Crane Beach

$25 dollars for each car. Very popular and crowded, but has lots of space and a long strip of sandy beach to accommodate almost everybody.

In summer, dogs are not allowed- you would also need a booking in advance. I sometimes go during summer without a dog, it is a great beach where you can actually swim with the water temp not bad as it is shallow. In autumn-spring, it is a doggo beach. My dog(s) love this beach. I have never walked to the end but I presume it is a very long walk. Crane beach membership is good to support the beach and if you go there often. I have been a member for many years.

I love this beach. They've got everything you expect of a privately run operation. The trustees do an excellent job with daily upkeep of the premises. You must order a "day pass" online "The Trustees of Reservations at Crane Beach" website where you can see in and off season rates and availability. Plenty of parking. Changing rooms with bathrooms, no flush composting toilets, and plenty of sinks with always full soap dispensers and multiple hands driers. Changing stalls are convenient so you can easily put on sun tan lotion properly everywhere and change into your swimsuit privately. They also have multiple outdoor shower head wash stations for after your day is done you can get that clammy beachy feel off of your body (would advise to bring some body wash as that helps to have a quick sudsy clean). They have a shop to commemorate your day at the beach with t-shirts, hoodies, and such like. They also have a place to eat if you don't come pre-prepared with food. There are miles of sand dune trails with the trailhead marker in the back right corner (as you come in at your 4 o'clock, roughly) of the main parking lot to access them all. Be prepared and pace yourself as a few miles will feel like more due to the nature of sand, and there are some tough trails that will leave you huffing and puffing if you try to run them for any length of time.

It is one of the best beaches in New England. I have come here a few times with my family already, and we always have a great time. The water was a bit chilly today, but the views are picturesque, and the sand is perfect for making sandcastles.

Crane Beach is simply amazing! The pristine cleanliness of the beach stood out immediately, making it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the day. The sand is soft, the water is clear, and the overall atmosphere is incredibly serene. Whether you’re looking to swim, sunbathe, or take a peaceful walk along the shore, Crane Beach offers it all. The facilities are well-maintained, and the natural beauty of the surroundings adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend visiting Crane Beach for anyone looking for a beautiful and clean beach getaway. It’s definitely a gem worth exploring!

We drove for 3 hours and the manger didn’t allowed us to get in because it was full and no exceptions… this was my first time ever, I wasn’t aware that you need to buy a ticket a head of time… I wish people were nicer at the gate …. however the land around was beautiful such as Caste Hill House Great House… highly recommended it… the workers were much better and friendly…

Beautiful and serene as I would describe it. Loved the sparkles in the waves. The best time to visit this place is when its not too humid and has sunny weather. Get your beach mats and take a nap!!

This is one of my favorite beaches! From the scenic drive into the area, you will find a huge parking lot. The parking is by reservation only, so you must plan ahead. There are very clean restrooms, changing areas, and outdoor showers. There is a snack Shack where you can even order ahead to save time. The store offers all the things you may have forgotten like sunscreens, pails and shovels, towels as well as novelty items such as Crane Beach clothing, gear and even lovely created lotions an scents that will remind you of the beach every time you wear them! The walk to the beach is a bit long, but the mats through the dunes make it quite easy to get your carts to the sand. Once you are on the sand, you will feel it it very soft! The lifeguard tower serves as a nice reference point for choosing your spot. There is also an ATV that will shuttle the disabled, limited mobility, and elderly, so an extra 5-Stars for being accessible to everyone! The expansive beach has plenty of room for swimming, boogie boarding, and walking the shore to collect sea treasures. The waves and the shore slope are gentle, so getting in and out of the water is not a chore. Highly recommended and is almost always on the Best Beaches of New England list!

