Crane Beach
Ipswich, MA
Crane Beach runs four miles along the Crane Estate, a Trustees of Reservations property backed by some of the tallest dunes in New England and a maritime forest locals hike as much as they swim. The scale of the place, both the beach and the estate behind it, is what sets it apart from the rest of the North Shore.
The dunes and the estate behind them are genuinely spectacular, unlike almost anywhere else on the North Shore, though the steep summer parking fee makes a spontaneous visit expensive.
How we score beachesSkip the peak summer weekend entirely if you can. The $45 non-member parking fee and the crowd both hit their max on a hot Saturday, while a weekday visit feels like a different beach.
Non-member parking runs $40 to $45 in summer, $10 in the off season. Ipswich residents can buy an annual sticker.
Boardwalks cross the dunes from the lot to the beach. Trails through the estate are less developed and hillier.
Leashed dogs are welcome October 1 through March 31 only. They're not permitted April through September.
Water stays cool, rarely past the mid 60s, typical of the North Shore. Fall brings the dog season and thinner crowds, arguably the best time to see the dunes and forest together.
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