Good Harbor Beach

One of Massachusetts’ crown jewels of beaches, particularly in off season (which means free parking), minutes from Gloucester center. A wonderful expanse of white sand beach backed up by dunes with a creek winding into the salt marshes. Extensive wildlife habitat including Salt Island, which is often accessible at low tide. We spotted a mere dozen people walking this warm, sunny late afternoon in late September. Expect quite a crowd in the warmer months, to be sure.

This beach was really cute. It is a smaller beach but I like that during the off season- dogs are allowed to run! We took a walk at dusk. It was super foggy and super spooky!

Disappointed the last 2 years I have been with my family. My kids love the Creek and it's been closed. I don't think they should be charging full price since this is the. Reason that many families go here because of the creek. I l Lived here for fifteen years and it's definitely gone down hill

Beach was great but the bathrooms and vending are supposed to close at 5. It's 2:30 and they closed the doors literally in front of my wife who just wanted to wash her hands because it's a "slow day". Are they still charging $30 bucks to get in then? I'd bet. Ridiculous part of an otherwise great day.

You just must walk this beach with your kids and head out to Salt island at low tide. The beach is a memory maker for any family.

Staying at Blue Shutters Beachside Inn across the street from Good Harbor Beach. Great place to stay and can walk to the beautiful beach in 2 minutes!

Great beach but not loving the prepaid parking reservation system. It was sold out, we weren't able to get in.

Awesome beach. Great for swimming, boating, and crabbing.

I love this beach! I almost drowned here once! It was so fun! If I was choosing a place to drop a corpse here, it would be here! I love the service they provide too! I wish I worked here so at least I would be having fun working my minimum wage job as a housekeeper! Oh, and your nasty ass tourists don't clean up after yourselves.

Good harbor beach is a beautiful beach located in north east Massachusetts near Gloucester. It's super busy in the summer, but there's always plenty of room on the beach for families. There's a shack right off the beach that sells snacks and seafood. The line at the shack is usually pretty long, wait it about 10-15 minutes on average. I love this beach because of how spacious it is and close it is to the city, compared to other beaches on the cape. Parking in the summer is $25 per day. Overall rating: 10/10

I'll give the beach a 5 star rating but what I don't like is there are no prices listed at the concession stand, and it's not cheap.

Anyone coming to Gloucester or Rockport has to see this Beach!!! Just gorgeous and HUGEEE- don't miss it!!

Good harbor beach might be Massachusetts best kept secret. This is the best beach I have found thus far. The parking is $35, a bit more expensive than other beaches but worth it in my opinion! Make sure you get there early because the lot fills up quickly. The nice part about the lot filling up, is that it keeps the beach from becoming overcrowded. The sand is soft and the water is clear! There are pretty houses along the coast that make the view very scenic. I also liked that there were food options and restrooms available. Overall I had a fantastic time and think this would be worthwhile for a day trip to the beach!

Did I just find the best beach in Mass? I think yes! Good Harbor has it all. From soft sand to clear waters and rolling waves. I will 100% be back and back again. This beach is about 45 minutes from Boston, so really a quick drive in comparison to going to the Cape for the day. They had a "Beach Pit" food counter with so many options and a good size parking lot. The one caveat with all the COVID restrictions is trying to get into the beach especially as a non-resident. I would bank on getting here before 8 am. They open the lot at 8 am so you need to be in line before or you risk them running out of space the lot becoming full. We had two cars worth of people come to the beach and we left Boston at 7 am and were able to make it in without any problems. Navigating this was a little tricky with so many people but it ended up being a total success.