Still my Favorite beach! Beautiful, clean, and picture perfect. So peaceful watching the boats, planes, and seagulls flying around with the seagrass swaying in the breeze. Day pass $40/after 4pm $25 - Handicap parking, beach wheelchairs, and an accessibility shuttle from the parking lot to beachfront are available. Request at the beach store - Crane beach store 9-5 - chair & umbrella rentals - bath house, outdoor shower, tables, bathrooms - Crane Snack Shack - matted walkway to the beach entrance by the bathhouse Parking changes: Beginning Thursday May 16th, 2024, passes are released at noon on Thursday for the upcoming Friday through Monday, and Monday at noon for the upcoming Tuesday through Thursday. Advanced passes are required for daily admission.

Crane's Beach is kind of a legendary place. It's a huge beach at the end of a rocky road in Ipswich. Parking is regulated and you need to have an electronic ticket to park. They have changing/rest rooms. There is a Shake Shack with a short but fun menu. Then there is the beach, which stretches widely in both directions. It's quite beautiful and serene. Recommended.

This is still the best beach in New England!!! Clean, soft sands, and I am delighted to be part of the trustees of the reservation to access such a beach and Other spectacular places in New England that are preserved! I swear you are in another world when you come here and it may be a little pricey to get in so encourage you to join the membership! they have different levels so check out which one they have on their websiteb display is clean, clean clean and beautiful!

This was a very pretty beach. The sand was so nice and soft, it was actually nice to walk on. The water was ice cold lol. It was really nice and peaceful though. Would definitely recommend. Parking is overpriced though and you even have to book parking ahead which is silly.

Really beautiful, well-maintained beach. As of this summer, there was a $45 all-day entrance fee for non-members, but that price is per vehicle, so if you're going as a group or family, that isn't bad at all. Plus, it gives you the flexibility to go whatever time in the day. Just be aware that, regardless of whether you're a member or nonmember, it seems like you need to buy a pass in advance. We saw quite a few cars have to do the sad little u-turn at the entrance. Once you get inside, they have the usual facilities - restrooms, changing areas (including separate ones for families), a little shower section to rinse off, and even a wood fired pizza. Just be aware that if you want to buy something off the vending machines, you will get ripped off. I was a little irked that they didn't show the prices for anything until you swiped the CC. We paid $4.50 for a can (!!) of water. I guess they're trying to do their best to cut down on recycling but we didn't really drink much of our water because sand kept getting in the rim and the metal heated up quickly. Wah wah, I know. Definitely bring your own beverages. No trouble at all finding a nice spot right by the water. We came on one of the last summer weekends but it wasn't too crowded. Appreciated that no one was blasting loud music out of a stereo. Water, IMO, was frigid but the sand was top quality, no sharp shells or rocks ripping up your feet. Didn't see a spot of trash anywhere. Yes, there is a very, very short walk from the parking lot to the beach through the dunes but they laid out a rubber path to make it easier and, unless you're weighed down by too much beach gear, it's nothing to complain about at all.

Beautiful. Very peaceful. I bet it gets busy in the summer. I've been to many beaches, but Crane beach's bathroom is one of the cleanest beach bathrooms I've ever been in. Had about 10 stalls to change your clothes. Plenty of parking. Very well maintained.

A beautiful beach and dunes. Knowledgeable Guides. The crane mansion is impressive from the outside (not open in the winter)

A really lovely beach. I admittedly am not completely thorough with all the beaches in Mass, but out of the ones I have been to, Crane Beach is a great experience. **BE SURE TO BUY YOUR PASS BEFOREHAND ONLINE.** They have someone at the entrance who scans in your ticket on your phone, and that is seamless. Aaaand, it could totally be majorly frustrating to make the drive there not knowing this. If you purchase it in advance (cheaper on the weekdays), my experience was that it was not a crowded beach and because of how expansive Crane Beach is, you could easily find a lil spot of solitude/properly socially distance. It was all worth the planning in advance--both the beautiful scenic views and dune-filled beach, but also the peace of mind of knowing you're not going to a packed beach. I think the Trustees has been doing a nice job managing these properties given everything. But again--the key with this beach is to buy that pass in advance. They also have a snack shack w/some grilled food/other items--and bathrooms on site. Also be prepared to take all your trash out (no trash cans near the shack area were visible). A lovely beach here in MA.

