Carson Beach

A nice, well maintained public beach with volleyball area. A very “New England” beach and parking can be a challenge. Check the tide chart as when it’s low it’s muddy and not easy to access the water. When it’s up, it’s great.

This Beach I go to allot in the summer . Plenty of free street parking , bathroom’s , clean and beautiful sand . The people are great . I really enjoy my time here . They have a no dog policy . They have an ice cream truck that frequents the area.

It's a very nice and clean place to relax. State police baracks are close by. Nobody there is looking for trouble. Nice people walk up and down the fide walk. There is a large park nearby. Castle Island kayak at the end of the beach. What else can one ask for.

A long beach with benches and covered seating along a walking trail. Pretty good skyline view.

The place is amazing. A visit to this place will reset your life 💛 💕 We were able to collect shells. It has incredible views at sunset and the water is refreshing in this hot summer 🔥

So pretty! There’s not that many people, it’s quiet and serene. Great place for a stroll or a jog.

My local! Busy today with families, groups of friends, older people walking and runners on the path. You can sit on the wooden seating looking at the beach under shade, or sit on the wall, sand is fine, course at water and has gentle lapping waves great for younger children with cool water for a warm day - typical city beach! Amazing to watch the fog come over at 4.30pm, lost all visibility of the view!

It is a great beach for chilling and sunbathing. I am not sure about swimming because the water did look muddy and it was not sandy. I went there in September and the weather was just great. We found very close to the beach for free. Very close to harbor walk and dorcester shores reservation. Great walk.

Clean beach Clean bathrooms Gorgeous views! This beach has beautiful shells! Enjoy!

This ice cream was probably the best thing about the beach, but it was pretty disgusting in my opinion. The beach was soooo dirty, my freshman year roommate wanted to go to a beach, so we settled for Carson. The sand/beach/water was gross, and so were the bathrooms (mind you, this was before COVID). I do not recommend Boston beaches in general, but Carson was pretty damn gross.

Beach was nice and not super crowded if you get there early free parking but just very rocky if you really don't like rocky beaches then I would not recommend going here but if you are okay with it then go for it 7.8 would go a couple of times

If you don't have a bike and don't like buses, get your Cars On, B**ch! An absolutely spectacular beach on the South Shore and actually pretty safe as well - which is surprising because it's not the greatest area - but I've slept here and nothing happened to me so that was good. Definitely a nice place to park for the night even when it's pouring with rain, like it was the one most recent night I was here. Love the beach in the morning when the weather is good... absolutely dreamy place to hang out in warmer weather. Never in the bad weather though, ew. But that used to be my thing and maybe it's yours. There are a few weird characters coming by in the middle of the night but the same could be said about your mother's bedroom.

Not bad for a beach that's super accessible via bike, T, or even walking depending on where you live. There are also several Bluebikes stations near the beach if you don't have your own bike. I'm not sure about going into the water but I saw a good number of people swimming so I guess it's safe/clean. There was enough space for people to social distance and it wasn't too crowded when I went. The water isn't gonna be crystal clear and the sand is gonna have shells in it, but what do you expect? This is a free beach in Boston, not a luxury resort in Hawaii. I think all things considered, this is a pretty nice beach. It's a good place to feel the ocean breeze and escape from the city for a few hours.

I was pleasantly surprised being in Southie and finding a beautiful beach. This is a long stretch of beach and it changes names the further you go left or right but I found myself on Carson somewhat in the center and it was a great spot. Very peaceful for being located next to I consider the inner city. If you ever in Southie check it out bring a chair. Good luck with the parking seems to be ample. Enjoy‼ I Give Carson Beach a Solid 4 Stars.

Today! I was hit by a ball. People, don't care about other people, sitting trying to relax. It's not fun. To be hit by a ball.

