to start making plans before the warm weather comes. With our list of the best beaches in New England, you can find the perfect place to spend a day by the water.
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Best Beaches in New England
New England is known for its cute small towns and beautiful views, especially in the fall when people go leaf-peeping. It also has a lot of beaches and some of the best beach towns in New England; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that Maine alone has more shoreline than California.
From Connecticut to the Canadian border, there are many rocky beaches that are best for brisk walks in the shoulder seasons (preferably with L.L. Bean boots and a mug of hot apple cider). Here, we’ve put together a list of our favorite sandy beaches.
They have just as many sun lovers, people looking to relax, and weekend crowds as the warmer southern states. These are the best beaches in New England for you if you like your beach day with a side of New England charm.
1. Crane Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Ipswich, Massachusetts
It’s a look back at the past. This 2,100-acre estate has a huge mansion in the Stuart style and well-kept gardens that will take you at least a few hours to see.
This isn’t the beach for you if you want hot dog carts, boardwalks, nightlife, and boogie board shops. Stepping onto the 2,100-acre Crane Estate is like going back in time. The beach charges $25 per car to get in on summer weekends, which is a lot for New England, so it almost never gets too crowded. However, once you see how clean the beach is and how well the grounds are taken care of, you’ll want to go back right away.
Crane Beach in Ipswich is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Northeast. It has beautiful views of the water. People say that the cold water on the north shore is “refreshing.” If you’re going to jump in, the clean, clear water of the ocean here is a great place to do it.
2. Coast Guard Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Eastham, Massachusetts
Even though you can’t really put one Cape Beach above another, most visitors agree that Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is so beautiful that it takes your breath away. Many lists of America’s best beaches put this beach in the top ten, and sun lovers find it hard to disagree. The flat, sandy beach is backed by large, dramatic dunes. The beach is always full of people playing volleyball, boogie boarding, surfing, and just getting some sun.
Visitors can see the historic Nauset Light on Sundays from May to October 31 and on Wednesdays in July and August.
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the area are on Cape Cod, but this one is our favorite because it’s great for families. The sand is very soft, which is great for little feet. The waves are shallow enough for little kids to swim in, and the seals are always a treat.
3. Singing Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Residents of Bay State will always argue about where their favorite place to have fun in the sun is, but Singing Beach is usually close to the top. This half-mile stretch is in the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, which is a typical New England town. You can take public transportation from Boston to get there.
The name comes from the sound the sand makes. Some people say they can hear it singing as they walk to the water when the conditions are right. In any case, you’ll find a spot high on the rocky coast surrounded by a historic bathhouse and grand homes. The Hammond Castle Museum is close by in Gloucester. It is a castle that looks like one in Europe. Scientist, inventor, and art collector John Hays Hammond, Jr. built it in the late 1920s.
Some people go to Manchester-by-the-Sea to see where the movie was shot, but others go to see the more interesting Singing Beach. If you shuffle your feet in the dry sand, you can hear a squeak that sounds like a song. It’s a huge hit with families in the summer, but from mid-October to mid-April, it’s the beach’s official dog-friendly season, so you’ll hear more barking than singing.
4. Mohegan Bluffs Beach, Rhode Island
Where: New Shoreham, Rhode Island
The Southeast Light is a very rare example of a lighthouse built in the Gothic Revival style. During the summer, you can go on a Tower Tour and learn all about the island’s long maritime history.
Block Island has many beaches, but none are as beautiful as this secluded spot in the southwest corner of the island. The beach is 150 feet below its namesake bluffs, where the Niantic and Mohegan people fought a key battle in the 1600s. A steep 140-step staircase leads to the beach. On days when the air is clear, you can see as far as Montauk on nearby Long Island.
Block Island in Rhode Island doesn’t get as much attention as the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Visitors who get lucky will find an island with beautiful views, tall cliffs, and old lighthouses. Block Island is one of the best beach towns in New England.
Mohegan Bluffs is one of the most beautiful beaches. The ocean waves have smoothed the rocks along the beach, and many people have built cairns there. When seen as a mass sculpture, they make a very interesting scene.
The beach doesn’t have any facilities, but the bluffs make it a beautiful place to walk or swim while looking out over the water that goes all the way to the end of Long Island.
5. East Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, Massachusetts
When Martha’s Vineyard gets too crowded in the summer, you can take the Chappy ferry from Edgartown to Chappaquiddick island in just two minutes. Then, go east over the Dike Bridge and land on quiet East Beach (also called Leland Beach), where locals fish from the shore and seabirds outnumber tourists by a large margin.