The most beautiful beach I have visited in the states. The sunset is to die for. The water is not aggressive and very much enjoyable. The sand felt great. Not too many shells like in Martha's Vineyard - shells at the Martha felt like they were going to slash my feet lol Anyway, make sure you get your parking pass days before if possible to ensure your entrance. We loved our visit so much we wanted to go back the following day but it was at capacity.

Best beach on NS! Of course you have to sort out paying during the summer season and reserving spot online but it's def worth it (or free for trustees members.) The sand dune hiking path is amazing and you can get a really decent workout in since you're trekking through sand and small hills. If you start the trail towards the left (closer to the beach) you can take a few side trails off of that if you get tired of the trail and don't want to do a complete loop. The beach is plenty spacious and fairly long. You can find sand dollars, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs and so much more at low tide! The bathrooms are nice too and the food shack looks good (never tried it.) definitely come here for a beach day!

$10 admission per vehicle for non-members. A great area to be active as the dunes do put some effort on your muscles. Even on a windy day, the views were great and picturesque. Plenty of parking was available, but only one bathroom was open so a line did accumulate among the few people who were in the area on a Thursday afternoon. We walked around a part of the Green Trail (1.7mi) but other longer and shorter trails are available.

This beach gets very crowded and the walk from the parking lot to the ocean was quite a trek. There is a large parking lot so that's a plus and also a restroom with multiple stalls. The water was cold but that didn't stop many people from jumping right in. The water was actually pretty calm compared to the west coast beaches. Our family had a great day here walking the beach and enjoying the water.

Gorgeous beach, especially off season. There's a dog section, you'll often see horses on the beach, birds galore. It's a Long Beach so great for a walk and to explore. If it's cold be prepared for freezing wind and weather. If it's windy, also be prepared. It's a wonderful spot to enjoy the salty air. I recommend getting a beach pass if you're planning to go more than a couple times--it adds up fast!

My family and I have suffered discrimination and intimidation by the management and security team at the entrance of Crane Beach. We had bought an all day pass over the phone which at no point mentioned that there was no re entry. We had a daughter in a neighboring town we had to pick up and bring later in the day, we explained that we had travelled two hours to come to this beach and what the management team did was send us a police officer to kick us out. They claim we were rude, although the guard yelled at us and also asked us "where are you from", then said "you are probably from NY" and then refused to give us a refund when denied access to the beach. Then they had a second police officer bully us into leaving the premises. It was an all white team. They didn't care that our daughter was crying, they clearly don't like anyone who doesn't ask in an apologetic way to consider that their website doesn't make this information clear. We have filed a formal complaint with the police station for discrimination and mentioned the acts of intimidation that were used against us. We would love to go to this beach, but The Trustees need to understand that intimidating non white people is not ok. We expect a formal apology... and a refund.

never again!,!!!, the only beach in mass that wanted to charge 25 dollars to go on beach for five minutes easter sunday when the temp was windchill 25 degrees. its not even memorial day yet! went down the road to wingaersheek beach. no charge and absolutely gorgeous. whoever runs crane beach should be embarrased.

Super expensive parking but if you can come with friends it is so so worth it! Tip- they drop the tickets every Thursday which is nice that it doesn't sell out in may for the summer! This beach is super clean and super beautiful, the water was not filled with seaweed and was just delightful to be in (of course it was cold). There's also tide pools on one end and you can see two currents clashing together it's pretty cool. Definitely recommend this place! Also their bathrooms are so nice - like spa nice considering it's a beach - though be warned it's not sewage like with a flush, basically just a pit.

Heaven on earth!!! Crane beach is my happy place, especially after Labor Day when the crowds die down and the beach becomes even more peaceful. This beach is pristine, with no trash at all and clean facilities. They even have a food kiosk if you're feeling hungry on the beach. Things to note: first, check their Twitter feed to seed if the green heads (annoying biting flies) are out and the state of the parking lot. They're really good about updating their Twitter. I would recommend avoiding the beach during peak green head season, it's just not pleasurable. For the busiest weekends in the summer, the parking lot does fill up and they won't allow any more cars into the beach. If you check Twitter ahead of time, you'll be all set. Second, guard your belongings from the precocious seagulls. They're BOLD here. If you leave your towel for a walk down the beach, they will go through your belongings and steal your food. I recommend bringing bags that zip! This really is a great beach. You can't go wrong with a trip to Crane!!

