If you’re looking for the best beaches in Gloucester, Massachusetts, you’re in the right place. As someone who has spent years exploring the Massachusetts coastline, and has spent a lot of time on Cape Ann, I genuinely think Gloucester has some of the most beautiful and varied beaches in the state. While I’m personally partial to the Cape’s shoreline, Gloucester is known for its beaches for good reason, and this post will go into each of the town’s public beaches to help you decide which to visit during your getaway.
After many visits to Gloucester, I’ve written this guide to share all my tips on the town’s beaches, including which ones are most worth your time, and which ones you can probably skip.
And with that, let’s jump in!
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Beaches In Gloucester, MA
Wingaersheek Beach – My Overall Pick
If you can only visit one beach in Gloucester during your trip, I really recommend you make it this one. There’s a reason it can contend with beaches on Cape Cod. Stretching for about .6 miles along the shores of Ipswich Bay, most locals will even tell you that this one if their favorite in town. Thanks to its soft white sand, calm shallow water, and incredibly scenic setting, it can sometimes feel more like a beach in the Caribbean than New England – but don’t worry, it’s also got plenty of coastal New England vibes.
Because the tide shift here is pretty significant, the beach becomes a different experience between high and low tide. At low tide, you can walk on sand bars, climb the large ocean rocks, and even walk pretty close to Annisquam Lighthouse, which is pretty inaccessible otherwise.
Additionally, the water at this beach is so clear, which is why some people liken it to the Caribbean.
Top Tips For Visiting Wingaersheek Beach:
→ Spend the whole day here to experience both high and low tide – it’s truly worth it!
→ You need a reservation to park at this beach, and I’ll get more into that later in the post in the parking section.
→ There are bathrooms, food concessions, showers, and changing areas that are open in-season.
→ If you want to fit in with the locals, refer to it as Winga 😉
Good Harbor & Little Good Harbor Beaches – My Second Favorite
You honestly can’t go wrong with Good Harbor Beach, either, and it’s also an incredibly popular one since it’s closer to downtown than Wingaersheek. But its proximity to town isn’t the only reason people love it.
Much like Wingaersheek, it also has soft white sand, gentle surf, and has roughly the same length of shoreline to explore at about .6 miles long. It also connects to Little Good Harbor Beach, which is a classic barrier beach with beautiful Atlantic waters on one side, and salt marshes and fresh water ponds on the other. The latter makes Little Good Harbor perfect for kids who want to play in the tidal pools. But really, the entire beach is very kid-friendly.
Good Harbor also experiences a big tidal shift, and while I haven’t found it to be as extreme as Wingaersheek, it’s significant enough that you it creates a sandbar, where you can walk out to Salt Island, which sits about .2 miles off the coast. Just be sure to leave plenty of time to walk back to the shoreline because the tide comes back in!
Top Tips For Visiting Good Harbor & Little Good Harbor Beach:
→ I also recommend planning to spend a full day at this beach to experience the tidal shifts, and make the most of the scenery.
→ You’ll find all the typical beach amenities here as well, including bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, and food concessions.
→ Park at Good Harbor, which has a bigger parking lot, and then walk the shoreline to Little Good Harbor to experience the different scenery. It’s not a long walk at all.
→ This beach requires parking reservations, and I’ll get more into that later in the post under the parking section.
Half Moon Beach – A Beautiful Hidden Gem
Well, it’s not exactly hidden, but it’s definitely much less known to visitors than Good Harbor and Winga. Tucked away in Stage Fort Park, this small beach got its name for it’s shape, which does indeed look like a half moon. While it’s not as big and flashy as some of the beaches in town, its quiet and secluded vibe are perfect if you’re looking to avoid the biggest crowds.
Surrounded by giant rocks and trees, it has more of a Maine or Pacific Northwest feel, and it’s very much worth your time. You won’t find bathrooms or amenities here, which is also part of the appeal. Because it’s tucked away in a cove, the surf here is pretty calm, which makes for easy swimming.
Tips For Visiting Half Moon Beach:
→ Since there are no amenities here, it may not be the best beach for an all-day excursion.
→ It’s located within walking distance to downtown, so you can easily pack a change of clothes and head out to explore – or grab coffee/lunch.
