If you’re trying to find the best beach towns in New England, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve lived in Boston and New England for over eight years and only left to continue my wanderlust across the pond, living in London. My husband and I adore Boston and have traveled extensively around New England to explore everything this incredible area offers. My wanderlust had me exploring all the best beaches in New England and the best beach towns. I’ve created a comprehensive list below. Keep reading for the best beach towns in New England.

Best Beach Towns in New England: By State

Best Beach Towns in Massachusetts

Rockport

One of the best day trips from Boston, Rockport, is only around an hour’s drive from the city. Located on the coast of what Bostonians call the ‘north shore’, this town has a wonderful beach in the city center! The small town has lots of shops and restaurants, a stunning oceanfront theater, and even the most painted building in America. One of my favorite New England restaurants, the Lobster Pool, is also very close. This spot has the most delicious seafood, and it’s BYOB!

Manchester by the Sea

This small north shore town was the location for the popular movie ‘Manchester by the Sea’. You’ll also find one of New England’s hidden gems here, which is Hammond Castle. This town on the north shore may easily be one of the best beach towns in New England. It is home to two of my favorite New England beaches, including Singing Beach and Crane Beach. If you visit Crane’s Beach, don’t miss visiting the Crane Estate.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Provincetown

One of my favorite places on Cape Cod, this town is packed with New England charm. You can easily spend an entire day here or stay the night. Explore everything the town has to offer, enjoy a relaxing beach day, and discover why it’s one of the best beach towns in New England. Countless whale-watching tours depart from here, along with kayaking and other seaside adventures. You can also get a direct ferry from Boston if you would prefer not to drive, or are only spending the day here.

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Chatham

One of my other favorite New England coastal towns is Chatham. This town comes alive in July and August with the most stunning blooms of color from hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are popular on Cape Cod, and there’s even an annual festival to celebrate them. The Chatham Bars Inn is one of the best places to stay on Cape Cod. They have a private beach and multiple restaurants if you just want to visit for dinner or a drink. It is one of the most beautiful places in Cape Cod.

The Chatham Bars Inn is one of the best places to stay in Cape Cod! Even Conde Nast and Forbes agree!

Wellfleet

You’ll find the only drive-in movie theater on the Cape in Wellfleet. Mayo Beach is one of the best beaches to visit in Wellfleet. It also has one of the best seafood restaurants on the Cape, and a Cape icon, the Beachcomber.

Eastham

Eastham makes the list of best beach towns in New England as it has two of the most popular beaches on Cape Cod, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Beach. Another hidden gem on the Cape is the Fort Hill Trails. This spot offers stunning views and beautiful wildflowers if you visit at the right time.

Orleans

This town makes the list as it has two of the best breakfast spots around, Jo Mama and Hole in One. One of my favorite beaches to watch the sunset is Orleans Rock Harbor Beach.

Brewster

This town is one of the best beach towns in New England, as it is home to the Brewster tidal flats. The Ocean Edge Resort is one of the best places to stay in Brewster, and they have great tips for how to visit. If you’re looking for some of the best beaches in this town, check out Paine’s Creek Landing. This beach is a perfect spot for families!

Best Places to Stay on Cape Cod

Overall Best Hotel on Cape Cod: Chatham Bars Inn
Best 5-Star Luxury Hotel and Spa on Cape Cod: Wequasset Harwich
Best for Adults Only: Crowne Point Inn adults-only Provincetown
Best Resort for Families: Ocean Edge Resort Brewster
Best Value: Rugosa Guest House Eastham
Best Ocean Views: AWOL Hotel Provincetown
Best Central location: Faraway Nantucket, even though this isn’t on the Cape itself, this location is central in the heart of Nantucket and is worth a visit; the decor is simply beautiful!

Harwich

One of the best beach towns in New England because it’s home to the luxurious Wequasset Resort. If you’re looking for luxury on Cape Cod, look no further. Along with the Chatham Bars Inn, this resort also has its own private beach. If you’re looking for public beaches, check out Forest Beach. Another hidden gem of the Cape is Monomoy Island and National Wildlife Refuge. There are boat tours that take you around the island to get a better look at the animals. You can book through Monomoy Island Excursions.

Dennis

You can find one of the best lobster rolls on the Cape at the Sesuit Harbor Cafe in Dennis. It’s considered one of the best beach towns in New England because of this famous spot. Check out the adorable Sundae School Ice Cream shop, and one of the best antique stores, J.M. Byron House. One of the best beaches in Dennis to visit is Gray’s Beach.

Sandwich

One of the closest beach towns to Boston is Sandwich. This town would be perfect for a day trip, as it’s only a little over an hour’s drive from Boston, depending on traffic. The beach you have to visit is Sandy Neck Beach. This beach has a large parking lot with plenty of amenities, including food trucks and public bathrooms. The beach is quite large, so it never gets too crowded. It’s also located on the inlet side, so the water is a tad warmer!

Falmouth

One of the most popular and best beach towns in New England is Falmouth. One of the larger towns on the Cape, its main street is filled with quaint shops and restaurants. You can also visit Highfield Hall and Gardens, Cape Cod Winery, and the Knob– a beautiful hiking area. Don’t miss visiting Menauhant Beach, or catch a ferry at Woods Hole to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Nantucket is the most magical island. Here are the best things to do in Nantucket. If you’re interested in visiting Martha’s Vineyard, here’s everything you need to know to visit the Cape’s other island.

Cape Cod’s island of Nantucket

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to spend a weekend on this island and all the best things to do in Nantucket!