There were lots of cigarette butts on the beach at the bench area I was sitting at and some stands that were closed with graffiti on it. Today was my 2nd day in Boston, ever, and I definitely noticed that folks smoke a lot of cigarettes here. I saw about 3 people swimming in the beach today when I went (Thursday afternoon). The sand is nice, soft, light colored, and pretty fine. I saw some mussel shells. The water wasn't too cold (very swimmable!). There is an open parking lot that is free to the public. This is a nice area to take a walk or bike ride in. They have a food stand that was open that sells hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. The parking lot smelled of marijuana. There is no life guard on duty.

Sketchy area!! Stayed 1 hour and someone threw a big rock in the car window just to steal AirPods. There are no cameras and no one knew anything!

"Hey Mike, you want to go in the water?" This is what I said to my friend after a couple game of beach volleyball. I walk to the edge of the water, look down, consider my life's worth for a moment, and then look up at him and say, "wait nevermind dude, I'm good" That water is absolutely disgusting. you cant see the bottom two feet into the water. Not to mention there was a ton of trash (plastic bags and bottles) floating in the water as well. I made the educated decision to stay sweaty and covered in sand over risking chemical exposure in that damn sludgefest. If you want to come here to lay out and tan, it's fine. If you want to come and play some beach volleyball, its fine. But if you are trying to enjoy a beautiful beach, nice scenery, and a good place for a dip you better reconsider your options. I'm not a scientist or a doctor but human instinct told me that if I went into that water I would probably get AIDS and die. Also your "views" consist of a sewage treatment plant and some smokestacks. Sexy, I know. Will stick to Cape traffic and the north shore from now on.

When I questioned if this was southie or dorchester on twitter I got the best answer ever: it's southie until there is a brawl. The sand is pretty dirty and always has cigarettes and other things in it, but it is IN boston, so you can't hate on it that much for that There's always space even though I think it is quite well known. They have slushies....and more than once I've seen family gatherings at the covered area which seems fun.

This isn't a great beach, but it's pretty good for how accessible it is from Boston. It's easy to get to from the red line, the beach extends pretty far, and there are several beach volleyball courts. The sand has a lot of shell pieces and isn't very comfortable for walking on, but that certainly didn't seem to keep people from enjoying the water or the beach volleyball courts. There is ample sand for sitting out in the sun and also enough trees for people who prefer the shade. Overall, it isn't a place I plan on visiting frequently, but it's a great option for someone who lives nearby and loves hanging out in the sun and sand.

I strolled the banks of Carson Beach with a friend on a warm, lazy Sunday afternoon. The nearby M street beach was absolutely packed for reasons unknown, while the much larger Carson Beach had enough room for every one to spread out as they pleased. One problem with this beach is that there are no nearby businesses. That is a nonissue if you pack in, and pack out every thing you plan to consume on a given beach day, but kind of a big deal if you like to travel light. There is one iced cream shop at the bath house half way down the beach, and that is it. If you want sand and sun in the heart of Boston though, you can not beat it. I saw people playing volley ball, and a lot of more people playing some weird fusion of basketball, and volley ball. People can roller blade along the board walk, wash off at the shower stations, and then take a short cab back to the thick of the action in the city.

Nice views. The water was very murky, we just stuck our feet in. Great atmosphere for friends/family. The sand had lots of broken seashells, so for people with sensitive feet you may want to bring sandals. Great place to watch the sunset.

I was born and raised on Cape Cod, so I am sort of a beach snob. I live near Boston now so if I want to go to the beach and stay somewhat local, I would go to Carson's. The summer of 2010 I probably went about 5 times (if I hadn't gone home for the weekend). I only would go only to put my toes in the sand. I would never go in that water. I must say the bathrooms are very clean for.....a Boston beach. Yesterday (9/3/11), I went for the second time this summer and let me tell you my last. Not only did I find enormous amounts of trash on this beach, I found a human bone. That's right a bone. The State Troopers barracks are next door. One happened to walk by (as they are paroling the beach now due to the riot in May). I stopped him and told him what I found. He asked me to show him. I gave him my name and number. A few minutes later forensics and a detective came down to scope it out. Though it hasn't been confirmed yet (as they haven't called me yet) that it was in fact, human but they took tons of pictures of it before bagging it to bring to the lab. Also, more cops came down to search the area dig in the sand near I found it. Who finds human remains on the beach? After all, this is Whitey's turf! Today, I went to Horseneck Beach. Simply gorgeous, too rocky, but gorgeous.