There is no fucking cranes here I came to go bird watching und I sat down all day looking for them and I realized there were no cranes I just got scammed! But the beach was not bad

beautiful beautiful beach, so clean and taken care of. Will definitely come again in the future

I came here for the second time yesterday with some out of town friends. I left slightly later than planned (10:45am on a Sunday), and unfortunately were met with a full parking lot. We drove back into town and decided to take the shuttle. It was a pretty long line and ended up waiting approx an hour after the first 3 shuttles filled up twice. But, we saved half the cost of parking there since a round trip shuttle ticket is only $5 per person as opposed to the $30 parking fee. HOWEVER, once we got to the beach, everyone on the bus saw how the parking lot was absolutely not full; not even close! We counted 30 spots east, which is unfortunate for so many that were on a time crunch and willing to pay! I don't understand the logic because they're losing so much money not allowing it to remain as close to full as possible! Seems like they need a better system of keeping track and communicating to the officers that are turning cars away. I digress. . . On to the beach, facilities, and overall beach day! I was told I HAD to check out Crane Beach because it was one of the best north shore beaches. Haven't been to many, so I can't really compare but I can confirm that it is a GORGEOUS Beach! The water is so clear, no seaweed; the sand is soft with no rocks or anything you have to watch out for when setting up your space. It's very popular so lots and lots of people and umbrellas! But there is so much beach that there's plenty of room for everyone. I haven't done it yet, but I was told the best spot is walking out maybe 15-20 mins down the beach where it's much more secluded and quiet. Also something I haven't done is taken advantage of the numerous trails there are to explore! Can't wait to come back for that! As far as beach bathrooms go, this one is sooo nice! Plenty of changing rooms and bathrooms. Wide open space with curtains that actually close! There are outdoor showers, about 5 of them to clean all the sand off! There's also a snack bar and beach shop for all the things you forgot and souvenirs!

I love Crane beach. My favorite part is the you can walk about a mile down the beach and then take a trail up to walk around the grounds of the Crane Estate. (I'd wear some sort of footwear on the trail) The changing rooms are nice and there is potable water available to refill water bottles and composting toilets, as well as a snack bar that has burgers/ice cream/etc. The soda vending machines only take $1 bills which is somewhat annoying as the food line can be quite long if you just want to get a drink. The food stand does take credit cards. The per-car fee is $20 for trustees of the reservation and $30 for non-members. Parking can also get full quickly so come early and use as few vehicles as possible.

Beautiful, as always. Crane's beach is a N. Shore escape to add variety to any weekend or full-vacay get-away, especially for a Bostonian who's combed every inch of the Cape. The beach, along with the accompanying Crane estate off breathtaking scenes, lovely in their variety and the changes they bring to fortunate locals and droves of tourists yearly from May to October and beyonc. And Crane's properties' still stand confidently as classic unspoiled icons of old New England. Ipswich looks like it was painted. Yankee pride's in the architecture, accent and the air ('ay-ah') out there. ('They-ah') Hey, even Boston guys gotta try that old try the N. Shore accent. And after a day in the bracing blue-green waters of the Atlantic by Crane's beach, head to Ipswich town for awesome seafood of every kind, maybe the best steamers and lobster I've ever had!