Sort of a nice beach but $30 damn dollars for weekend parking and $25 on weekdays??!! That's worse than parking in Boston for a Red So game! That's kind of ridiculous. Not bad for a family who will stay there all day ... But if you want to spend a couple hours at a beach in Gloucester, you'll need a resident parking permit at the smaller, rocky beaches or pay a third of $100 to park at the larger beaches. And despite the town website saying it's a 'white sand' beach, it looks pretty brown/muddy when the tide goes out. For some reason the beach almost looks like a lake beach vs. an ocean beach. This def. isn't picturesque like Cape Cod National Seashore, although you pay more to park here. The coolest part of the beach is that when the tide is right, you can walk across to a rocky island. Not quite sure what goes on at the island ... Looks like mostly kids climbing on the rocks but it's interesting you can just walk through ankle deep water to get there. The crowd was fairly upscale. Lots of yuppie families ... It wasn't packed with loud teenagers drinking or riff raff blaring music from speakers. Sort of a small beach though ... You can walk from one end to the next easily. Definitely not the nicest or most picturesque beach I've been to and for $30 ... what a rip off! I can't imagine it would be good for anyone other than families who want to walk over to the 'island' or lay on the beach all day.

It was my pleasure to visit Gloucester again recently and I enjoyed the beautiful story book town and all the friendly people I met. This beach is serene and beautiful with so many kind and warmhearted people. I never ran out of people to talk to and look forward to visiting again.

One of my favorite beaches. Love the waves for Boogie-boarding, the soft sands and also taking a walk out to the island at low tide. Very busy on Summer weekends, but always worth the trip!

Really pretty beach. Parking is close to the beach and it was a short walk compared to other beaches.

Good Harbor Beach is one of favorite beaches to visit. The water is clean, clear, no seaweed and has a great snack shop. The tide goes out pretty far, which doubles the size of the beach and even creates a sand bar that allows you to walk over to the small island across the way. The parking is a bit expensive at $35, but to spend the day there is not so bad and it's up there with the other popular beaches in Massachusetts. Highly recommend visiting!

The $35 fee for parking definitely stings, but this is a beautiful beach. The sand is pristine and the water is crystal clear. All the things that normally blight New England beaches (rocks, seaweed, horseflies, etc.) are totally absent. There's a small island off the coast that you can wade to during low tide. I will definitely come back--as long as I can gather together some friends to split the parking fee with!

I mean, this is the kind of beach you paint. This is a beach you propose on. Where you have a wedding. The sunsets are insanity. Enjoy & take your trash with you.

Beautiful beach. Like every other reviewer says: get here early! If you do, you may even be able to find FREE parking in the area like we did and easily walk to the beach in less than 10 minutes. Unfortunately, those are top secret, so happy hunting ;). Sand/water was clear of trash, seaweed (mostly) and rocks. I will say there is a great lack of trash cans on the beach in general. Bring a trash bag. Only one dumpster by the restrooms where lines were surprisingly short. The tide comes in quick. Sand fleas were aplenty. Without a steady wind, those little bugs would be too much. PS: water is too cold to go past ankle deep in early June. I half-expected to see an iceberg drift by

What a great find! Gorgeous eye candy beach with beautiful views of the rocks and ships, nice sized waves, little inlet of water to walk along, clean, just very pleasant.

good beach!! nice waves like the waves are big so its fun!!! the sand is soft and basically the beach is clean!! not much seaweed in the waters too!! its kinda cold but its like managable if yoy stay in the water for long. there is ample parking and you dont have to be a resident!! it costs $35 to park so go with a lot of ppl lol!! there are bathrooms which arent the cleanest but you can change there and a shop where you can buy those boards. not far from boston!!! lots of ppl that dont wear masks tho so get ur vaccine

It's wonderful beach with great sand and beautiful views! When tide goes out, you can even walk out to Salt Island. Just watch the gulls- they will aggressively pick through your things if not attended

First time at Good Harbor Beach! It was a perfect day for a beach day. The water was nice and cold, minimum rocks and shells on the shoreline. Typical seagulls flying around. Theres a bathroom with a small shack where they have food and drinks. Also a small kiosk that sells beach gear. They also have a couple Richies Italian Ice by the bathrooms. $2.75 each for 3 scoops of: lemon, watermelon or combo. Only bad part of this beach was parking. Unless you're a resident, be aware that you may walk for several minutes!