Most of my friends who live in Boston don't even realize there are city beaches. It's not a tropical paradise or anything, but Carson Beach is the perfect refuge on an oppressive summer day. Leave your sweltering apartment, ride the Red Line to JFK/UMass, walk 5 minutes east until you see water, plop on your beach blanket with a juicy book and look out on the Atlantic. The water is cold for me, but I've seen plenty of swimmers, and there are even clean public restrooms! For the real Dot experience, pick up some delicious $2.50 banh mi at a Vietnamese sandwich shop on the way. Aren't we lucky, Boston?

Its a hot day in Boston and you don't have the time (or possibly a car) to get too far out of the city, so come to AMAZING Carson Beach where the air is at least 15 degrees cooler and you can see glorious views of the Boston sky line just behind the beach. Hop on the Red Line to the JKF stop, its only about a 20 min walk or so, maybe less to the beach. Or, if you drive there from Boston, you can be there in around 15 minutes (CRAZY!!!) and there is plenty of parking in the spots in the two lots or in neighboring area. There is a whole stretch of beach and it borders Fort Independence Park and is part of the Harbor Walk, so there is a nice path to walk/run/bike along. Even on a hot summer weekend the beach is not too crowded and there are various different spots on the sand or grass where you can find your prefect niche. There is a nice variety of people too, some hot ladies in swim suits, some families, some really burnt yeah dudes. The water is not the MOST appealing, but it does the trick. I noticed quite a few jellyfish along the shore that little children were collecting, so I was not too keen to go in. Just being next to it works just fine for me ;) OH -- and its DOG FRIENDLY! So my cute little puppy got to spend the oh so hot day outdoors with us! YAY!

I think this might be the worst beach I have ever been to. It's a nasty sandbox next to some murky water.

The beach itself was fine for what it was, albeit a little gross at low tide, but the lifeguards really, really bothered me. During my visit, we were situated about 100 feet from the lifeguard chair, containing two young women. The entire time we were there, about 4 hours, they were talking (very loudly) to some dudeguy who was overly enjoying looking up at their scantily clad figures. I understand that lifeguarding can be a tedious task, especially when there is no one to watch in the water. However, its a serious job. This isn't a pool, this is the ocean. If you're looking down, yapping away to someone, how the hell will you notice a toddler run into the ocean and not resurface? The lifeguards really need to be checked up on while on duty at random times by other staffers.

I think I couldn't disagree more with Julie A. I think this is the best beach I've been to in Massachusetts. When I talk about Carson Beach, I'm also talking about Fort Independence Park - I'm not sure where the line between the 2 is, as there's pretty much continuous beach the whole way along Day Blvd. I usually go to the grassy area by the Fort, or to the beach area as far west as about L street. I haven't been any further down, so maybe it's different down there. I don't know. But it's my favorite beach in the state because: 1. Variety - grassy areas, sandy areas, sunny areas, shady areas, city views, harbor views, airport views, take your pick. 2. It is well maintained. 3. When you go in the water (yes, it's fine to do so) you notice the pleasant lack of seaweed and also that the bottom is nice and smooth - no jagged rocks to deal with. 4. Not overly crowded. You can always find room to throw a ball around. 5. Plenty of on street parking. It's never an issue. The same certainly can not be said for a lot of the big beaches on the north shore. 6. It's so close to home. I can leave my house and be on the beach in 20 minutes. I always forget I'm in the city when I go there.