Almost never is it busy. Mytoi is a 14-acre public garden with paths, beautiful flowers, and a pond full of goldfish. It was designed to look like a Japanese garden.
6. Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Chatham, Massachusetts
Even though there are a few beaches with views of Nantucket Sound, most people would agree that Chatham Lighthouse Beach is the most beautiful and best beach in New England. The beach is right next to an active beacon. This important landmark shows boats and ships how to get through the sometimes dangerous Chatham waters.
Pay attention to where you swim because the current can be quite strong in some places. For your own safety, dangerous areas are closed off. No lifeguards are on duty, so you swim at your own risk. Boat patrols keep an eye on the area in case of emergencies. A red flag means that swimming is not allowed anywhere.
Even though the beach is beautiful, this area is all about the wildlife. A lot of seals can be seen playing in the water and on the shores around them. A popular nature walk takes people to Monomoy Island, where there are a lot of birds. Seal tours can also be taken from the beach.
7. Goose Rocks Beach, Maine
Where: Kennebunkport, Maine
This quiet spot, which locals consider one of the best beaches in New England, is three miles long and is in the posh town of Kennebunkport, where the Bush family spends the summer. You won’t have to fight for space when you lay out your beach towel. At low tide, keep an eye out for the barrier reef, also called Goose Rocks, that protects the beach. Goose Rocks Beach is the best beach in Maine.
The Tides Beach Club is the only hotel in Kennebunkport that is right on the beach. It is a popular place for lobster rolls and drinks with a view of the water after a day at the beach. Just enough social scene, just enough solitude.
8. Plum Island Beach, Massachusetts
Where: Newburyport, Massachusetts
People of all ages can learn at the Joppa Flats Education Center, which is close to downtown Newburyport, which has some of the best seafood restaurants in all of New England.
It seems impossible that this beautiful barrier island is only an hour north of Boston. Even though there aren’t many people here, the nearby Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 800 types of plants, birds, and animals. Massachusetts is one of the best beach towns in New England.
Plum Island Beach is the best beach in Massachusetts. During the summer, a lot of people walk and ride bikes on the footpaths, but it’s easy to find a quiet spot on these golden sand beaches. To learn something while you’re at the beach.
9. Sand Beach, Maine
Where: Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine
Acadia was created by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 as the East Coast’s first national park. Its mountainous terrain and rocky coast draw millions of hikers and bikers each year. But in the middle of all the beautiful rocks is the dreamy Sand Beach. The beach is only 300 yards long, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beautiful scenery.
The soft sands and bright sapphire water make it look almost like the Caribbean (though not in warmth). Don’t leave Bar Harbor until you’ve eaten a big stack of wild blueberry pancakes at Jordan’s. Sand Beach is the best beach in Maine.
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FAQs About Best Beaches in New England
What is the nicest beach in New England?
Best Beaches in New England
1. Crane Beach, Massachusetts
2. Coast Guard Beach, Massachusetts
3. Singing Beach, Massachusetts
4. Mohegan Bluffs Beach, Rhode Island
5. East Beach, Massachusetts
6. Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Massachusetts
7. Goose Rocks Beach, Maine
8. Plum Island Beach, Massachusetts
9. Sand Beach, Maine
Does New England have beaches?
New England is known for its cute small towns and beautiful views, especially in the fall when people go leaf-peeping. It also has a lot of beaches; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that Maine alone has more shoreline than California.
Can you swim in the ocean in New England?
New England’s Beaches
This part of the country has beaches with everything from soft sand to rocky shores, big ocean waves to cool freshwater lakes. On a summer day on a best beach in New England, you can fish, swim, soak up the sun, surf, water-ski, observe nature, watch birds, or go out on a boat.
Which New England state is the most beautiful?
Rhode Island
Rhode Island was named the most beautiful state because it has the most historic sites, national parks, and national landmarks for its size. The Breakers mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, is the most well-known of these places.
Are there beaches in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island beaches
The coast of the Ocean State is 400 miles long, which is a lot. Rhode Island’s long sandy beaches have been a source of awe, inspiration, joy, peace, excitement, and just about anything else you can think of for generations. Rhode Island have the best beaches in New England.
Tell Us In The Comments About One Of The Best Beaches in New England!
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