My first time at Good Harbor and what a beautiful beach it is! It is like no other in New England! We arrived at 9 am had plenty of parking which is $30.00 and quickly found my beach spot. It is like something out of a magazine. They have a sand dune going right to the private island and to the right of the beach they have some sort of lagoon. They have bathrooms and a concession stand. I can't wait to go back to this Paradise of a beach!

One of the most gorgeous beaches on the North Shore. Arrive by 10 AM on a gorgeous summer weekend otherwise you will wait to park. They have food available and assorted beach items you might have forgotten for purchase. Parking is $30 on the weekends but it's worth it since the beach is so clean and picturesque. Don't bother trying to park elsewhere since you will be towed. I was impressed with how clean the bathroom was too. Watch out for the seagulls, they will take food right out of your hands and will ravage your open snack bags if left unattended.

Driving 2hr to get there on weekend they say parking lot only for resident which is a bumper. There's no place to park at all for non-resident.

A day trip to Gloucester isn't complete until you have taken the time to dip your toes in the water before laying out in the sun. If this sounds appealing, then Good Harbor Beach is the place to do it. This beach has a gorgeous shoreline and the vibe here is cool and relaxed. We ended up walking the beach for a while and enjoyed watching the dogs run about since it was still off season. The next time we stop at this beach it will have to be in the heat of summer so that we can fully appreciate this special place.

Very clean beach with an iconic house perched up along the rock face. Ive been coming to this beach for years but you have to get there early. It can get crowded during the dog days of summer when the humidity is high. The white sands and gentle waves makes up for that. The parking lot is about $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends.

Beach is great for everyone! White, soft, clean sand. The water is clean and have and some strong awesome waves... Bring boogie boards and have fun in the surf. The side by the bridge is where the bigger waves are or If you're interested in surfing this is the spot to test it out. There's a snack bar and they have pizza burgers drinks etc. There are locker room, and there are showers to rinse off. It's trash in, trash out, so be prepared for that. Parking is $20/car on popular days--the lot fills up and there are lifeguards.

Beautiful beach. I grew up near here and love it year round--during the off season you can walk your dog (beware--it's like odd days are fine and even days aren't? Something like that.), during the summer it's crazy crowded, but the waves are fun if you can stand the chilly water. There are dunes to admire, a flat beach (which means at high tide the beach can get shallow, depending on how the winter storms treated the beach), there's a little estuary that runs under the bridge and goes into the wetland that's fun for kids to play in. If you're interested in surfing this is the spot to test it out. Surfari teaches early morning lessons before the beach opens up. Book in advance. Or just bring boogie boards and have fun in the surf. The side by the bridge is where the bigger waves are. It's trash in, trash out, so be prepared for that. There's a snack bar, locker room, and there are showers to rinse off before piling back in your car. Parking is $25/car, but if you pile in it's well worth it. And there are lifeguards. Get there early on popular days--the lot fills up and locals with their stickers take up a lot of spots.

Super clean, gorgeous beach. Lots of tide pools for kids to play in. Not too crowded. I can't wait to return!

i love this beach! open to visit all year round, i like the lagoon/stream feature here with the bridge going over. sand is good. air quality is good. swimming is good, clean fresh water

Consistently voted one of the best beaches in New England. Truly the softest sand of any beach I've been to, very popular and extremely busy. Popular surf spot on the southern end, nice break and great surf when the conditions are right. Carry in carry out policy, please clean up your trash and help keep this beach clean.

Great beach! $25 to park is steep, but for that you get: -beautiful, clean beach that is quite large -- even on a busy weekend day it felt busy, but not crowded -a cove that facilitates gentle waves -- enough that it's for more than kids/babies, but not so strong that you have to get paranoid about getting knocked down. (also good for body boarding or boogie boarding.) -access to bathrooms and outside shower (aka hose-down) area -access to a fairly substantial beach-side food stand that has salads and veggie burgers in addition to the standard fried fare -at popular times, italian ice carts on the beach Other notes: -bring your own food and drink if you can -- lines get long around lunch time. -alcohol is not allowed. That said, I saw several people with alcohol who were hardly subtle about it (beer in kozies, cans tied up in clear plastic bags, etc). -I got there at 9:45 am on a weekend day in June and the parking lot wasn't full, but it was getting there. -you can walk to the island at low tide -- fun for teens who get sick of their families! -the sand can get HOT. bring flip flops or something to walk on the beach -dig that umbrella in deeper than you think you need to Definitely looking forward to going back! ps. Love that another reviewer complained that the water was cold... welcome to New England, baby! ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE.