It's a 3 star beach with a 5 star convenience! So, what I look for in a beach, might be different from what you look for in a beach. But pretty much, I can everything I need from Carson Beach, and it's a hop skip and jump from home. First, I don't swim, so I don't really have any interest in getting in the water, so it's jelly-fishness, crab shell-ness, rockyness doesn't really phase me. What I want is sand, room to run and toss the frisbee, and an amazing, relaxing view. Carson beach offers all of that, with the bonus of a snack shack, public restrooms, and its near the T. I was able to play frisbee, and watch a thunderstorm out in the ocean, seeing the bolt of lightening come down, while in the sun on the sane. It was amazing, until the wind got so bad the sand was being blown around. But, for a beach off the city, in the day light, it's a great place to burn an hour or two, to get that ocean feel and catch some rays. Oh, thank to the gentrification of south boston, and the dot, there was some eye candy within my own age demographic. Total bonus (....I said bonus! ) I have no doubt that it's sketch city after dark, but, what place isn't in boston? It's def. a better alternative than revere beach, and its a great alternative than trying to drive to the cape or hampton beach.

This beach is good for napping, terrible for swimming. Lots of shells in the sand, but once you get closer to the water line the sand turns into a muddly sludge that seems to continue on into the water. Otherwise the beach was not very crowded on a Saturday afternoon, and parking was free and relatively straightforward.

I am not sure if I've been "spoiled" by the Jersey Shore or something, but this beach leaves a lot to be desired. Granted it is about a 10 minute walk from where I live, which I appreciate, it is definitely not the greatest. I actually think I might like Revere Beach better. The good: It's probably one of the closest beaches to downtown..so it's a convenient location. They have bathrooms and you don't have to pay to get on the beach. The bad: The water is dirty, I didn't even care to go in. The sand is not great either, lots of shells and not sure what else is in that sand! There's some sketchy people in that area too. UGLY TRUTH: I'd rather drive 4 hours to the dirty Jersey and be entertained by guidos at the Jersey Shore. Trust me you are not missing much.

The worst of the worse. This is NOT, I repeat, NOT a beach. I can't even believe anyone would try and pass this off as a beach just because they've imported sand! The water is gross looking, and there is tons of dark seaweed and rocks- its just unpleasant to go in let alone look at. It is nice that they have facilities and lifeguards (although no one is going in that water so I wonder why they are even there). This place definetly is on the Logan Airport airplane route as you will see jets flying in every few minutes. The sand is alright. This is not a beach. No way!

Originally posted 7/14/2009, but I reviewed the wrong beach by accident. Thanks L W. for pointing out my mistake! ________________________________ I've never really been to any beaches in the Boston area, though I have been to a few further North in Maine, but I think the Boston-area beaches get a pretty bad rap! We chose Castle Island Beach for a summer day trip because it's on the T and has no walk-on fee. (What is that ridiculousness?!) After crossing through a mass of construction on our 5 minute walk from the JFK/UMass stop, I was pleasantly surprised. It's a sweet little stretch of sand (okay, not that little) along a sort of busy road with a gentle slope and planes flying overhead. We first stopped into the restrooms which were ample and shockingly clean, if not all functioning perfectly. Then we walked along the water to find a nice place to picnic and relax, which was easy because it wasn't all that crowded. The fact that the beach runs most of a circle can leave the water a little murky but we waded in up to our knees and none of us got any diseases. As the tide went out about half of the beach got super mucky and shells, pebbles, and little dead crabs made the walk to the water treacherous to bare feetsies. But as it came back in during the afternoon the sand dried out a little so it was only the pebbles and shells we had to worry about. On our way out we stopped by the snack bar for a Ritchie's slush which was very excellent. It's hard for me to rate East Coast beaches because I'm spoiled by that finely ground California sand and ever-present sun, but as they go, this beach isn't half bad. In fact, if you're up for exploring the fort or just sitting with some friends up on the dry part of the sand, it's pretty nice.

Good luck finding parking. Which keeps the crowds down. The place is filled with camp kids on summer mornings, but you can walk 5 minutes down the beach and escape the noise. The water looks brown. But the sand looks clean.

Ok- to be fair we were here at low tide. I believe the other good reviews were at high tide. With that being said, if it is low tide- stay home! Bath house is nice and clean and staff is helpful and friendly. Sand just off of the bath house is nice for about 30 feet. Then it started to get very rocky with sharp shells and even noted sharp broken glass. This lasted approx. 20 feet...then the mud! Mud so wet, it pulled off our swim shoes and flip flops. Water was extremely murky- we did not swim. Packed up and went back to hotel! It is also quite a long walk from the JFK/UMass subway stop. I would guess 7- 8 blocks, crossing main highways.