→ Parking at the Stage Fort lots require advanced reservations, which I’ll get more into later in the post.
Long Beach
Connecting Gloucester and Rockport, Long Beach is another beautiful beach in town, but one that isn’t quite as easy to visit as some of the others because parking is more limited. That said, it’s a beautiful one to check out when visiting.
Long Beach stretches for about .75 miles along the Atlantic, and is just a little northeast of Good Harbor. However, this beach tends to have more moderate surf, and smaller tidal shifts, making for a more traditional beach experience.
This beach is mostly soft sand, but does have more rocky sections compared to Good Harbor and Wingaersheek.
As mentioned parking at Long Beach is more of a challenge, as it lacks the larger lots you’ll find at the bigger beaches. There are a couple of smaller lots, and virtually no street parking, which makes this a beloved local’s beach, and not ad conducive to visitors. That said, you can opt to stay at the Cape Ann Motor Inn, which sits right on the beach and solves the parking problem.
Long Beach does have bathrooms, showers, and changing rooms as well.
Pavillion Beach
This beach is as close to downtown as you can get, and it’s directly in front of the Beauport Hotel. While it’s not the most amazing beach in Gloucester, it’s definitely the most convenient if you’re staying at the hotel, or nearby. Or, if you just want to take a quick dip in the water while exploring downtown.
The sand at Pavilion Beach is rockier and not as soft as some of the larger beaches in Gloucester, and the shoreline itself is also fairly small at only about one-fifth of a mile long. However, its location along Western Harbor gives it a different appeal, with scenic views of sailboats and fishing boats regularly passing by.
Parking for this beach will just require getting a spot in town, which is largely metered street parking. You can use an app to top-off your time while at the beach, if needed. Alternatively, you can pay to park at Stage Fort Park, and then take a beautiful walk along the waterfront for about three quarters of a mile to Pavillion Beach.
Niles Beach
This is a small beach known for having seaglass and and a view of the Boston city skyline on a clear day. Technically, this beach is open to the public, but the parking area is for residents only in-season. So, unless you’re staying nearby or can ride a bike/take an Uber here, it’s much harder to visit in the summer months.
A lot of locals love this beach because it tends to stay uncrowded and quiet compared to the more popular beaches in town – largely due to the parking situation. That said, it’s good to know that this beach, while sandy, is also pretty rocky, which can be comfortable when walking into the water.
If you’re visiting Gloucester and looking to spend the day at the beach, I would say skip this one, and prioritize heading to one of the larger beaches.
Rocky Neck Beach
Located in the quaint artist’s village of Rocky Neck, the beach here is rather small, and while it’s a lovely little cove, it’s probably not the best for visitors.
The shoreline here is very small, and a mix of sand and rocks. There are nice views of the local houses, as well as boat bobbing at their docks, so it’s honestly a nice choice if you have a beach chair and want to sit and read or relax for a couple hours. There are also distant views of Eastern Point Lighthouse.
Parking for this beach is across the street at the Rocky Neck public lot, which is open to visitors and free. However, on nice beach days, it can fill up fast, as both beach-goers and those looking to walk around the neighborhood’s art galleries utilize it.
Cressy Beach
Sitting along the southern edge of Fort Stage park is this sweet little beach. It’s a mix of sand and rocks, and while there isn’t a lot of space in the sand to set-up a beach chair, there’s enough, and you’ll often see quite a few people here in the summer season.
The best parking for this beach is the Fort Stage Park lot, which requires a fee in-season. You can also try your luck with metered street parking along the Harbor Walk on Western Ave.
Crab Beach
Last on the list is Crab Beach, which is also located just off the Harbor Walk along Western Ave. This beach is known for being dog-friendly, and I almost always see happy pups playing in the water here, which is lots of fun.
This is a very small beach that’s not ideal for human swimming, but for pups, it’s absolutely perfect. You’ll get to watch boats cruise by along the harbor, and also enjoy the scenic Harbor Walk before and after.
Despite it not being the best for swimming, people will still come here with beach chairs and sit. There’s a lot of seaweed, ocean rocks, etc., which make it slippery, which is why it’s not great for spending the whole day here. Plus, you’ll get the street noise from the road.
Parking for this beach is the same as Cressy – I recommend paying to park at the Fort Stage Park lot and walking over.
