Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Beach
Newbury, MA
The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge protects most of Plum Island, and its beach is the quiet, undeveloped end of it. Boardwalks cross the dunes from a series of numbered lots to miles of open sand. Sections close each spring and summer to protect nesting piping plovers, so the beach you get depends on the calendar.
Long stretches of undeveloped sand with real wildlife are rare this close to Boston, but the plover closures and the full lot policy mean it isn't always open to you.
How we score beachesThe refuge limits how many cars it lets in, so when the lots fill the gate closes for the day. Arrive early on a hot weekend or plan on one of the alternative beaches nearby.
The entrance fee is $5 per car, covering all passengers, and parking is in numbered lots along the refuge road.
Boardwalks lead over the dunes from the lots, and a beach wheelchair is available at the Lot 1 beach on request.
Dogs and other pets are never allowed anywhere in the refuge.
Early spring through midsummer, parts of the beach are closed for plover nesting. Late summer and fall bring open sand and big skies, and the refuge is a top birding stop during migration.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.