To Catherine B. - Hi Cate, I'll bet you like Mai-Tais and getting caught in the rain. I'm with her everybody. Mollys Beachside Ice Cream Stand rocks. Where else, with sand between your toes can you get REAL complete clams and REAL wieners (hot dogs to non-connesseurs) and at very very reasonable prices? Even Sully hasn't sold them in years. With oppressive HHH (Heat, Haze & Humidity) in New England, this is Tahiti for those working in small historic office buildings, factories and one-way streets. And it's been clean for decades with the Charles River making a comeback in recent years, too! Hey, San Diego, Jersey Shore, and even Miss Cape Cod, ... Jellyfish? Maybe a rare tide might bring some in, but don't judge a whole childhood by a 24hr bout with a flu bug! Most Americans under 25 have never even seen a seatide before! Shells and seaweed? What in the world were you expecting? We told you in the tavern that it was Mussel Beach. C'mon you fussy student tourists. It's REAL, and where life itself came from. And . . . um-m-m . . . Unto Dust Thou Shalt Return. So, there! And it's ROZZIE & QWINZEE!

I went to this beach bc I can get here by the T. It was not crowded, and understandably so, the sand was so dirty and filled with shells that you can cut yourself. The water is so so. But I rather stay home next time.

We found a whole bag of sea glass and even a piece of Asian blue pottery! Got some great photos here too- don't swim in the water this used to be the city dump until the 70s someone told us! Nice for a walk or tan. Parking is tricky but dart into the mass teaching unions parking lot on weekends it's a quick right after the highway exit rotary

Seen better, glass on the beach and dirty water I wouldn't let my daugther get into it. that said if you want to stroll along the water or just sit on the beach its super easy to get there with public transportation.

A great place for outdoors all year around. Walk, run, have a picnic - do anything with alone, with family or friends and you'll be happy. The parking options are limited but I usually don't expect too much from Boston.

Let me begin by stating my bias: I grew up visiting my grandparents in Florida, and I'm originally from South Carolina, so I'm very familiar with Myrtle Beach/Charleston. So while Carson Beach isn't what I consider a traditional "beach," (I really love to bob up and down with the waves: one thing that I can't do here) it really is a nice option to have on a warm afternoon in Boston. The place was clean, and the water didn't seem THAT murky (based on other reviews). In fact, if I had been wearing a bathing suit, I would have probably tried to get in a bit. I do want to invest in some water shoes first just because of the rocks/potential jellyfish.

I used to live next to Carson, I had a view of it...if only you saw the criminal activity going on there on a nightly basis you might not want to touch the sand barefoot. I don't reccommend going. I mean ..its pretty when you look straight out toward the islands but the rest...I used to find old clothes and shoes strewn about, that to me is sketchier beyond sketch. Plus half the time the water wasnt safe for swimming and the sand was really ....it hurt. Its not even convenient to get to unless you live there or are lucky enough to get one of the parking spots. So unless you live next to it, skip it and find better.

I was expecting something less from the earlier reviews but I think Carson Beach is fantastic! The sand is manicured and clean (I grew up on the north shore so I'm used to actually rocky beaches!) The water was lovely - sure it was a bit murky but this is Boston not the Caribbean - it wasn't *dirty* at all. I can't believe that on a hot hot hot summer day I was able to park a couple of hundred feet from where I eventually put my towel down and swam all day. This will be my new regular beach!

OK this beach isn't bad. It's on the T! It's small, has bathrooms, a kayak rental place, a food/ice cream stand... it's free! Like all beaches there are people and sea life and rocks and sand and water. I like to wear water shoes here because as I mentioned all beaches have rocks and sea life. If you don't want any of that I suggest visiting a DCR pool. I like to walk down to Castle Island from Carson beach and watch the wind surfers.

