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PrintWhere To Get Wet: A Beach Guide to the South Shore
Splash into summer by hitting the beach! The water may be chilly, but on a hot and humid summer day nothing feels better than letting a cool ocean breeze wash over you as you relax on the sand. Whether you’re seeking a respite from the seemingly endless rush-hour traffic or a fun family-friendly spot where the kids can build a sand castle, this list will help you plan your next day at the beach.
Hingham bathing beach
HINGHAM: Hingham Bathing Beach is a small, sandy beach next to Monument Park. It’s a beautiful place to spend the day with a raft to jump off of, benches, picnic tables, and a large grassy area to lounge around and read or spread out and have a traditional picnic. Sandwich shops and restaurants are within walking distance. The beach is adjacent to Hingham Harbor so you can watch boats as they enter and exit the harbor or take a short walk to the gazebo in the park. Restrooms are available as well as showers. Parking is free. Hingham Bathing Beach can be found off of Route 3A, before the rotary if coming from the north and after if from the south.
Wollaston Beach
Quincy: This 2.3-mile stretch of beach is easily accessible from Boston. A sidewalk runs parallel to the beach, which is great for running, walking by the water. Caddy Park, on the southern end of the beach, has over 15 acres of fields and marsh and includes a play area, lookout tower, and picnic tables. The road parallel to the beach has many seafood restaurants and ice cream shops to satisfy your hunger. Parking is available along Quincy Shore Drive. Wollaston Beach is located off of Quincy Shore Drive. The beach can also be reached by taking the MBTA Red Line to Wollaston Station or North Quincy Station.
Sandy Beach
Cohasset: Sandy Beach is small and cozy, with soft sand that is ideal for burrowing your toes and for building imaginative sandcastles. A pretty view of Minot Light is visible on the horizon. Ice cream trucks frequently visit, allowing for a complete beach experience. It’s mostly resident beach sticker parking; residents can acquire a facility pass, which is for both the beach and the dump at a cost of $50; non-residents must contact the Sandy Beach Association. Sandy Beach is located off Atlantic Avenue in Cohasset.
Hummarock Beach
SCITUATE: With a relaxed atmosphere and fine, hard-packed sand, this beach is a welcoming destination. Although there isn’t a concession stand on the beach, if you go across the street you will find a general store and restaurants to satisfy your hunger. Porta potties are available. Beach sticker parking only; $35 for residents, and $200 for non-residents (300 beach stickers are allotted for non-residents). Central Avenue is your path to the bliss that is Humarock Beach.
Egypt Beach
SCITUATE: The name evokes images of the Nile but rest assured Egypt Beach is a beautiful ocean beach. The beach itself is small and slightly stony, located between North Scituate and Sand Hill beaches. Porta potties are available. Beach sticker parking only; $35 for residents, and $200 for non-residents (300 beach stickers are allotted for non-residents). Egypt Beach can be found off of Hatherly Road.
Minot Beach
SCITUATE: This small sandy beach is cozy and calm, making it the perfect place to enjoy a summer read. With views of Minot Light, beachgoers can appreciate the picturesque surroundings. Porta potties are available. Beach sticker parking only; Beach stickers are $35 for residents, and $200 for non-residents (300 beach stickers are allotted for non-residents). Take Gannet Road to get to Minot Beach.
Sand Hills Beach
SCITUATE: Sand Hills Beach is both small and sandy so large crowds won’t bother you as you relax in the sunshine. Stay alert,
or else your chairs will be swept away and towels could become drenched as the beach narrows quite a bit
at high tide. Porta potties are available. Beach sticker parking only; Beach stickers are $35 for residents; $200 for non-residents (300 beach stickers are allotted for non-residents). To get to Sand Hills Beach, follow Turner Road in Scituate.
Peggotty Beach
SCITUATE: Peggotty Beach offers a half-mile of hard-packed sand and vistas of lapping waves. Enjoy a nice walk or lounge in your beach chair and daydream. A snack bar and porta potties are available. Beach sticker parking only; $35 for residents; $200 for non-residents (300 beach stickers are allotted for non-residents). You’ll find Peggotty Beach right off of Edward Foster Road in Scituate.
Nantasket Beach
Hull: Nantasket Beach is a popular destination for Boston residents as it is only 20 miles south of the city. Walking and biking along the beach are also good ways to take in the sites and the calm of the ocean’s harmonies and squeeze in some exercise. Along Nantasket Avenue there are a selection of restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, and an arcade. The Paragon Carousel, a relic from the old amusement park, still carries a whimsical feel that will charm children and adults alike. Street parking and various pay-to-park lots are available daily.
To get to Nantasket Beach, take Route 3A to Nantasket Avenue.
Gun Rock Beach
HULL: Gun Rock Beach is a charming little beach with a natural rock ridge, which acts as protection, creating calm waves instead of crashing ones. The sand at this child-safe beach is soft and the rocks are a haven for little creatures that are sure to peak the interest of children as they start exploring. Restaurants and small food stands can be found all along the beach. There are also basketball and tennis courts within walking distance on Atlantic Avenue, which are open to the public. Parking can be found on Atlantic Avenue. Some spots require a resident parking sticker, which can be attained from the police department while others do not. On weekends, town hall parking is also open for beachgoers. Gun Rock Beach is located off Atlantic Avenue in Hull.