The best beach north of Cape Cod. Clean, lots of room, nice but not too large waves. Love it. There is a very clean changing area as well. Yes it's an expensive pain to park. It's a privately owned beach. Get over it. What I recommend, is to park in Ipswich or Essex and ride bicycles to the beach. A beautiful ride and the entrance is free. You can add a stop at Woodman's for whole belly fried clams... you've earned it!

i LOVE this beach! the sand is great quality, amazing air quality too, green heads (bugs) are bad in season tho. the thing i don't love is how people are trying to make a business out of other people connecting with nature. there are def karen's here.. maybe more parking could be built in the future to make it less of an issue, or something could be done to allow longer hours of access for people to even make reservations to catch lovely sunsets, and allow more people to come for free or less money for a longer duration of time. don't think i've ever been here at night because they are strict about kicking everybody out before dark every time i have been. it just feels wrong to be enjoying a crisp nature moment and have karen threaten to lock up the doors on this place drive up to you on the beach with a pickup truck, then tell you to leave.. when we all share the earth and i genuinely enjoy going here, i just wish people could work together to allow greater accessibility to the general public. i would give the place 5 stars, but the people behind the $ part, a 1 bc improvements can 100% be made to enhance the quality of peoples lives here in my opinion.

Looks like Crane Beach is requiring a membership and parking pass .. which costs non residents close to $150 to go to the beach even if you just plan on going 1 time. I understand the need to control crowds during Covid but restricting access to only those who can pay this fee is not a great solution in my view. The beach is never that crowded during the week either. Couldn't they come up with a better way to manage weekend crowds like pre paying online and once it's sold out unless you are a member you can't get in. I think the Trustees mainly care about making money from their properties. Unfortunate when these beautiful places are supposed to be available to everyone to enjoy.

Pristine, gorgeous beach with white smooth sand. Definitely not rocky. Water clean, clear but extremely cold. Pricey admission but worth it. Snack bar expensive and not great---bring your own food and drinks.

I am a disabled vet and struggling to get from parking lot to beach. A man pulled up in an ATV and said "need a ride ?" HR said he is a transport his name mike young. Mike was friendly courteous he took me to the beach, and after right to the thank you door of.my car. The world could a few more mike youngsters. Thank you mike and thank you cranes beach

Despite being about 100 miles long...they only let on a certain number of people and that costs you $25...what a joke

Beautiful beach! The water was actually some what warm compared to other MA beaches. Also it was extremely quiet which was nice.

Nice beach but oh so crowded. On a nice day the parking at the beach gets filled up quick in the morning so you'll have to go to the train station to hop a ride on a bus that will cost you $5 round trip but comes every 45 minutes. Last bus leaves at 5:30pm. Good luck!

Cranes Beach is consistently rated one of the best beaches in the world for good reason. It's Sandy with waves staffed with lifeguards and support staff and beautiful

Crane beach was nice. It has good facilities - a lot of toilets and a shower area. It is definitely one of the closest beaches in Boston but you have to go early thought because it will be packed by mid day. A lot of families, which means a lot of kids but you can avoid them by walking further where there are less people. It is a bit pricey though, that's all. Also, they have food choices too which is always a good idea.

This is by far my favorite beach I've been to so far! The water is perfect & the sand is so soft... I would absolutely recommend visiting!

This is a beautiful (and long) beach with a larger parking lot so you'll still be able to get in if you arrive at 11am on a hot Saturday. The sand is soft, the water cool, and there's enough mileage that if you walk out far enough, you can find a quiet spot to relax. Beware that there are greenhead flies here.

Love Crane beach! It's the prettiest beach on the North shore. It still takes my breath away and I feel lucky to be part of this community.

The best beach I have been to on the MBTA route! The place is scenic and has amenities that most beaches do not have. They have nice bathrooms, a restaurant and even a gift shop. The beach itself boasts white sandy beaches and calm clear waters.

One the best beaches in MA! Seriously a gem that I would rather keep hidden for locals only. Their waters are warm and sand beds are flat and shallow and sometimes you'll even encounter some seals resting with their heads out of the water. I could assume this would be a great place for beach fishing too if you don't mind the walk all the way down away from the swimmers. I've seen many anglers in the past. You might even find a clam or conch too but please don't take them home. Lifeguards are watching! And be very weary of those darn green flies, they draw blood!

We had a lovely time at Crane Beach! We came on a cool day, so we didn't really go into the water, but we took a nice walk along the beach and the sand dunes. It is such a beautiful place! It's easy to spend a few hours here just walking around. I'm sure it would be great on a warm summer day, too, but the lack of crowds on a colder day made it a very peaceful visit.

Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA, is an oasis for urban dwellers less than an hour outside of Boston. From North Station, we took the Newburyport line to the Ipswich station, where a the $1 "Essex Explorer" bus took us through the picturesque downtown (which I'd like to go back and explore), through wooded streets and past an orchard/winery (where I'd also plan to stop next time), then out across open fields with rolled haystacks, and bikers pedalling languidly toward the sea . Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the beach. What a sight. The shoreline seemed to go on forever in both directions, and the fields and hills surrounding it stretched out in a vista so luxurious and wide that I almost started to cry. This was what I had been needing for weeks--a truly beautiful natural scene to rest my tired eyes. A sandy array of snack shacks, free showers and kids running up and down a boardwalk greeted us when we first walked in. After paying a $2 walk-on fee that helps maintain the pristine nature of this preservatory, we climbed over the dunes on wooded steps to find a beach to beat any Cape Cod fantasy. Beach grass grew everywhere on the flat shore, striped umbrellas popped up like mushrooms as the day wore on, and a walk down the beach revealed purple sands under our footprints and bright white boats anchored in the gentle surf. It was a little cool that day, but the beach was full of families, taking the weekend off. I was actually incredibly stressed that morning, fixated on an impending deadline, and my boyfriend was making business calls all day--it was the first day off he'd had in weeks. But something about Crane Beach quieted something in us that nothing else could have. What a magical place. I hope to come back many times after this--and I plan to share its easy accessibility with as many auto-less Bostonians as I can. When it's this simple, there's no excuse not to visit Crane Beach.

This beach is consistently rated as one of the top-- if not the top-- beaches in Massachusetts each year, so naturally I had to check it out. And damn if it isn't a fine beach. First of all, it is HUGE. I went on a perfect beach Saturday in July, and while it was packed, if you walked far enough you could get a solid chunk of beach real estate all to yourself (and I did). I typically walk any beach I visit from end to end, but this one was too long to do that. The Crane Beach reservation itself is beautiful and well-kept. The main conservation objective seems to be protecting the piping plover population and preserve the dunes, hence the roped off areas behind the main beach. There are a number of nature trails that branch off from the parking lot that you can check out-- only problem is, they're sandy trails that are hard to navigate in shoes but too scaldingly hot in the summer for bare feet. In terms of accessibility: you can either drive and park ($25) or, if it's a weekend, take the commuter rail to Ipswich Station (Newburyport line, zone 6, about $19 round trip from North Station as of July '14) and take the $5 round-trip CATA shuttle from Ipswich station to the beach. I did the latter and would highly recommend it! The bus driver was super friendly, the ride to the beach was gorgeous, and we got to bypass the long line of cars waiting to get in. Just be sure to coordinate the bus-train schedule ahead of time to minimize the time you spend waiting for the train/bus. Downsides to this beach? The Greenhead flies SUCK. Literally. Apparently July is when they're around in full force, and they are doggedly persistent in their pursuit of flesh. Also, there aren't a ton of concession options, and the snack bar that is present is, like, hella expensive, but that's a price I'm willing to pay for a beach that isn't commercially developed. But overall: check it out! Go on a weekday if you can-- even though there's plenty of space for all, I would admit that the huge crowds killed my beach vibe a little bit.

I was searching for beaches close to the Boston area and was recommended Crane Beach by a co-worker. It is the epitome of a family friendly beach. I headed there on labor day weekend and despite it being mid 80s the water was frigid (65 degrees - Brrr!!) The cold water didn't ruin all the fun. I felt vastly under prepared when I noticed family upon family with lounge and table setups and having picnics right on the beach. If you're not a member the parking is a bit pricy - I'd recommend investing in a membership, it pays for itself if you go only three times over the summer. Make sure to get there as early as possible since parking tends to fill up quick! Overall the beach was absolutely beautiful - nice sand and clean. Make sure to bring bug spray as well, as I heard the black flies can get pretty bad during the summer months. It's a great day trip if you're in the Boston area!