I've been going to Carson Beach for a number of years. I don't swim in any of the water up here . It is WAY too cold for me.....so I don't care about the water. I have gone in waist deep before on super hot muggy days just to cool off, and was ok. I grew up swimming in lakes and I don't really think there's much of a difference. This summer there haven't been many jellyfish, but summers past there were. What I like about Carson Beach: 1- NEVER crowded. I always have my own little area...it's not very often I have to sit near someone and hear their whole conversation. 2- FREE PARKING. I refuse to pay $20 to park at a beach. It's paid with tax dollars, so it should be free. I wouldn't say there's A LOT of parking. On the weekdays, you can find parking up until about 6pm. At 6pm it gets packed. On the weekends I try to go around 10am or after 1:30pm. I tend to find parking easiest at those times. 3- CLEAN. They clean the beach at least once a week. 4- BATHROOMS. and they are clean! 5- SNACK STAND...you never know if you might get hungry or spill your water 6- PEOPLE WATCHING. Some interesting people go here.

This has got to be one of the most underutilized beaches in the country. Depending on the day of the week and the part of the beach you're at it ranges from practically deserted to way less crowded than it should be. To hang with other people plant yourself near the lifeguards / bath house; if you feel like being alone park your belongings closer to the L Street end of the beach. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from the JFK / UMass T station and very bike accessible. There are two parking lots (which are often full but there is additional street parking nearby), multiple bike racks, public restrooms, a snack shack, and feet washing stations. The view is gorgeous - the harbor islands, Boston harbor, multiple windmills, beautiful skies..... One note: it can sometimes be a little muddy at low tide. I recommend either water shoes or coming at high tide. On a hot day in Boston you'll find me in the water at Carson Beach :)

In college, I used to come here thinking it was the best thing ever. Then I stepped on a bloody band-aid and a piece of glass in the same afternoon. No, thanks. They've definitely cleaned it up a bit, and I like the little snack bar that they've got. But that afternoon put a bad taste in my mouth and I haven't been back since.

This is a fantastic beach. I must say, I've been in the Boston area for nearly 8 years, and I never knew this gem existed. Perfectly private, but a good amount of patronage, this beach is where it's at... for the most part. If you are looking for a picnic on the beach, this is your spot. If you want to cozy up on a blanket away from others... go here. If you want to swim or walk the beach... this is NOT where you want to be. The beach is ridden with sharp glass, shells, and other harmful debris, especially during low tide, and is definitely not a good location to enjoy the elements of nature. But, for sunbathing and social time, it is great.

I think Carson Beach is great, in fact I think it's one of the best kept secrets in Boston. Not sure if I'd swim in the water anywhere in Boston, but I would go there to either soak up the sun or for a nice run. Although my running schedule isn't what it used to be, if it wasn't for Carson Beach I'm sure it would be much more pathetic. It really is nice to run along the beach, either taking the sidewalk or the adjacent beach path. Most people would probably head straight to the Charles for a long run in Boston, but the Carson Beach loop, from Castle Island to JFK is awesome, quiet, safe and picturesque. Check it out...

So, the thing about Carson Beach is that it's an okay beach. It's easy to get to from public transportation, the sand is okay, it's not overly crowded. But if you're looking to go to a beach and go swimming, I definitely wouldn't go to this beach. After stepping over band-aids and various other pieces of trash to get to a nice open area of sand to put our towels down, my friend and I decided to go down and put our feet in the water. Bad call...really bad call. The sand was a very strange consistency, sort of muddy/clay like. And it was full of dead razor clams, so you had to be very careful where you stepped. Oh, and there were snails everywhere, as well as dead crabs. Once you got to the water, you could barely see the bottom even in only a couple of inches. I'd probably try to go to a different beach in the future, unless I'm in a time crunch.

If you happen to live in Southie-it's an added plus. I live about 50 feet away and it's great to be able to walk to a beach after work, or sit there for a few hours on the weekends. However, I wouldn't travel from anywhere else in the state to come to Carson beach. I mean, it's South Boston...not the Caribbean.