Parking Quick Guide For The Beaches
Wingaersheek, Good Harbor & Half Moon Beaches: Reserve In Advance!
These three beaches require advanced reservations in-season made through the Blinkay app, and this system has advantages and disadvantages.
One one hand, it means you’re guaranteed a spot when you arrive, versus getting there and finding the lot full. One the other hand, you also have to book well in advance when reservations open for your preferred day, and you take a gamble on the weather. If it rains, you don’t get a refund. But if you wait until it’s closer to your preferred date to see what the weather will be like, it could be sold out.
The app does allow you to request a credit for the day, though, if you need to cancel, which you can then use toward a different reservation within that same season. For visitors who are short on time, this can be tough. But it’s also nice to know you’ll have a parking spot when you arrive.
Parking reservations are only required in-season, which typically runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Outside of this timeframe, parking at the beaches is free.
If you do happen to visit right before Memorial Day weekend, or right after Labor Day when the weather still feels like summer, keep in mind that there are not parking attendants at the beaches. One year when I visited Wingaersheek right before Memorial Day weekend on a Tuesday afternoon, the parking lot was already full. And because there were no attendants, people were parking illegally, blocking people in, and it was generally very chaotic. I actually almost got stuck in the lot trying to get out! This isn’t a typical experience, but I did want to mention it.
Gloucester, MA Beaches – Answering Your Questions
What Beaches Should We Definitely Plan To Visit When In Town?
I would honestly focus on Wingaersheek and Good Harbor, and then if you have time, Half Moon.
Long Beach is nice, but harder to get a parking spot (unless you’re staying at the hotel right there). And the other beaches are rather small, and just not as beautiful as the bigger ones.
I think it’s most worth your time to focus on Wingaersheek and Good Harbor.
Uh, How Do I Pronounce Wingaersheek Beach?
Oh, I totally get this one because I has to ask someone before I actually said it out loud! But, it’s probably exactly as you tried to say it in your head (or at least, pretty close):
Wing-ger-sheek, without emphasis on any of the syllables.
Are All Gloucester Beaches Open To The Public?
All the ones on this list are public beaches, however, Gloucester has more beaches that are private or resident-only. For this reason, I didn’t include them on my list since you won’t be able to visit them if you’re not a local or resident. But honestly, don’t let this discourage you! Wingaersheek and Good Harbor are more beautiful than the private beaches (in my opinion).
Plum Cove Beach, which I didn’t mention, is one that falls somewhere between public and private. It’s technically a public beach, but since the parking near the beach is for residents only, it’s essentially a resident-only beach. You certainly could bike over, however (although, I can’t personally confirm if there are safe places to lock up your bike).
Are The Beaches In Gloucester Or Rockport Better?
Definitely Gloucester, and many people staying in Rockport will make the drive to Wingaersheek and Good Harbor beaches. Rockport does have some very lovely beaches, but I think the ones in Gloucester are better.
Are Gloucester Beaches Expensive To Visit?
Yes, even by New England standards, and this is one of the biggest downsides to visiting the beaches in Gloucester. While beautiful, and I think worth it from time to time, Wingaersheek and Good Harbor charge $45 on weekends to park ($40 on weekdays) in-season. That’s more expensive than any beach parking on Cape Cod, for reference.
They do have discounted afternoon rates, if you wanted to arrive a bit later in the day, but the discount is usually only about $10 if you arrive after 2 or 3p (you’ll need to check with each beach individually). However, they only charge until 5p in-season, so that’s something else to keep in mind.
Is Parking Charged Year-Round Or Only In-Season?
Only in-season, and generally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Parking is free the rest of the year.
Is There Public Transit To The Beaches?
Yes, and if you want to visit on a prime summer day and not worry about making a parking reservation in advance, you can look into the Stage Fort Park shuttle system, which is run by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority. This shuttle stops at a few places around Gloucester, as well as the footbridge at Little Good Harbor Beach. It does not go to Wingaersheek Beach, though.
That’s A Wrap On Gloucester, MA Beaches!
And there you have it – my ultimate Gloucester beach guide. Hopefully this has helped you to plan your beach vacation in beautiful Cape Ann, and I truly believe that Gloucester beaches are worth the effort to experience at least once.