My review is from a visit a few years ago but still deserves a shout out. Great little beach. Clean and has a snack bar. Being from NY State I had to pay to park - think it was $20 or $25. People are friendly. This area is great parents of young children. Very simple and didn't have to compete with crowds. :)

Another beautiful New England beach. I came here on a whim and smack in the middle of winter and no one was around. This made it that much more pleasant. It is very picturesque and I bet it is bustling during the summer. They do have a huge parking lot but like any beach in the area, I am sure it fills up quite fast!

Good Harbor is what a beach should be! We tried to get in here on Memorial Day but it was already full, so we returned on a weekday. I thought $10 was reasonable for parking. My guy and I locked our stuff in the car while we splashed in the waves and it was easy to make trips back and forth. The snack bar was way cheaper than I thought it would be ($1.75/water and $3/burger) and they sell boogie boards, nets, pails, etc. Fairly clean bathrooms too. When the tide goes out, there is space to spread out even with kids running around and playing wiffleball. The sand is plentiful, and clean too (if you don't count those unavoidable cigarette butts). But there are plenty of reviews on this beach and I don't want to be repetitive, so... *Two funny things that happened* - Chris got a coffeecake from the snack bar and it tasted like onions. - While we were walking along the shore, seagulls raided my bag! We returned to find bird footprints on our beach towels and the dried peaches were gone D:

Alright, it's $25 to park. So just carpool and split the cost with friends. It's worth it. Good Harbor is that immaculately clean, soft, sandy, deep and dune-backed beach you dream about in February when you wonder if beach season will ever come again. The waves are good for beginner surfing but gentle enough to make this a good option for younger beach-lovers. And yeah, it's cold, but this is the North Atlantic, yo! I managed to go for a dip on a not-that-hot day in mid-June, and you should, too. Good Harbor is hugged on both sides by rocky coastal escarpments and the picturesque buildings that sit atop them. There's a (pricey) snack bar for your satiation needs, and the bathrooms aren't...glamorous (see my review for Singing Beach) but perfectly clean. Not particularly transit-accessible via the MBTA, though if you're willing to utilize the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, there's service Monday through Friday and limited service on Saturdays.

Soft silica, lighthouse on rocky cliff backdrops and absolutely incredible surf. Good Harbor is big, deep and backed by sea oat-lined dunes. At the tail end of summer, you can still catch outstanding weather in water that's a little chilly but completely wade-worthy (or better, easy surfing for beginners). Plus, with the surrounding terrain and thick coast underfoot, you won't get sandblasted when the wind kicks up. Granted, I rented a nearby house and did not pay for parking, which seems to be expensive. Bite the bullet and bring 3-4 friends; it's a social outdoor activity, dammit. Sunbathe on the cheap at Nahant, or pay the luxury tax and chill on a totally pristine, litter-free snug at the end of a boardwalk. But don't take my word for it - trust the Gorton's fiiisherrrrman!

Good Harbor is the place to be, nuff said. Absolutely beautiful and very friendly beach. We spend pretty much every day here in the summer months, also spring and fall. It's a very family friendly beach