Whenever I tell people I spent the weekend at the beach, they assume I spent most of my time sitting in traffic trying to get to the Cape. They don't believe me when I say I walked half a mile to the beach in the city. I love the convenience of being so close to everything in the city, while also being able to head out for a day by the water without it being a big production. It's never overwhelmingly crowded but it's still fun for peoplewatching. I would not recommend swimming here- the water is freezing and sometimes has a funky smell/color. There are also copious amounts of jellyfish. There's usually a nice breeze coming off the water so even on a hot day, it's a good place to be.

I went here in August of last year. Really hot muggy day, I just wanted to SWIM. I've lived in New England most of my life, so I know not to expect white sand and crystal clear water, palm trees and cabana boys. No beach in New England is going to compare to Southern California or Florida (pre-BP, of course). So this 2/5 stars is based on that assumption. It's not a 2 star beach in general, it's a 2 star New England beach. As in, I'm already not expecting much from it. Somewhere to lay down in the sun and water I can bob up and down in for a bit, that's all I ask. The beach was almost empty, just a few families nearby and a couple people wandering, but me and my date had a pretty large area to spread out on. We wandered into the water. We made it to our ankles before we couldn't see our feet anymore. N-A-S-T-Y! So not swimmable. Just don't do it. If you want to swim, find a pool nearby. I'm giving it 2 stars because I *did* enjoy the beach itself (as in the stretch of sand) and being able to lay there. Very relaxing. But I can get the same effect heading to the park around the corner and laying on a blanket in the sun.

One fact about this beach really put me off. Glass in the sand. Every few yards you could find a piece if you looked out for it. That's a deal breaker for me as I want to be able to run around, playing soccer and throwing a frisbee around, making dives to catch it etc. Couldn't do that out of fear of cutting myself. Eventually did cut myself, although that was in the water and I'm pretty sure that was just a stone. Water was pretty good though and it wasn't busy, even on a glorious 4th of July, so thats a plus. Won't be going back though.

I give Carson Beach a four for ambiance and a one for water quality. I spent a lot of time here and ran here a lot when I lived in South Boston, and I've gotta say, I do have love for this beach, but don't swim here. I have and I've since thought the better of it, but at the time I was in waist deep, non-clear water on a hot day thinking "WHY IS NO ONE SWIMMING?" And then, at low tide, I noticed one of those "No Parking" signs in the water where I'd been. Rusted, of course. So like, swim at your own risk, preferable with some kind of water shoe on, and beware the copious jellyfish. But seriously, for someplace to sunbathe on a not-too-hot day, Carson is a great choice.

Having read the reviews before I embarked on my trip to Carson Beach, I was worried to say the least. Murky water? Jellyfish?!? I had my reservations. But, after a day spent here, I am a fan. Maybe it's the post-beach/sitting-in-the-sun exhaustion talking, but there's really a lot to like about Carson beach. 1) Super convenient - a five minute walk from the JFK/UMass T station. 2) Not at all crowded. Even on a perfect summer day, there was tons of space to camp out for the afternoon. 3) The beach/sand itself - very clean and well-maintained. I didn't see as much as a plastic bag, let alone broken glass or dirty needles... 4) The water - pretty clean. As people have mentioned, this is not the Caribbean. But even comparing it to more reputable beaches like Crane, it was totally swimmable and actually surprisingly pleasant. 5) It's free. I took the T there, but I think parking is free, unlike at most beaches, where you'll pay $20+. 6) A friendly vibe. There were no obnoxious teenagers, it wasn't overrun with kids - it was just a relaxed crowd of people doing there own thing. If you live in Boston and have never ventured out to Carson Beach, go. I'll still visit Crane Beach when I get the chance, but I'd totally go back to Carson Beach when none of my car-owning friends are up for the trip to the North Shore.

The most important thing about a beach, in my opinion, is the ability to walk along barefoot, and go in the water for a splash or swim. The wet parts of Carson Beach are unwalkable without shoes due to...razor clams! I once took a bunch of friends here, and by popular outcry we ended up getting back on the road and heading to Revere Beach instead. Not a bad place for a bike ride or run, if you like a cool breeze on a hot day and a nice view.