Sandy Point State Reservation
Ipswich, MA
Sandy Point State Reservation sits on the southern tip of Plum Island in Ipswich, across the mouth of the Essex Bay channel from Crane Beach. It has 77 acres of wide sand with the open ocean on one side and calmer river water on the other. Small lots keep the crowds well below what Crane draws next door.
Open sand, two kinds of water, and a fraction of Crane's crowds make it a favorite for those who know it, but the tiny lots are a real limit.
How we score beachesGet there early on summer weekends, when the small lots fill fast. The river side is the easier spot for kids, and the ocean side is better for a long walk.
The entrance fee is $5 per car, and the parking is limited to a small main lot near the beach entrance plus a few more spaces a short walk away.
Expect a walk from the lot to the beach, ending in soft sand, so it is a tougher trip for wheelchairs and strollers.
Dogs are not allowed at Sandy Point.
Water is at its warmest in August, and shoulder season days are quiet. Shorebird nesting closes parts of the beach in spring and early summer.
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