Rexhame Beach
MARSHFIELD: Rexhame beach is a beautiful barrier beach located on the northern coast of Marshfield. Sand-castles are a must and hunting for beach glass is always a good way to explore the shore at anytime during the day. Low tide offers extra space for volleyball, soccer, or a game of catch. The snack bar sells burgers, fries, and other snacks. There’s also a basketball court on premises, and on the backside of the beach is the South River, where kayaking and canoeing, as well as swimming are possible. Rexhame boasts the largest beach parking lot in Marshfield. Resident beach sticker parking and 25 non-resident parking spaces are available. Resident beach stickers are $30. Non-resident parking is $10 weekdays, and $15 weekends. To get to Rexhame Beach, take Route 139 to Winslow Street.
Brant Rock Beach
MARSHFIELD: There are lots of tidal pools with crabs and minnows for kids to search for at Brant Rock Beach. A scattering of pebbles and the beach’s narrowing during high tide means you may have to move your blanket during your visit. There are parking spaces for residents with beach stickers and non-residents can buy day-passes. Resident beach stickers are $30. Non-resident parking is $5 weekdays, $10 weekends & holidays. Located off of Dyke Road, Brant Rock Beach runs parallel to Ocean Street.
Green Harbor Beach
MARSHFIELD: The soft sand at this beach is seemingly endless, making it a great place for long walks on the beach. The beach extends from Green Harbor in Marshfield to Duxbury Beach. Avon Street parking lot, Beach Street extension, and the Post office lot are available for residents; 40 spaces are reserved for non-residents at the Lobster Pound. Resident beach stickers are $30. Non-resident parking is $10 weekdays, and $15 weekends and holidays. To get to Green Harbor Beach, follow Route 139 to Beach Street.
Duxbury Beach
DUXBURY: Duxbury Beach is a six-mile long barrier beach, which serves as a recreational, scenic conservation area. The water is clear and at low tide the hard-packed sand offers the perfect surface for bocce ball, soccer, or volleyball. Four-wheel drive is also available at this beach and is possible with a parking permit. A non-resident beach permit is $275,
resident beach permit is $70, resident over sand permit is $150, resident beach permit for seniors is $35, and resident over sand permit for seniors is $80. Daily parking fee is $15. Duxbury Beach is accessible off Gurnet Road in Duxbury.
Gray's Beach Park
KINGSTON: Gray’s Beach Park is a small, comfortable beach in a beautiful location, offering soft sand for the sunbather, a grassy area for
a picnic and game of Frisbee, and access to a playground for the kids. Nearby, the Wildflower Shack serves up burgers, fries, seafood, and other popular beach foods. Gray’s Beach Park can be found off of Gray’s Beach Road in the area of Rocky Nook in Kingston.
White Horse Beach
Plymouth: With lapping waves, soft, white sand, over a mile of shoreline, White Horse Beach is a beautiful spot to spend a day. This family friendly beach has chilly water offering respite from the heat and ice cream trucks also frequent the beach providing an extra treat. White Horse Beach is just six miles south of Plymouth center, right off of Rte. 3A in Manomet. Parking is restricted to private lots and some on-street parking.
Ellisville Harbor State Park
Plymouth: The shoreline is very rocky, but if you’re a nature lover, Ellisville Harbor State Park is the place to go. The park includes a barrier beach, a sphagnum bog, forest land, and lots of open meadows that make for great bird watching and, if you’re lucky, you might see seals basking on large rocks out in the water. Ellisville Harbor State Park is located south of Plymouth Center off of Route 3A in Plymouth.
Plymouth beach
Plymouth: A long barrier beach, Plymouth Beach is the perfect getaway location for summer. A respite to avoid the hassle and
traffic associated with driving over the bridge. It has also been touted as a great location to view the wind power over the ocean during storms. Perhaps lying on the beach will bring to mind Plymouth’s history of the Pilgrims’ journey on the Mayflower across the ocean to land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth has kept its quaint atmosphere even as it has grown and the beach makes the same impression. Non-resident parking is $10 weekdays, $15 weekends & holidays. Warren Avenue, Plymouth SSL
Nelson Street Beach
Plymouth: A stroll along the shoreline Nelson Street Beach allows for views of Plymouth Bay. An accessible recreational area, soccer field, and picnic tables make this a summer escape that is never boring.
This year, Nelson Street Beach will be closed for renovations
in June and July but will re-open in August. Parking is free.
Nelson Street Beach is located off of Route 3A, north of Plymouth Center.
Scusset Beach
SANDWICH: Located at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, Scusset Beach State Reservation is the perfect summer destination for swimming, camping, fishing, and bike riding. With 1.5 miles of shoreline, there is ample space to hunt for sea glass and shells. Features include picnic areas, a long stone jetty, and easy access to a 7-mile paved bike trail, which runs beside the Cape Cod Canal. Season passes are available; daily parking is available for a fee of $10 per car.
140 Scusset Beach Road, Sagamore Beach.