Sconset

This magical, very, very small town of Sconset is an absolute must if you’re visiting this island. The main square of Sconset has a market store, one or two shops, and one of the best sandwich places you’ll find anywhere in New England, Claudette’s. Sconset Beach is a short walk from town and has stunning views of all the charming houses along the ocean. If you want to explore this fairytale location, you can enjoy drinks at the Chanticleer, walk along the Cliff Walk, or visit Sankaty Lighthouse.

Brant Point Lighthouse

Even though this technically isn’t a New England town, the lighthouse is a must-see when visiting Nantucket. It’s easy to walk there from downtown Nantucket, where the marina and ferry terminals are. If you walk a bit further, you’ll find Jettie’s Beach and the famous restaurant Sandbar, described as the ‘quintessential Nantucket experience.’

Madaket

In the opposite direction of Sconset is Madaket and Madaket Beach, one of the best places to watch the sunset on Nantucket. One of the best restaurants on the island, Millie’s, is right across from this beautiful beach. Arrive before sunrise to get some takeout, bring your beverage and chair, and head to the beach for sunset!

The sister island of Martha’s Vineyard

Chilmark

One of the best things to see in Martha’s Vineyard is the Aquinnah Cliffs in Chilmark. These cliffs are quite stunning and famous for the island. Don’t miss the nearby Gay Head Lighthouse or the public Moshup Beach, where you can see some cliffs up close!

Edgartown

Edgartown is a perfectly quaint New England town and resembles the island of Nantucket. This is one of the best beach towns in New England as you can enjoy the beach right next to the famous Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse.

Here are all the best things to do on Martha’s Vineyard and how to plan a perfect day trip!

Best Beach Towns in Connecticut

Mystic

One of the best beach towns in Connecticut, here’s need to know before visiting Mystic. The Whaler’s Inn is so quaint and the best place to stay in Mystic.

Stonington

You can’t miss the summer blooms in this magical place, similar to Nantucket, it truly feels right out of a storybook. You can easily visit this spot if you’re spending 4 days in Boston.

New Hampshire coast towns

Portsmouth

More of a cute, coastal town than a beach town, this has one of the best ice cream shops in all of New England, Annabelle’s. It’s also home to one of the cutest museums in New England, the Strawbery Bank Museum. Not only is this coastal town beautiful in the summer, but it’s one of the top towns for fall foliage in New England. Portsmouth is located right on the New Hampshire and Maine border. There are quite a few beaches in the area, but one of the more popular public beaches is Wallis Sands Beach.

Best Beach Towns in Maine

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is one of Maine’s famous coastal towns. Even though the downtown is quite small, it has so much New England charm. One of the well-known beaches to check out is Gooch’s Beach. If you’re looking for another time of the year to visit, Kennebunkport is just as beautiful during the holidays. This spot also isn’t a far drive from one of my favorite New England lighthouses. One of the lavish gems of Kennebunkport is the White Barn Inn and the unique restaurant Earth at Hidden Pond.

Portland

Even though this town only has one public beach, East End Beach, there are quite a few others as it sits right along the coast. Make sure to tour with Nautilus Sailing, their sunset sails are idyllic! Another good beach option is Willard Beach. Don’t leave without also seeing Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse!

Camden

Another quaint coastal town, this one is located farther north and offers more of a rustic feel. One of the best things to do in Camden, Maine, is to climb Mount Battie, or you can drive to the top. There are lots of shops and restaurants along the harbor, and the special Mary Day Schooner, which you can book for your next vacation. There is a beach right in town, Laite Memorial Beach.

Bar Harbor

The best way to enjoy views of the harbor is at the Terrace Grille. Located in Maine’s famous Acadia National Park, this is the biggest town on Mount Desert Island. Many visit this area to visit the stunning national park because of its hiking trails and beautiful beaches. If you’re visiting the park, check out my favorite trails, including the Beehive Trail and Sand Beach. If you’re visiting, you also can’t miss a sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain, where the sun rises first in the continental USA.

New York & the Hamptons

Montauk, Hamptons

Similar to Cape Cod, the Hamptons are mostly composed of beach towns and beautiful scenery. There are certain pockets in the Hamptons, similar to the Cape, which are more expensive than others. The main attraction, other than the beautiful beach, is the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum. The views from this lighthouse are quite breathtaking. Down the road is the infamous The Lobster Roll, aka Lunch. This restaurant was featured in the Golden Globe film ‘The Affair’, and has such a coastal vibe.

Rhode Island Beach Towns

Narragansett

There are two large state beaches in Narragansett– Roger Wheeler and Scarborough. The main road through Narragansett is Ocean Road, and these state beaches are right off Ocean Road. These beaches provide facilities and ample amounts of parking. You can also visit Salty Brine Beach with a view of the beach houses along the water, but it’s much smaller with a small parking lot. There are a few restaurants right along this beach as well that have separate parking lots. If you’re looking for ocean views off the beaten path, stroll down Bass Rock Road and Newton Avenue, and plan a visit during your Narragansett stay to Point Judith Lighthouse. One of the best restaurants in Narragansett is Coast Guard House. Try the stuffies!

Here’s how to spend a weekend in Narragansett, Rhode Island’s low-key beach town.

Newport

Even though Newport is known for its Gilded Age mansions and beautiful marina, this coastal town offers beaches as well. Easton’s Beach is the most popular in Newport, and it’s not far from one of the most beautiful drives in New England- Ocean Drive. Make sure to eat at Castle Hill Inn, or visit during the holidays when the gilded mansions are incredibly decorated.

Here’s one of the best places to stay in Newport, Rhode Island!