The New England beach scene has a diverse array of sand to appease all appetites.
From the adventure-seekers to partygoers to sunbathers, there are beaches to make everyone happy.
You can find cliffs, sandbars, coves and inlets to explore. And there will be endless options for dining and cocktail sipping along the shores.
You surely have some of your favorite beaches. Here are five of our favorites that you can try:
Narragansett boasts a vibrant surfing scene at the south end of the beach by the seawall. The waves are reliable, the sand superb, and there is no shortage of amenities in this Ocean State gem. Thrillist named this one of the “20 greatest beach towns in the U.S.” for 2024. The Coast Guard House Restaurant, operating since the 1940s, is Narragansett’s go-to mecca for great views and great vibes.
Jenness State Beach boasts a sandy beach ideal for swimming and picnicking. Jenness is home to Summer Sessions Surf Shop and is a great place to learn to surf, with a flat sand-bottomed beach with no current. Metered parking is available for 67 cars. The beach also has a bathhouse with showers and restrooms. Nearby, there are plenty of dining options, including the popular Carriage House restaurant and raw bar, a Seacoast institution.
Goose Rocks Beach is a family favorite 3-mile stretch of beach, offering wide, soft tracts of sand, especially at low tide, as well as stunning ocean and island views, and marine and shorebird wildlife. Parking can be a challenge, and services are limited. It’s a terrific option for shoulder season, when the crowds are much smaller but the sand just as enticing.
Located on the south end of Martha’s Vineyard, South Beach boasts incredible sunsets and bodysurfing opportunities as well as a protected pond for calmer swimming. The pristine sand and untouched dunes are big draws. New access ways have been created in the wake of damaging storms from last winter. Winnetu Oceanside Resort is a popular beachfront destination offering beachside access, two outdoor heated swimming pools and a variety of activities and seasonal events.
Located on the Connecticut coast between New London and New Haven — perfect if you’re exploring the New Haven pizza trail — historic Hammonasset Beach State Park is the state’s largest shoreline park, attracting more than 3 million visitors annually for special activities and views looking out to Long Island Sound. Besides two miles of beach, the park features wetlands and woodlands to explore. Ride through the park on Hammonasset’s three-mile BURT trail from West Beach all the way to Meigs Point. Bring your canoe or kayak and enjoy a paddle while soaking in the sun and views of the Connecticut shoreline. More than 500 grassy open campsites (including eight rustic cabins) dot the meandering loops of the campground, and fishing is popular from the stone breakwater.
