slides: Great Massachusetts Beaches for a Daytrip

Crane's Beach, Ipswich

If a day at the beach means more than just sand and sun, then Crane's Beach is the place for you.

This 1234 acre recreation spot features hiking trails and ecology sites and is home to nesting sites for piping plovers, a threatened bird that was nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century for its eggs and feathers.  

This pristine beach features lifeguards, park rangers, bathhouse, picnic tables and the Crane Beach Store.

Distance from Worcester:  80 miles (1 hour, 45 minutes)

Salisbury Beach

Swimming, boating, fishing, and camping are all popular activities at the Salisbury Beach State Reservation, which is operated by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.  

This nearly 4 mile sandy beach features a jetty as well as dunes. Facilities include a playground, bathhouse, a pavilion and boat ramps along the Merrimack River.

Distance from Worcester: 75 miles (1 hour, 30 minutes)

Wingaersheek Beach

With white sands, crystal clear waters, and huge rocks in the water that you can climb around at low tide, Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester is one of the most popular beaches in Massachusetts for families. 

The beach goes on forever at low tide and the water stays shallow for a long time. The tide pool formations are perfect places for kids to get up-close-and-personal with snails, tiny fish & shrimp, hermit crabs, and other creatures. 

There are no real waves to speak of, so it's great for little ones.

Distance from Worcester: 80 miles (1 hour, 35 minutes)

Horseneck Beach

Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, Horseneck State Beach Reservation in Westport features a sandy, southwest-facing, 2-mile long beach that is breezy all year round, making it an excellent place to wind surf.  

The beach features nearly 600 acres of barrier beach and salt marsh, and the combination of ocean beach and estuary habitat makes Horseneck one of the premier birding locations in New England. There is also a campground behind the dunes near Gooseberry Neck.  

Distance from Worcester: 75 miles (1 hour, 25 minutes

Nantasket Beach

Once home to an amusement park, Nantasket Beach Reservation in Hull, features the Paragon Carousel, which is has been a fixture by the beach for more than 80 years.  The carousel, one of fewer than 100 grand carousels that remain, is all that is left of Paragon Park, which closed in 1984.

The mile long beach features fine gray sand and tide pools at low tide.  

Distance from Worcester: 65 miles (1 hour, 30 minutes)

Long Beach, Plymouth

Long Beach in Plymouth is a gorgeous strip of beach jutting off into the Atlantic Ocean. This is a great beach for walking; as you walk the nearly three miles of beach, you will see nothing but sand dunes, waves, sea birds and shells.  

Distance from Worcester: 78 miles (1 hour, 35 minutes)

Old Silver Beach

Located on Buzzards Bay, Old Silver Beach in Falmouth has the feel of a Carribean beach.  White sand, warm water and a sand bar that stretches far out into the ocean make this an ideal place to take the family for a day at the beach. 

Distance from Worcester: 93 miles (1 hour, 50 minutes)

Sandy Neck Beach

This bayside beach is great for walking and sightseeing.  The beach is rocky, so be sure to bring watershoes for everyone.  Sandy Neck Beach is located in Barnstable.

If you're into off-roading, Sandy Neck Beach offers a front beach driving corridor which is available for permitted vehicles (cost $50 for the season).  

Distance from Worcester: 96 miles (2 hours)

Crosby Landing Beach

If you're looking for salt water and a great place to take the kids, Crosby Landing Beach in Brewster is the place.  Located on Cape Cod Bay, the beach is sheltered, with mud flats and tide pools.  This great beach for the little ones is also a great place to fly a kite.  

The bay location of Crosby Landing makes it an ideal place to watch the sunset.

Distance from Worcester: 120 miles (2 hours, 15 minutes)

Nauset Beach

Operated by the town of Orleans, Nauset Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  Famous for reports of shark sightings, Nauset is home to a sandy beach and giant waves that make it great for body surfing and boogie boarding. 

Distance from Worcester: 123 miles (2 hours, 20 minutes)