I went to this beach based on rave reviews; however I was somewhat disappointed. It's best for families with very young children since there are very few waves and the few waves that exist are very gentle, that is, if you can stand the water temperature. It is painfully numbing cold!! Looks pretty, but very few can withstand the freezing cold temperature, even in August. And you don't hear the ocean like you'd expect due to the lack of waves. Good for conversations i suppose. It was very windy with umbrellas blowing everywhere and hitting people. The seagulls are more aggressive than any I've seen. Packs of them would land on bags and just attack. They'd grab sandwiches right out of peoples hands. The water is clear, except when the tide drags seaweed in, but not bad compared to other beaches. The beach is very clean too with classy people, probably due to the cost of parking: $30 cash only. We felt very safe there. I read that you had to get there by 9 or there would be no parking. Not true. At 8:30am on a Sunday morning, it was wide open. By 10 it was pretty full though. It's a big beach compared to small town local beaches, but very small compared to Scarborough beaches in RI. There is one building with bathrooms and outdoor showers, as well as windows to buy basic food. I was waiting in line for the bathroom for quite some time when 2 teens cut the line and said they had to shut down the bathroom for 2 minutes. It would have been considerate to at least let the people already waiting in line use the facility. I ended up having to use the port-a-potty. There are lifeguards during regular beach hours. The sign at the entrance is small, so be on the lookout for it.

This beach is about 1/2 mile long and often gets very crowded on the weekends - and the parking on the weekends is outrageous! BUT, if you hit it up on a weeknight or late in the evening this beach is the best around. After 5 the parking is free. The sand is not so hot that you can hardly walk on it, the tide goes out so the waves hit a natural shelf (on part of the beach) so they're a good size for surfing, kayaking, etc. Dogs are allowed after hours and there are often people playing volleyball, Frisbee, etc. The sunsets here are beautiful... setting over sand dunes. So - if you hit it at the right time it's awesome.

This is my favorite beach in MA!!! I have never been disappointed coming here... except the one time I came early in the season on a semi cool day. The water runs cold, so you have to come on a blazing hot day, unless you like your bones chilled! White, soft, clean sand and some strong awesome waves... CLEAN WATER! You can see the floor, no pools of nasty seaweed... Parking is $25 so go with friends and split the cost. You will have a great time!

I really love this beach. Its ever better when we come on a weekday because there aren't too many people here. There is plenty of sand and its spacious. You can spead out and not be crowded by others (although there's always that one family that wants to sit on top of you.) The surrounding views are gorgeous and remind me somewhat of Cape Cod. Its such a peaceful beach. I love it so much I'm going to marry it.

Best waves crashing on the shore I have seen so far in Massachussets. Very calming & peaceful. Not a lot to do but that's what I was looking for. With the high tide there are not too many empty spots for sun bathing. In the evening with a low tide, it's great for dog walking/running.

Wide open spaces filled with plenty of room to spend the day. Carpool and save on parking fees.

Absolutely love this beach it's about 35-40 minutes from Melrose/Malden area well worth the ride. Water is clean & has some good size waves the sand is always groomed daily they have a solid snack bar public restrooms which are cleaned throughout the the day. Beach is great for everyone I see family's couples groups of teens all the way up to elderly groups. Parking is 20$ during week 25& weekends & holidays I think it's well worth it

Good Harbor Beach is by far the best all around spot in all of Gloucester/Cape Ann/Rockport. It is alive with the constant ebb and flow of the tide into the inlet, allowing children, both big and small to play, discover and explore. The place is kept fairly clean by the patrons and the atmosphere is delightful

Very pretty beach. Parking is expensive, but it is worth is. Very sandy and the water is kind of warm. There is an island you can walk out to during low tide and during high tide, a lazy river fills up.

Great and beautiful GOOD Harbor Beach, same beach where My old grandgrandmother was walking with hers two dothers and try to learn them to swim. Those time people not use to swim so much, I think that she self does not swim at all.

One of the most beautiful beaches on the North Shore. Ok people... 30$ bucks to park... Do you think a clean well taken care of beach just happens? All you assholes leave your trash all over the beach.. Water bottles, solo cups pizza boxes... Did you come here and find the sand littered with your trash? NO! Respect the beach, the town, and the people who actually live here. I love this beach... Ya'll suck

Lovely beach. Low tide reveals a path to a tiny island. Nice little snack bar at the hotel.

No where is it posted that you can't have life jackets. Drove two hours and no place to sit, lifeguards were very rude about my toddler wearing a life jacket. Waste of $20 to park

$30 for parking for two hours to let my kids play in the ocean before heading back to Tennessee? Worth it.