Went there for the first time, i have never seen that many flies in my life and they sting you so baaad!!!! Its like terrible everyone was fighting with the flies it was a disaster for sure not going back!!!!! I wish someone warned me !!! Dont go there!!!!

Loved this beach, it was expansive, and a fun place to spend the afternoon. We set up our chairs and had a wonderful afternoon.

Wow, this beach is top notch. It is a bit expensive to get in and park on the weekends ($25), but we came up later in the day (around 3:30) and we able to park for half-price ($12.50). The parking lot is a good size and is close to the beach, easily accessible by several boardwalks. The bathrooms and changing facilities are well kept. The toilets were a a bit dirty, but not horrible and certainly not as bad as I anticipated. The changing areas, however, were really nice. There are several hooks on which to hang your clothes and nice thick cloth curtains that fully cover the entrance to the individual changing rooms. There are no showers inside the bath house, but there are outdoors showers located directly outside so you can rinse yourself off before heading in to change. The beach itself was very clean with hardly any noticeable litter. I was especially pleased not to see any cigarette butts, although I did see one person smoking. It was fairly crowded when we first arrived, but quieted down towards sunset. The sunsets here are absolutely beautiful. I would recommend staying for the sunset, although it does get a little cooler, and you are a little rushed as the beach officially closes at sunset. The water was pretty cold, but I was able to acclimate myself after a few minutes. My own complaint is that while you have a lot of room to swim given the length of the beach, they don't allow you to swim very far out because you then encroach upon the "boat zone". I swam out to the buoy indicating the boat zone. The water is deep and, with the boat traffic it's a bit rough in the water. Overall, I'd recommend this beach highly.

the whitest softest baby powder sand! Visitors flock from across the country to bask on this beautiful beach. NOTE: leave before sunset ... to avoid the biting green head flies. THE DEAL: Every Thursday, in July & August, there is a live concert on the lawn of Crane Castle. It's only @$25 per car and BYOPicnic...JUST DO IT!

First - I love this beach. It's my happy place. Here's the issue. I became a member with a parking permit so that we could go regularly ($155). I set a weekly timer so that I will be on for the noon release Thursdays only to find that there are no permit holder passes available at any point. Only passes available for sale to members ($30 weekend or non-members $50 weekend). I keep inquiring but no one is answering my questions. I gave it a while due to Covid as I thought it might be a systems glitch but now not so sure as my issue is not being addressed. So sad as we are missing out again and I keep wasting my time.

By far one of my favorite beaches in Massachusetts (excluding the Cape, Vineyard and Nantucket). This literally is the perfect beach with stretches of clean white sand, a great snack bar with all types of yummy and healthy options, clean restrooms and ample parking. I've never had a bad experience here and will continue visiting each summer. The amount you pay to park is worth it for the quality you receive. If you want to park somewhere free expect the beach to be less maintained. You get what you pay for and that rule most definitely applies to Crane Beach.

This is very nice BAY. What's not nice is $25 you have to pay for parking. But overall a clean beach with nice sand and clean water that you can easily see to the bottom when in. I went here in July and I will also say the water was pretty frigid not sure if it warms up later in the year. Honestly, a good beach but if you wanna make a bit of a further drive outside of the Boston area I would opt for wingaersheek beach in Gloucester.

I have been a trustees member with a beach access parking permit for years, and yes it is fairly expensive $185 plus. Which I found reasonable if you use it. However, the trustees who manage the beach is now ripping the beach permit holders off citing Covid-19 as the issue. I get limited access, I get website incompetency and policy changes. However it has now been decided that people who have paid for membership cannot access the beach on weekends! The Trustees have intentionally shut them out and weekend dates are only available to non - members or non-beach pass members who need to pay $35 or more for the day. Two weeks ago Saturday was excluded to permit holders, last week it was Sunday (both were the best weather days) and this coming week it is both Saturday and Sunday! I have written the Trustees several times and no response. I will not renew my membership and I will find another nice beach on the north or south shore. There are plenty - you should do the same. Bryan K